VehiCROSS Vs Jeep Cherokee

[kach22i]

First off I have to say that I love the VehiCROSS, lusted for one since they first came out.

My ride of 19 years a 1990 Geo Tracker with a zebra paint job I did myself finally died. I used it as my winter beater (salty Michigan) and to tow my small and light weight hovercraft. I love having a 4x4 even though I don't off-road.

The prices for a 2000 Jeep Cherokee with a 4.0L straight 6 which people seem to love is comparable to a VehiCROSS.

The only reason I'm considering spending 7k-8k is that two really old cars is just too much for me. My summer car is a rough around the edges 1977 Porsche 911 targa and takes a lot of my spare time.

The alternate of buying a +16 year old and under $2,000 ride will seem great until I have to sink $1,200 into it within a year.


VehiCROSS Vs Jeep Cherokee
I am a person of passion that lives for design (poor architect), but I'm tight for money. I have to make a cold hard choice, a smart choice. The money is coming out of an IRA I had to cash out which is being split to pay self-employment taxes, credit card debt and purchase a winter ride.


What is the smart and safe thing to do? Please be honest and do a little self examination of your VX ownership.

I figure my back up plan is to spend a little more now and get what I want, so I have the option of selling the Porsche (lucky to get 8k for it) if my back is to the wall later.

[TheGanzman]

The "smart & safe thing to do" is to buy the Jeep Cherokee - absolutely NO question between those two choices! Likely more reliable, easier to work on by yourself and/or almost ANY mechanic, the straight 6 motor is an "Iron Duke" that will last forever with NO issues likely; the cherry on the sundae is that there's a blue million of 'em in the junkyards! A 2 door "Sport" model was my #2 choice; yep, the VX won out! Though I'll probably sell either my RV and/or my '88 Porsche Carrera Coupe to "cover" me against any potential "catastrophic" repairs that may arise, the "cool factor" just won out. You can't swing a cat without hitting a Jeep Cherokee; when was the last time you saw a VX on the road? I may live to regret it, but life is about taking chances. Worst case - you can always change your mind later on; it ain't the end of the World or nuthin'...

[Ascinder]

the straight 6 motor is an "Iron Duke" that will last forever with NO issues likely

X2. The one caveat being that the 4.0L motors accecories are unfortunately the achilles heel. Jeeps use extremely small and unserviceable vacuum lines and breathers. These get clogged quickly and then have to be replaced. The other non engine accessories are sub par too. The heaters don't work all that well, and the Cherokee is a unibody design making it only OK as a platform to develop into a true offroad machine. It doesn't sound like you are planning to wheel a ton so thta probably isn't much of a concern. The cherokee will likely get better mileage on average too. The VX looks better, but Ganz is right. The resale and parts availability, not to mention mechanic familiarity will go a long way. The VX is a fantastic rig for what is was intended for, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's for everyone. Around here if you have to ask if you should get one, then you probably shouldn't. It's either undying love at first sight, or nothin'. IMHO

[Gussie2000]

The cherokee shall be your 1rst choice.

Now,if you ask me which cherokee would step away & deffinetly avoid the grand cherokee's last generation.

Go for any cherokee from 1999 thru 2004,to me the best cherokees ever built.
My sister owns the 2002 limited edition & overheard nothing but excelent inputs.it's fast,powerfull as should do as a V8 & the trim is full luxury,i'll go further & say even more luxury then the new limited generation with the 5.7L hemi engine.

I can't say much of the jeeps,the only model i've even test drive from the new generation is the SRT8 grand cherokee because it's a monster.

[Ldub]

First off I have to say that I love the VehiCROSS, lusted for one since they first came out.

My ride of 19 years a 1990 Geo Tracker with a zebra paint job I did myself finally died. I used it as my winter beater (salty Michigan) and to tow my small and light weight hovercraft. I love having a 4x4 even though I don't off-road.

The prices for a 2000 Jeep Cherokee with a 4.0L straight 6 which people seem to love is comparable to a VehiCROSS.

The only reason I'm considering spending 7k-8k is that two really old cars is just too much for me. My summer car is a rough around the edges 1977 Porsche 911 targa and takes a lot of my spare time.

The alternate of buying a +16 year old and under $2,000 ride will seem great until I have to sink $1,200 into it within a year.


VehiCROSS Vs Jeep Cherokee
I am a person of passion that lives for design (poor architect), but I'm tight for money. I have to make a cold hard choice, a smart choice. The money is coming out of an IRA I had to cash out which is being split to pay self-employment taxes, credit card debt and purchase a winter ride.


What is the smart and safe thing to do? Please be honest and do a little self examination of your VX ownership.

I figure my back up plan is to spend a little more now and get what I want, so I have the option of selling the Porsche (lucky to get 8k for it) if my back is to the wall later.

REALLY?...the smart safe road?...

If you have to ask, you probably don't belong in a VX...

[pbkid]

yup, everyone is giving you the honest truth...your much safer with the cherokee...

if your looking for something reliable, get the jeep....if your looking for something that you will LOVE to drive and own get a VX....every person you drive by will stare at you like your driving a ferrari, everyone you know will most likely tell you that they love your car and wish they could get one...

the cherokee, will be reliable, probably more fuel efficient and will DEFINATELY be easier to get parts for....

[kach22i]

Thanks for all the input. I posted this thread near 10:00 at night, I'm struck by all the comments made. And as I suspected you all think what I've been struggling with.

I figure I can live without an old Porsche if I had a VehiCROSS for that cool and fun factor. However I'm not ready to let go of the 911, not when I'm getting 26 mph hwy.

The Jeep Jeep (Wrangler) with just seems overpriced, I guess people grow up wanting one, which makes a $2,000 long in the tooth beater cost $6,000 actual.

The Cherokee is a fair value, but if this were summer and gas was at $4.00 a gallon I'd be getting a much better deal in this part of the country.

Thanks, George/kach22i.

PS: Listed on cars.com in Howell, Michigan there is a black VehiCross for around $7,500 but I don't know if it's sold yet. It's about double what I wanted to spend, but tempting.

[tom4bren]

The VX should NEVER be considered a beater car. Not only is it blasphemy but the VX is an addiction.

One other option that I'd like to throw on the table is an older model Toyota Land Cruiser. I have a 93 with 1/4 mil miles on it and it has by far the best 4WD system on it for winter driving that I've ever owned. They may be scarce but should be reasonably priced (I'm saying that as a WAG - I've not looked).

[kach22i]

Toyota

I'm in Michigan and at this time buying even old American seems like the politically correct thing to do.

Not that I'd let that stop me from buying what I want.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I don't think the VX will ever be a beater either. I think it will go straight to rare classic status. They might be near their low value point now.

[BigSwede]

The Cherokee isn't more reliable, at least not for all the little things, in general it is less reliable (as in more trips to the shop). But for catastrophic engine failure, then yes.

[tom4bren]

"buying even old American seems like the politically correct thing to do."

I've never been acused of being politically correct.

I got the TLC years ago since I needed seating for 8 at the time & there weren't many cars available to fit the bill. 1/4 mil miles, only 1 of the 4 power windows still work, 5 kids have learned to drive on it, the straight 6 still pulls strong, burns oil worse than any VX, water pump leaks, never been in the shop, paid off = it's a keeper.

[nfpgasmask]

If you have to ask, you probably don't belong in a VX...

x2. To he11 with all of the previous posters' and their "honesty"!!! There is no comparing a Jeep to a VX. Cripes man, you have a 911 Targa, so you sound like the kinda guy who likes to roll in style. Here's a pic of my garage. Don't they look just swell together?



And seriously, if you find a good, sound, well maintained VX, I don't think you will have many major problems. I bought my VX almost three years ago. It had 25,000 miles on it from the original owner. I now have 85,000 miles on it. The only part I have replaced is my EGR valve ($150 and 10 minutes to change). True, there are some issues with the VX that you absolutely should know about. It does need (and completely deserves) to be properly babied. You just need to decide if you are a man of fashion or a man of reason.

Bart

PS - If you go with a VX, you will have this forum to lean on pretty much 24/7. We are all here because we love these little trucks and we all do our best to keep our VXes on the road and running strong.

PPS - Life is too short to drive a boring vehicle.

[Ldub]

PPS - Life is too short to drive an boring vehicle.

Mmmmmmm...SHINEY...SHINY?...DOH!...:homer:

[tom4bren]

What's in the numbered boxes Bart? Spare parts?

[pbkid]

x2. To he11 with all of the previous posters' and their "honesty"!!! There is no comparing a Jeep to a VX. Cripes man, you have a 911 Targa, so you sound like the kinda guy who likes to roll in style. Here's a pic of my garage. Don't they look just swell together?



And seriously, if you find a good, sound, well maintained VX, I don't think you will have many major problems. I bought my VX almost three years ago. It had 25,000 miles on it from the original owner. I now have 85,000 miles on it. The only part I have replaced is my EGR valve ($150 and 10 minutes to change). True, there are some issues with the VX that you absolutely should know about. It does need (and completely deserves) to be properly babied. You just need to decide if you are a man of fashion or a man of reason.

Bart

PS - If you go with a VX, you will have this forum to lean on pretty much 24/7. We are all here because we love these little trucks and we all do our best to keep our VXes on the road and running strong.

PPS - Life is too short to drive an boring vehicle.

that would be 'a' unless followed by an a word i believe ;pg;