My dad used to have a WJ Grand Cherokee when I was a kid, and me and my family consider it to be one of the most comfortable cars we've ever owned. This is my story about it: It was July 2010, and we were on our way in my mum's Vauxhall Zafira to pick up my dad’s new car to replace his old Vauxhall Frontera, a 2002 (52-reg) Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with the 4.7-litre Chrysler PowerTech V8, finished in a dark metallic blue with a black leather interior. As we were driving the last few hundred yards to the seller’s house to collect DU52XKW, I caught first sight of it in the windscreen, and after we pulled up at the seller’s house, we got out of our car and went over to inspect it. The main reason why me and my family consider it to be one of the most comfortable cars we’ve ever owned, and why I also consider it to be one of my favourite cars my family has ever had, was the seats, as they were some of the most comfortable of any car I had ever, ever sat in - from the moment 10-year-old me sat down on them for the first time, I was in heaven as they were just oh-so-comfy - it wasn’t so much a car as a giant sofa with wheels and an engine, the Americans really knew how to make proper car seats back then! Since then, the only car I’ve sat in that has even come close to how comfortable the seats in the Jeep were was an Infiniti M saloon I sat in while me and my family were at the Driffield Motor Show in 2013. When we got home, I thought it was a much better car than his old Frontera, as it was more practical being a 5-door, and much more comfortable too. The ultimate test for our Jeep came in August 2010, when we went on a caravan holiday to Great Yarmouth in it. During the extremely long and tedious 150+ mile drive, it proved to be well up to the challenge of hauling our Swift Conqueror caravan to the campsite we were going to be staying at, thanks to the incredible pulling power of that V8 - even if it did make the car a TREMENDOUS gas hog and went through petrol like there was nowt tomorrow, but it did make a very nice noise which we called the “V8 roar”. It also proved to be a very comfortable car to travel in as it ate up the miles, mainly because of how unbelievably comfortable and plush the seats were. On the way there, I watched one of my Top Gear DVDs on the aftermarket DVD headrests that we’d had installed in it, while my sister watched one of her Hello Kitty DVDs. One day during our holiday, after we went to the nearby Tesco, while my mum was loading up the boot with shopping, my dad decided to “V8-roar” her by revving the engine as she packed the shopping away - she must have got a bit of a surprise when he did that! Unfortunately, our holiday was cut short due to heavy rain the following day, and even though we only had the Jeep for 2 months, I still consider it to be one of my favourite cars out of all the cars my family has ever owned.
I recently hit the buy button to acquire a 2004 Laredo version of this fine steed, from a Texas Copart auction, and hopefully, in a few short weeks, I'll be at the helm making short work of deep sand and mud out here in the tropics. My new truck has the Quadra-Trac II system, which is a slightly less versatile variant of your vehicle's Quadra-Drive option, but I do have the 4.7 V8 so that I can stomp on the loud pedal as conditions dictate. I regard the sleek WJ Jeep as the most visually appealing of all the Grand Cherokees that exist, including the latest WKII series that cost a king's ransom. Excellent review by the way sir, and I look forward to being inducted as a member of the Exalted WJ Brethren, with all inalienable rights and privileges implied.
Thanks for watching the video and glad you enjoyed it. I’d love it if you could show your appreciation by liking the video and subscribing to my channel (if you haven’t already of course!) 👍 Your new car sounds great and I really hope you enjoy driving it when you take ownership of it soon.
4.7 suffers from valve seat drop, make sure you service your entire cooling system every 4 years. Water pump, radiator, etc even if it doesnt need doing. Make sure youre using HOAT coolant, also dont overheat it.. You need to replace your top mount and lower mount coolant clamps; as theyre factory and likely to fail soon given their age. Sounds like you need a new starter motor too
Excellent jeep and video. I have a 2004 I-6 4.0 with Select-trac. 115k still running well(still a baby:). Ive had since 2007. Im in the process of doing some upgrades on her. The most annoying issue I've had were the factory taillights malfunctioning. The design can cause a short which it did on mine and I just had to replace the lights control module. I upgraded the rear lights to newer aftermarket ones which I thought may look tacky at first when then realized they look just like most newer cars on the road. Your front headlights are nice. I'll be upgrading them soon too. Thanks for the vid.
Thank you very much for your kind comment. I do try very hard to look after all my cars and I have become quite attached to this one because of its reliability and comfort. 🙂
Very clean Jeep, I have a 2001 as well. I just installed the power folding mirrors that where never offered in Canada and the US. Also the leveling headlights that where never offered. The uk spec WJs had some awesome options!
Lovely example. Obviously well-loved and cared for. Should have automatic wipers too. Looks like you have a 10 CD changer in the cargo area, under the lid on the right. Pretty much obsolete these days, unless you have a great CD collection, but still cool.
Thank you for watching the video. 👍 It missed out on the automatic wipers by 6 months sadly. No that is just empty I’m afraid. It didn’t have a CD auto changer fitted. However if one wanted you could place it in there.
Thanks for watching the video. 👍 In the 16 years I owned my car it never let me down but in my view the V8 4.7L is the best variant and more reliable. 😀
Haha! 😂 Do you have a Jeep too? Please feel free to like my video and subscribe to my channel. Once the current travel ban is lifted (following Covid) I’ll be doing many more videos!
Thanks for watching the video. I wouldn’t consider LPG conversion for two reasons. 1. Cost of gas has significantly increased recently 2. I believe you shouldn’t mess around with the fueling of a V8 in that way. The MPG on the car ranges from 19mpg-24mpg.
Hi, my friend has got a jeep cherokee 4.7 v8 and it runs on lpg its ok but its better on normal petrol as the car can run abit funny as its a big car and a big engine.
Hi Rolys Wheels! Thank you for this as I have just collected a 2001 60th anniversary model and love it! One thing I am struggling with is finding the same side running bars in chrome that you have....any ideas where I might find them? Many thanks, Peter Burrell
Hi Peter, Many thanks for your kind comments. If you like my content please do subscribe as I am trying to grow the channel and produce interesting content for car lovers. Your new purchase sounds good. What colour is your Jeep? Where abouts are you based? Are you in the UK? If so on EBay there are a set of second hand ones for £100. If you type in Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ Side Chrome bars and you should see it. There are also other listings on EBay too. Hope this helps. 👍
@@rolyswheels Many thanks for coming back to me Roly. I really appreciate it. I have ordered a pair of chrome side steps/running bars which is all I could find for £149 so they seem v good but if I see the pure chrome I will buy them. it is silver which is apparently the colour that they made theeditionin but if I don't like it I may get it wrapped in either dark blue or dark green. I have had the wheels and tyres done so will send you a phot later. It also has the LPG conversion so that should reduce costs a bit. I paid 4k for it. Best, Peter
I thought you should NEVER only change one tyre ? It's to do with different circumferences etc. And just to add 4.7 engine is a good engine but it's FAR from being bullet proof. The 4L straight six is much more reliable, and capable of 500k if looked after.
is the right rear tire a different brand tread looks not the same really bad for 4 wheel drive also not legal to let you leave tire shop with miss matched tires on 4wd... further review you do skimp or cheap out on tires I see at least 3 different brands shame on you sir you have brought shame on all 4x4 Jeep owners
