I recently moved to Iowa from Idaho and sold my built `92 F250 XLT supercab 4x4 (who needs 4wd w/o mountains?) and bought a mint `98 Chevy C1500 ext. cab 2wd.

However, I have soon realized that my lengthy winter commute would be much nicer with a 4wd vehicle.

My Chevy gets around 21 mpg average, and I was hoping to find a 4x4 beater that gets about the same.

I found a government source for used Jeep Cherokees that are  between `92-`95 vintage with around 80k miles on them for about $2000.  I've always heard good things about the boxy Cherokees and the 4.0 I-6 motor, but I'm not sure what kind of mileage they get.

Since it would be just my commuter vehicle, I would use stock suspension and a more aggressive AT tire, like the Yokohama Geolandar AT or the BF Goodrich All-Terrain TA/KO.

I would of course run a K&N air filter and a performance exhaust.  What kind of highway mileage could I expect?  Keep in mind that my trip is 70 miles one-way on relatively flat roads and few corners. 

I run a wrangler 4.0L with K&N, H/O exhaust (wrapped headder) jet chip, screamin demon coil, flame thrower dist and rotor, 33X12.50X15's and my overall average is around 19MPG.

So if you have the same 4.11 gears and run stock size tires I would guess you would be around the same.  The best thing about the I-6 is that it will run forever.  But hell for 2k think of the fun you can have not worrying about it!

That doesn't sound too bad.  Any weak links in the Cherokee drivetrain?  Is the NP231 adequate for a stock vehicle?  Manual or auto preferences for reliability?  

Hope your enjoying IA. I moved here 10 Years ago from Fla. It's not the same. I have a 73 Chevy 1/2 Ton with dual shocks and 350 and 35's with no lift. It is just a play toy.  I also have a 1999 Cherokee and a Turbo City throttle body with a rock-it air tube to replace the factory air filter will help. Turbo City can help with a exhaust system. I drive less then 1 mile to work so milage at slow speeds (stop and go) are a big factor. I'm confident that these options will help. Dont forget about a upgrade of the ignition system. Were are you at in IA. We have a ok place to 4 wheel by me. I'm in Cedar Rapids. Placed called 600 Acres. Let's go get stuck!!!!

I have only had manual's but from what I am told by the guys at Collins Brothers Jeep is that the auto trans is rock solid.  Usually those guys speak the gospel according to Jeep and many times on the trail I would have loved an auto!  As for the cherokee drivetrain I really can't say.   

The 4.0  is only rated from the factory and like 15/17 mpg. Give or take a litle I wouldn't expect too much more than that.