I'm looking for a vehicle that can drive across trails and washboard dirt paths. I'd like safety in the snow and not be too fearful of curbing at like 10 mph / hit a pothole at 35 mph and being able to shrug it off.

The STi is definitely not the tool for this, and after some research I have settled on wanting a Jeep Cherokee (Sport). Year: 1996-2000-ish.

I have heard that the I-6 motor can push a solid 400k miles if taken care of properly, and I'd like some advice as to what I should buy.

(Location: Pueblo/Colorado Springs/Denver. Willing to drive ~100 miles)

What I want:
Cloth Seats*
2-3" Lift
Automatic Windows/Locks*
Manual Transmission*
~150k Miles
Snow Safety: (The STi has too much torque and is causing me to lose control in the snow)
Trail Safety: (As stated earlier)
Color: Red

* = MUST HAVE

Here are a few Craigslist Ads of what I have managed to find:

1997 ($2500)
Kinda cruddy... manual windows/locks.
http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4902782984.html

1997 ($4250)
New paint, a lot of new components/replacements, manual windows/locks.
http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4903380110.html

1998 ($5495)
Red, lift kit, undercarriage looks spraypainted, fenders are... butchered, both bumpers look like crap.
http://denver.craigslist.org/ctd/4901289824.html

So, if there is no lift, what are my costs roughly to do the lift? Leaf springs, suspension, correct bumpers, rims, tires, fenders, gear ratio adjustment for larger tires, etc.

Also, I am totally used to turboed cars. When you toss on any piece of aftermarket equipment, you are required to tune the car for it. Common sense says don't slap on a CAI and just drive like nobody's business.
Is this the same for non-turboed cars? I see a LOT of Jeeps that have CAI's, a full exhaust, and all kinds of other goodies. Does this require some specific tuning, or is it plug-and-play?

Thank you, gentlemen.

do you have aim?

i could lead you in the right direction

talk to this guy ignore the rest of us. he can help you the most

lol


i dont wana toot my own horn

but


toot toot

Be watchful of the oil pressure at hot idle if you look at any of these. They are tough engines but the cam bearings are notorious for going out early. If that happens the oil pressure will slowly decrease over time until the gauge reads 0 at idle. Shortly after that main bearings and rod bearings get trashed. Sometimes people put 20w50 oil in them to cover up the problem before they sell it.

Good old 50w

Been there done that lol

yep!

lol, but that fucking truck kept on a rockin, ticking and knocking like a son of a bitch for the next 80 thousand miles

I had a 318 chrysler that i ran 50W in because the damn intake manifold leaked lol.

Drove it like that for 50,000 miles ping'in the whole damn time.

we have a little v6 single cab long bed chevy 1500

that we use as a shop truck/fuck around truck and that fucker pings, knocks, leaks everything

but its still going strong and we beat the ever loving piss out of it

the frame is bent for sure, the suspension is clapped the fuck out

but it keeps going, makes my brain hurt

Chevy tough