The "smart & safe thing to do" is to buy the Jeep Cherokee - absolutely NO question between those two choices! Likely more reliable, easier to work on by yourself and/or almost ANY mechanic, the straight 6 motor is an "Iron Duke" that will last forever with NO issues likely; the cherry on the sundae is that there's a blue million of 'em in the junkyards! A 2 door "Sport" model was my #2 choice; yep, the VX won out! Though I'll probably sell either my RV and/or my '88 Porsche Carrera Coupe to "cover" me against any potential "catastrophic" repairs that may arise, the "cool factor" just won out. You can't swing a cat without hitting a Jeep Cherokee; when was the last time you saw a VX on the road? I may live to regret it, but life is about taking chances. Worst case - you can always change your mind later on; it ain't the end of the World or nuthin'...