A Sad Day

[mudinuri]

Hi All,

It is with regret that I find myself having to sell my lovely 1998 RAV4. 3door. 2L petrol in sparkling RED.

I need a much bigger 4x4 to tow a horse box for my daughter, so the RAV has to go.

Now I know this sounds sacrilegious to you Toyota owners, but I need to ask. I am considering buying a 2004 JEEP Grand Cherokee 2.7 diesel automatic. Has anyone out there any experience of these JEEPS as to running costs etc, or are there any other capable 4x4 you could recommend (other than Land Rover). And whilst on the subject, does anyone want to buy my RAV? Reasonable offers considered.

Cheers (I will be returning to the Toyota fold later on in the year)

[Raistlin]

Good luck with the new cars, see you soon

[firemac]

We've had a number of RAV's over the last 13 years, 4.2s & 4.3. Still have a 3-dr 4.2 automatic but recently bought a Land Cruiser which is our second. They are surprisingly cheap to run but are probably the most reliable and robust 4x4 ever made. Worth a look although they hold their value well so aren't cheap but you are getting Toyota build quality.

I've not heard anything particularly negative about the Jeep GC apart from the dealer network being scarce and generally not up to much. However Fiat are making enormous efforts with Jeep so I'm sure that will improve.

Wouldn't touch anything JLR with a barge pole!

[NORTHERN_LAD]

I read somewhere that there was a problem with Jeeps and towing brackets, recalled and removed!!

Dont know which model or year but might be worth a google before you buy.

Good luck

Keith

Curiosity got the better of me and I googled it myself.

It appears that more than usual number of rear end collisions resulted in car fires on the Jeep Cherokee and grand Cherokee in the US.

The cars where recalled and had a bracing bar fitted to the rear to strengthen them around the fuel tank. Unfortunately this required the towing ball to be removed not the bracket. This applies in the UK as well.

Cars affected are Jeep Cherokee 2002 - 2007 and Grand Cherokee 1992 - 1998.