I got the E320! (Pictures on page 6)

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High-Test

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FlyingAGasoline
The Saab I've been driving will be traded in towards the end of the month for a small SUV for my Dad. I'm going off to college at North Dakota State University in Fargo August 18th, and will need a car to get me around up there. (Oh joy.. one of THESE threads..)

I'm torn between a Jeep Cherokee and a Volvo 240. I've had a lemon, a lime, and a miscarriage(Damn Biscayne) and I want something with a reputation for reliability. Whatever the car may be, it needs to be able to handle snow and get decent gas mileage.

In a past thread, GTP members kindly suggested the W124 Mercedes E Class. That's still an option, but the prices of parts are turning me off. All the nifty interior electronics are just more things to short out and break. It was also deemed that a Toyota pickup would be way overpriced.

So please, help me decide here.

Jeep or Volvo? Both are nearly bulletproof, and there isn't much nonsense about them. Is there something else I should look for?

I'm looking at a '92 240 Wagon tomorrow, and will make my way out to look at a '96 Cherokee sometime later tomorrow as well.

Thank you for your time.

EDIT: Hindsight is always 20/20. I went with the W124 Mercedes. Pics are on page 5.
 
Do the Volvo - no one trusts those old Cherokees. Not even the Cherokees themselves. Remember when Jeep cancelled the Wrangler for a year because it was so bad they decided they'd lose more money in eventual warranty work than they would not selling the vehicles? That was a good year in Toledo.

I would still recommend the W124 E-class. Yeah a power window might go out but in the event of the nuclear holocaust they'll be sitting right there next to Toyota pickups saying 'let's go!'
 
I would go with the Volvo. Those things are dead reliable and you cannot kill them. I would ALSO go with a W123 Mercedes Benz. Like M5Power said with the W124, they'll last through pretty much everything.
 
M5Power
no one trusts those old Cherokees. Not even the Cherokees themselves
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It depends. Ironically, it seems that the older Cherokees actually hold up better than the newer ones, which I'm just gonna blame Mercedes for because, well, why not?
Regardless, a Volvo 240 and/or a Mercedes W124 will never, ever break, so they are better than the Cherokee older or newer.
 
Toronado
It depends. Ironically, it seems that the older Cherokees actually hold up better than the newer ones
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I just hate the 4-liter six-cylinder. I think that engine is crap. Really old Cherokees don't use it, but I tell people to ALWAYS stay away from ANY Jeep product running that engine.
 
M5Power
I just hate the 4-liter six-cylinder. I think that engine is crap. Really old Cherokees don't use it, but I tell people to ALWAYS stay away from ANY Jeep product running that engine.
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Why, may I ask? Its better than the anemic pig 3.8 and 3.7 V6s they replaced it with, and the 2.5L 4 was anemic as hell. And the only other option was a French diesel made in the 80's, which has so many negatives just from its description that I'm surprised the world hasn't imploded. The 4.0 was bulletproof, too.
 
Toronado
Why, may I ask? Its better than the anemic pig 3.8 and 3.7 V6s they replaced it with, and the 2.5L 4 was anemic as hell. And the only other option was a French diesel made in the 80's, which has so many negatives just from its description that I'm surprised the world hasn't imploded. The 4.0 was bulletproof, too.
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Bulletproof? Those 4-liter 6-cylinder Jeeps break down more than God. Not only have I never known anyone who's had one and NOT had issues, but all the used car sites say 'stay away.' I've cautioned more than one person against that unreliable, unrefined, underpowered piece of crap engine.

The 3.7-liter V6 that replaced it is a fantastic engine and delivers power quite well. It's not unrefined and certainly not underpowered, as it delivers power significantly better and lower in the rev range - when you actually used it.
 
M5Power
Bulletproof? Those 4-liter 6-cylinder Jeeps break down more than God. Not only have I never known anyone who's had one and NOT had issues, but all the used car sites say 'stay away.' I've cautioned more than one person against that unreliable, unrefined, underpowered piece of crap engine.
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Maybe I'm thinking of the 4.2L than.
M5Power
The 3.7-liter V6 that replaced it is a fantastic engine and delivers power quite well. It's not unrefined and certainly not underpowered, as it delivers power significantly better and lower in the rev range - when you actually used it.
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I dunno about that. The 3.7 equipped Wrangler I drove didn't feel any punchier than my father's did a couple of years ago. Then again, I can't remember without asking him if his Wrangler was a 4.2 or not. In any case, the 4.0 is better than the engine in the Liberty.
 
Toronado
In any case, the 4.0 is better than the engine in the Liberty.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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Have you driven a Liberty and a Cherokee?! The Cherokee is slow, it's loud and you never know when power is going to be delivered. Liberty is quick, it's LESS loud (although still so much louder than our Escape-based Mazda Tribute) and power comes as soon as you stomp on the pedal to give you a sort of 'hell yeah' feeling. I love the 3.7!!
 
M5Power
Have you driven a Liberty and a Cherokee?! The Cherokee is slow, it's loud and you never know when power is going to be delivered. Liberty is quick, it's LESS loud (although still so much louder than our Escape-based Mazda Tribute) and power comes as soon as you stomp on the pedal to give you a sort of 'hell yeah' feeling.
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And yet it feels as if it has no more power than the 4.0L did once the sudden rush goes away, because it doesn't.
And the Liberty isn't really any faster than the Cherokee was anyways, and 9.4 seconds to 60 is hardly quick.
The CRD was such a better engine.
 
It's got 20 more horsepower! And its steering wheel is made of this cool padded rubber stuff that's fun to play with at stop lights!

A CRD Liberty almost backed into me last night.
 
Another reason why the CRD was a better engine: It came with a 5 speed.
Ironically, the 5 speed was just the 4 speed with another gear, yet Chrysler hasn't made the 5-speed available since the CRD died, and even then you could only get it with the CRD.
 
Toronado
Another reason why the CRD was a better engine: It came with a 5 speed.
Ironically, the 5 speed was just the 4 speed with another gear, yet Chrysler hasn't made the 5-speed available since the CRD died, and even then you could only get it with the CRD.
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The Liberty replacement - which UNBELIEVABLY will still have only 210 horsepower - should be out by the end of this year, if I recall correctly.
 
You know, the Honda Civic has gone from 60 to 200 BHP in the time since that has been adequate power for a compact SUV.
 
Toronado
You know, the Honda Civic has gone from 60 to 200 BHP in the time since that has been adequate power for a compact SUV.
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It's not adequate - Nissan has 265 in the Xterra, Toyota has 268 in the RAV4, Saturn has god knows what in the new Vue. Jeep needs to step up. So does Ford.
 
The VUE has either a 224 BHP V6 in the XE or a 252 BHP V6 in the XR and Red-Line trims. Both engines come with a six-speed 6T70E automatic, and can be optioned with front or all-wheel-drive. Its the weight that kills the performance of the VUE, which is unfortunate, but it still drives like a gem. You can get it with a four-pot as well (I believe it is the 174 BHP 2.4L unit), but no one in their right mind would do so...

---

Back on topic: I'd go for the Volvo. While I do generally support the use of a Cherokee, the Volvo overall would be a far more enjoyable car to drive year-round, not like the Jeep where its only in the winter time that its worth a damn. My brother had been considering a 240 at one point to replace his Mazda, but we were forced to choose otherwise because my father didn't trust the Volvo, mostly because he didn't know anything about them.

The only thing I could think of that would be better would be a Passat, but alas, those cost a fair bit of money to get the good stuff, and if you aren't willing to pay, well.... yeah.
 
MCAD_CJ
Oh, I just thought of another car: A mid 90's--I know, I know--Buick LeSabre. They're cheap and reliable as all get out.
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I don't think he, or really any of us for that matter, are old enough to;

1) Watch CBS
2) Have a prescription for Viagra
3) Remember 'The War'
4) Drive a Buick

...I mean, I'd drive a Regal, or even a Lucerne for that matter, but the LeSabre (or as I call it, the Lay-Saab-Ray) is just a touch too boring...

If we're going to talk W-Bodies, he'd be just as safe getting a Lumina/Impala or a Grand Prix. Better yet, the Oldsmobile Intrigue... They were built well, drove quite nicely, and didn't look too bad either.
 
High-Test
In a past thread, GTP members kindly suggested the W124 Mercedes E Class. That's still an option, but the prices of parts are turning me off. All the nifty interior electronics are just more things to short out and break.
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what nifty interior electronic are turning you off? These are 20 plus year old cars, they have pretty basic features....these cars are quality cars, build like a tank, i've got 2 w126 coupes and the only thing i've replaced are the original front ball joints...cost me $150 AUD for the joints...if you find a well cared for w124 it should last you another 10 years trouble free...

130620070922webhh9.jpg
 
[Obligatory Famine MX-3 V6 Plug]

Get an MX-3 V6. Won't break down. Isn't too slow. Handles like a RWD car. Gets good gas mileage. Lots of space for stuff.

[/Obligatory Famine MX-3 V6 Plug]
 
Cared-for Volvos go forever, and are deceptively talented once you learn how the suspension works. Also, parts are pretty cheap in comparison with the Germans.

Finally, depreciation on them is ruinous. We were looking at buying an 850 wagon before we got the Espace, and they were so cheap it felt like theft.
 
Sorry, I wasn't paying attention. You could ignore what I typed below, but it's saved for posterity.

Get an 1998-2002 Honda Accord; the area Honda reps literally give away transmissions on them all day long, but other than engine mounts and SRS equipment (SRS parts are also free), they are reliable, seat three more people in comfort, parts and labor are cheap as in cheap, and they last forever. Car and Driver really likes them, too.

Only drawback is that you'll need to buy an alarm system, although North Dakota may not have this problem. If a thief can't unlock it, he'll unwittingly break the handle trying to get in during wintertime.
 
Famine - In Eighteen years in the Kansas City area, I can count on my hand the number of MX-3s I've seen. Pity, too. They're cool!

A thief would spend an hour getting his slimjim out of his second coat.. :D Mmm.. Cold. I've heard that the two seasons in ND are Winter and July. Now if only I could get a 240 Torslanda.. Cold!? What's that!?

On the depreciation- The 240 I'll be looking at in an hour is $2550. the W124s I'm finding with similar mileage are twice that. The Jeeps range from 3995 to 8000.
 
There are three 850GLTs in Kansas (66101) at less than five grand. Two are twelve years old, one is ten. How old are the others you're looking for?
 
High-Test
Famine - In Eighteen years in the Kansas City area, I can count on my hand the number of MX-3s I've seen. Pity, too. They're cool!
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You live in the KC Metro area and are going someplace that is colder and more inhospitable in the winter? What are you thinking?

If you can find an older, not too abused Subie with the "winter package" that allows you to plug in the engine block heater, it might be an acceptable choice.

Of the two cars you picked, I'd go for the Volvo. They are basically bulletproof. Volvo's have a life expectancy of about 16+ years. The '92 is getting there. But I've been run over by one in my old Escort, and it hurted. It didn't do my 'Scort any good either.
The 850 suggested earlier is a good choice also. Too bad they don't all have 4WD.
4WD is the only advantage I can think of with a Jeep.
I haven't had too good a luck with Mopar/Chrysler/Jeep products.
I know that there are those that swear by them. All I've ever done is swear at them.
You might also consider checking out the Fargo area for people that can fix either car.
Even if you can fix it yourself, if stuff breaks in the dead of winter, a guy working in a heated garage, can get it done faster and safer than you can working out of doors in sub-zero weather.
 
High-Test
Famine - In Eighteen years in the Kansas City area, I can count on my hand the number of MX-3s I've seen. Pity, too. They're cool!
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And unbreakable. They're like cats - you can sling them as hard as you want and they'll always land on all four feet, pointing the right way. And still curl up and purr at night.
 
Famine
[Obligatory Famine MX-3 V6 Plug]

Get an MX-3 V6. Won't break down. Isn't too slow. Handles like a RWD car. Gets good gas mileage. Lots of space for stuff.

[/Obligatory Famine MX-3 V6 Plug]
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For the record, there are a total of fifteen six-cylinder MX-3s for sale on AutoTrader... in the entire nation. Compare that to fifteen 2002 Toyota Camrys for sale within fifty miles of my ZIP code.

Giles
There are three 850GLTs in Kansas (66101) at less than five grand. Two are twelve years old, one is ten. How old are the others you're looking for?
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Do not even consider the 10-year-old one. A 1997 850 GLT has a turbocharger and thus will not last for more than a week without going into the shop. I can give you firsthand accounts from a friend who had the '97 850 GLT and I can also describe the grisly way in which the car's engine finally gave out. I recommend non-turbocharged 850s though; they do last forever. And they're front-drive - better for those North Dakota winters.

I had a friend who had a 244 (older than the 240 but similar) and despite it having only about 100bhp and being incredibly heavy he needed to use snow tires to get around in the Colorado winters.
 

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