best and worst years

so what year cherokees should people look for and which year should they stray from? personally i have a 1990 and i feel like it isnt too great of a year. first year they stopped dana 44's and last year of the "low-output" engines. and ive heard that the ABS system isnt so great as on newer ones. so what are everyones thought on the years to get or not to get?

My 2 cents:
The last year made was 2001..get it with as low a mileage as possible.
After that...the Wranger Unlimited 2005 (wheelbase like the XJ) with 4.0L engine....also the last year for the 4.0L...
After that...ask Dr. Z.....

so you feel that 2001 is the best year for cherokees? anyone else have a different answer?

I say that because last year, I wanted to buy an Xj with low miles to replace the 97 that had 130K on it for my daughter. I want the newest with low miles, so I found a 2001 with 50K on it that came off of a lease and had sat unsold for 1 year at a dealer.
But, actually any year with a 4.0L HO engine and a AW4 automatic would be OK, it is just that the body is racking up the high miles. None of mine have ABS. For Off the Road use and lifting, the pre 96 is less prone to driveshaft vibes on mild lifts, but if you go up, usually you have to start changing suspension and driveshafts anyway.
The Wrangler Unlimited Hardtop is still a 4.0L and can be bought new. Remember, the 4.0L will never be made again and it is an AWSOME motor.

Dr. Z will be redoing the Wranglers with a DC 3.8L V-6.

I would agree with aloha on the pre96 i have a 96 xj and i put a 2 inch lift and im still having driveline vibe issues but other than that all is well.... if it was me any 97 + would be my choice just because it has the updated interior and some exterior finding a low mileage is the key and make sure you take it out on the highway and check for Death Wobble and front end shimmy issues that occur on these jeeps

I would say 89 and 90 would be the worst, abs system with the killer electric hydralic booster pump etc. , also shitty cooling system that is closed, very expensive parts, ie, tps , iac, are different than other years. You cannot retrieve codes from the computer the way you can with other years , before and after. I have an 89 and have removed all the abs shit and coverted to the 88 standard system. So far replaced the brakes including every component, exhaust, cat, shocks, tank, pump, sending unit,ignition switch, blower resistor, crank sensor, several relays, track bar, tie rods,damper,sync sensor in dist,fan clutch, windshield,battery,starter relay. Still, it needs upper and lower ball joints, tps or map sensor because it idles to 2200 rpm at start up, then I can turn my attention to the rusted out rocker panels and paint. I've also replaced the tires and rims. Why did I buy it in the first place you ask? Well it was raining when we looked at it so it looked nice and shiney, its a LTD. so it has leather seats a/c power everything so my wife thought that was cool. I paid $1000 for it, it has 160000 km, (100,000 miles) I thought was low, would I do it again, no, if I looked again, I would pay more attention to wether it was well taken care of instead of looking for something with low milage. Still have to take apart the neutral safety switch for the reverse lights.