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Topic: Can't decide...2 (Read 10764 times) |
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Jonnycab
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Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
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Can't decide...2
« on: Oct 26th, 2011, 3:20am » |
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The wifes 2.3 Ultima estate has served us well for everyday use & camping trips since we bought it three & a half years ago & continues to now....but we're thinking of a change.
Been looking at the Jeep Grand Cherokee (99-04 version) 4.0 Limited with an LPG conversion, preferably pre 2001....so less road tax 
I've read they can suffer from perplexing electrical problems & also diff failure is apparently common (front & rear), which I imagine, could be quite expensive due to lack of readily available good used spares 
Anyone ever owned one ?.....& could give any pros/cons of owning one ? 
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Simmo
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #1 on: Oct 26th, 2011, 8:21am » |
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on Oct 26th, 2011, 3:20am, Jonnycab wrote:
I've read they can suffer from perplexing electrical problems
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So you won't find a lot of difference to some on here then Jon !!  
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Mike H
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Renault Clio
 
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #2 on: Oct 26th, 2011, 11:22am » |
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If Scorp works perfectly well, personally I wouldn't 
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Mike H
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Scorpio_Mike
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Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 & 2.8 Sierra XR4i 4x4
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #3 on: Oct 26th, 2011, 7:55pm » |
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I have a Cherokee XJ - the classic shape one - which will be venturing out of the garage very soon in anticipation of the promised weather.
Bought it last year and it never let me down over the very bad weather we had.
Only real downside is 15 - 16 mpg but as I only did about 50 miles a week between December & April it was something I could live with. The 4x4 system is very rugged and even with the roads covered in sheet ice it coped perfectly...very tempted to get a Grand Cherokee for a bit more space and comfort.
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Simmo
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #4 on: Oct 26th, 2011, 8:30pm » |
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on Oct 26th, 2011, 7:55pm, Scorpio_Mike wrote:| The 4x4 system is very rugged |
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and I meant to say....
"Which was very handy when I wanted to get some spares out of the back garden shed" !!!!!!. 
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Jonnycab
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Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #5 on: Oct 27th, 2011, 1:39am » |
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Yea, I know they're not exactly economical....the Grand Cherokee WJ is even worse at about 12-13 mpg around town. So I'm not really considering one unless it's LPG converted
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Highlander
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Expert
13 Scorpios, XR4x4, Suzuki SJ413 for off road :)
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #6 on: Oct 27th, 2011, 10:38am » |
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I do a fair bit off roading Jonny,
the guys that run the Jeeps don't seem to suffer any more problems than anyome else other than the fuel consumpition and prices for spare parts.. I think they can be a bit eye watering sometimes
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on Oct 17th, 2011, 12:35pm, Simmo wrote:| I give up ! Too much for an old boy! |
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Jonnycab
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Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #7 on: Oct 30th, 2011, 2:05am » |
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To be honest, we don't really intend to do much off-roading....only when camping ....although it would come in handy when trying to get across the Mersea Island strood on high tides (two feet over the road) to visit my folks....other mere mortals have to queue for over an hour
Really though, the main reason for wanting to buy a Jeep above any other 4x4 is purely cosmetic.....It's American & therefore, it looks cooler than anything else
Stuart, I remember seeing one of your off-road exploits on Youtube a couple of years back via a post link. Anymore links ?
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scorpio_man
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Ford Kuga awd
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #8 on: Oct 30th, 2011, 9:53am » |
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hi jon
i had a grand cherokee on hire in the us a few years back.
it was the 4.7lt v8 and was a great car to drive.
lots of spec.... sat nav, sat radio, reversing camera, etc. also 2 setting heated seats that would set fire to you!
i was getting 16 mpg (us) overall.
hth
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Jonnycab
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Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #9 on: Nov 2nd, 2011, 1:00am » |
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Andy, I've seen a few 4.7 lpg's for sale & had considered it as well as a 4.0.
It's got very similar fuel consumption (4.7 is a V8, so doesn't have to work as hard), but the real thing that concerns me about the 4.7 is the fact that it's all jammed into a rather small engine bay (it's small for a 4.0) & I've read horror stories about overheating problems/blown head gaskets in warm weather due to a combination of insufficient engine cooling & lack of air flow around the engine.
If it it wasn't for reading these owner testimonials, then I'd defo be looking for a 4.7, as they are quicker than a cossie
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scorpio_man
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Ford Kuga awd
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #10 on: Nov 2nd, 2011, 6:42pm » |
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hi jon
the one i had on hire had only done 6k miles, but i took it up a mountain road without any issue.
http://www.mountwashington.org/
did have smelly brakes by the time i got back down!
loved the power of the thing! and the triptronic gearbox.
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Scorpio_Mike
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Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 & 2.8 Sierra XR4i 4x4
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #11 on: Dec 2nd, 2011, 4:21pm » |
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So...did you decide after all JC
I just sold my XJ....and bought a WJ
Scorpio will be going away for the winter.
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Jonnycab
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Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #12 on: Dec 6th, 2011, 10:37am » |
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Hi Mike, did you get the 4.0 or 4.7 ?....any piccies ?
The purchase of a WJ is on hold for the time being (finances)
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Scorpio_Mike
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Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 & 2.8 Sierra XR4i 4x4
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #13 on: Dec 6th, 2011, 8:47pm » |
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JC,
Got the 4.0 litre model.
2000 model with 57k on the clock, very comfy & drives really nicely too
Think it was a bargain at under £1500
Will pop a pic up later.
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Star sign is Scorpio !
Sierra XR4i's are great...especially when fitted with 4WD
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #14 on: Dec 8th, 2011, 3:24am » |
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Sounds like a good price for a 57K miler Mike ....Would love to see some piccies
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Scorpio_Mike
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Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 & 2.8 Sierra XR4i 4x4
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #15 on: May 18th, 2012, 8:44pm » |
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Must do some pics...best give it a wash first !
Despite the fact that it is a 4 litre petrol, I managed 22mpg on a 70 mile round trip last weekend which I thought was not too bad.
Town driving / short journeys gives a bit under 15mpg - lucky I only do about 50 miles a week on average.
MPG figures from the on-board fuel computer.
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Star sign is Scorpio !
Sierra XR4i's are great...especially when fitted with 4WD
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #16 on: May 27th, 2012, 3:03am » |
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Some piccies would be nice Mike
We might be looking at a V reg WJ tomorrow afternoon (Sunday) with 87K on the clock for £1495....sadly not LPG though.
The LPG converted ones seem to be going for alot more money (obviously). But are they really that more economical ?
If you take into consideration the initial extra purchase price (sometimes twice what they are really worth), the extra servicing costs & the potential problem in that LPG causes the engine to run hotter, increasing the likelyhood of head gasket failure......are you better off in the long run ?
Also, am I correct in thinking that the mpg figures given on Autotrader etc are in US gallons (Jeep is American) & therefore can be multiplied by 1.2 to give a true UK mpg figure ?
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Scorpio_Mike
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Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 & 2.8 Sierra XR4i 4x4
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #17 on: May 27th, 2012, 7:56am » |
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JC, not sure about the mpg figures given in Autotrader re : US gallons
My understanding is that Jeeps sold in Europe are assembled in Austria by Steyer-Puch so would probably have to comply with EU rules...less said about that the better...grrrrr 
Initially I thought about getting an LPG converted model but as it is about a 25 mile round trip to the nearest LPG stockist in my area didn't think it was worth paying the extra as my weekly average mileage is quite low.
When we have had Grand Cherokee's as rental cars in Florida we have managed about 16mpg average based on US gallons which would be about 20mpg on an Imperial gallon I guess.
Couple of things to look out for - make sure the A/C works ok and that the blower fan runs OK - replacement resistor pack is about £125 and also check for binding brakes on pre 2001 models. The earlier calipers can seize up - the fix is to replace with the later type of caliper - obviously they have to be changed in pairs.
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Star sign is Scorpio !
Sierra XR4i's are great...especially when fitted with 4WD
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #18 on: Jun 1st, 2012, 3:29am » |
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Mike, I went & took the plunge.....head first
Looked at the Grand Cherokee I mentioned above yesterday (Thursday) & was very impressed with the condition (no scratches or dents).....only a couple of small (easily fixed) faults that I could see (I crawled underneath as well) .....Took it for a drive & it drove as smooth as silk with a lovely yank purrrrr 
Shook hands with seller at £1300 & will be picking it up later on this afternoon
Anyone wanna buy a '97 P reg Scorpio 2.3 Ultima estate (silver), 96K on the clock with 10 months MOT & 10 months tax ?
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Simmo
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Re: Can't decide...2
« Reply #19 on: Jun 1st, 2012, 6:09am » |
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Jon. Is it manual or auto?. Mike.
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