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I have a '91 Cherokee Laredo - I can't comment on the later Cherokees, but there have been very few changes over the years. There are some good points and bad points about the car - you really need to tell us what you want to do with it.
Good:
Bullet-proof engine. Lots of torque and very fun to drive (4.0 liter I-6. Don't even think about the wimpy 2.5 liter I-4). Zero to 60 is about 8 seconds for the six. Average mpg, 15 to 20 max. Very simple to work on and abundant spare parts available, both new and used. NAPA will have just about anything you would need. Many owners report 250K to 300K miles before a rebuild. My brother-in-law is WELL over 330K miles in his '88 and has spent very little on it.
Terrific in snow and off road, with pretty decent ground clearance. Debatably the best stock, reasonably priced off-roader, after the Wrangler. Lots of aftermarket stuff if you want to modify it.
Versatile cargo hauler, _if_ you move the spare tire to the tailgate or roof. With the rear seat folded it is quite spacious. Otherwise, room behind the second seat is a bit miserly.
With the NP241 SelecTrac transfer case (not very common) you get a "full-time 4wd" position as well as the standard "part-time" mode of the NP231 CommandTrac. The SelecTrac adds a center differential so that you do not have to switch out of 4wd whenever you encounter a patch of clear pavement. The SelecTrac is the way to go if you drive on lots of snowy roads. I believe it was only available with the 4 speed AW4 automatic.
Bad:
Dated structure and interior, basically unchanged since 1984. High levels of NVH. Relatively low construction quality (especially compared to your Saab!)
Poor crash ratings.
Marginal brakes. The standard 9 inch rear drums are barely adequate for a lightly loaded vehicle. The sought-after trailer tow package offered a stouter rear axle, lower gearing and 10 inch brakes. Get this if you can find one!
The car drives like a truck, especially with the stock suspension. I have an aftermarket Old Man Emu lift kit that dramatically improves the ride, on- and off-highway. The reason for the poor highway ride is the solid axles. OTH, this, along with its light (3500 pound) weight) makes it so good off-road.
If all this sounds bad, consider a Subaru, as another person suggested. An Outback or Forester would make a great all weather second vehicle and would be safer and more car-like. It would not have the same off-road capabilities as the Cherokee, but that may not be a factor for you.
If you are still interested, e-mail me with further questions and I can supply you with a bunch of links to Jeep Forums and othe pages.
I hope this helps.
posted by 12.82.16...
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