1984 Jeep Cherokee Limited

John Ashton

 

1984 Jeep Cherokee Limited

John’s Cars

We moved to Morisset in 1988. In 1996 I sold the HQ to buy a 1984 Jeep Cherokee Limited. These were the most expensive 4WDs sold in Australia when new, costing more than the top of the range Range Rover. This vehicle had the 360 cu in American Motors V8 as used in the Rambler cars fitted to the heavy duty Chrysler 3 speed auto and Dana diffs and transfer case. It had solid front axle with very long leaf springs front and back. This car was also a dream to drive. We did trips to Kakadu, Cape York and Frazer Island. On Frazer Island I got 8mpg with 14 mpg the norm on the black top. On LPG (which I had fitted) it used 33L/100km. 

With the rising cost of fuel in 2001 I sold it (big mistake) and bought a 1998 diesel Jeep Cherokee (big mistake). This car was a lemon and cracked each of its 4 separate titanium heads on the way to Birdsville. Replacement heads new were $1,000 ea. After repairing the engine I sold it and bought a 2003 4.2 L Nissan Patrol which I still have. Meanwhile Colleen sold the Mercedes and bought a 1991 Ford Laser. She loves these cars and now has a 2001 auto model. In 2010 I bought my first new car a 3L Prado diesel.

John Ashton

April, 2020