I have a 1993 XJ (Cherokee for the OP) with the 4.0 and AX-15 5-speed, it's pushing 235,000 miles on the original engine and trans and I have thrashed that thing hard (off road and occasional fast shifting, engine has some mods), which I bought with 180k on the odo (felt like a new car when I drove it). I've heard those transmissions are picky about fluid, I fill mine with RedLine MT-90... First time I did that it made it shift like butter. Still runs great, maybe a bit sticky to go into 2nd when it's cold outside but it's a trooper.
To the OP I live in Colorado where Jeeps are every 3rd or 4th car you see on the road. I'm pretty familiar with the TJ Wranglers which is '97-03?? I really see them as single-purpose vehicles. The newer ones are a little better on-road but still garbage compared to even a pickup truck in terms of ride, space, mpg etc. Seems like people either drive them as an image thing or because they actually want a really hard-core off road vehicle that is ready to modify. I prefer my old Cherokee but those are getting just that, old, the last ones were made in 2001. They're significant because they were a unibody hatchback SUV with usable interior space but essentially the same suspension and driveline as the Wrangler; way more practical and 90% as capable but looks like a box on wheels in comparison. And it has a longer wheelbase, bit more rear overhang, not-too-rigid unibody blah blah blah. Around here they go for like 1/4 the price, probably less than the Wranglers.
