Best 90's Cherokee??

[dayne66]

Hi all,

This is my first post on this forum.

I am looking at getting a 90's Cherokee to get back into 4-wheeling and camping again as I have moved to Vancouver Island. My last one was an '89 Toy truck with 32's, cranked torsion bars and extended shackles.
My wife works as the Finance Manager at a Dodge/ Jeep dealer and has quite a few Cherokees come in as trades....right now there is a '91 with 200,000km on it,4.0 (not sure if HO),auto, and NO other options...$2000.I would like power windows if I don't get air though.

Is there a way to 'read' the VIN to get axle (ratio/type)info,etc?

What are the pros/cons of some of the years between about '90 to '98?

To start I will just use it stock....and over time it will evolve into a more capable off-roader....so I want a good base to start with for the upgrades.

Thanks for any and all input in advance, Dan.

[NIX]

Read this old post from 5 years ago:

http://forums.off-road.com/jeep-mid-...easonable.html (looking for xj: $3000 or less unreasonable?)

Cherokee info:

Jeep Cherokee


Your '91 sounds a bit pricy, but if it's treasured (but I doubt) it might be worth it.

From '97 the XJ got it's new looks.

[krabysniper]

In my opipnion, if your planning on modding it for off road use, IE 3 and 1/2 inches of lift or more, 31 x 10.5's or bigger, bumpers, skid plates, etc, I would stick with an 89 thru 93, simply because it will be easier to deal with in the lift department. If your not going for big lift and tires then any of them are excellent. Each period has it's pro's and con's so you really just need to decide what it is you want from it and in it. I would also be very detailed in my inspection of a potential Cherokee purchase, the late 80's early 90's XJ's are hugely notorious rust buckets. I just spent a couple days a few months ago, fixing my rusted out floor boards thruought, the rear cargo area along both sides, the drivers side floor front to rear, and the rockers. I had planned on some rocker mods so that was as good a time as any to do it. Good luck on your hunt for an XJ.