Have Cherokee -- Buy Lberty or another Cherokee

Anyone make the switch to Liberty from Cherokee?

I own a '96 Cherokee SE with 105,000 and I want something newer. I'm thinking 2001 Cherokee or 2002 Liberty. I love me Cherokee's power, off road ability (I'm a surf fisherman) and am reasonably happy with it's dependabilty. The thing I'm most unhappy with is that the interior is letrally imploding.

What would I be gaining and/or losing by making the switch. It looks as though the Liberty has less storeage in the rear, am I right?

Would love to hear from the ex-Cherokee owners

Here's my:2cents:,The Liberty seems to be a pretty dependable vehicle.I work at a dealer and Libertys seem to have very few serious problems.On the other hand ,neither did the XJs.The 4.0 with the AW-4 trans is the closest thing to bullet proof that I have ever seen.I have owned 6 Cherokees and I know where 3 of them are today.The worst one was the 86 with the P.O.S. 2.8.I only bought it because it was $500 about 10 years ago and I was able to sell it for $3500 without spending any money on it.The 87 I sold with 174,000 miles on it is still going.I sold that 6 years ago to the son of a friend while he was in school.Well,after he graduated and moved up to a ZJ,my friend got it from him and actually prefers it to his ZJ.I believe it has about 285,000 miles on it now.He drives that thing everywhere.I kind of regret letting it go.It has a Dana 44 that I put pinion bearings in it when I got it in 94.I gave my brother my 90 about a year ago and it has about 200,000 on it.That one I lifted ,put 4.11's in it.32x11.5 MTR's and beat the hell out of it.He claims that chicks dig that thing.I only let it go because I got my 96 ZJ 5.2 Limited for $1200 with a slipping trans that cost me$15.00 to fix.In the year that I have owned the ZJ,I have probably done more repairs on it than all my XJs put together.I kind of wish I would have kept the XJ.I had another 87 that just retired but that was because it got rear ended.It had over 200,000 on it.I guess I prefer the Cherokee.The KJ,like I said seems pretty good.My main gripes about it are the lack of interior room,mainly the cargo area and the styling is a little too"cute" for me.I think it's more of a chick car.I just don't feel any testosterone when I think Liberty.But,like I said,that's my :2cents:

Cherokee all the way. Much bigger aftermarket for it and easy to get parts for. And they have a great past record.

Liberty is limited in its off road ability, sister has one, and it is anything but an off road vehicle, low ground clearance and doesn't do very well in mud, she got stuck in a corn field. Its a good urbanite vehicle, but it is very squirrely on the road. I would stay wiht the XJ's. Its a proven vehicle, parts are readily available, more storage room. Also at 67K she is looking to replace a fuel pump that ONLY the dealer offers and it will cost her $300+ just for the part. Its a 2002 model, there isn't even a haynes manuel out on it yet.

Liberty is limited in its off road ability, sister has one, and it is anything but an off road vehicle, low ground clearance and doesn't do very well in mud, she got stuck in a corn field. Its a good urbanite vehicle, but it is very squirrely on the road. I would stay wiht the XJ's. Its a proven vehicle, parts are readily available, more storage room. Also at 67K she is looking to replace a fuel pump that ONLY the dealer offers and it will cost her $300+ just for the part. Its a 2002 model, there isn't even a haynes manuel out on it yet.

i'd have to disagree, i have an 04 liberty renegade and i have taken it places off-roading that most people wouldn't attempt, as far as the parts, haven't had to replace anything on mine yet but i have checked availabilty on various items and have had no problems, i also do alot of highway driving in it and i dont think it is squirrely at all, quite agile in fact.

From an owner of 3 XJs, 84, 97 and 2001, I would say the XJ with the AW4 is and has been said by a lot of mechanics to be bullet proof.

Howerver, there are al lot of electrical problems and issues with the body fit and the interior plastics, etc. The same applies to Liberties.
Just read the stuff in this forum.

The 2005-2006 Wrangler UnLmited with the 4.0L engine is probably a better replacement for your Cherokee (The transmission, however is not the AW4). Have you seen the new Jeep Commander??...it looks just like the Classic Cherokee but on steroids.

I have one of each. My Cherokee is a '95 4.0 stick and my Liberty is a '03 v-6 auto. They have their differences. I have had both in the mud as well as sand and both performed flawlessly. Driving in snow, no difference. As for as fit and finish goes, about the same. The difference shows when you consider the ride and comfort level. I have put 211,000 miles on my Cherokee and I have never considered the seats to be even remotely comfortable. The leg room is so-so. The ride, well it is a jeep. The Liberty has much nicer seats and lots of leg room. The more modern suspension gives a smoother ride. More of a SUV than the Cherokee. The Cherokee is more fun to drive but the Liberty shines on long trips. Mechanically the Cherokee has been very reliable. The Liberty has 35,000 trouble free miles. Which you choose depends on what you are looking for in a ride.