My New - Used 2002 Liberty

97TJ2.5 · 07-05-2009, 08:53 PM

I bought a 2002 Liberty Sport about a week ago as a replacement for a 1999 Jeep Cherokee. For only three years newer, the vehicles is a huge upgrade in turning radius, improved ride, and features.

I had originally wanted a later model Wrangler with a hard top and low miles. After driving the Liberty and comparing price for equivelant features, I couldn't justify more money for the Wrangler with a rougher ride, shorter wheelbase for towing and higher overall cost for equivelent mileage and use (I have a 16 foot Boston Whaler I use very frequently).

Overall, I am pleasantly surprised with the Jeep Liberty!

djui5 · 07-05-2009, 11:08 PM

Congrats! I think you'll find it does well off road, and tows well

97TJ2.5 · 07-05-2009, 11:27 PM

Yeah. The initial impressions on towing is that it was an improvement over the Cherokee 4.0
The upgrade was born out of necessity as I wanted to hang onto the Cherokee for another year or so before I changed vehicles. The front end had been giving me problems for years that I could never solve (through 4 or 5 hub replacements done free by a SUV specialist) and the engine started intermittently cutting out without reporting a code.

The mechanic said to dump the car as tracing electrical repairs and all other issues would be more expensive than current blue book values.

A mechanic could make that Cherokee good for another 100k

nhcd538 · 07-08-2009, 06:53 PM

Good luck with it. You got the best year for the KJ Liberty - 2002. Don't ask why but the 2002 model year seems to have fewer problems across the board than any later model.

To get an idea of what these vehicles are all about, what really can be done to them and what they really can do, check out:

http://www.lostkjs.com/forum/phpBB2/

http://www.jeepkj.com/forum/index.php

Enjoy!

DaveJKJ · 07-08-2009, 11:12 PM

Yeah congrats.

02 was the best year. You got the 45rfe tranny which is a heavier duty tranny and the stock height is 3/4 of an inch higher.

Enjoy.

97TJ2.5 · 07-09-2009, 08:57 PM

Thanks guys. I'm pretty stoked and I intend on keeping the vehicle stock for the most part. I might install a K&N intake and some other simple mods, but overall keep the vehicle original. The turning radius is a huge improvement over the Cherokee.

rxmxsh · 07-10-2009, 12:46 AM

Let me know what you think of the K&N intake. I'm looking at one for my 06.

07-05-2009, 11:27 PM	#3
97TJ2.5 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sonoma CA Posts: 78 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Yeah. The initial impressions on towing is that it was an improvement over the Cherokee 4.0 The upgrade was born out of necessity as I wanted to hang onto the Cherokee for another year or so before I changed vehicles. The front end had been giving me problems for years that I could never solve (through 4 or 5 hub replacements done free by a SUV specialist) and the engine started intermittently cutting out without reporting a code. The mechanic said to dump the car as tracing electrical repairs and all other issues would be more expensive than current blue book values. A mechanic could make that Cherokee good for another 100k

07-09-2009, 08:57 PM	#6
97TJ2.5 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sonoma CA Posts: 78 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Thanks guys. I'm pretty stoked and I intend on keeping the vehicle stock for the most part. I might install a K&N intake and some other simple mods, but overall keep the vehicle original. The turning radius is a huge improvement over the Cherokee.