You may have noticed in my past COALs that I had a propensity to learn things the hard way and make less than stellar decisions when purchasing vehicles. That trend would end with this Jeep. While I somehow have no pictures to prove it, I did buy a decent; problem-free vehicle and didn’t do anything to mess it up. This was the first time I undertook a rigorous and patient car search and picked a winner. It had everything I wanted; 2 door, 4.0 litre engine, 5 speed tranny and of course 4wd. It’s too bad I couldn’t keep it, I would sell it within 8 months.
Not mine, but I had the same interior.
My search for this Jeep had been thorough but it did not take very long. It will come as no surprise that the one I bought was the only 2 door I looked at, there just weren’t many around. It just so happened to have everything else I wanted too. I had test drove a few 4 doors both with the 2.5 and the 4.0; stick and automatic, as well as a Comanche. What a revelation these vehicles were in relation to what I had owned before. Firm but not jarring ride, smooth power and all around solid feel. My inner AMC geek was also delighted that this was the final year for AMC built Jeeps and featured it’s last great engineering achievement; the 4.0 litre straight six. I bought AMC’s Greatest Hit!
It’s funny that I bought a 2 door Cherokee when the fact that they also came as 4 doors is what really made them successful. I was 19, why would I want a 4 door? Sure, I had friends to haul around but I wouldn’t be the one crawling back there. The wheelbase was the same regardless of the amount of doors so I could still take advantage of the practicality of folding down to seats to haul stuff in the cargo area.
The 4.0 litre engine blew me away. I couldn’t believe it was related to that droning turd of a 6 banger that was in my old Gremlin. I could easily spin the tires, this thing was probably the fastest vehicle I had driven at the time. That probably says more about the other vehicles I had driven but you get the point. Add a 5 speed with well matched gearing and it was a recipe for fun.
As you might expect, I made use of it’s off road capabilities whenever the opportunity presented itself. The first non-urban, off-roading adventure happened out at a cabin some friends and I rented in the summer. I made a point of searching out some back roads to see what the Jeep could do. I had (okay, still have) a bad habit of wanting to fully explore to the end of the road even when it’s become clear that the road has become an ATV trail. Despite the protests of my friends, I stubbornly pushed on until the forest encroached so bad that the radio antenna got ripped off. Oh well, it was an easy fix. All in all, I was very impressed with it’s off road performance. We managed to get some air a few times, and I felt for the first time the exhilaration of looking up at the sky through the windshield before cresting a steep hill.
Driving this Jeep it was hard not to think of what could have been had Renault not sold it’s interests in AMC to Chrysler in 1987. I know this will re-hash the endless what-ifs concerning the demise of AMC, but this Jeep was an all around great vehicle in an emerging market. It had a brand new motor that would be produced for another 19 years, and it’s 4 cylinder stablemate was durable and economical. The Comanche had just been introduced the prior year and the new Wrangler had just come out. Also, the ZJ Grand Cherokee where being worked on to replace the ancient SJ Wagoneer and Renault had promised a new minivan and sport coupe for the North American market.
As a farewell kick to the junk, AMC actually showed a profit for the last quarter of 1986 and likely would have for ’87 had a report been prepared. I suspect they likely would have screwed it up some other way, as they had in the past (see exhibit A, B and C) but it would have been interesting to see. At least they had a fighting chance with the rising popularity of SUVs. Would you buy a 2016 Eagle Sportabout CUV?
So why did I bring up this what-if scenario? It seems a fitting analogy to where I was in life when I decided to sell my Jeep. Having just finished high school I was working in a warehouse making okay money, while figuring out what to make of myself. Initially I wasn’t interested in any more school but the drudgery of my boring warehouse job soon wore on me. Even racing around in forklifts got boring. I saw the older guys around me and didn’t want to become them. It became apparent that if I was to find more rewarding and meaningful employment I would have to seek further education.
image via cardomain.com
Despite having little idea what to take, I enrolled in the local University and put the Jeep up for sale. It took about a month to sell and I lost about $500 over what I bought it for, but I had money just in time to pay my tuition. While I was sad to see it go, I knew it was for the best. I went back to work schlepping pizzas part time to further finance school, so I needed something more beatable. What if I had kept the Jeep and continued working at the warehouse? Who cares, it didn’t happen so it doesn’t matter.
Nice! I’ve had a lot of these jeeps, I love them. Currently have a 1997 4 door 4.0 4wd lifted 4 inches on 33s, with a lot of modifications, and I have a 1993 2 door 4.0 4wd. The poor 93 is probably going to get scrapped as the transmission died a while ago and I do not have the time for it. Over 250000 miles and I don’t think the odo is even correct, it stopped tracking miles a while ago. Engine still runs great, everything else was fine its a shame to see it go as not many 2 doors are left.
I’ve had two of them (plus a Grand Wagoneer), and if I had the justification for another SUV (aka, a need to actually go off-road periodically) it’s probably the only model I’d be looking at. Wonderful memories of those trucks. And I don’t think anyone has done better since. Softer, yes. More tricked out, yes. Better, no.
I’d love an excuse to get another one of these too.
That maroon interior in the one pic is extremely rare in those by the way
My 1985 4-door 2.8 had that interior. My boss saw it and commented on the uglyness of AMC interiors.
I remember giving these a glance in the AMC showroom when I was ordering my CJ-7 .
If I recall correctly I had an issue with its roominess for my 6-2 height.
A coworker bought one as a family vehicle & likewise, I noticed a lack of room in back. I suspect it’s the high floor which an off-road vehicle needs.
I’m 6′ and I fit alright. My friends who were taller than me definitely had a hard time sitting in the back.
I remember being surprised several times over the XJ’s long run that they still even bothered with the two-doors.
Apart from the minor cost save of eliminating the doors, the two-door was essentially pointless. Interior space, both seat up and seat down, was the same and rear seat ingress/egress was HORRIBLE in the two-door.
And even when you have the vehicle completely filled, like on a camp trip, it’s much easier to access your gear with the four-door.
I had a 2000 XJ, one of my all-time favorite vehicles. With BFG AT/KOs even the base 4WD had impressive off-road capabilities (in my opinion a function of its light weight).
i laughed hard and teased you in the comments at your previous c.o.a.l. decisions but this one was genius. you picked my exact dream car (ok, i dream small) and your reason for selling was also the right move. someday i’ll own one of these…
I had one of these for 6 months. First yr I think it was a Pioneer. 4 cyl and 5 spd. 4 dr. 4wd. Bought it for a son to drive to work during summer break from College. Rust was its enemy but we did all the normal maintenance items and fixed all the little stuff that was broken. Tried my hand at some body repair and painting. A fun fun vehicle. Drove it for a few weeks after son returned to college. Sold it to a friend for what I had in it. He drove it to work for a couple yrs after that. If I could find a good one I’d buy it. They are still around, just saw one on the news driving thru a flooded street in the southeast.
Funny story about a 2-door Cherokee. When I worked at my last Jeep dealership – a small mom and pop dealer in a neighborhood – odd vehicles sometimes sat for a while. Well, Chrysler/Jeep apparently made you take certain vehicles when you placed an order for the more popular vehicles. In this case, it was taking some obscure 2-door 1996 Cherokees for a load of Grand Cherokees. They made the dealership take three 5-speed 2-door Cherokees, and one of them happened to be a color called Magenta. When the dealership got it in they were shocked at the color. It was an extremely flashy deep pink color. Well that car sat and sat for almost a year and a half. Finally, one day a young girl walked in looking for a new, inexpensive SUV to deliver flowers in for her flower shop. She even said it could be a stick shift, she didn’t care. Well there you have it. The perfect fit for her and the dealership. She bought it and loved it. Five years later she came in to trade it with well over 100k miles. She never had an ounce of trouble with it and bought another one to replace it.
Parents had a V6 5 speed version of one of these in 4 door body style. The engine was rough running and didn’t last long (it was on it’s second engine). But I really liked it and it was a great driving truck. The 4.0 engine was the one I suggested he buy instead, but my opinion was ignored, much to his grief when the “rebuilt” engine in the one he bought used expired about a year after purchase.
The 2-doors were a bit rare and less practical, but looked so much better. I purchased nearly the exact vehicle with co-op job money in 1987. Mine was a Laredo and also had the the Up Country suspension package which made a huge difference compared to others I drove. 4.11 gears came later, and with the somewhat fragile Peugeot 5 speed made it shockingly quick in the Atlanta stoplight wars. With a Kicker enclosure hanging from the roof it served all the necessary college functions – tailgating, lake getaways, towing, you name it. Loaned it to my brother after graduation and it was later stolen and stripped, was just never the same after.
My current beater ’98 Rodeo was an attempt to channel the beloved and departed Jeep, with mixed success. Wish the Jeep had the Isuzu’s 4 wheel discs, however.
I liked mine, I had an 89 Cherokee Laredo with the 4.0L engine. It had the 4WD setup and it was a good little vehicle for the 4 years I owned it! I wouldn’t mind owning a 1986-1990 Grand Wagoneer Cherokee XJ, those were pretty neat but command a premium now
Interesting, I like the burgundy interior. These are getting harder to find in nice shape. I saw this relatively early one at a local Jeep shop a couple of winters ago. It was a Pioneer trim level.
To me, the quintessential small SUV – there were just so many of them around. Uncle and cousins had two, scoutmaster had one, various co-workers, college friends. Indestructible 4.0, tolerable 4cyl, just avoid the 2.8 and you’re golden.
The 2-doors are rare these days. Especially the 2-door Classics with the revised front sheetmetal. There is one of those in my town in a very odd gold color, 2-door, base trim with steel wheels. And for some reason, whenever I see it, I want it. I think it’s just the “rare vehicle in a rarer color in base trim” syndrome.