QuestionI'm thinking of purchasing either a jeep cherokee or a ford explorer, mid 90's vintage. The explorer has about 151,000 miles on it, appears well maintained, no visibble leaks. What should I look out for, are their any issue areas to focus on? How is best to test 4 wheel drive and make sure it's sound? I know it's an old rig with lots of miles but it seems really well preserved. On the other hand, I've been told that the jeep 4.0 6cyl is a far superior motor to the v-6 of Ford.
AnswerWell,
Aside from getting a shop or CAA to inspect it( I highly recommend this), the only way to check the 4X4 operation , is to try it out. Take along a freind who knows 4X4's if needed.
The automatic transmissions have been known to have problems, otherwise, they are pretty average vehicles.
As for the jeep comparison. Both engines have their pros and cons, and alot depends on what you expect from the vehicle (ie: what type of terrain,, plans for uprades, ease of repair, etc)
Try both out and see what you like best.
The jeeps are prone to crank sensor failures, oil leaks and cracked hedders
