Cunning Jeep Cherokee XJ

Cunning Plan · July 16, 2012, 05:09:22 AM

Thought I should start a thread for my Cherokee XJ.

It's a '99/00 2.5TD Orvis editon, stock.

Bought it from the nicest, most genuine old boy ever. A total pleasure buying the vehicle for a change instead of hassle. Also, after doing nearly 23k on it so far, everything he told me about the Cherokee was true, which as most people know from buying second-hand cars, is very rare.

Originally bought it as a run about as it was local and my '97 1.8 petrol Ford Mondeo Estate had broke, but the more I drove it, the more I liked it. The cruise control, air conditioning, electric windows, comfortable seats and nice cruising driving position also help.

I do a lot of miles, about 22k usually and I was worried about the MPG, but because of the type of roads I usually travel on and speed I tend to keep do, I average 35mpg, which is only a couple less than my old, lighter Ford Mondeo. So it worked out just about feasible.

This is what I've done to it so far:

Recent MOT!

Had the smallest fail and advisory sheet on the Cherokee against any other car I've had considering the age, weight and miles it is doing!

Small bit of welding was needed around the O/S driver's sill, near the seat-belt mounting and it went through!

A couple of advisories about small oil leaks on axles and a tyre.

I've done nearly 23k in it now!

art b · July 16, 2012, 06:35:38 AM

so you are gald you bought it ..

its a good job you didnt listen to most of us..

im glad its worked out well for ya...

Cunning Plan · July 16, 2012, 07:00:21 AM

Quoting: art b

im glad its worked out well for ya...

For now......

Roadkill · July 16, 2012, 12:17:21 PM

I do like the Jeeps . . . Nice size and good position on the road.

Surprisingly I found my 4.0L one sluggish . . . It seemed to be running fine but just didn't seem to have any legs . . .

Andy · July 17, 2012, 02:13:29 AM

Whats special about the Orvis edition?

Cunning Plan · July 17, 2012, 04:11:56 AM

Quoting: Roadkill

Surprisingly I found my 4.0L one sluggish

The TD is agricultural being an old indirect design, but as long as you let the gears do the work it chugs along and has loads of torque. The turbo is great for over-taking in 5th gear from 40 and accelerate to 70/75.

I know for the commuting I'm doing it would be a better idea to have a Diesel Mondeo for fuel econonmy, but I like the Cherokee and the MPG isn't that far different from the petrol Mondeo, so as long as it works, I'll use it.

I've never driven the 4L petrol so can't really compare.

Quoting: Andy

Whats special about the Orvis edition?

Fatter spoke alloy wheels that are wider and bigger, front spot-lights integrated into the bumper and heated mirrors I think.

Cunning Plan · October 24, 2012, 08:15:49 AM

Added an 'official' boot cover with the adjustable hooks, correct for the model year, curtsy of JamesH on Jeep-Club :bravo: :thumbup:

It's the wrong colour, but that doesn't matter as it does its job just fine :D

Cunning Plan · October 24, 2012, 08:19:23 AM

The simple pleasures of a 4x4 - finding deep, muddy puddles to play in on the way to work :mrgreen:

Andy · October 24, 2012, 10:15:40 AM

Trying to work out if that genuinely is the boot cover or just you hanging a towel up to dry. Is that seriously all you got to cover the boot?!

Roadkill · October 24, 2012, 10:31:31 AM

Quoting: Cunning Plan

Added an 'official' boot cover with the adjustable hooks, correct for the model year, curtsy of JamesH on Jeep-Club :bravo: :thumbup:

More copying and pasting.

It just makes me feel less special . . . .

Cunning Plan · October 24, 2012, 03:05:08 PM

@Andy

Yup, that's it! I was a bit dissapointed compared to the retractable cover in my old Mondeo estate, but it does the job

Weird thing is, it looks like a prototype cover doesnt it? The older Cherokees have a proper retractable cover, the same as the Grand Cherokees, but for some reason the later models have thiia cheap cover. I assume it was a cost saving excersise. :

Cunning Plan · October 24, 2012, 03:21:32 PM

@RK

You will always be my special little guy.

Andy · October 25, 2012, 02:17:01 AM

Well I guess there are less mechanical things to go wrong with it

Bet you can't wait for winter with that to have fun!

Roadkill · October 25, 2012, 08:31:00 AM

Love you too, CP.

art b · October 25, 2012, 12:48:27 PM

we love :mr green:

Cunning Plan · November 17, 2012, 08:53:48 AM

Had to give the Cherokee a bit of love.

New rear-plate bulbs and some stainless screws donated from the bus as the old ones were so corroded, they weren't going to come out another time.

Also topped up the Diffs and Axles along with the other levels. One good thing about a 4x4 is you don't need to jack it up to get underneath!

Roadkill · November 18, 2012, 05:05:50 PM

CP, I found a set of head and side light bulbs I bought for my old Cherokee which I never used.
Any use to you ?

Cunning Plan · November 19, 2012, 03:21:26 AM

Sure, to put on the shelf as spares

Are they standard bulbs? Not those Xeon blue ones or anything like that?

Roadkill · November 19, 2012, 04:04:47 AM

Think so. I'll check.

Roadkill · November 20, 2012, 08:38:52 AM

Can't remember what I ordered but here's a pic :

Seem to recall they were bright white ones . . . . I don't think I would've gone for blue tinted ones as I'm not a fan of those at all . . .

EDIT - To clarify, I have a pair of these.

Cunning Plan · November 20, 2012, 09:02:42 AM

Quoting: Roadkill

Seem to recall they were bright white ones

Hmm I think I'll leave them dude. I only replaced the headlight bulbs last year, so hopefully hey should be good for a while.

Thanks anyway

Roadkill · November 20, 2012, 10:23:25 AM

No worries.

I didn't pay much for them but thought I'd check before binning them.

Cunning Plan · February 17, 2013, 12:05:30 PM

Nice day today, so cleaned off some of the dirt and road-salt from winter.

I also fitted some new number-plate caps to tidy them up. :thumbup:

art b · February 17, 2013, 04:03:44 PM

duh ...
you have scrubbed the numbers off of ya number plate...

Cunning Plan · February 17, 2013, 05:17:50 PM

I like it 'FBody' clean..