Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-50
The passenger side seat-warmer quit, but I think I can fix it. This has been a great vehicle so far. My wife loves it. We bought it with slightly larger-than-stock tires, 255/60-16s which increase ground clearance some. I'll keep that size on it because of that and the better appearance. It doesn't handle great, but you can't expect that from most SUVs.
The 5.9L V-8 made it the fastest SUV available in 1998, but has been far surpassed since. It looks great with those hood louvers, no tacky gold trim, nicer wheels and plusher leather package. It pulls a trailer like nobody's business. One drawback: It loves gas. We live about 10 miles outside of town, so we have a lot of highway travel, but still only get 14-15 mpg average. The 5.9L has a freer-flowing exhaust that sounds very nice. The intimidating rumble is pleasing to my ear. We had it off-road this summer and it performed flawlessly and comfortably.
I Just bought a 1998 5.9 and I love it. I recommend getting one if you can find them. Since they only made them in 98, they are very limited. In my opinion they should have made more. The interior is plush and cushy with all the electronics
one could ask for. I grin to myself every time I turn the key and hear that growl from the exhaust. The 360ci block powers this 4,200lb beast very well. Transition through the gears is a bit jerky even at lower throttle and I can feel that it is all-time 4 wheel drive when I make tight turns because of the slippage in the front. Is this normal? Best acceleration is from 40-70 miles per hour and 0-60 at 7 seconds is nothing to frown at for good size SUV. Gas mileage is very poor especially when I feel like really driving it. All in all it's a fun and luxurious Jeep to drive.
Answer to the above comment: it IS normal when you go around the tight turns for the 5.9L to feel like it is sluggish and binding up. The 5.9L has the "trak loc" rear differential standard. That feeling takes awhile to get used to.
I am a fellow owner of a 5.9l Limited. They are the perfect marriage of power, luxury, utility, style, and off road capability.
Question to the poster... Do the 255/60/16 tires ever rub on the inner fender well? Do you think that 255/70/16 tires would fit?
I would just like to say that I LOVE THE 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED 5.9L. I am waiting to get my G2 (this November), and then my dad and I are going truck hunting! I am really looking forward to getting this truck as a first car! I love the look/style/and design, but I would love to know what type of gas you use with the 5.9L? I have heard that some people put premium gas and I would love to use that to help the engine last long! I am not sure though if it will damage the motor? Also, has anyone had a lot of problems with their 5.9L?
255/70/16 will fit, and I have 275/45/20 on mine. Check centerline wheels site to see my Jeep. I have 255/70/16 mtr on my stock rims. The fit is great, the ride is great. Enjoy your Jeep, the 5.9 is sweet. Check mine out at cardomaine under slylimted.my pictures are posted and yes it is stock height
We just bought a newer 2001 Grand Cherokee Ltd. with only 17,000 miles on it -- really nice vehicle. BUT, when we polished up our '98 Jeep Grant Cherokee 5.9L (97,000 miles) for sale we found that it looked better, drove better, sat better and performed SOOooo much better that we are having a hard time deciding which unit to sell (can't keep both). When looking around at resale prices we found everything from $8,000 to $17,000 for these 5.9 L beasts. Most of the lower prices were for abused, off-road used vehicles, but the clean, maintained ones were still holding their values better than any other Jeep. Probably because they are such great long-haul towing systems. Well, that just makes it doubly hard for us to part with the 5.9. What do you guys think, should we keep the well loved '98 5.9L or dump it for this almost new Ltd.?
I am an owner of a 98 5.9 LTD I have owned it since new. I just purchased an 04 Overland with the 4.7 H.O. this vehicle doesn't even compare to my 5.9, the acceleration is sluggish, the shifts are mushy and it feels sloppy in turns, but granted it is newer and has a lot more options.
I ran my 5.9 at the track in 95 degree heat with 75% humidity and still ran a 14.9 at 92 mph, not bad for a big vehicle... granted I do have the mopar performance computer. As for tires I have 255 65 R16 Michelin cross terrain tires that are H speed rated, it handles awesome in the turns!
To comment on the binding in turns, yes the vehicle does have trac loc, but the binding is caused by a faulty viscous coupler in the transfer case used for the all wheel drive system. I know because I had mine replaced under warranty and what a difference that made, it turns smooth now with the wheel turned all the way in either direction!
For the owner of the 5.9 and the 01 limited I am having the same dilemma, which on to keep... well I looked at after market options for the overland and found decent exhaust, intake, sway bars, chip etc, so I am hoping I can make it as fast if not faster than the 5.9, who knows maybe a supercharger???...as far as looks the 5.9 looks so much better than the newer jeeps, but what can you do, gotta upgrade at some point!
To the guy that said he is running 255/70/16 mtr's on his stock rims, is that on the stock height as well or are you on a bb or up country springs? just wondering! thanks.
Hi, I'm a proud owner of a 5.9L it took me 8 months to find a Mint condition one :-). this is my 2nd Jeep Grand I had a 96 4.0 LMTD b-4 not one problem (except the rear diff, but most 93-98 grandd had that) for the tire's I'm running Rubicon rims with the MTR's on, that's a 31" 245 75 16" mudders (I had to cut some small peaces on the inside wheel well only about 3")
So if you want to do some minor cutting you can run 31" it makes a Big difference and gives you a cheap Lift :-).
I think the only nicer Jeep than a 5.9L is the SRT8 Grand, but its lowered like a racer :-(, And its over 40K.
P.S. Anyone buying one of these Wonderful JEEPS,RESEAL the rear Diff and buy the addative from the dealer.
Hi oven's 5.9 beasts!!! Maybe somebody can tell my the place where good guys have and provide good service/repair in northwest suburban Chicago?
Hi All, I'm new to this site and I'm in the middle of closing a deal for a 5.9 Limited. I'm soo excited to get mine. I was going to buy the 99 but saw the 5.9 online. I have a young child (10 months old) and my only concern with the truck is the trunk space. The full size spare takes a lot of space and lugging around the strollers and stuff is a chore. Is there any way of mounting the tire on the outside or will it just kill the looks from the back? any thoughts? has anyone done anything to create more space in the back? Thx guys!!
Hi again guys and gals. I decided to not go with the tire rack on the outside. I did research and I didn't want to drill holes. Anyways just got a new exhaust system installed and I got to say it sounds so nice to the ears. Don't get me wrong I loved the stock muffler sound, but I got a Flowmaster Delta 40 series and man does it sound tough. The Delta series gives you all the rumble needed outside the truck and not as much rumble inside (which is good for my new born). Accelerating from the line at normal speed gives you such a clean sound. I recommend anyone looking for a cheap upgrade to go with this muffler.
Hi everyone-
My daughter now drives the 5.9 (I got a new Chevy TB EXT). CAUTION: Do not use a space saver spare tire on these vehicles; it will damage the drivetrain! In order to increase the towing capacity to 6500# I replaced the electric fan with a mechanical one from the 5.2 V8 (dealer installed). It solved the overheating problem (I tow a 6000# boat up to Lake Tahoe), but it also decreased power & mileage. It remains one of my alltime favorite cars.
I am proud to be an owner of a 98 5.9 Limited. It is a wonderful vehicle, and I would not trade it for anything.
I use my Jeep as the designers intended. I pull my boat with it, and get stares of admiration at the ramp when the three inch exhaust rumbles across the water. I drive it across ditches, through corn fields and pastures, packed full of hunting gear. Vacuum the deer hair out, shampoo the carpets and polish it up, and then the stares of admiration come from the patrons at a fine restaurant... as the three inch exhaust rumbles across the parking lot.
I am trying to decide between the 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd with the 5.9L, or a 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd. There is about a $3000 difference in the prices, but I want the best for my money. I'm concerned about the mileage... both are a little over 100,000 miles. Any advice?
No comparison... go with the 98 5.9L. It is in a very different class than the 99...