Well, a few months back I sold my pick-up, because I realized I didn't need a pick up, and was honestly sick of driving a truck around. I sold it for less than I probably could have, but it was too a friend, and my parents said just to get it out of their driveway, and they'd pay me back a little towards its market value if I would just get rid of it. So, besides the fact that I had to give them my new head unit because mom threw out the one it came with, I was happy to be rid of it.

I feel like I got a pretty good deal on the replacement. To Jeep fanboys I guess its somewhat of a rare car. Anyway, I picked up a 1998 Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited, Loaded up, for 2800 bucks. It has 104K on the odometer, and is in very good condition. I figure I'm deploying in a little more than a year, so I just need it to last me at the most until I go away, hopefully my sister can use it to learn on when I'm away. I'll post more pics when the weather is better, but here it is from the Craigslist posting:





Any questions, input, feel free.

Mike

 

You were tired of driving a truck so you bought an SUV? Explain please.

 

I wanted something more comfortable and practical than a full size truck, and a little more amusing to drive. Since I will be going to school in the middle of nowhere, I figure if they actually do have trails and such at least having a jeep leaves me the option of using them. If not, I have a relatively nicely equipped SUV. Its pretty quick too... also probably rolls over pretty easily.

Mike

 

If that's the original tranny....at 104k mi

 

better start memorizing the locations of the local gas stations along your daily drive.
those things are gas hogs.

 

Definitely better then a full-size truck, but still going to suck gas. Not bad now, but it will suck when gas is up to $4/gallon again.

Anyway, congrats on the purchase. I've always been afraid to buy a Jeep b/c I knew too many people who had too many problems with them. Hopefully at 104k miles, the kinks are worked out ...

 

Start saving your pay to get the tranny replaced soon.

Congrats on the new ride though!

 

i used to have a 1998 grand cherokee laredo, I loved it! Im sure you'll enjoy the 5.9, i definitely wanted one at the time i was driving the jeep, congratulations!

 

Dude the 5.9 Limited is PURE SEX!!!

Congrats!

 

Nice pick up. Those things were pretty expensive when new. Just be really good about the oil changes / tranny fluid changes and general upkeep. It should last until you deploy.

If you show up in Okinawa, you can always drop me a line. I work on Camp Foster.

 

They're nicer to drive that a regular truck. And the price tag wasn't bad. But like everyone else says, the upkeep and gas for it can be really expensive. I looked at a Jeep before I got the Pathfinder. The maintainance cost is what prevented me.

Either way....enjoy it.

 

My buddy had a lowered black 98 Dakota 5.9 RT with a flowmaster catback. That thing was pretty sweet.

 

looks nice, beware of the 4x4 problems

 

Congrats.. Sorry to get off topic, where are you stationed at? I was Active USMC 2/03- 2/07 in Oki, and Cherry Point NC....

 

I'm reserves, and am out of Devens, MA. 1/25

Mike

 

As promised:

Old tires vs new:


The stock 225/70R16s were almost bald, unfortunatly its still my spare. The tires are Firestone Destination A/Ts, in 245/75R16. The car rides so much better on road now its not even funny. I am adding 2 inch spring spacers and new shocks (needed) later this week, as it rubs at full lock. I don't intend on doing serious off-roading, but where I am going to school there are a fair amount of trails.










Mike

 

Ahh i had to stop by this thread again..

I'll always love that body style...and the hood vents on the 5.9's look nice

congratulations once again, I hope to buy a jeep again someday

 

Nice pick up...

was huge fan of GC.

 

Well I changed the oil today... got a whopping quart and a half of tar-like oil out of the pan and filter. I added a quart last week when the oil pressure was occasionally dipping down, and then it stayed stable over 35PSI, the other day I noticed it dipping occasionally again. I figured I had the wrong dipstick since it had trouble going in, and I had consistent oil pressure. Well low and behold, I had been running my jeep with almost no oil in the engine.

5 quarts later, the oil pressure is consistently at 45 during idle, and goes to around 50 under load. There are no strange sounds coming from the engine (likewise there were no visible metal filings in the oil), just the ticking of the injectors.

My first question would be, do you think I did any damage to the engine? There was always oil pressure (except during hard turns), albeit low, I never had a check gauges light, and never heard and still don't hear any sounds that would suggest the engine was or is starved of oil.

My second question would be, where the hell did all the oil go? The exhaust is crystal clear, the coolant appears clean (plus 4 quarts of oil don't dissapear into the cooling system), there are no visible leaks, and there is no smoke from oil dripping onto the exhaust.

I have the 5.9L Magnum Btw.

I am going to be monitoring oil consumption (if any) over the next 100 miles, I only put 800 on it since I got it (and had it inspected, f that shop), and then am going to change it again (the oil in the pan is a bit dirty now after idling for 10 mins with whatever else had been sitting in there).

Thanks,

Mike

 

Huh, I lived at Devens for 6 years. For some reason I thought you were from California.

As for the Oil, it is probably only leaking when under high pressure, which is why you don't see any dripping when you are stopped. Or at least that's my guess.

 

congrats!

always been a fan of the GC.

 

Nice Jeep! Time to do a lil off-roading

 

Nice! I had the same vehicle in 98 except it was White. I bought it new but had too many problems to keep up with. It was fun though!

 

My Mom had a '93 GC Limited, the first year of that body style. She racked up 230K on it and put in three tranny's before finally giving it up. They're awesome SUV's and will go through pretty much anything you throw at them. Good luck with it, it looks like a real nice ride.