4x4 question

RossD wrote: When I had my '98 XJ, I was getting 18 mpg or so via the computer. A reason to get the 2wd? Hoping the mpgs staying above 20 would be a reason.

I'm getting.... 13mpg. I'm guessing that much of this is because it's driven 4 miles at a time, twice a day never exceeding 45mph.

I have gotten 19.3mpg out of a nothing but highway @ 75mph trip, half of the trip loaded down with 800lbs of motor/transmission in the back.

I think even with a true 50/50 mix it struggles to hit 15mpg, though.

Compared to my other choices, not compared to my Sentra. Full size van, Tahoe, etc. I don't drive that much, as I work from home, so total gas expenditure will not be much anyway, but when we run to Tampa or the Keys I don't want to get stupid at gas stations.

Look at it this way, they get similar mileage to an RX8. That's good, right? heh

Jeep Cherokees handle like crap

Um if you don't need 4wd don't get 4wd. It doesn't do anything while it is dangling under there if you don't engage 4wd. Why are we talking about this? lol

I'm actually surprised at how decently my XJ handles. It's no sports car, but it's better than any other truly truck-based SUV i've driven.

I bet with some real rubber and lowered a couple inches, big sway bars, it would be funny as hell.

... but if you want better handling you would get a YJ.

If you could see me you would see the confused look on my face...I wish you could see me. You can't see me right? Okay well I'm not sure why you think a YJ would handle better than an XJ. A TJ doesn't even handle as well as an XJ and it has the same front suspension. A YJ has leaf springs front and rear.

Here's another reason to skip the 4x4 in an XJ. After experiencing some new vibrations, I found the front drive shaft U-joints were failing. So I figured I'd take care of it the next day after work. Well during the 30 mile drive to work in the morning, the front end of the front drive shaft let go and I did a mini pole vault going 70 mph. It cracked the transfercase and the oil went all over the exhaust make a sweet smoke screen. (Hind sight, I should have removed it after looking at it. Oh well)

They were likely long past "failing" when you felt the vibration. They were probably failed and clunking for a long time before they seized up and vibrated.

But the point is accurate, 4wd vehicles have u-joints in the front.

miatame wrote: They were likely long past "failing" when you felt the vibration. They were probably failed and clunking for a long time before they seized up and vibrated. But the point is accurate, 4wd vehicles have u-joints in the front.

Yeah, the other point is that vehicles need maintenance. The XJ front d-shaft has a zirk fitting on the collar and in each u-joint. If you don't have zerks, you need to inspect them at each oil change.

miatame wrote:

... but if you want better handling you would get a YJ.

A YJ has leaf springs front and rear.

Fine, so my random-letter-name-fu isn't so good. Whatever chassis the Grand Cherokee was after it stopped being the Wagoneer chassis and before it started being a Durango was the one with IFS that sort of handled decently. (ZJ, I guess.) Less like something being pulled by a horse over bumps in stock configuration anyway.

oldopelguy wrote:

miatame wrote:

... but if you want better handling you would get a YJ.

A YJ has leaf springs front and rear.

Fine, so my random-letter-name-fu isn't so good. Whatever chassis the Grand Cherokee was after it stopped being the Wagoneer chassis and before it started being a Durango was the one with IFS that sort of handled decently. (ZJ, I guess.) Less like something being pulled by a horse over bumps in stock configuration anyway.

ZJ and WJ were both SFA IIRC

Having owned a 2wd XJ (my wife's before we got married), I would never purchase another one unless it was a stupid cheap deal. The open diff combined with a light rear on the 4-door version made it a handful in any sort of winter weather and getting stuck in wet grass was a very real possibility.

Now if you were just using one for a special purpose such as Rally or something like that, 2wd is perfectly viable. But in my experience having both 4x4 and 4x2 XJ's, there's no benefit to not having it. You won't notice a mpg difference and 4x4 is always nice when you need it, and on the XJ it's very little added complexity.

Why not get it. You will get your extra money back when you go to sell it. Besides a 2wd XJ is kind of sad... Jeeps are meant to be 4 wheel drive.

In my situation, there is no real price difference between 2wd and 4wd. Do the 2wd cars come with posi? Is it available in a JY?