here is my comment
I'm still bitter over the demise of the Cherokee all these years later. I've owned two, and I would have bought Cherokees for the rest of my life. The Cherokee is/was a good looking SUV that looked like off-road and all that that intailed, and it performed like it looked. While the Wangler's are ok, they're to small for me. The Grand Cherokees are way over priced for a shoody product. No Cherokees? Well Jeep will never get anothe purchase from me.

I can't stand that urbanized, soccer mom mobil called the Liberty. There should be a law that anyone driving one must be wearing a skirt! What made the Germans think that what the world needed was another poor knock-off of all the urbanized SUV wannabe's already on the market. The Cherokee was the last real SUV, and as such, was insured of a market.

I just can't stand what Jeep did!

Maybe when my 97 Cherokee 4.0l gets old my affair with Jeep will end, luckily currently I only have 55000 miles so it will last a while yet. What a shame to destroy something that started a revolution.

Not sure about the Grand.

Anyone know of any good alternatives, maybe Land Rover here I come. No now I am being silly, I need something reliable.

here is my comment

I have a 1991 Cherokee which I purchased brand new one year after my daughter purchased a 1990.
Though we have had various repairs over the years, both Cherokees are still going strong. The 1990 has passed 100,000 miles many moons ago and is still a good standby. The 1991 is still my primary vehicle with about 70,000 miles on it.

This model is one of the most versatile and useful vehicles ever designed. It is easy to maneuver and park. Visibility from the driver's seat is among the best. And, the straight 6 engine is a workhorse.

Chrysler shot itself in the foot by cheapening this vehicle in later iterations. One of its major defects for the 1990 and 1991 was the dinky radiator which caused our vehicles to run hot. When we finally realized that this was a problem, both radiators were replaced and "bingo" the problem went away.

Despite this, our love affair with the Cherokee is not over. What a shame to discontinue this virtual workhorse.

THIS IS RIDICICULOUS!!!!!!!!!! They take the BEST 4x4 ever, drop it, and replace it with some pussy SUV that rich ass snob yuppies drive. THEY ARE IDIOTS. I hate to say it, but i think Hank Williams and his son junior were wrong, the country boy ain't gonna survive.

I frequently drive a 1996 Cherokee to perform field duties at my place of employment. The general consensus among my fellow employees about the Cherokee is as follows:

Pros:

· Adequate on and off-road power.
· Tracks well on and off-road.
· Good overall body integrity and reliability.
· Clean overall style.

Cons:

· Not enough legroom front or rear. After driving the Jeep for two or three days it’s difficult to stand erect.
· Front seat cushion is too low to the floor. The seat definitely needed an up and down adjustment. I have discovered that this adjustment is an option in some Cherokees; however, due to the low roof line the seat had limited upward movement.
· The vehicle definitely needs more headroom.
· The rear seat is unworthy of the name. No leg or back support and no headrest. (Note: I almost purchased a Cherokee a couple of years ago, however, I love my children too much to have subjected them to the rear seat of the XJ.)
· The accelerator pedal seems to be positioned a bit to far to the left for comfortable driving.

The manufacturer could have easily corrected the above list of deficiencies. It would have cost far less than the development of the Liberty (which I believe will never have the off-road capabilities of the XJ).

Actually I recommend running from the WJ Grand Cherokee. Too many mechanical problems to worry about. The Cherokee XJ is much more reliable because it has less DC parts bin stuff. The WJ and ZJ Grand Cherokee transmissions were crap after 60 thousand miles. I don't know about the rest of you but my XJ transmission has is still going at 165 thousand and i use it to trail ride with suspension lift and bigger tires and it still shifts strong. As for when they are going to stop Cherokee sales it is suppose to be in June. They are going to kill it and then have the KJ's on the lot like a week later. From what I have heard its not even a smooth transition. It is stop one start the other. Also Bob Y. when you say that XJ had alot of warranty issues you are wrong. DC spends alot of money on WJ Grand Cherokee repairs that are under Warranty. A Jeep Shop person I was talking to at my dealer says he sees more WJ Grands in there than any other Jeeps. He says he isn't look forward to the KJ because it being a parts bin cute ute like the WJ it will have classic DC troubles that have to be fixed, most noticed being the transmission which of course is in 6 other chrysler trucks. The XJ transmission was specific, made by same people who make toyotas and those have classic reliablity. Bob Y if you wanted ergonomics please go buy a RAV-4 or a Honda Civic. I can find all my controls fine on my XJ while driving. When I think Ergonomic nightmare I think my Range Rover Classic or a Audi. Not a Jeep. There isn't enough buttons to have a ergonomic nightmare. But I guess it people like you that want more buttons for navigation and don't have to pay attention to the road drive themself systems. I opened my mind Bob Y, I admitted I liked the whiteface gauges and chrome trim rings around the gauges. That was a strech from me. But I am not about to admit to defeat. Talk to me in 17 years and see how the Liberty is doing. My money says that you will need more than 1 light redesign to keep that cute ute going for 17 years. The XJ was the last of Jeeps that could go years without redesigns (aka= CJ, SJ, Wrangler) because they were no frills. Thats not the KJ. It design philosophy is based to much on whats trendy and when its not trendy to drive small cutesy suvs whats Jeep going to do? Have to redesign it. And the way the market goes trends only last 3 years or so. The KJ design is going to do itself in in the long run even if intial sales are strong and when I say the long run i mean less than 17 years. But then again only Jeeps like the XJ can do that. I guess I am just too old fashioned for all you young hipsters though. Long live the XJ!

I just want to reply to the previous comments by MYOA HALL. Your Grand
Cherokee is safe , it is the original slightly small Cherokee that DC is dropping
not the Grand. However with those children of the nazi's in Germany running
the show, you might want to get your Grand soon. They might decide tomorrow
to replace the Grand with a version of their SMART car with a Jeep badge on it.
I find it sad that they have a SMART car, and an IDIOT chairman.

Dakar-Dakar-Dakar.....

here is my comment I was very interested in purchasing a Grand Jeep Cherokee, but after receiving the news that they will no longer be in production, I not so sure. I really like the style and the design of the new Grand Cherokees. I think, if they were going to build a new SUV to replace this one they should have added a third row seat and made it a little larger.

Uuughh!! While the Jeep reputation for very capable 4x4s will probably live on, that thing just doesn't do it for me. It looks like someone mixed up the plans between the TJ and the Grand Cherokee. Who is taking credit for creating that front end?? I'll stick to my Vintage 78 CJ-7 and if I ever consider an SUV it's be a used Cherokee or Grand Cherokee thank you.

Ralph
Offroaders.com

The Jeep helped us kick thier butts in a couple of wars. So who is getting to have the last word? hummm....

As a Cherokee (99) owner, I was greatly disheartened by the decision to unplug the Cherokee production line. I didn't want them to deprecate it, rather I wanted them to update it here and there. I was so upset, I had written to Daimler-Chrysler the same day.

However, the Liberty design turned out to be far better than I thought. I neither thought of Renegade nor the Varsity as replacement for my Cherokee, but the Liberty is a great design. I'm not very thrilled about its power (I wanted more without the size of Grand Cherokee), but it's still slightly more powerful (in HP) than the 4L Cherokee Sport.
I'm not disappointed by their taste in design as it retains much of the traditional Jeep characteristics. I just wished they didn't rename it to Liberty and instead kept it as the New Cherokee. But looking around the world, I see the Europeans already calling it so! Perhaps this is reincarnation (in another form) of our timeless model.

The XJ is not a religion... it's just a vehicle, a decent, basic, fairly reliable off-roader.

Fact: Incentives kept it alive
fact: It had lots of warranty issues compared to the competition, including the teething X terra
Fact: It was old, very old, the oldest thing on the road.
Fact: The XJ is an ergonomic nightmare

Open your mind, some of you would still have us driving model Ts...

here is my comment
What is the deal? Is someone smoking crack at Daimler Chrysler? Hmmmm. Lets produce a vehicle that will go ANYWHERE and can go on for 200,000 miles plus, we'll make it affordable and ... naaahhh. Lets stop making it.
If I wanted to drive a
V or a RAV-4 I would drive one. I certainly don't want to drive a knockoff of one. I think this is a bad move and I know that if Cherokee is gone, I'm gone from Jeep.
John in the Adirondacks

here is my comment
Remember when Ford came out with the Probe to replace the Mustang?
It didn't work either.
With so many cute yutes out there, who needs another!
Guess I will have to hold on to my '99 Cherokee Sport for longer than originally planned.

When the Jeep dealer doesn't appriciate.... is what I meant to say.

Jeep Dude the case usually goes on most cars that the dealer makes more money on any used car than on new ones. A dealer can buy a used one way below blue book at auctions put a new 6 quarts of oil in it and a full tank of gas and make a ton of money off of it. Also I wouldn't called the lines of XJ outdated. I prefer to think of it as a aged bottle of wine. The lines of the XJ only get better as time goes by and we see all the bubblegum SUV's come out. I prefer the comments of the Jeep dealer that commented before Jeep Dude I think he had the correct attitude of real Jeep dealer. Its sad to see the day when a Jeep salesman does really appreciate the lines and useablity of a Jeep mainstay, the XJ. Long live the XJ!!

Whoever bashed the AMC Eagles earlier, look again. Why?
They came from the same company and engineering that
BROUGHT you your precious XJ and YJ. The reason you
don't see more on the road today is because no one
wanted a sport-ute passenger car to BEGIN with. So there
aren't many around today. Simple math. Those that ARE
around are still truckin' with the best of them.

Anyway, the Jeep XJ Cherokee is a venerable sport ute.
"Venerable" means wise, respected, experienced, and old.
Sadly, it is the "old" that the current auto market will not
handle. It's not the fault of the XJ that MOST (not those
of us here) buyers today want cutting edge design and a
snazzy nameplate. DC may even redesign the classic
"Jeep" lettering to something no quite so venerable. Jeep
is gradually being cheapened, beginning with the
new-bodied Grand Cherokee. So if you want the "wise,
respected, experienced" Jeep, buy a new one now or
settle for a used one from next year on. Also remember,
if you are old enough, when ChryslerJeep killed off the
full-size Cherokee leaving the XJ Cherokee alone. No
fussing like there is here.

So let the Liberty be free (no pun intended) to fail on its
own. Jeep has survived the end of several companies...
Willys, Kaiser, AMC, Chrysler, and it won't end if and when
DC fails. The nameplate and legend will be passed on, even
if that is all that remains.

I got the nickname from fellow Jeep sales reps. I know more about the product than anyone I know that sells them. They come to me when they don't know the answer to their uninformed customer's questions. (I charge my associates a quarter for their laziness and stupidity, by the way.) I've had a Jeep product in my personal stable since I was sixteen. Eight of them! CJ-5, CJ-7, YJ, a couple of XJ's, a ZJ, a Grand Waggoneer, a Cherokee Chief and the lone remaining MJ. OOPS! That's more than eight! Most were so beat to shit from off-road use they were unsafe to continue driving. (Like my current beater Comanche XL 4X4 pick-up that's somehow managed to last 14 years from when I purchased it new at the dealer where I work. IT REFUSES TO DIE a peaceful and graceful death, prefering perhaps to go over a cliff in Mexico's Baja California.) I've rebuilt their motors and t-cases, pulled axles, done more off-road repairs, patch jobs and done more brakes than I can remember. The guys where I replace my blown out tires have memorized my VISA account numbers. I've stared long and hard back and forward over a trail and HOPED TO GOD I was going to get back home an easier way than I just came up the hill. I've been stuck and sucked into the Mojave River during spring run off for two days and high-centered more times than I can remember... The new Liberty was on the design boards way before "the Krauts" were sniffing around Chrysler's bankroll. The new motor was talked about around Jeep Company campfires years ago, albeit in very hushed tones. I need a new Jeep to abuse this year, very badly. I was going to get a TJ, then an XJ, but right now the smart money is on the KJ Sport. I can get either of the previous vehicles for the Five Star Dealer employee price, but I will patiently wait for, and pay more for the Liberty. I trust our Jeep design people, engineers and the guys on the line at the New Toledo plant to build the best off-road vehicle of it's kind. It will be that much better a vehicle for what I need a Jeep, from towing my boat and motorcycles, to the above mentioned Getting Back Alive. When I drive one, very soon Kiddies, I will check back and give a full unbiased report. I WILL attempt to do things with the test vehicle that they don't like us to do and get thrown out of the seminar!! (I sure hope they got this IFS thing rigged up right!) What killed the XJ was its staid lack of style and excitement that old body style exuded and the fact that we had to incentivise the hell and profit out of them to sell them the last few years in order to remain competitive with all those poser wannabe sport utes like the, hahaha, Xterra,
V, RAV-4 & company with their sorry ass ilk of mommy, grocery and baby carriers owners. Because most of the people "want the best deal" on a product that's been basically the same for 16 years, we at the dealership level could care less to sell a new Cherokee in most cases. Ditto for the TJs! I still regularly make up to $3000 profit on a used one, but only $500 to $800 on a Brand New Cherokee Sport Up-Country with Selectrac. Be honest! What would you rather have for a commission check, $600 or $75? So, my friends, it's a "free market economy capitalist profit making" type of thing! Just like those damn PT Cruisers I can't get enough of.(Yes, you English teachers that drive Jeeps, I know it's wrong to end a sentence with a preposition!) Over-marketed and under-supplied, we still regularly make $7000 to $11000 profits on them! My only hope is that kind of "hyterical" buying forces me to pay more for my KJ.(YUCK! or should that be an F?) Anyway, if anybody's got any questions that aren't too silly, keep in touch! I'll see you at the LA Auto Show!

I have never owned a Jeep, but I recently decided I wanted to buy an SUV, I live WY and do a lot of fourwheeling (in a Ford Ranger, please keep the laughter to a mininum :), anyway I wasn't sure if I should wait and get a KJ or go ahead and get an XJ. After seeing these comments I can say I will be proud to go and place an order for an XJ. Thanks for helping me make the right decision, I have a feeling I won't regret it.

exactly why do most of you hate the Liberty so much? Is it cuz it has an IFS? Is it because it's too round? too cute? Is it because DC will not produce the XJ anymore and replace it with the Liberty? Or is it because you are just afraid of change? Or all of the above?

The XJ is a great vehicle (i should know, I have two, '89 and '98). It's sad to see it go.. but times change.. People want more than reliability and off-road prowess (most don't even care for the latter), and the XJ won't cut it anymore with all the competition. And if you decide to buy one in the future, I'm sure there will still be plenty of XJs out there in good shape. As for the Liberty, you gotta give DC SOME credit for trying to appeal to today's majority while TRYING to maintain that jeep heritage we've come to know and love... Now whether it succeeds or not is something else... You can prejudge it if you like. As for me, I will test drive the thing, on and off pavement, when it comes out.. then I'll criticize/praise it..

thanks for your time.

here is my comment....no one gets rid of a money -maker. Yes, the tooling has been paid for, but most of the cost of a vehicle is parts and labor. Parts are getting more expensive on Cherokees because there is less sharing with other models....I-6 engine, for example is being replaced by a new V-6....doubt it would fit in the Cherokee without major bucks invested....also, as someone mentioned, production has been kept up with rebates and incentives....with all the competition out there, no one can afford to (yep, not make money on what they produce). I have always hated the passing of time and the good old days. Let us cherish the present, preserve the past and give the future Liberty a fair shake. In twenty year, if we are lucky enough to be around, we will be, probably, saddened by its passing too.

This is truly sad news. Following the announcement, I gave my '98 XJ Classic a fresh change of Mobil 1 and promised to take better care of her. I've had two XJ's, an '87 and my current '98 and I've loved both of them despite their quirks. I'm really going to miss the 4.0 litre engine.

I have owned four Jeeps.. a 90 cherokee, 94, 96, and presently 97 grand cherokee and have loved them all. But I do like what I see with the Liberty both in design and reviews. The problem I see is that people on this site classify SUV owners into only two genres: offroader or soccer moms. Well I see no purpose in trying to drive up a rock wall and I don't know why someone would buy an overpriced, oversized gas guzzler to hall their kids instead of a minivan. So why do I drive a Jeep. To get through fifteen inches of snow in the upper midwest (trust me an all wheel drive car won't do it), to haul a 5000lbs boat, to go skiing, mt. biking, camping. See I use all of my Jeep not just the solid front axle. I need the engine, I need the ground clearance, and I need the room. I may not be popular on this site, but I am what Jeeps are built for... someone who uses the utility and sport.. if not to just do a sport (note: driving is not a sport useless you are the engine or solid axle as the argument might be).

Due to the recently announced demise of the Jeep XJ platform and the impending phase out of the 4.0 inline six, we have decided last week that in order to prevent an oversupply of oil in the world market, that we will be making the necessary production cuts in order to compensate for the loss of this powertrain in the marketplace and the expected lackluster sales of all the new 3.7 liter V6 and PT cruiser-powered 4 cylinder jeep models sure to follow.

here is my comment:
I've been a offical tech with a dealer about a year now.I'am 27 and all my life i've loved chrylsers.Since working for DC I've seen changes that make me sick.Training,software in controllers,managment,and now car lines!!
Yeah I guess its ok plymouth got axed because everything in Plymouth was in the other lines ie. breeze,voyager etc.Except prowler we at the the dealer haven'nt gotten a 2001 yet!Probably a sales ordering issue! This krap about a kj is bull____!!There gonna shove up our behind just like the WJ (grand)and the Pt cruiser!! What the hell is wrong with the simple design of the XJ?Being a tech.the and seeing what gets worked on the most,is the WJ.Yeah it has comforts: O.H. display,cd changer,heated leather etc. Most of the owners of the the limiteds don't even use the thing offroad, they only want traction in the snow and such VERY SAD.This Krap Jeep is gonna to being such a rich trendy thing as all the rest of the s.u.v's out there SAD!I've been hearing about this V-6 for a year now.Prob. gonna have the same looks and design of the LH cars.All the off-roaders want is the simple torque-full 4.0!
Who wants to be stuck off-road with those engines?
Who the hell wants to work on those things? NOT ME
Nobody will get stuck with the KJ because the owner wont even stay out the boundary of the curb world!!!!!!!SAD, WELL I STATED MY OPION AND ANYBODY WHO DON.T LIKE IT COULD STICK THERE KRAUT UP THERE A___!!!

here is my comment: I am the proud owner of a Green '96 Cherokee Classic, the last year of the standard body style. I am sad that the Cherokee will be discontinued, however; I think it better to go out now than to be twisted into the futuristic, plastic, soccer-mom-mobile that everything seems to be blending into. No offense but the '97 thru 2001's looked as if they had stolen the front chassis from an early '80's Ford Ranger. I will choose to use the word retired "not discontinued". The force behind a cultural revolution, this ICON diserves better.

I bought a used '94 XJ three years ago, and quickly realized it was the most capable vehichle I have ever owned. I was looking to upgrade to a nicer model with more options than what I had, and was actually eagerly anticipating the new Cherokee model. When I heard the introduction date was set back, I looked around at other models like the Escape/Tribute, Xterra, etc. After hearing some of the questions about the KJ, I made my decision and now have a 2001 Cherokee Limited. I'll look at the KJ when it comes out, may even get one when they work the bugs out, but I'll tell you this. There's a reason the XJ has been around so long; it's hot, it's cool, it's old, it's new, it's modern, it's classic, it's big, it's small(sensible), and it's one great ride. They'll have to pry me out of my heated leather seats, and for what it's worth, when my Cherokee finally wears out, I'd buy a new one all over again. Good luck KJ, a tough challenge to follow a truly great American vehicle!

Let's get something straight. The XJ isn't
being axed because it isn't profitable. The
thing has hardly changed since 1984, all the
tooling is long since paid for. We all heard
about this when it was reported that
production would continue. It seems clear to
me that it is being axed so that the KJ doesn't
flop. Many of us, when given a choice, would
choose an "outdated" XJ over the KJ. I don't
think with all the investment in a new plant that
DC felt it could afford such loyalty.

We oughta start referring to the KJ as the "KY", because they'll need a hell of a lot of it if they're gonna try and ram that Liberty monstrosity up this Jeep owner's tailpipe!

There was absolutely nothing wrong with those sales numbers! My vehicle has been reliable for 12 years, and I was finally going to buy a new Cherokee. Guess I better make it quick, before the entire Jeep line goes the way of other divisions.

Jeep Worker has a point. I own 2 Jeeps now and have owned 5 in my life. I have had a CJ, a 94XJ, a 94YJ and now I own a 99XJ and a 01TJ. I was really pissed when Jeep got rid of the YJ. I saw the TJ and was like this Jeep is too much like a Tracker! I will NEVER own one. But you know what? It grew on me.. The more I saw it the more I liked it. So as with everything, you shouldn't make any judgment till you have had a chance to see one in person and test drive it. With all these negative comments I'm suprised any of you dont ride horses. Modern techenology...New and improved. Give it a chance.....How bad could it be? Hopefully not a Eagle product of the 70's and 80's....

Come on, all you XJ guys. Everyone is raving about how they love their XJ's. It's simply a matter of $$. Would they stop production if the orders were coming in and DC was making money? I work at Toledo North Assembly and have obviously seen the Liberty and the system used to build it. I used to work at "The Cove" where the XJ is built. Believe me, the quality of the Liberty will be far superior to that of the XJ. If you liked the XJ give the Liberty a chance. Why kill it before it is launched?

here is my comment
I am a salesperson for Jeep and I must say I think the krauts are making a big mistake dropping the Cherokee.As much as I am excited about the Liberty,I do not consider the Liberty in the same class as the Cherokee.Cherokee is a distinct,no-nonsense,reliable vehicle at a great price.The Liberty will be just another "what is that?"soccer mom SUV that will be priced higher than a lot of the competition.Sure,I know it will have better off road capabilities than other vehicles but guess what.......Soccer moms dont care!!!People that bought the Cherokee did so because it was distinctively JEEP.As for my thoughts on Daimler,I think they are using Chrysler as a cash cow and will dump them after they have drained them.But,what do I know?
Ich bein ein JEEPER!!!!!

here is my comment-Good to see some other folks feel the same way I do about the loss of the Cherokee.Wanted a Jeep my entire life and when I finally gave up on $500 used beasts and wanted to put the big $ down on something new,I always knew it would be Jeep.My 98 Sport has gotten me through stuff a far more sensible man never would have tried, and I knew from day one I was never trading her in.Cherokee is classic-straight functional lines-simple elegance.Liberty is another in the ever growing swamp of butt-ugly new SUV's.You can keep it!

I was worried there weren't any XJ owners that visited this I guess I was wrong. These comments are great. Someone needs to figure out how to get our German buddies to take a look at this page and all the other Jeep message boards filled with messages of irate XJ owners that mad about the demise of the truck that started the midsize SUV craze. Well just wanted to say that its great hearing comments like these, keep em coming thats what I say. The irony of the XJ and KJ squabble is without the creation of the XJ to fireup the midsize SUV market there would be no need for the KJ. Go figure. Long live the XJ

here is my comment since my very first vehicle back in '74 i had been an ignorant idiot buying and owning at least 10-12 vehicles that couldn't deliver at least 70k reliable miles. in '91 a blessed soul suggested i buy a "jeep". that year i bought an "out-dated" cherokee, today after 175k trouble free arizona desert miles it still never ceases to amaze me. so much so i've since owned a'95 grand and now a '00 grand for the wife. but my heart is true to the 4.0l cherokee and was eagerly antisipating the new arrival. now that i've seen, i'm disappointed. i'll just keep the the ole "heep" muchos gracias.

here is my comment

I must say that I was a little surprised to read that DC was going to discontinue production of the Jeep Cherokee. How dare they replace a Winner with an Unknown!!!!!! It doesn't make good sense to not keep the Cherokee name.

The lease on my '98 Cherokee sport will be up in 2 Months. I wasn't sure about buying it or returning it for a grand Cherokee. After reading all of your comments, I think I'll buy it.

here is my commentI own 2 JEEPS one is a cherokee I was looking foward to getting a new one now I'm depressed. Is their a picture of this new machine? Thanks

I was waiting to see the un-camoed picture of the new "Cherokee" before deciding on waiting or getting a 2001. Guess what? I saw the picture Tuesday in FWOR. I went to the dealer Wednesday afternoon and took delivery of my Steel Blue XJ on Thursday. I did'nt even wait for the end of production announcement Thursday afternoon.

I have a 99 Grand Cherokee Limited and must say I've never had a vehicle with so many problems. Most relate to assembly issues but some are mechanical (i.e. transmission slips, etc.). Is there a source of information for common problems with this model and sources on how to solve some of the many irregularities?

I've got mixed feelings. My Canadian 92 xj has had no repairs in 186,000 km (that's 115,000 miles for you south of the border) and I've used it 1/3 off-road. The engine and transmission are fantastic. But I also had my kids in the back seat of it for 4 years and it is appalling that Chrysler thought it could mass market a vehicle with a foam rubber back seat with no head restraints and an unsafe plastic tailgate (yeah I know the 97+ 's are metal). The xj gradually lost buyers who wanted the off-road solid axles and a safe place to put the kids (at a reasonable price). Those people had to choose between the tj and the xterra. They still will.

I have been employed at the Jeep Assembly plant now for 22 years. I helped build the 1st Cherokee to come off the line, and have been there for every model year since then. Back in '79 I was laid off for 4 years,but there was always that little glimmer of hope that I would get called back.I feel that anyone who is laid off this time permamently will not be called back. I pity the poor workers who have families to support,because the unemployment doesn't last forever, and is not as much money as some people seem to think it is.I have been through Renault, then AMC, then Chrysler,now DaimlerChrysler. I don't think any of them has had such a low regard for the worker as DaimlerChrysler has. I have heard rumors that they are going to trnasfer the Wrangler to Mexico and close that plant. I have also heard that they are giving the new plant 6 months to show that it is a money maker,and if it is not they will shut it down and write it off as a loss. I know we are not the only auto plant that is going through such hard times, but I don't think that any of them are resorting to such measures as the Germans are. They just don't know how to deal with the American comsumer.And instead of employing American advisors, they are bringing over their German counter-parts to advise them how to run things. Don't they realize that things are not working the way they want them to because the Germans are just not in tune with the American Comsumer. Just go back to Germany and leave us alone!!!!

While reading this article I was both saddened, and angry. Cherokee's are at the very base of SUV's...it could never be replaced!!! I took a glance at the new Liberty coming out, they can keep it!! Right along with the rest of all the other round trucks!!! This is a sad day for me...

I'm glad I bought a Red 2000 XJ 2-door Sport 4.0L. It's a shame those DCX pinheads are going to kill off two of the most timeless, reliable products (the Jeep XJ and the Dodge B-van/wagon). They're going to replace the rugged Jeep 4.0 I-6 with another high-rev, low torque, weedeater motor (3.7 V6) with beer-can heads.

As the owner of a 92 MJ, I find similar frustration about the demise of a great Jeep.
On many trail rides and Jamborees I've seen the Cherokee excel and felt it was a vehicle lacking in the appreciation it really had earned. I will continue to enjoy my 64 CJ5, 79 CJ7, and 95 YJ. We'll see what the KJ offers, but it seems it may fall short of the Jeep legacy, too bad most potential buyers haven't a clue

OH, NO!!!!!
Say it ain't so.....

here is my comment: Boy, am I glad I just got my a new 2001 Cherokee Sport 4x4 in Mid- December.
I've loved my Jeeps; The new XJ replaces my'97 TJ I sold last year, but I still have my '84 CJ-7 and my '78 CJ-7. Sure glad I picked last month to get the new Cherokee.

Steve

I can't explain how shocked I am that this is happening. I don't understand why they can't produce Jeep & Liberty side-by-side. Jeep Cherokee is the greatest SUV out there. I can't imagine my kids growing up in a world without the Cherokee. I wonder if this is what it felt like to learn Chevy stopped productoin on the Bel Air. I'm going to go vomit now.

Well the Liberty is getting some pretty good
reviews in Motor Trend & Car & Driver, (just got
them in the mail) but if the solid front axle is no
longer a factor in deciding my next vehicle,
then I guess I'm going to get an Xterra...
Liberty is just too wussy looking.... even if it is
better then expected offroad. Should do well
with soccer moms and families though.

here is my comment I have been driving cherokees since they first came out in '84. They have all been virtually trouble free, very reliable vehicles. I,m sorry to see it go. I have no need for a Grand cherokee that costs 6-10,000 more, and isn't as sturdy or as good off road. If you scrape the bumper hard on the grand it will fall off!. Now all DC has to do is scrap the solid front axles on remaining jeep vehicles and there will be no need to be loyal to jeep anymore!!. No, I won't even consider a Liberty.

If they kept the XJ in the line up then the
introduction of the Liberty would have been
fine.... but now there is no real offroad, rugged,
mid size Sport Ute in the Jeep line up. DC has
shown that you can't believe anything they say
regarding how long a product will be offered. I
think you TJ lovers better scoop them up while
you still can, because the Icon is coming a lot
sooner then you think..... and don't think the
Wrangler won't suffer a similar fate as the
Cherokee when this does happen. I just hope
the Icon is based on the TJ's solid axle
platform.... saw it at the NIAS last year, it looks
pretty good in person. (Much better then
internet pics)

I'm sad to see the Cherokee go. As much as I like the new "Liberty", Jeep should be a brand of diversity. I always felt the Cherokee would die when the Liberty was introduced, especially since the Liberty has no name on the vehicle in all pictures, including an ad from Jeep in Road & Track... I think it maybe now called the Cherokee with cancelation of the XJ and some good press in 4 Wheeling and various car magazines.

Just wondering but, why is the back seat such a big deal. There isn't head rest, big deal, and the seat is just a flat bench. There are so many people that complain about the back seat but in reality how many people that drive XJ's ride in the back seat. Its just fine for children and teenagers to ride in. The Cherokee back seat isn't made for to hold 2 or 3 adults in the back seat. So far the biggest complaints on the XJ seem to be the back seat, and the solid axle. Also Al you are the only XJ owner I have ever heard of having problems with your XJ. They are reliable based on the fact that so much of their mechanics aren't DC parts bins stuff because it was engineered in a time when DC didn't make everything from parts bin stuff. Thats why the XJ doesn't have classic Chrysler transmission problems because it is a XJ specific transmission. Most people don't realize that the XJ that they complain about so much is in pretty much its orgininal form because there has been so little problems with it. The reason most are begining to say its outdated is because there is some new truck coming out. After a few years or maybe even months of KJ I predict alot of people will wish for the classic reliablity of the XJ. Styling and new hip body styles will only get you so far. Its the mechanics that keep you driving and its mechanics that DC has problems with some times. It was the fad free styling and the classic reliablity that got the XJ throught this many years, and its those very things that people will wish they had after a few years of KJ. It will all be good for about the first 40 or 50 thousnad miles but after that good luck, the transmission will be the first few grand repair that you will have to make. I'll keep my XJ thank you very much.

here is my comment
It's about time they axed that thing! The design is outdated and the vehicle itself is unreliable. I should know, I used to have one! Plus there was a serious lack of legroom in the back seat area. I do, however, look forward to seeing the new Jeep Liberty. The design looks a lot more attractive and hopefully it will be more reliable.

Well I am glad to see there are still some people that apriciate the fine atributes of the XJ Cherokee over the KJ Liberty. Knowing this information I am looking at trading in my 97 XJ and financing a 01 XJ, the last of a dying breed of no nonsense SUV's. Here is a little clue into why the sales are down on the XJ. Take a look back into the years since the 97 redesign. There were major cash incentives, low intrest rates, no down payments plans every year since 97 to help keep the XJ going. Well in 2000 they took away the hefty amount of incentives as compared to past years. Along with losing the incentives, they constantly are changing the line up of Cherokees. In 01 they dropped the SE, and Classic, in 98 or 99 they dropped the Country. At one point after the redesign there were five different trim lines, SE Sport, Country, Classic, & Limited. That doesn't make for easy buying. There have been alot of things that have led to lower XJ sales. None of them have been the XJ's fault, most of them were marketing decisions gone bad. A 141,XXX SUV's isn't a bad number. There is alot of companies who would kill for a truck that could gurantee numbers like that. 2001 is the dawn of a new Jeep brand, one fully controlled by Germans that don't understand Jeep like the old Detroit boys did. The end of a era is over. Buy your 01's now. Long live the XJ!!!

Thats it for me. Unless Jeep does something good like bringing back the Scrambler on the TJ platform or brings out something new that is true to the Jeep name and design I will spend my money elsewhere. I think it is time for the restoring and preservation of the true jeeps. I already started a 81 Scrambler. I just move on to another project rather then help support the distruction of a AMERICAN tradition.

I have owned my 94 XJ sport for a little over a year and have had decent luck. I have forged through snow and mud to my hearts content and it never said die. I checked out the Liberty at the Detroit Auto Show and was disappointed I could not even sit in one. I just hope it is as great as some of these magazines portray. In checking this site however it sounds like most people dont like it.

after looking at the liberty closer, i realized that the only thing that kills it's looks are the round headlights. if you look at the picture and cover the headlights, it looks just like a grand cherokee. so with rectangular headlights it might not be so bad and wouldn't have that dumb cutesy smirk on it's face.

here is my comment: I have owned 2 Grand Cherokees, a 92' and a 99'. I have been extremely disappointed in my 99'. I had no trouble with my 92' but with my 99.....I had it in the shop 5 times within the first year. From the window motors , rear window leak, to the rear end going out not once but twice. I am very disappointed with my 99 Grand Cherokee. I wrote the company and called the company. I did not receive any response.I thought that when you buy a ''new'' vehicle your headaches were over! Not ! I will never buy another Jeep product...not only because of the mechanical problems I have had , but also for the lack of communication or compensation I have gotten from Chrylser. I work at a Ford plant and could have purchased a Ford product,( and saved a ot of money) but no I chose to drive a Chrysler.....never again.IT is no wonder they are not going to make them anymore....I am sure I am not the only dissatisfied customer.

here is my comment
this is a sad day I have owned jeeps four nine years now & loved them all I planed on selling my 97 tj & buying a 2002 xj but now that thay will not be makeing them anymore I guess I will hang on to my tj becuse there is no way in hell that I would buy the kj!!!!!!!!!!!!!

to cory, it's only an IFS.. but that doesn't matter right now... today is a dark day.. i guess the saying is true.. "all good things must come to an end"

I hate to see the cherokee go. I own a 2000 and so far it's been a very handy truck. It seems well built, durable, and the dog loves riding in the back. According to DC's sales figures, aprox 141,000 copies last year. Sure, it was lower than last year, but so were a lot of their vehicle sales. It doesn't make sense to me that a company would cut a vehicle when it is still bringing in impressive sales numbers. With it's lengthy production run without anything more than a minor redesign, it would seem that what money the cherokee does bring in would be a good addition to a hurting company's pocket book. But, GM's dumping their best models too. Seemss like somebody in the Big Three hit the self destruct button.

here is my comment: The XJ will be missed. It it unique in it's size and off road capability. It's nearest the Scrambler size that a lot of folks like.

Off road --- 4X4 --- Solid axles forever.

here is my comment
Its a sad day. Ive owned only XJs. The thing that really makes it sad is what the XJ is being replaced with. The KJ (Kraut Jeep) Independent front and rear suspension?????? WTF?! The shotty workmanship began with that new WJ Grand Cherokee and will continue with the Liberty! I wont buy another Jeep. I will only BUY AMERICAN!

here is my comment It is a sad day for me personally. I helped with making the jeep a success. The company I work for designed and built the test stands that test a lot of components used in the Jeep. Engine, some transmissions, injector system, carbon canister, transfer cases, steering system, etc

A lot of people would be happy building a SUV that sold only 100,000 copies.

Thanks for you time

LOU Phillips

Sad, but nice find a place to get the word correct. ABC News showed the Grand Cherokee when it said it was halting production.

This truly is a sad day for Jeepers the world over. I knew that the greatest
SUV the planet has ever or will ever see would not go on forever, but this does
come as somewhat of a shock. Sadly, what does not come as a shock is the
way those no good, lousy stinking asholes from Germany are destroying the
once great Chrysler Corporation piece by piece. First they killed Plymouth and now the Cherokee whats next ? I REALLY HATE THESE GUYS, YOU KNOW

The moment I saw actual pictures of the new
Liberty, I knew the Cherokee's days were seriously
numbered. In fact, I had predicted the Cherokee
probably wouldn't last more than a year after the
Liberty debuted. Looks like I'm ri

Went to movie at the local mega-plex last Saturday and passed one of the
local Jeep dealers. Parked out by the road was a Solar Yellow Cherokee Sport,
the first one I have seen in my area. MUST HAVE YELLOW CHEROKEE.
Seriously, does anyone have any idea when the cut off date for ordering a 2001
Cherokee is ? I asked the dealer but he has no idea, could be April, could be
tomorrow. His words. I really need to know. HELP !

here is my comment

I really got angry when DimwitChrysler announced they were ending production of the Cherokee. I'm on my third XJ and wouldn't own anything else. I've read the comments and if you really want Dieter Zetsche and Wolfgang Bernhard to see your comments, send them an email at DC's website. The address is:
dcmedia@daimlerchrysler.com If they get a few hundred thousand emails from irate Cherokee owners who say they won't buy another DaimlerChrysler product if they kill the Cherokee, maybe they'll understand what we XJ owners already know: Jeep Cherokee – There's only one and we won't accept anything else!

The cherokee production was never ended. The liberty was just a redesign for the cherokee and was simply given a new name. Notice how the liberty looks like the cherokee with futuristic styling. Also notice how Europe calls what we call the Liberty, the cherokee. They just gave it a new name in the US to attract buyers attention, because people would think its all new and would want to try it. Also if a person had a bad experiance with the cherokee they wouldn't buy one again, but a new name changes that. Trust me I know, I design jeeps for a living. Im partly in charge of the Grand Cheroke line. So I find out these things fast.

here is my comment:

Its one thing to discontinue the cherokee but to get rid of the 4.0L straight six is another. this is a truly die-hard engine. whatever is replacing this better be able to last as long as its predecessor. at least 400 000 Km.

The liberty is not a JEEP and should be looked upon as every other grocery getting SUV on the road. IFS says it all. The XJ is fine to anyone who owns one. The last thing they should have done was discontinue the XJ. I am mad because the ugly Liberty is supposed to take its place. With IFS that is proven to suck off road compared to the XJs solid front axle the Liberty should be sold under some other company. The engine isn't any better either. It has the same power and better gas mileage. V-6s are by design junk compared to an inline six. Look how smart GM got with their engine. 4.2 liter I-6 at 270hp! I still cant get over the rediculous looks of the Kia Sportage looking Liberty. Real Jeeps have solid axles!

Brian
91 4.0 5sp XJ
89 4.0 at XJ
93 2.5 5sp XJ
94 4.0 5sp XJ
97 4.0 at XJ
01 4.0 at XJ
you wont see any libertys in my families fleet!

here is my comment

Jeep Cherokee is a clasic design which should
be improved upon and not replaced. All the jeep really needs is better (more modern) engine design.
I got my Jeep in 1999 and I LOVE IT !
It is a shame that the company is just giving up on vehicle which has so much public support.

here is my comment: we are now driving our 3rd jeep cherokee and love it. i would hate to be without it. it handles so well in all conditions. it is obviously a great vehicle - look how many are out there.

here is my commentIs the Liberty replacing the cherokee or are they still redesigning the cherokee anyone know?

No, they can't do this. It's not fair. The Cherokee is a great vehicle. I bet it could be improved if the money spent on R & D for this Liberty was put towards improving, instead of replacing the Cherokee. I've put 83K miles on my 1997 model and I have no complaints. I'll even wager that my Cherokee can stil out climb this new Liberty. Well I guess I'll just have to run my Cherokee into the ground and then put it back together again, because I have no plans to buy any other model. This Liberty better be spectacular for me to even sit inside it for a test drive.

i own a '93 grand cherokee and have 165,000 miles on it, my sister owns a '94 zj with close to 100k miles and so does my mom. my dad has had 2 zj's also, both with well over 100k. the only fixes i ever needed to make were to replace both of my front cv shafts,(i should upgrade to u-joints though cause i give mine hell off-road), and a few radiator hoses and a fuel pump on my sister's. i realize that their transmissions are supposed to be crap, but so far i've been really lucky...i do dread the day mine finally goes though cause my baby will never be the same. all 5 of these vehicles run and ran wonderfully and i couldn't ask for anything more out of them. so all you guys quit knocking ZJs!!! i'd also like to add that i just kinda feel safer in a zj than in an xj. seems like i've got a little more around me to keep me safe. and i could be wrong, but does a stock zj with coil-sprung suspension not have better articulation than an older stock xj with leaf springs, therefore making it more trail capable? i could be wrong, but that seems logical to me. i'm not knocking the xj either... i know it's proved itself and is an awesome vehicle. i'd probably own one if i didn't need the extra room. i'd also like to add that maybe the reason jeep has never changed the body style much on the xj is because if you round it out a bit and make it a bit sleeker, you have a zj. anyway, i don't own a WJ yet, but i plan on doing so in the future. i haven't heard much about their reliability, but i am amazed by the new drivetrain's capabilities. I might also add that the WJ was Peterson's 4-wheel and off-road's 4x4 of the year both in 2001 and in 1999. i can say one thing, and that is that i don't see myself driving that new cross-between-a-pt-cruiser-and-a-wrangler in the future. it's bad enough i off-road in a grand cherokee, let alone that wussy looking liberty. it may be very trail capable even with the IFS, but man is it girly! chrysler seems to be in a lot of trouble now and they're making desperate moves and i think this one is a big mistake. and what the hell is with getting rid of the 4.0L, one of the most reliable engines on the planet that's proven itself and has been around for almost 50 years!

DC is killing the best SUV ever on the face of the planet. I'v seen the Liberty at the Detroit Auto Show and it is a piece of crap. Why dont they just call it the 4 door wrangler. Ill never by a Liberty as long as I live. Im going to buy a 2001 XJ and store it forever.

MY COMMENT ABOUT ALL OF THIS THAT I AM CURRENTLY ON MY THIRD JEEP. I HAVE HAD A 1994 CHEROKEE COUNTRY, A 1994 WRANGLER AND I M CURRENTLY IN A 1996 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE. I LOVE THEM TO DEATH I THINK THAT THE NEW DESIGN IS OKAY. THE ONLY COMPLAINT I HAVE IS THAT THEY ARE GETTING RID OF THE 4.0 6cy. TO TELL ALL OF YOU OUT THERE IS TO GIVE THIS NEW VEHICLE SOME TIME. I SURE THAT WHEN THEY BROUGHT OUT THE NEW RAM BACK IN LATE 1993 THAT IT TOOK SOME TIMEFOR PEOPLE TO LIKE IT.I LOVE MY JEEP MY OTHER HALF WANTS TO GET A DODGE DURANGO NEXT , BUT I HAVE SUCH GOOD LUCK MY WITH JEEPS THAT I WILL NOT WANT TO DRIVE ANY THING ELSE.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree it's sad the production of the Jeep cherokee is stopped. I drive a Cherokee 1990 it's the best car ever made.
A jeeper from Holland.

I have owned a 89XJ sold that and bought a 99XJ, and to hear all the talk about the KJ compared to the XJ just makes me shake my head. The KJ just doesnt appeal to the same core group of people that drive the XJ. I dont drive my XJ for nimble road handling, to go to the market and get some fruit, or to lug my kids around in. DC is making a mistake in assuming that XJ'ers will want this new product. I could care less how wel the IFS works in smoothing out those nasty potholes in the road. If I wanted that, I would drive a Honda Accord. Anyway, I guess I'll have to find something to buy in a few years when my XJ gets older, its too bad. Does anyone have experience with the Old Man Emu suspension for the XJ? If you do, I would appreciate any feedback. thanks

here is my comment: I bought my first Jeep several years ago, a 94 Cherokee country, which I love. I do not like nor will I ever own a front wheel drive vehicle. I bought my Cherokee because of it's reputation, but also because it's one of the few, 4 door, 2 wheel drive vehicles, that is not front wheel drive. If the new Jeep is a front wheel drive copy of the Ford Escape and other front wheel drive SUVs, you can count me out as a future Jeep owner. You folks are going in the wrong direction. I'm 55 years old, and there are a bunch of us out here in my age group that grew up with rear wheel drive, and do not care for front wheel drive. I thought Jeep was a leader, not a follower!! I'm still mad at you all for discontinuing the Jeep truck. I think you've gone off the deep end. I'm usually loyal to what I believe in, but I don't believe in you all any more!!!

Baaaaaahhhhh! They HAVE to keep making Jeep Cherokees! I love mine and plan on buying another one next year!

here is my comment I am so glad that I just purchased a new 2000 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 Sport before they stopped production. This is my second Jeep Cherokee and there will never be anything to replace them. You can cease production of the famous Cherokee line, but they will always be the best in class....Jeep Cherokee, the one and only...

I cannot believe those Nazi Germans are going to kill production of an American classic! In the last ten years I have owned 3 Jeeps. At age 15, my first car was a 1976 Jeep Wagoneer. I have since owned a 1993 Cherokee Sport and presently I own a 1995 Wrangler. I have loved each of these vehicles and thought that I would be always be a Jeep owner. With the introduction of the German Liberty, however, I doubt that will be true. I didn't really even consider that they would end production of the Cherokee because, even if the Nazis had no respect for heritage, they could understand the value of the dollar-and the Cherokee is still posting sales numbers that some truck makers would kill for. But I guess even money will not convince the Germans pull their heads out of their ass! I am a college student right now. After graduating, my first planned big purchase was going to be a new Cherokee. I won't even consider the Liberty. I think the styling is butt-ugly (Just because it has a slotted grille does not make it a Jeep!). I think that in their effort to sell more vehicles, the Germans are going to alienate all the customers that have been loyal to Jeep all these years. What makes the Liberty appealing to others is exactly why Jeep owners stick with the Cherokee!!!

This is another decision by the new German management without regard to heritage and history. The Chrysler folks were well aware of the Jeep heritage (bringing back the Wrangler in a way faithful to the original) and would have kept the Cherokee around until the next Wrangler was introduced (making the Cherokee a 4-door Wrangeler). Now this probably will not happen.

The folks at Daimler have wasted the $7 billion in cash reserves the Chrysler folks put away for a downturn in the auto market (these guys were well aware of what it is like to weather a downturn without cash). The folks at Daimler have replaced all the Chrysler staff that made the company respected again. Now they slice into the Jeep heritage.

It is a sad day for Jeep. It is a sad day for Chrysler. I think things will get worse before getting better.

Farewell, faithful companion.....thank God there will be a plentiful supply of used examples out there since they've sold a ton of XJ's since '84....what a great vehicle ! I'll NEVER sell mine....I'll just collect more !