[Guest]

Would like to upgrade from a 94 Cherokee to 2000 vintage mid-jeep. Tried to test drive a 2000 "Sport", there is more leg room on my lawn tractor then this jeep ! I could of used my knees to operate the turn signals.

My 94 as more than ample leg room for my 6'4" self.

Does anyone know when the jeep mid-size models lost the leg room, and do any of the later models 99-2001(classic, limited,etc.) offer more leg room.

Cheers,
JD

 

[stump_breaker]

The 2000 Calssic does not have much leg room. You must be coming from a 2 door to a 4 door. That is where I noticed the change.

 

[Guest]

Welcome aboard fellow, MD'er. If you want legroom, your gonna have to buy a KJ......

 

[Guest]

could always cut your feet off, just a option.

 

[Guest]

You think those are bad, you should drive an Exploder. My wife has a 00, and I drive it with the seat all the way back and all the way down. I'm 5'10", if you're much taller than that it's just not gonna happen. That doesn't help you out at all, but hey, it could always be worse.

 

[2793]

Or ride with the back hatch open and the legs danglin' out! I rode in the back of my 2000 last weekend and I didn't think I'd be able to walk right again after being stuffed back there. The only one who ever rides back there and doesn't complain is my dog!

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the hospitality & insights:

-the 94' I drive is a four door.
- if the KJ is the new Liberty, body style doen't do it for me, (a little to yuppified), no offense to forum members who own one. How the hell does a Liberty have more leg room then its larger breathren, Cherokee and Grand?
-I thought of leg reduction procedures, but girlfriend likes the stems.

If I want to stay in a Cherokee, Guess I will have to stick to the older mid-sized jeeps.

"The bigger the Blob, the better the job"

JD

94 Cherokee Country
86 Grand Wagoneer (Woody), looking for a new driveway!

 

[1306]

I've had the same problem. I wanted something a bit newer than the 89 Wagoneer Limited with 190K miles. I origionally looked at the newer XJs, but the size is to small. Then I looked at the KJ and ZJ. To me the KZ is the most uncomfortable seating position since the CJ. The seat is perpendicular to the peddels. My gas leg started hurting from trying to keep my toes high enough to run the throttle. I haven't had this problem since I got rid of my last CJ 5. I just don't think I should have to set my right foot on top of my left just so I can stand to drive it. The ride is harsh and the interior is small. Besides the demand keeps the used prices high yet the quality is questionable. I really liked the ZJ. Ride is great, and you could still get the 4.0L until recently. But after rationalizing the space of 2 kids, 1 dog, 1 wife, and 1 stroller. There is no space for anything else. It's sucks that when my parents stop by we still have to take 2 Jeeps to just go out to eat. By mistake while looking at a GC at a dealer he suggested a Durango. Never looked at one before. 3 seats. Holds 6 plus normal people. I'm 6-2 and 275 lbs and sit in the middle seat just fine when the wife is driving. Try that in a XJ. Finally something that fits enough people to do some good. I researched the Durango and other than being a piece of crap people say they ride great and look good. After a couple more months of looking I finally found a 99 Durango with 100K miles and bought it. Put 3K on it the first month. Its been a great vehicle so far. My dad is now looking to buy a new Jeep and is considering a Durango. He keeps saying "HEMI". He's saying the same thing, "Jeep to small". He's got his 3rd XJ, It's showing the change of the times. When the XJ was new it was the larger of the new small utility vehicles. Now it's the smallest in it's class. Jeep/DC needs to get a vehicle out soon, or they will continue to loose sales to other makes. My dad hasn't owned another make since '73 when he bought his first Wagoneer.

 

[2793]

We originally bought ours as the kid hauler. She started talking the dreaded mini van line but I found the cherokee and talked her into that instead. It was fine when we had just the one kid and he sat in the middle in his car seat. Then number two came. Two car seats in the back don't work good unless the front seats are slid up so we made a deal. I'd trade in my HD extended cab for a new crew cab HD with auto for her(she hated my manual) and I got the jeep. I still think I came out on top with that one. I got to start modifying the jeep for playing while still getting a good dd. Plus I still had my, oops I guess her, truck to do the trailer pulling and toy hauling on the weekends.

 

[Guest]

KJ has more front seat leg room due to V-6 vs I6, wider body offsets space lost to tranny tunnel. Rear seat legroom is greater because seats are farther back and front seats are elevated, allowing rear passengers to slide feet under front seat. That's why the KJ's have less cargo space behind the rear seats than the XJ....
And if I'm not mistaken, the XJ wheel base lengthened (not significantly) sometime AFTER your model year.

 

[660]

Had similar problem.

Resolution was:
remove seat
remove tab that limits rearward seat movement
cut another notch or two in the seat adjuster slide rails (used Dremel type tool & cutoff disc)
re-assemble

Gained another inch or so of legroom for front... but fo course - that was lost in the rear.