1999 Grand Cherokee 4.7l V8 - 14,098 miles = $7800:
http://nashville.craigslist.org/cto/2118581063.html


I contacted the guy selling it and asked some general questions...Miles legit, no wrecks, and clean title

I'm thinking I want to go check it out sometime this week and I just want to be prepared.

Any other questions I should ask? Anyone have experience with Jeeps?

Dont know much other than thats the first model year of that bodystyle. Not sure if that means anything good or bad.

Seems like a good deal if there are no issues

if that's what you want, sure. seems reasonable

Something has to be wrong with it. It's almost too good to be true... low price, crazy low miles... I'm not sure. But I guess we'll see.

Somethings up with it - go check it out and report back. BTW as a previous Grand Cherokee owner I can tell you it was a love hate relationship. Lot's of little (some big) things go wrong. The front rotors warp, with the auto temp the HVAC system fails, the rear tail light wiring shorts out, 5 speed auto tranny's fail. I could go on and on but just Google the Grand's and you'll read lot's of stories.

Whatever you decide good luck!

My father owned 3 Grand Cherokees and all had major issues. One had a motor replaced. I would stay away from it. Not to mention you will probably get only 12 - 13 mpg with that pig.

I leased a 99 GC with the 4.0 6cyl engine. I got 12-13 MPG. Hated the POS and had my wife drive it most of the time. Poor build quality, very poor on road ride quality. When I dropped it off at end of lease, dealer was surprised I didn't have trouble with the rear end. We put less than 30k miles on it on the 36 months. It was a poor choice that I regretted.
Oh, it didn't have much passenger or cargo room either.

Am I the only one who thinks the price is a little high? You could get some nicer cars for that coin, but the mileage is pretty low.

What will you be using the car for?

EDIT: If you haven't asked/don't know already:

Why hasn't it been driven much?
One owner?
Dealer maintained? (I'm guessing so)

I'd get it checked out thoroughly at 2 places, it's probably been sitting for a good amount of time. That mileage is almost too low to spread comfortably over 12 years.

that generation grand cherokee is a high roll over risk.

not many people are going to believe me but when I lived in Delaware back in 2000 i saw one of these cherokees get rear ended for a Ford Windstar with the really sloped front end and the Jeep flipped over on its nose and then onto its side. we were all stopping at a red light. the van hit the Jeep at maybe 25 mph at the most.

i couldnt believe my eyes.

Probably a flood vehicle hence the low price, I saw something similar with a 2004 RSX Type S with 64k miles and they only wanted 4500 for it, but it smelled like some straight up football locker room.

Kbb says private party in excellent is around $9k.
My sister is the one looking for a Jeep. She used to have one a few years back, totaled it, then got a VW passat and misses her old Grand - which was a '99 I-6. Same body style... but her's got 16-19mpg. She hates driving her car and wants an SUV.

I definitely agree there. My first car I bought back in the day was a '98 5.9L Limited ZJ (hince the screen name) and man that thing was a BEAST! I had a ARB bullbar, ARB airlocker, wench, 31s, roofrack w/ tire on top. Man I miss those days. Long story short, gas prices went up (I had 11-13 mpg), and I sold it.


Honestly it sounds like a lot of you are against these things. But my sister hated driving a car and she will not even consider getting anything BUT a SUV. Her budget is around 8k, but she (being a nurse...and makes BANK!...its ridiculous..) could always do payments on something else maybe falling around $300/mo. Also, she is so particular to leather interior. She said she would rather sacrifice mileage for a nicer leather interior.
My thing with her is to get something you love and are obsessed about, like I am with my TL. She should have that same feeling too.

What else should she consider?? Any there any reliable SUVs out there with nice interiors that won't cost an arm and a leg?

That steering wheel cover is a big red flag for me. Have a look at the condition of the actual leather wheel underneath and that will tell you volumes about the car's true mileage. The exhaust pipe and tip look almost new but then again, it could have been replaced.

My uncle+aunt had a late 90's GC. It worked fine for the first...two weeks...then it just went all downhill from there. First it was electronic issues with sensors reporting false info, then a little later all the mechanical issues came (tranny burning oil, bearings wearing etc).

I would stay away if possible.

Make sure the transmission isn't dragging ass and check for anything more than average blow by.

You need something with a 5.9

typical jeep POS

My father in law, a mechanic, picked up a very clean 97 JGC Laredo w/ 100k just after I left for Detroit...so about 5 months ago. He bought it for $1000, put another $200 into it and has been loving it ever since. I may end up taking it over when the twins get here.

How about a Nissan Pathfinder or Infiniti QX4? If she's willing to try a crossover, a used Lexus RX300 isn't a bad bet either. (if she must have a truck based SUV, perhaps a Toyota 4Runner? resale on 4Runners is insane though)

RX300's arent nearly as good as the current ones in my opinion....highway driving I felt like my mom's was always fighting to find the right gear for passing, etc. But they are very nice. I LOVED her RX400h...and I really like her current 3rd gen RX350

Pathfinder/QX4 are fantastic...but you have to pay attention to the years...anything over 97 is what you want....you want to make sure you get the 3.5L engine and NOT the 3.3L.

RX300?!?! Engine "gel" issues with the 3.0 V6.....stay away.

but they burn through o2 and knock sensors like and lubriderm

Word on this...I had a 96 Pathy SE that was awesome in many aspects but that 3.3L was a straight up turd. No passing power, horrible gas mileage, constant check engine lights, etc. Only good thing about it was it only required 3.5 qts of oil for a complete oil change incl' filter!

My ex-cowoker from my last job has an 01 pathfinder. She is not easy on cars and she has abused this thing for over 5 years. The only problem that i know of was a bad MAF sensor.

This replaced a 97 gc that needed a ton of work on the drivetrain consistantly.

My mom has an '02 RX300 that we ordered and bought brand new. It has been nothing but (expensive) trouble and honestly, I don't know why she still has it.

2nd gen CR-V?

I owned a 95 Grand with the 4.7. It's really a 318 cid. Good motor,but jeeps and Chrysler's in general have a lot of electrical gremlins and always have.

Ok well we're going to stay away from Jeeps. We just got done looking at Tahoes and MDXs...not sure if she can afford them but what the hell. I told her to get something she will love to drive, but something a little more affordable.

The MDXs were around 5-600/mo. with a $5500 down payment, so it's kinda doable. I personally hated the "tank-ness" of the Tahoe. It's just wayyy to much car for a girl that just takes it to work and back.

well what do you intend to use the vehicle for? does it have to be a true off-roader, which the JC was? A Tahoe and an MDX are two very different creatures, although from what I've read, neither one are actually good in true off-road situations, despite the Tahoe having the actual hardware to do so.

MDX > Pilot but Pilot is a little less expensive and almost the same. Probably more room than she needs, good ride, reasonable power and gas mileage, Honda reliability. I get 15-18 MPG in town. Should last forever. Replaced my POS GC in 2002, never looked back. If she gets an older one, 2004 or before, may want extended warranty for transmission. We haven't had any trouble but just hit 50k.

not really that bad, biggest thing is making sure you change the oil on a regular basis with quality oil (with high detergents) (also getting out onto the highway occasionally also, to get some heat into the motor)


btw what you mean is sludge...

Yeah it's looking like an 2001-2006 MDX. I found a couple on cars.com that have free carfaxes. There are some awesome 1-owners on there! Tomorrow I'm going to go check some out.

No not at all. It will be a daily driver, to and from work which is about 20 miles away. I really wish she would get a car, but being a trauma nurse she sees a lot of bad things from car accidents, so she wants something big and safe. And definitely something big for their two dogs.

A buddy of mine picked up a 94. It is awesome. Not really relevant to the 99 discussion though

Bigger isn't necessarily safer, the SUVs she's looking at are MUCH more prone to rollover, and I doubt they'd do well in those kind of situations. That's another thread, though.

Honestly, it sounds like a Volvo station wagon would be perfect her But if she's anywhere near your age I doubt that's a viable option.

What about a Santa Fe? They're dirt cheap, from what I hear relatively reliable, and it looks enough like a big vehicle to make her feel safe.

If she wants something more luxurious, maybe a Merc ML or X5/X3 would suit her, but they're not exactly famed for reliability.

I think you need to give her a heads-up on the financial side of things. Insurance is probably a bit higher for SUVs in general, and gas is only gonna go up.

My GL with getting her something ideal

Haha! Man I have a soft spot for that body style ZJ. I absolutely loved mine! It was a 98 and it was badass!

Haha! No shot she'll drive a wagon. I have nothing against them and the Avants look SWEET! But she hates them with a passion.

Thanks for the input! I don't think she'll go for the Korean made Hyundai and yeah, the German cars kinda freak her out too. Parents had a MB S320 back in the day and they were always compaining about the price of servicing that beast.

Do like I did for my mom's and find a 2001 MDX, I paid 6500 cash for one with 110k miles, and it has a new trans....lol so its got at least another 80k before that trans goes out...lol

Check autotrader.

at your name! haha!

I think 03+ have stability control. Also check safety ratings, she will be impressed. Don't forget to look at Pilots too.