Hello, I am usually found in the 3rd gen ram section.

But I am considering buying a jeep grand Cherokee 4x4 and I was wondering what was the last year they had solid axles front and rear.

Also, how do they compare off-road to say a four door Jeep Wrangler unlimited?

Thanks

 

WJ (1999-2004) is the last of the solid axle Grand Cherokees...

Comparing a stock GC to a stock Wrangler 4 door, off-road capabilities are very similar. The Grand is a LOT more comfortable, but the Wrangler has a plethora more options to be built into a serious off-road only rig...

 

thanks I just want something for some desert running and street driving. I thought about a wrangler but I don't really like the farm-truck ride. That's why I thought of the GC. Thanks.

 

Get you a Laredo, first of all they are a LOT cheaper. Secondly, even though the Grand Cherokee (pre IFS days anyway) are just about bulletproof, the extra high end crap on the Limited and Overland is crap. Things like dual climate control, heated seats, power sunroof are problematic and in most cases, very $$$$ to fix.
The only trade-off might be the Overland, yeah it's got a ton of little electic sh*t to break, but it comes with LOCKERS in both the front and rear axles...

 

real lockers? and how basic can you get with still having the good 4wd?

I read they seem to be pretty tough, and somehow with quadra-drive it has triple locking like a unimog or a mercedes glandewagen. pretty cool.

Thanks for the advise I'll update later.

 

Everything you ever wanted to know about the WJ (1999-2004) Jeep Grand Cherokee:

http://www.wjjeeps.com/jmenu.htm

 

thank you very much once again.

 

I like cars so giving you this information you can also check this site http://autos.yahoo.com/car-compare/t...93&hideghost=1

• Brakes, Steering, Suspension and Tires
  
  Brakes (Front/Rear)
  Disc / Disc
  Disc / Disc
• Engine
  
  Standard Engine
  3.7L V6
  3.8L V6
  Transmission
  Automatic 5 speed
  Manual 6 speed
  Cylinders
  6
  6
  Horsepower @ RPM
  210@5200
  202@5200
  Fuel Economy (city/hwy)
  15 / 20 mpg
  15 / 19 mpg
• Exterior Dimensions and Weight
  
  Curb Weight MT
  N/A
  4075
  Curb Weight AT
  4470
  4100
  Height
  68.9
  70.8
  Length
  188.0
  173.4
• Interior Dimensions
  
  Seating
  5
  5
  Tow Capacity (standard/maximum)
  3500 / 7200
  1000 / 3500
• Warranty
  
  Basic Warranty (miles/months)
  36,000 / 36
  36,000 / 36
  Powertrain Warranty (miles/months)
  100,000 / 60
  
  
  

 

THANK YOU!!!

This single post saved me and my wife $ks. We had all but signed on the last dotted line on a $38k 2014 Limited (properly named here), 2WD thinking we were making a mistake. We left the dealer with them throwing fits of rage.

I went home and started doing a little research because I didn't like what I was looking at underneath the pretty exterior. I Binged "when was the last year for Grand Cherokee with a live front axle", and the first link took me to the thread in which this true pearl of wisdom was found. This post here told me exactly what I needed to have out here in the fields.

Just bought a 2003 Overland for $8500, delivered to my door here in Florida from NC. We will be the second owners, the oil was changed religiously, according to carfax, and could not be more pleased with what I could see in the pics. This isn't my first Jeep, BTW, but I do have pics of one of those as well...