WJ Grand Cherokee - The Ultimate Buyer's Guide
WJ Grand Cherokee - The Ultimate Buyer's Guide
I stumbled across this post on JeepForum.com written by Richard (Billzcat1) which I thought was OUTSTANDING, and covered a bunch of stuff one needs to know before they purchase a 1999-2004 WJ Grand Cherokee. For an all-purpose off-road vehicle, highway vehicle, and grocery getter, it's extremely tough to beat the WJ (and ZJ) Grand Cherokees, and if you know where to look, you can find all sorts of aftermarket modifications for the WJ Grand Cherokee.
WJ Grand Cherokee - The Ultimate Buyer's Guide
Introduction
"What SUV should I buy?" It is a question that has plagued Mankind ever since first he gazed upon the vast Mojave desert, the striking peak of Kilimanjaro, or the crowded Costco parking lot. The WJ model has a lot to offer for a reasonable price which is why nearly 1.6 million were produced over a 5-year run.
If you're reading this, you probably have a lot of questions! "What engine should I get?" "What are some common problems?" "What should I look out for?" "What's the difference between models?" See the posts below to find out more!
The Basics
The WJ Grand Cherokee was released in 1999 as replacement for the successful ZJ Grand Cherokee (1993-1998). It featured a similar basic chassis design with a completely updated interior and exterior design. Improvements were made to the existing 4.0L inline-6 engine and an all-new 4.7L SOHC V8 was released as well. The uni-frame chassis was made considerably stiffer and the suspension was refined with new control arms all around, rubber spring isolators, a new steering system, and a new 3-link rear suspension. The brakes were also enlarged to 12" diameter rotors and dual-piston calipers were added up front. Other improvements included moving the spare tire under the cargo area floor (improving cargo volume), and dual-bulb headlights which put significantly more light on the road with less glare to oncoming drivers. The new 4.7L engine also gave better fuel economy than the 5.2L it replaced, though it did make slightly less torque.
The end result is a quieter and more responsive driving experience with improved cargo capacity.
The WJ won numerous industry awards for its engine and 4WD systems, including Ward's 10 Best Engines (for the 4.7L PowerTech V8), North American Truck of the Year, 4X4 of the Year (Peterson's 4-Wheel and Offroad), Best of What's New (Popular Science), and Technology of the Year (Automobile Magazine, for the QuadraDrive 4WD system)
Competitors
The early 2000s were a boon time for SUVs as the economy was strong and fuel prices low. There are dozens of mid-size SUVs that are comparable in size and features. However, you'll find that most offer lower power for a higher price. There are only two SUVs I would consider a direct competitor in terms of features, luxury, and off-road prowess: The
Land Rover Discovery II and the
Toyota Land Cruiser.Yes, there are more luxurious, more capable, and more sporty SUVs, but very few successfully blend in all categories.
Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f310/ultimate-wj-grand-cherokee-buyers-guide-1271979/
