Switching search from GW to ZJ - is that a good thing?

[Scramblin_Jim]

:banghead: The spousal unit doesn't like GW's!!! :banghead:

She want us to get a "more modern" vehicle. She likes the looks of the ZJ's. Is this where I now get thrown out of the FSJ fratrernity? :eek:

Can you guys give me some pro's and con's as why or why not go with a mid 90's ZJ.

Of course her points are:

styling
more comfortable expecially the LTD's
safer - air bags???I'm just starting to bring myself to this way of thinking and see these points:

no carb - fuel injection - better???
maybe better gas milage???
more vehicles to choose from to fit into my price range
not as bigI'd love to hear your comments on this please.

[Chevelleguy]

With the weight and thickness of the GW, you can't get much safer as far as protection from a crash. But the brakes and handling are better in the ZJ. Fuel injection is great, but the mileage won't be a whole lot better. The 4.0 is slightly underpowerd for the ZJ (our XJ gets 15-17) and the 5.2 and 5.9 get even worse mileage. I can understand wanting a more modern vehicle, so if she doesn't like the GW, you aren't going to convence her otherwise.:D
As far as the size of a ZJ vs GW, they are about the size.

[unclethumbtack]

You came to the IFSJA to ask if it was better to drive a baby jeep?

[steven79]

If your wife is on the small side in hight don't get one with air bags.
Plus i have seen major front end crashes were the bags did not diploy and then the ones were they bump a pole at 2 mph and BAM!! they diploy.
Also serch the forum for some of the wrecks we have had posted with pics, i would stay firm on the sj myself.

[J10Mike]

The ZJ isn't bad. But, I would go for a clean WJ myself. Even the 4.7L V8 in the WJ gets 20 plus MPG highway.

[Scramblin_Jim]

You came to the IFSJA to ask if it was better to drive a baby jeep?
UncleThumbTack,
Ya gotta keep up man. This is fast pace stuff here. :D
Do a search on my previous posts and you'll see where I am coming from on the issue. I still want the GW OK!!!! :D You guys haven't steered me wrong yet so that is why I asked the question. I also knew someone who put a zinger in there. You win the prize!!! :D

I'm the one that will be driving this vehicle as a DD and on the rare occation she may have to. She is 4'11" so height is a problem in some cars we have sat in, expecially seats that have deep seating surface.

Still looking for that right GW and if a nice WJ comes along at a low price, ya never know. I'll keep ya posted and let ya know if I turn traitor. :eek: Thanks guys.

[TexTJ209]

You came to the IFSJA to ask if it was better to drive a baby jeep?

A ZJ isn't a baby jeep. It just isn't a Fullsize Jeep. ;)

[unclethumbtack]

I am just messing with you I got 1 J-10, 1 GW, 1 SJ, 1 XJ, and 1 2006 grand cherokee.

[Sporer65]

I currently have a ZJ and love it. Plus, if you get a 93, you could search for a Grand Wagoneer model. Just a wood grain package on a ZJ but it might make you feel better. It's what I have now.

[91G-Dub]

A ZJ isn't a baby jeep. It just isn't a Fullsize Jeep. ;)

It's a tweener?

[ncjeepers]

'96-'98 are the best Grand Cherokees ever made IMHO

[cincyjeeprs]

I like 'em all.
The Wife drives a '98ZJ with the 4.0. It has plenty of power. The trick is to get one with the factory tow package. It will come with 3.73s in the pumpkins. Way better response than the '95 we had with the 3.55s.

If you want to look a little newer than a '98, yeah, go with the 4.7. Stay away from the 5.2. I'd rather have a '99+ with a 4.7 than a '98- with the 5.2. Of course, if you can find one and don't mind the gas, go for the '98 5.9 - well, never mind. If you want a 5.9...get the SJ.

[oldmanb777]

My wife drives a 98 ZJ 5.2,Son drives a 95 4.0, sister has 98 5.2, brothers wife drives a 93 4.0. The good, rides nice, has live axles. Handles reasonably well if not too loaded. The V-8s are failry quick. Coils springs work fairly well off road for a "grocery getter". The up country package is actually a good off roader for a stock vehicle.
The bad, the V-8's are terrible on gas. Fullt time 4x4 etc sucks it up. 11-12 in town. I do better than that with the 401. Small, you can't get 4 people and camp gear in it. like you can in the FSJ. Brakes are non existant when new! the first time you step on them the rotors are warped and they get worse from there. I have had to retrofit to better slotted rotors on the v-8s. Interior is made of very poor materials, drivers seat came apart in no time. Don't buy the leather, it seems to be worse. The Dana 44 rear end in the V-8s is bastardised. It is a "C" clipped axle unlike most D-44s we are used to. More like the D-35s. And it has an aluminum pumpkin. The problem is, they load the gears in the pumpkin before pressing the axle shafts in. Then when they press the axles in, it changes the gear spacing causing the ring gear to wear prematurely. Many before 50,000 miles. There is a chrysler service letter about it. Chrysler support is horrible, worse since Mercedes got them. They have the notorious RE series junk Chrysler automatics. I could go on and on. I like the car ok, but certainly not the car I thought it was when I bought it. Next to my FSJ's, My FSJ's are trucks, my ZJ's are cars.

[aerocorey]

I LOVED my '99 WJ. ZJs are cool too. Get yourself a '98 5.9 LTD. It was the fastest production SUV for quite some time. Might still be. I've seen numbers saying it'll outrun one of them Porsche SUVs. The wife'll like that I bet.

[FSJNate]

'96-'98 are the best Grand Cherokees ever made IMHO
I second this. I have a 96, my mom has a 99. I like mine better. Its more comfortable to drive. I'd get the NP242 transfer case. It has full time 4x4, part time 4x4 with 2.74:1 low range, and also the option of 2wd for those late night doughnuts.:drivin:

[AMX factor]

It's a tweener?

XJ's are "orphans" or "red-headed step-children"

[grand_wag_85]

XJ's are "orphans" or "red-headed step-children"
That burns....Atleast XJ's were 100% designed by AMC:whistle: :p

Wait, don't you mean ZJ's? :D

[Kali]

styling is personal taste
comfort - the wagos have it all over ZJs in my opinion. My sis had a 98 laredo and it was about the same ride as an XJ (which isnt the smoothest ride out there). The 88 wago I just brought home rides similar to my sisters 99 tahoe (which equals comfy). only thing the wago lacks is a good cup holder [edit] plus the wagos have a roomy interior with very good visibility. I found the ZJ to have a big blind spot and is cramped similar to an XJ
safety - i wouldnt think a ZJ is THAT much safer than a wag. id much rather have a full frame

the only advantage i see is better fuel economy. oh, and my sis's 98 had killer stock speakers.

[waggy401]

A little off topic, but :noevil: . . .

I often like driving my 89 GW more than my little 01 Sebring coupe. Sure, the Sebring gets better mileage, goes faster, and corners much better, but the GW actually has a little bit better ride. I never get comments about the car, but in the Jeep I almost always get smiles and, "hey, I remember those. My [parents, uncle, whomever] had one of those. Nice." What's really funny is the small accessory stuff works better in the GW than the little car, like the temperature gauge and compass. Much more accurate.

If you are going to be the one driving it most of the time, why can't you get what you would be most happy with? I know, I know, marriage doesn't always work that way. That's why we have three vehicles - I have the GW and the Sebring, my wife has her '06 Dodge 2500 Cummins. I suppose you could get a ZJ for now, as long as she lets you get a Waggy if/when a good one comes along. :D

[PlasticBoob]

Get a '98 Grand Cherokee 5.9. Gas mileage will be the same as a FSJ, but your smile will be a lot bigger when you punch it. :D

[Heep80]

if moneys an issue, just say I can make this cooler for less. besides insurance will be cheaper etc. gas mileage will be about the same, oh and if she's short4-11' just get some steps on the sides. my girl didn't like the heep/much less thought that it ran, until she started getting checked out in it. now she loves it. not to get flamed on this by the women but, Generally speaking most females just want a car/truck/suv that looks nice(paint) hope that helps:thumbsup: