XJ Cherokee vs 4runner similar years late 90s or 2000

[jgerhard]

Looking to get a low cost DD that is also a 4x4 with strong aftermarket support.  Missed the deal on wes's wrong timing for me.  Have a great 06 2d taco that has been perfect but can't take the kids in it.  I don't want to sell it but I need a 3rd car to compensate.  The jku is too nice to ride it all around on small errands etc and I am doing these off-road trips so breakage can happen.  

so...we have been thinking about an XJ or 4runner around 99 2000 year model 3rd car.   Love the power rear window and reliability of Toyota.  Love the cheap deals to buy and inexpensive parts on cherokee.  Should I invest in a more expensive similar mileage 4runner or is the XJ gonna be a good dd with potential future and low cost maintenance like I think it will.  This is short distance from home kinda driver for Wendy and I.

[94xjsport94]

Well here is my take on XJ's and your dilemma... 

Pro's to XJ:
The XJ has 4 letters on the front of it that say "J E E P"
You will look like a badass in it
You will be more inclined to have a beard, therefore be more manly
Has room for hauling guitars and making sweet rock fusion to the ears of mortals
Your kids will love you more
SeXJ
Solid axles with unlimited spare and aftermarket parts
Ride would be very nice with OME or bilstein's
They're a dime a dozen
4 doors are pretty roomy for the kids
Inline 6, very reliable
AW4, very reliable
The 97+'s are very nice. I've had 2 98's that had more creature comforts and amenities my 94 doesn't. 99 is the best year, IMO. Sorted out wiring issues, newer body style, interior, no 0331 head to worry about. The 0331 head came on 00-01 XJ's with a micro crack in between the 3/4 cylinders and is given a bad name for being a problematic issue. I've never seen or heard of them being an issue on a cooling system that was functioning properly. Should have probably been a recall, but Chrysler is cheap.   
There are spare parts for these things literally everywhere.

Cons:
Lol

Pro's to the Yota:
I'm sure the they will have an even nicer interior
Bigger vehicle inside and out/ more room
Possibly better mpg?

Cons:
I would go out on a limb and say maintenance would probably be more expensive, especially if a part goes bad.


I'm not as well versed on yotas as Steven or Jason, so I'm sure my opinion doesn't seem like much there. Nothing against them, Jason hauled me around at Chocco

But some would probably say I'm "Biased".

[jgerhard]

He said sexJ ha.

[jgerhard]

I am leaning towards said sexJ but interested in reliability of the platform.  Have been let down by many a car before.

[94xjsport94]

My junk has 202598 miles on it. Well the stock motor does... The transmission is supposedly 10k less than that that I swapped in for my conversion.

In all honesty you probably couldn't go wrong with either choice, other than betraying the Jeep God's and my first few points

[jgerhard]

Word thanks Will, glad you included guitars in the whole equation.

[clark123456]

Since it's a third vehicle and in a pinch it could be broken down while you save up to repair it, I'd go with the XJ.  If it were my primary or my only family vehicle, then I'd go with a Toyota.  If I were considering 'building it' in the future, I would go with the 4Runner to stick with body on frame construction.

A guy in another group to which I belong has that generation of 4Runner and I know he had a wiring harness rub through near the rear bumper (I think it was the trailer harness near the spare tire), which would intermittently ground the brake light wire and blow a fuse.  That's the only issue I've ever heard him complain about.  Some electrical tape and it was resolved.

My best friend had that generation 4Runner with the 3.4L v6.  I remember it being underpowered for my liking, but he sure did love that thing. 

I had an '05 4Runner (2WD).  I didn't have one single mechanical issue with it in ~90K miles...oil and gas.  I'm a Toyota fan, despite my water pump starting to fail (replaced it today...PITA).

[Big Dave]

I am leaning towards said sexJ but interested in reliability of the platform.  Have been let down by many a car before.

Reliable as hell, IMHO. The I-6 is near bullet proof as long as you add oil & check the gas & antifreeze weekly. AW4, same- as long as you keep the fluid cool. If it has ABS, it will have a Dana 35 rear. You can easily swap it out for a Chrysler 8.25, a 8.8 is a little more work but well worth the trouble. The 8.25 is almost as strong as a Dana 44 & the 8.8 is better than a 44.   

My '98 XJ had 240K on it when I bought it back in '09. It now has 277K on it & the only repairs I have done to it are a alternator, CPS, motor mounts & fixed a running lights issue.

[PopTop]

I have no experience with an XJ but I've owned a few Toyotas over the years and I can't imagine a more reliable vehicle. I've probably put over 400k miles on various Toyos and like you, the only thing I've ever replaced is the water pump. In my case the water pump was 3 belts deep and was a PITA, but if I had to choose a high mileage vehicle to be a dependable 3rd family car, I'd choose the Toyota.

[mrmike1964]

I would go with the XJ Cherokee. You can find them cheap on Craig's list. You see them every where. The inline 6 is a hell of a motor when taken care of. They have good power for such a heavy jeep. You can find any kind of mod for them. I've seen the bottom of a 4runner a couple time.  //LMAO// They go anywhere with a good set of AT's.  //popcorn//  //popcorn//

[jgerhard]

Also been looking at ZJ's and WJ's over the weekend, seems like a ZJ may be a good deal, but WJ aftermarket parts are pretty expensive, almost to the tune of a JK.

[lt99ls1]

I would pick the Xj over the yota because I am more familiar with it. Both are good reliable vehicles. I can't tell you what kind of MPG to expect out of the yota. I would choose the the XJ over the WJ and ZJ's also just because of the MPG will be better in the xj.