HELP ME DECIDE!!!

[93Ranger]

i have a problem.

im getting a new car in a few weeks. ive been torn between a Jeep Grand Cherokee (probabally a 96), a Explorer 4.0L (probabally a 97), a Explorer 5.0L (96), a Taurus SHO (probabally old body style), or a Crown Victoria (dont know what body style)

i want the Jeep because its a Jeep, and its perfect in size and fits the off-roading that i will do with no mod's.

i like the EX's because they have a bit of a more comfy ride (because they lack the front Solid axle of the Jeep, so that increases smoothness a bit).

i like the Taurus SHO because they look cool, go fast, and have (i believe, i might be wrong) alot of options for modification. plus they dont look fast, but will smoke most any car on the road.

i like the crown Vic because they are basically a larger SHO, but i think im going to rule this one out. i am in the Fire Department, and would have lights, and want to avoid hassle by cops. so scratch the Crown Vic

so what should i choose? im leaning towards the Jeep or the SHO. i dont want to have to mod the thing out to get performance, so i want something that will haul ass right out of the box so to speak. and relatively, that kinda rules out the Ex doesnt it? I will eventually mod out the engine, but nothing serious. just probabally exhaust, intake maybe eventually a chip.

give me some arguments on the cars!!!

 

[01EB5.0]

I would get a 96 5.0L V-8 Explorer AWD. Toss some larger tires on and maybe shakles and torsion twist and you'd be set. Just my point of view...I'm explorer biased, but thats because I've seen the bad side of jeep.

 

[espnfreak]

i test drove a 5.0 today, 98 actually, it was so badass, i really really liked it, go for the 96-97 5.0 like 95xlt said and you wont regret it

 

[JDraper]

1. Jeep-maintenance intensive and as you said, a little of a rough ride, but good offroad out of the box. I'm not sure about the year you are talking about, but I've heard that the Grand Cherokee went to a unibody over a frame under body setup. Personally, I'd rather have a frame under me.

2. 97X 4.0-If it's a SOHC 4.0, the 97 had problems. Make sure the cam tensioner recall was performed. Smoother ride than the Jeep, and a 2" lift will cost you a grand total of about $50+alignment. Other than the cam tensioner issue, a decent vehicle.

3. 96X 5.0-Only drawback is that the AWD version of the X is not too good in anything more than mild offroad since there is no lo range. Advantage over the 97 4.0 SOHC is the motor is more reliable, and lots of aftermarket stuff available for the 5.0. Same on the lift as the 97X. Again, a good vehicle.

4. Taurus SHO. Nice car, but no 4wd. If you don't go offroading, it's probably a good choice. They do go fast. Only drawback is that SHO's usually get used hard by their owners. Check it out really carefully.

5. Crown Vic. NOT a large version of the Taurus. It's rear wheel drive where the Taurus is front wheel drive. It's a boulevard basher, cushy ride, handles like S**t and eats gas. Also horrible in the snow. My dad had one. If you do a lot of highway driving it's ok, but that's the only place it's any good.


Personally, I'd probably choose the 97 X if you are gonna go anything more than mild offroading, the 96 X if you're gonna do only mild offroading, and the SHO if you don't go offroad at all.

 

[93Ranger]

thanks JDraper. but i have a revised list of vehicles:

1) 99 Explorer Sport, 4.0L, Auto, power everything, leather. dont know if its 4x4 or not, Autumn Orange. what will it take to make this thing semi-difficult trail worthy? im more into rock crawling than mud running, there are some fairly steep hill's around me (soft dirt, 2.5 truck lengths long, rocky). will it make it up this stock? its probabally 45 or so degrees? i dont even know if the stock approach/decent angle will work

2) some year Taurus SHO. they are driven hard, thats expected. obviously, it wouldnt do off-road, something i will miss . im only quam with it is that it it front wheel drive. im used to rwd cars/trucks, how will the FWD effect handling?

3) 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.2L. when the JGC came out in 93, it was a uni-body, still is i believe. thats why you cannot body lift the JGC. doesnt bother me if its uni-body or under-body. i wouldnt be able to tell the difference if it came up and bit me in the ass.

those are the 3 right now. i figure the Crown Vic would be a problem to have because it would need to be modded out to be decently fast.

given that info, whats the verdict? i like Autumn Orange , but i dont know how much of a problem the 2 door's will be for me. im a mountain biker/BMXer, so i need to be able to fit both of my bikes in the back at the same time. and occasionally, fit an air mattress back there , will it fit a 6 foot tall guy lying down back there?

finally, are there back seats or not? i suppose there must be, but i have no clue.

 

[JDraper]

Go for the Sport. I had a '92 that I could fit 2 mountain bikes in the back upright with the front wheels removed, and the rear seats flipped down. (I built a custom rack inside for them), and I'm pretty sure you'd fit in the back lying down. I'm 6'1 and could easily fit. There are rear seats, and they flip up and out of the way, extending the bed to the front seats.

 

[TarHeel085]

in the sport there are back seats. its only 11" shorter tan the 4 door. you should be able to fit your bike, yourself, and an airmatress back there, not at the same time of course!

 

[93Ranger]

Originally posted by TarHeel085
in the sport there are back seats. its only 11" shorter tan the 4 door. you should be able to fit your bike, yourself, and an airmatress back there, not at the same time of course!

hmm.... i wonder what it would cost to get a glass ceiling put in there, that'd be tight. maybe just 2 sunroof's, shop down here charges 700 bucks installed. that would be HELLA cool, having 2 sunroofs, muahaha.

 

[diablo5969]

I was actually thinking about putting a second sunroof in my Ex. But I heard that if you get it done after it's out of the factory, it really kills the rigidy of the vehicle. Don't know if it's true or not, but apparents cutting a big hole in the body makes it less solid....

 

[leenjen]

that 99 sport should be pretty quick (for an SUV). the SOHC and 4.10 gears are quicker than the 5.0 V-8.

 

[Ryan1]

Im sorry to say it, but I would go with the grand cherokee. Simply because they have a bigger aftermarket field. You cant even buy a true suspension lift for the 97 X. You can buy A 98 lift and modify it but that will set you back another 1200 to 1500. And all the recalls and gripes I hear about the motors on the 97's.

Ryan

 

[01EB5.0]

Originally posted by Ryan1
Im sorry to say it, but I would go with the grand cherokee. Simply because they have a bigger aftermarket field. You cant even buy a true suspension lift for the 97 X. You can buy A 98 lift and modify it but that will set you back another 1200 to 1500. And all the recalls and gripes I hear about the motors on the 97's.

Ryan

I have gripes about the new grand cherokee...what happened to the frame rails? It's uni-body, right? personally I wouldn't buy a truck unless it was a truck with a actual frame under it. The only problem wiht the 97 motors as you said is the 97 SOHC. the OHV V-6 and the V-8 are excellent motors.

 

[93Ranger]

i think all of the JGC's are uni-bodies.

and i only like the overall shape of the new WJ, i like the headlights and the slightly rounder back end, but im not a fan of the bumper. i like the first year the WJ came out, it slightly changes apperance every year.