looking at a 2000 Cherokee

[nanoreefer]

I am looking at a 2000 cherokee. I need a vehicle to get back and forth to work and to haul my kids around in the evenings. I really only put about 4000 miles a my vehicles a year.
The question that I have is what is considered high milage on the Cherokee? The one that I am looking at has 140000 miles on it. I am not familiar with Jeep Cherokees. Thanks

[sector95]

That's a high mileage vehicle by any standards. 15K is the "normal" average annual mileage and this one averages 20K.... does the asking price reflect that? How well has it been cared for? Is this a 2wd or 4wd model? If you don't need the 4wd, then 2wd models are very inexpensive on the used market; the 4wd equipment will add potential maintenance costs and cost you in gas mileage. The inline six will go about 200K before needing a rebuild (if it's been given a modicum of care). The typical sore spot on the engine is the rear main seal; it leaks prematurely (I have a '00 Cherokee w/89K and it is leaking just enough to mark her parking spot). The automatic trans is a pretty robust unit and again, if given some care, will last just about forever. Another problem spot is the electric windows: they quit working from the individual door switches and sometimes quit working altogether. If your gas gauge quits working you'll need to replace the entire fuel pump/filter/sending unit in the gas tank.....read: expensive.

If I were you, I would look for a lower mileage vehicle and assess whether or not you really need the 4WD option. If you go with 4WD, then I would look for a vehicle with the transfer case allowing full-time 4WD along with the part-time 4WD.... the full-time capability allows you to select 4WD at any time and is useful for pavemant driving in inclement weather (rain, snow etc). The basic transfer case only offers part-time 4WD which you can *only* engage in off-road situations or when you will be on road driving in deep snow or very slick conditions... so your opportunities to use the 4WD capabilities could be limited and, IMHO, would be a waste of money. For your useage, a 2wd version would be better than a part-time 4wd only transfer case equipped vehicle.

Hope this helps and good luck in the hunt.

Mike
00XJ

[fredjacksonsan]

I'd have to agree. With few exceptions, any vehicle with 140K, and averaging 20K per year would be high mileage. Unless the Jeep was very well cared for, you may want to look elsewhere.

[AlohaBra]

I also agree about the high mileage, but my 97 has 135K on it. I am the orginal owner. To keep it this long, I have had to do many major things to it. But the engine and transmission are solid. I am also an ex-dealer auto technician and do all my own work (except when the daughter had it in college).

I have the Command Trac. The reason I keep it is... I use it for Jeeping or "wheeling". It is kind of a hobby thing. I also have a Mazda Tribute All Wheel Drive V-6 that I use (not off-road).

So, the bottom line is, if everything has been replaced like the radiator, brakes, rotors, NSS, and other problems fixed, the engine and trans are renown to be rock solid. The Jeep is easy to fix. The Jeep is extremely capapable for off-roading so if that is what you need, get it. I will be at Jeep Jamboree Big Bear this year, see ya there.