My New (Used) Jeep Cherokee Part I

I want to dedicate this blog to Jeep Cherokees enthusiasts. I just bought a 2001 Jeep Cherokee, this will be the third one I owe and will hopefully keep it for many years to come.

I bought my first Cherokee in December 1996. It was a 1992 Cherokee Sport, black exterior, gray interior, fwd drive with a 4.0 straight six litter engine. It wasn’t fancy…no power windows or power door locks, but it ran well and looked great. In 2003 I bought a 2000 Cherokee Sport. This one was fancier; it had power windows, power door locks and power exterior mirror. It had the same type engine as the 1992 Cherokee, but with less mileage and a little more power. My wife kept the 1992, while I drove the newer one.

 

In 2005, while driving to work early in the morning, a driver on another vehicle ran the red light, forcing me to hit the brakes hard. The pavement was wet and I skidded off the road, impacting a telephone pole head on. I was fine, but my 2000 Cherokee had some serious front damage. I got it fix through my insurance company, but I lost my love for it.

 

About three months later, my wife hinted that she wanted a different car, other than the 1992 Jeep Cherokee. So I headed to a local dealer and traded my 2000 Jeep for a 2000 Mercury Villager. The Villager looked almost new, had all power and it was just what my wife wanted. I took it home, gave the keys to my wife and I took back my 92 Cherokee.

 

It needed some work, as my wife didn’t take care of it. I cleaned it inside and out and had a new paint job done to it. It looked just like new again…it was my pride and joy. But the good times only lasted so long. Early in 2007, my older daughter ran into my jeep while backing out of the driveway, damaging the rear left door. I was upset, but there wasn’t much I could do. However, it didn’t end there. About two months later, a teenager running late to work, ran into my jeep, this time putting some serious damage to the rear right door, the back fender and twisting the chassis.

 

I could have fix it, but decided against it. I drove it with the ugly dents and damages until May 2008 when I trade in for a Kia Optima as a gift for my youngest daughter. I travel a lot on company provided car rentals so I really don’t need a car, at least for nine months out of a year. However, three weeks ago, while searching online at an auto dealer used car inventory, I found this 2001 Jeep Cherokee.

 

It had 86000 miles, one owner and, according to the Car Fax report, it had been pretty well maintained. So I called the dealer, took a look at it and took it home. It has a gray color interior and exterior, power door locks, power windows, power mirrors, CD-Cassette receiver, cruise control, new tires, new Jeep logo wheel covers and it’s immaculate…inside and out. I won’t be driving it much, but will be spending sometime making it look great.

 

I will tell you a little more about this truck on my next post; things I installed and things I’ve done or plan to install. I will also post some photos so readers can get a “better picture” of what this SUV looks like.

For now, I’d like to hear from you, the reader. Tell us your Jeep Cherokee story and what you like or don’t like about your SUV. I’m also interested about your suggestions concerning maintenance, improvements or performance ideas, or just simple how to make the truck look terrific.

 

Please make this your blog, but stay within the subject (Jeep Cherokee) and keep it respectful and clean. See you soon.