Author |
Message |
  |
|
b12man
Nirvanophile
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 2153
Location: Lurking somewhere near...
Status: Offline
Xbox Live Gamertag: ForeignBrian 12
|
Post subject: Jeeps - WJ vs ZJ (ZJ wins) |
|
|
Looking at buying some metal and wheels soon, and I've decided it's either going to be a Crown Victoria or a Jeep Grand Cherokee (used, of course).
The problem is (Jeepwise), I'm having a hard time deciding which is a "better"/more reliable Jeep - the ZJ or the newer WJ?
I'm also undecided between getting the mostly bulletproof 4.0 I6 engine, or a V8 model.
Does anyone lurking the forums have any suggestions or experience? _________________
Tutorials || Make Your Own Traffic | Change Traffic Tuning
Projects || 93 Mustang GT | 85 Chevy Suburban [WIP]
Last edited by b12man on 09 Apr 2012 05:48 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
18 Jan 2012 08:34 pm |
|
|
JoeShmo
JoeShmo.Net
Joined: 19 Jul 2002
Posts: 250
Location: New Jersey
Status: Offline
|
Post subject: |
|
|
As far as the US is concerned you've got 5 engine choices between the 2 generations.
ZJ 4.0 L6 / 5.2 V8 / 5.9 V8
WJ 4.0 L6 / 4.7L V8
Given those choices if you are just looking for an all around solid daily driver with a usable on-road powerband find a later model WJ with the 'revamped' 4.7HO V8 engine.
If you intend spending more than 15% of your time off pavement you'll want the I6 for its low powerband but I doubt you fall into this category.
If you want to be an obnoxious **** and try to make a brick on wheels go fast, see if you can track down a 98 ZJ 5.9L.. difficult to come across in good shape but an awesome truck. _________________ Knowledge > Posts
Cancer Survivor, suck on that one. |
|
22 Jan 2012 12:06 am |
|
|
b12man
Nirvanophile
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 2153
Location: Lurking somewhere near...
Status: Offline
Xbox Live Gamertag: ForeignBrian 12
|
Post subject: |
|
|
JoeShmo wrote: |
As far as the US is concerned you've got 5 engine choices between the 2 generations.
ZJ 4.0 L6 / 5.2 V8 / 5.9 V8
WJ 4.0 L6 / 4.7L V8
Given those choices if you are just looking for an all around solid daily driver with a usable on-road powerband find a later model WJ with the 'revamped' 4.7HO V8 engine.
If you intend spending more than 15% of your time off pavement you'll want the I6 for its low powerband but I doubt you fall into this category.
If you want to be an obnoxious **** and try to make a brick on wheels go fast, see if you can track down a 98 ZJ 5.9L.. difficult to come across in good shape but an awesome truck. |
Thanks for the tips! Unfortunately, a newer model WJ is probably out of my price range (I'm looking to spend MAX $2000, aiming for cheaper than that though). I've found a couple WJs with the regular 4.7 in the price range in the summer/fall, but now that it's winter they're all gone.
I'm thinking that unless I find a great deal on a WJ, I'm gonna go ZJ.
I actually have been looking and trying to find a 5.9 ZJ, but as you said, they're hard to come across. What's your opinion of the 5.2? I've found plenty of those
And I'll probably try to spend some time off pavement, since it IS a Jeep, but it probably wouldn't end up being 15% of my time.
My parents actually had a WJ with the 4.0 and the Selec-Trac transfer case, but they didn't feel like having bodywork done so they scrapped it... _________________
Tutorials || Make Your Own Traffic | Change Traffic Tuning
Projects || 93 Mustang GT | 85 Chevy Suburban [WIP] |
|
22 Jan 2012 09:56 pm |
|
|
JoeShmo
JoeShmo.Net
Joined: 19 Jul 2002
Posts: 250
Location: New Jersey
Status: Offline
|
Post subject: |
|
|
The 5.2 is a dog, avoid it at all costs. You should probably keep your eyes open, I just saw a pretty built 4.7 WJ go for $3500 the other day. Even if you didn't have that kind of money it had $2500 worth of suspension and tires you could have sold off for smaller stuff. _________________ Knowledge > Posts
Cancer Survivor, suck on that one. |
|
27 Jan 2012 05:48 pm |
|
|
b12man
Nirvanophile
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 2153
Location: Lurking somewhere near...
Status: Offline
Xbox Live Gamertag: ForeignBrian 12
|
|
03 Mar 2012 07:14 am |
|
|
wannagoodcar1
MM2C Regular
Joined: 17 Nov 2010
Posts: 169
Status: Offline
|
Post subject: |
|
|
Make sure it can go off-road. if you know what I mean  |
|
03 Mar 2012 10:22 am |
|
|
HummersRock
...is still seeing colours.
Joined: 20 Feb 2006
Posts: 2669
Location: Magic Mushroom Land
Status: Offline
|
|
03 Mar 2012 03:30 pm |
|
|
b12man
Nirvanophile
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 2153
Location: Lurking somewhere near...
Status: Offline
Xbox Live Gamertag: ForeignBrian 12
|
Post subject: |
|
|
wannagoodcar1 wrote: |
Make sure it can go off-road. if you know what I mean  |
Oh I think it'll manage
Not gonna beat the crap out of it offroad though, it's going to be a daily driver for me.
I just can't wait to beat all the idiots around here in their fart canned sunflowers with a brick on wheels, as JoeShmo put it  _________________
Tutorials || Make Your Own Traffic | Change Traffic Tuning
Projects || 93 Mustang GT | 85 Chevy Suburban [WIP] |
|
03 Mar 2012 06:08 pm |
|
|
JoeShmo
JoeShmo.Net
Joined: 19 Jul 2002
Posts: 250
Location: New Jersey
Status: Offline
|
Post subject: |
|
|
Good luck. They certainly have their issues so make sure its gone over very well.
Keep in mind, 'fast' by 1998 SUV standards really doesn't mean much.. you're typical stock GTI or the like will walk all over it. Don't think its a rocketship please. _________________ Knowledge > Posts
Cancer Survivor, suck on that one. |
|
03 Mar 2012 09:58 pm |
|
|
wannagoodcar1
MM2C Regular
Joined: 17 Nov 2010
Posts: 169
Status: Offline
|
Post subject: |
|
|
Am I the only one thinking twin turbo?  |
|
03 Mar 2012 11:33 pm |
|
|
b12man
Nirvanophile
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 2153
Location: Lurking somewhere near...
Status: Offline
Xbox Live Gamertag: ForeignBrian 12
|
Post subject: |
|
|
JoeShmo wrote: |
Good luck. They certainly have their issues so make sure its gone over very well.
Keep in mind, 'fast' by 1998 SUV standards really doesn't mean much.. you're typical stock GTI or the like will walk all over it. Don't think its a rocketship please. |
Yeah, I'll be googling and/or hitting up jeepforum.com to find out what to look for. And of course, I'll get it checked by a mechanic before buying it as well.
And haha, I understand. There's just a lot of people around here with slowww cars thinking they're the **** because of a cheap body kit and some shiny rims (even some spinner-hubcaps...)
wannagoodcar1 wrote: |
Am I the only one thinking twin turbo?  |
I can't see myself having the money for that (and all the other stuff that must be done to prep it) for at least 5 years. I think I'd turn it into a 408 stroker before going with forced induction anyway  _________________
Tutorials || Make Your Own Traffic | Change Traffic Tuning
Projects || 93 Mustang GT | 85 Chevy Suburban [WIP] |
|
04 Mar 2012 08:37 pm |
|
|
JoeShmo
JoeShmo.Net
Joined: 19 Jul 2002
Posts: 250
Location: New Jersey
Status: Offline
|
Post subject: |
|
|
If you end up with a 5.9, dig around this subforum on JU. It's more or less DEAD at this point, but theres TONS of good tech buried there if you search, it used to be the hangout for all the 5.9 guys who have since moved on to bigger and better things.
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=11 _________________ Knowledge > Posts
Cancer Survivor, suck on that one. |
|
05 Mar 2012 01:03 am |
|
|
b12man
Nirvanophile
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 2153
Location: Lurking somewhere near...
Status: Offline
Xbox Live Gamertag: ForeignBrian 12
|
Post subject: |
|
|
JoeShmo wrote: |
If you end up with a 5.9, dig around this subforum on JU. It's more or less DEAD at this point, but theres TONS of good tech buried there if you search, it used to be the hangout for all the 5.9 guys who have since moved on to bigger and better things.
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=11 |
Alright, thanks for the link! I'll probably end up going through some of it tonight
edit: After checking that site out, I'm surprised there's still quite a few active and knowledgable people on there! Then again, I guess that's kinda the case here/at other mm forums too. _________________
Tutorials || Make Your Own Traffic | Change Traffic Tuning
Projects || 93 Mustang GT | 85 Chevy Suburban [WIP] |
|
05 Mar 2012 06:35 am |
|
|
b12man
Nirvanophile
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 2153
Location: Lurking somewhere near...
Status: Offline
Xbox Live Gamertag: ForeignBrian 12
|
|
31 Mar 2012 02:59 pm |
|
|
b12man
Nirvanophile
Joined: 07 Aug 2006
Posts: 2153
Location: Lurking somewhere near...
Status: Offline
Xbox Live Gamertag: ForeignBrian 12
|
|
02 Apr 2012 04:28 am |
|
|
|