I owned a Ford Probe for many years. It was my first real car (not counting the 1981 Ford Fairmont I had in high school) and it led me to make some false assumptions that the Jeep has shattered.

First, the Probe required about $1000.00 per year to pass inspection. Something was always wrong, and that was when I drove about 5,000 miles a year. My Jeep, bought last year with 98,000 miles on it, has been trouble-free. Now I drive about 15,000 miles a year.

Second, I thought the Probe was fuel-efficient. I got about 22 MPG. The only trepidation I had with buying a Jeep was that I knew it'd be bad on mileage. I get about 18 MPG, and really that's no different from my "sports" car Probe. It's not great, but it isn't THAT bad.

Thirdly, I didn't think I would ever need 4 wheel drive. Wrong! I have called upon the Jeep's 4WD twice so far and it was as simple as anything. Now I feel much more confident driving alone, anywhere.

I love the Jeep's boxy shape and its feeling of being high up. There's no feeling of too high, though, like I might tip on a corner.

The only thing I don't like is that the windows and door locks are manual. That's a drag. But I have an air bag, which the Probe didn't.

I recommend the Jeep Cherokee. It's simply a fun, dependable, safe vehicle.
Amount Paid (US$): 8500
Condition: Used
Model Year: 1996
Model and Options: Automatic, 4-door