# 2002 Jeep Cherokee - Which Jeep to buy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** jeep\ **Created:** [May 8, 2020, 9:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-jeep-cherokee-which-jeep-to-buy/164012 "2020-05-08T09:27:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PatrickMitchell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/91b2a8/32.png) [@PatrickMitchell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PatrickMitchell)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 9:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-jeep-cherokee-which-jeep-to-buy/164012/1 "2020-05-08T09:27:05Z")
I want to know if I should buy a 2002 Jeep Cherokee 2WD straight 6 engine 200 thousand miles for 3 thousand dollars or should I buy a Jeep Cherokee limited 4WD for 8 thousand dollars with 85 thousand miles. I was told jeeps with straight 6 engines can last 400 thousand miles. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 1:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-jeep-cherokee-which-jeep-to-buy/164012/2 "2020-05-08T13:46:00Z")
> [@PatrickMitchell](#): > > I was told jeeps with straight 6 engines can last 400 thousand miles. Ask who ever told you that to provide actual proof. Expecting a 18 year old vehicle of any brand with 200000 to go another 200000 is very unlikely. You just pay a shop about 100.00 to 150.00 to look at any used vehicle you want to see if there are any major problems. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 4:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-jeep-cherokee-which-jeep-to-buy/164012/3 "2020-05-08T16:44:13Z")
The 2wd is worth about $1300, the 4wd about $2000. Neither is a particularly good deal. Bear in mind too that older 4wd vehicles are more prone to problems because of the more complicated drivetrain. Further, as a former Jeep owner (my wife drove a 2003 Liberty 4wd until last year) their overall reliability isn’t great. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 4:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-jeep-cherokee-which-jeep-to-buy/164012/4 "2020-05-09T04:32:20Z")
There is no reason to buy a 2 wheel drive jeep. If you don’t want to take it off road at all, almost any car is a better choice. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 4:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-jeep-cherokee-which-jeep-to-buy/164012/5 "2020-05-09T04:51:41Z")
I’d take a Jeep Cherokee with the 4.0 straight six over a Jeep Liberty all day long . . . ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 5:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-jeep-cherokee-which-jeep-to-buy/164012/6 "2020-05-09T05:04:54Z")
> [@davepsinbox\_157004](#): > > The 2wd is worth about $1300, the 4wd about $2000. Not in my area. The Classic Cherokee has a following as capable off-road vehicles, they are commonly seen on the road and sellers are asking $4000 to $8000. ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 5:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-jeep-cherokee-which-jeep-to-buy/164012/7 "2020-05-09T05:49:36Z")
I’d go with the lower mileage one but really it’s down to condition. lower mileage nice Cherokees are on the market in the Northwest for $6,000-$10,000. They seem to be either trail beaters or nice stock examples around here. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 1:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-jeep-cherokee-which-jeep-to-buy/164012/8 "2020-05-09T13:01:11Z")
> [@PatrickMitchell](#): > > I was told jeeps with straight 6 engines can last 400 thousand miles. Nonsense, maybe a few have, the vast majority are scrapped long before. ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 1:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-jeep-cherokee-which-jeep-to-buy/164012/9 "2020-05-09T13:12:45Z")
> [@PatrickMitchell](#): > > I was told jeeps with straight 6 engines can last 400 thousand miles. Assuming you live in an area where cars don’t rust, just about _any_ model can last for 400,000 miles…if you’re willing to keep putting money into it. Even a Dodge Intrepid with the terrible 2.7L engine _could_ make it to 400,000 miles, but it would probably be on its third or fourth engine by then. As far as Jeep vehicles go, a 4.0L inline six, together with a 2WD drivetrain is probably the most reliable combination you can find, but even so at 200,000 miles you need to budget for costly repairs. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 3:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-jeep-cherokee-which-jeep-to-buy/164012/10 "2020-05-09T15:54:32Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > The Classic Cherokee has a following as capable off-road vehicles, they are commonly seen on the road and sellers are asking $4000 to $8000. Perhaps but they definitely wouldn’t get it from me. And Jeeps in general aren’t exactly paragons of reliability. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2020, 4:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2002-jeep-cherokee-which-jeep-to-buy/164012/11 "2020-05-09T16:48:36Z")
It it’s down to those two and no substitutes, I’d take the one in the best condition to a mechanic you trust for a prepurchase inspection. Deduct whatever it needs from the asking price and make an offer.