1988 Jeep Comanche Pioneer 4.0 I6

Summary:

Perfect for all around needs

Faults:

The truck needed a new head gasket, new rear brakes and drums and exhaust, just basic wear and tear items, and nothing more than normal maintenance.

Normal floor pan rust that will be replaced. Needs new paint.

General Comments:

We picked this Comanche up sight unseen from a individual in Texas. I have owned 2 Cherokees and have been a Jeep fan, and have always wanted a Comanche. It was worth the wait. The versatility and utility are really unmatched. I wish Chrysler would have realized this and valued this truck as much as Comanche owners do, and did more to promote the truck. It was a perfect truck then as it still is today.

Although it still needs quite a bit of work to make it road worthy, my daughter and I had a blast yesterday just running around our pasture. We drove it over 400 miles home and got 27 miles per gallon.

This is the Pioneer with a long bed 4x4, bench seat. The handling is on a dime and responsive as with all Cherokees, the bed is large enough to hold a full sized ATV and still have a bit of room left. Ours has a 3" lift with 30" mud tires. Not real quiet going down the road, but give some to get through the muck which there is no beating any Jeep.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th April, 2009

4th May 2011, 16:59

Doubt that it got 27 MPG. There is no way it could get that unless it was a 4 cyl and a 4cyl of this particular Jeep never got this good of gas MPG.

5th Feb 2015, 20:33

I think 27 MPG is do-able. My 4.0/manual always got around 22/highway, and that was in the hills around Atlanta.

If you aren't taking any steep grades, and you are running in 5th gear, 27 MPG is possible. I don't know about steady 27, but overall...

16th Apr 2015, 00:55

Just a quick comment on a 88 Jeep Comanche 4x4 5 speed manual 4,0 inline 6 cylinder. I have had mine since new, one hell of a good truck, tough and durable for sure. You are lucky if you get 22 MPG; I have never gotten better than 17-18, even on highway driving, what's the secret?? Just making a comment, nothing derogatory intended. If you have a secret for the 22 MPG, please share. Take care all Jeep drivers, have a good one.

In reply to 16th Apr 2015, 00:55

23rd Jan 2020, 05:14

My '88 Jeep Comanche has the 4.0 engine with the Aisin AW4 automatic transmission. If I put the dash mounted transmission switch in the 'Power' position, the transmission shifts out at higher speeds and my MPG settles around 17-18. In the 'Comfort' setting it got 19.

When I got the truck it had wide, fat oversize tires. A front tire failed so I used a tire I had on hand. It was the proper size and width. This is when I noticed the truck pulling towards the wider tire. Four new tires of the proper width and height plus a full tune up and now it gets 21-22 miles per gallon.

I offer this for consideration only. Maybe someone can find my experience helpful.

1988 Jeep Comanche Pioneer Short Bed 4.0L

Summary:

I love my new Jeep!!!

Faults:

I bought it from a fellow teen who had blown out two transmissions, and had wrecked it going 20 into a non moving object.

I currently have it in the shop having the clutch replaced and transmission. I plan to replace the upper panel, bumper and fender this week.

General Comments:

So far I LOVE THIS TRUCK.

This is my first truck, and it is only gonna cost me about 900 bucks total to have a very reliable truck that I will have for years.

I bought the truck for 300 bucks, and so far even though I've only had it a week and not driven it, I can tell that this is the best 300 bucks I've ever spent.

Even though it is a 4X2, it will do all of the things I need it to, from camping with the boy Scouts to pulling trailers from A to B. And driving 5 hours to go to a POW WOW.

It is a 5 speed manual, which is what I have been looking for in a truck, and it will get good gas millage, which is gonna be very nice at the prices of gas this summer.

There IS NO RUST ON THIS TRUCK, even though it is 20 years old. It has less rust than my dad’s Ford that I've been driving.

All in all, it's gonna take me a total of 1000 bucks to have this awesome truck that will make my friends envy who have big Chevy’s.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st May, 2008

2nd May 2008, 08:10

Sounds like Pie-In-The-Sky Dreaming to me.

If you can get away with spending $1000 and having a "reliable" truck for years, more power to you.

However an old vehicle like that will probably require a lot more work.

Sorry.

25th Aug 2008, 14:52

My husband owns a 1987 Jeep Comanche Pioneer, and he loves it. We've had it for about 14 years now, and all we have to do is keep it up, no really big cost there.

He wants to sells it now, as we are moving and will get a new truck.

But just wanted to let you know, those trucks are babes!!

Janey.

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