I think I need to buy this (XJ Cherokee content)

I've been hankering for an XJ Cherokee for a while. Impossible to break, torquey, 4WD with low-range, cheap to fix, cheap to buy, lots of space, but still small for an SUV. I need it mostly to cart audio gear around, as stuffing it all into my Saturn sedan is really, really getting old. I just bought a new mixer, and it's just as wide as the Saturn's back seat. It's a huge process to get it in and out. This will also serve as a winter beater/RWD donut machine. Mrs. Twin_Cam will probably also steal it, as she is a woman and likes the feeling of power she gets driving a large vehicle, but will claim it's because she likes the color of the car or something (I'm going to catch hell saying that, so please don't tell her).

So, I have found one on Craigslist.

The pluses: Runs well, doesn't smoke, starts right up, lots of power down low, shifts well, brakes feel good, steering is about right for a Jeep, 4WD works perfectly, surprisingly un-rusty, owner claims oil was changed every 3K miles since he's owned it, all lights and indicators work. And it's dark blue.

The minuses: It has 280K miles, there's a sweet rattle from underneath (I think it's the exhaust hitting the floorpan), a tiny bit of rust on the passenger-side frame rail, cracked windshield, tires that will not pass inspection, the hood release is just a wire, the window winder on the driver's side has no spinny thing, the A/C doesn't work, and a botched aftermarket radio. Hopefully this doesn't sound racist, but it's also a shady Middle Eastern dude selling it.

He wants $950. I think I'll say "Hey man, between the windshield and tires, this car is worth $500." And see what he says.

Am I crazy for wanting to buy a Chrysler with an automatic trans with 280K miles? I know that straight-6 will run literally forever, but it's the rest of the car I'm worried about.

No, but you're crazy to buy that one. There are better choices for similar money out there.

I bought my Peugeot from a shady Middle-Eastern gentleman. I picked up the car from a sketchy back alley, and he couldn't take my money fast enough. But that car turned out fine .

I don't know jack about Jeeps, other than I want one, too.

Your not crazy. I hate suv's and I bought one. I sold it, but have been looking for another one. They are way overpriced here in Ohio. Of course everything is around here. I would say keep looking for a lower mileage one for a little bit more cash. But if he will take less for it, try it.

Chrysler has a terrible reputation for their automatics. But this ain't one of them. That's a Aisin AW4. One of the best, mostest bullet-proof auto's money can buy. I once drove one for 6 miles, 4 of them off road with the trans cooler line cut completely in 1/2. When I got it to civilization, I had to add 12 quarts of fluid.

XJs RULE.

You need one.

I have an XJ that I bought in similar condition, but mine might have a bit more rust.

Get under that thing and check the floor pans from one end to the other. They like to rust out. Mine was patched by the PO with some license plates and tar. The underside looks alright, but I need to weld in some metal to make it leak proof.

I payed $600 for mine, but there was a coolant leak that got really bad once it hit temperature, so we had to spend $200 to get it towed home. I wish we would have had the option to tow it home, but we didn't want to leave a Jeep with no tags at a Steak and Shake for a few hours until I could rent a trailer.

There are better deals out there. In these parts, you can get a decent XJ with no problems at all for less than $2000. You'll spend as much fixing up a marginal vehicle as just buying one in good shape already. Nice lifted ones are only a few hundred more than a nice stock one.

My Jeep has 268,000 miles on it, but it's on its second engine. The replaced engine and how well it ran was why I bought the thing.

Do try to find one that's 1991 or newer. The RENIX EFI system isn't too great. An engine with the Mopar system makes about 20 more HP and gets better fuel economy.

I'd consider tires a non-issue. Unless you're buying a beat Jeep that's been "built" a bit, you're going to get car tires that really don't do any justice for the Jeep. Good retreads in stock size are cheap, like under $90 each cheap. A few of my friends run them and have had zero issues with the TreadWright retreads.

No matter what you do, get that Jeep up to about 70MPH before you put out money for it. These suffer from death wobble, and most people don't notive that the Jeep they just bought wobbles until they get it on the highway. I didn't notice, so I have a front end that needs everything replaced.

My Jeep has the AX15 transmission. It's a solid manual, but I wish I would have bought an automatic. When I bought my Jeep, I hadn't driven an automatic Jeep, so I expected them to be like every other Mopar automatic and suck. After seeing how bulletproof these transmissions are, I'm considering a swap.

Parts for these things are everywhere. There are several good mail order catalogs around, and there are tons of these in junkyards. When you make the same vehicle for nearly 20 years, there are plenty to go around.

So, for the TL;DR people, I say go for it, but make sure it doesn't have death wobble, and check that floor pan from end to end. Everything else is either cheap or easy to fix.

Twin_Cam wrote: surprisingly un-rusty, a tiny bit of rust on the passenger-side frame rail, , the hood release is just a wire, the window winder on the driver's side has no spinny thing, the A/C doesn't work, and a botched aftermarket radio. He wants $950. I think I'll say "Hey man, between the windshield and tires, this car is worth $500." And see what he says.

The "tiny bit of rust" on the passenger side frame rail will turn into no passenger frame rail over a winter or 2. Do you mean rocker panels, or the actual "unibody" frame rail? Most rockers rust out badly, and if there is rust starting there, rust is elsewhere. The "frame rails" are a little thicker and may last longer.

crank windows are a plus even if you have to buy a handle.

I don't see the inside of an xj as big, my knees hit the dash with the seat all the way back. I think of it more as a 4wd hatch back than a suv. I put a cargo rack on the rear hitch to move stuff as it isn't that big...

expect 15-17mpg, learn to love the exhaust rattle because something is always going to be making noise. You are going to need to update/upgrade the rear leaf springs if you are going to put any weight in the back. The stock springs don't last and flatten over time. There are a few aftermarket options but mostly aimed at lifting the jeep, be forewarned adding a leaf yourself can make the rear suspension uncomfortably stiff.

Sounds like a decent deal if he is willing to bargain, again, the rust is the only thing that would scare me away. Great time of year to buy a cherokee with bad a/c.

Just for giggles, I went trolling on CL SoFla for Cherokees. Quite a few show up under 2K, but 90% are Grand Cherokees. No want. A couple at 1500-1900 that did catch my eye. We do not have tin worm to worry about here.

Cool to see another audio guy on this site!!

cwh, don't be so sure about that. These have issues with the exhaust baking off the paint and undercoatings on the outside of the passenger floor pan and often have backed up AC drains. Mine had both. Water from one side and bare metal on the other will always mean holes, even in FL cars.

Since buying mine, I've looked at several FL, AL, and GA XJs, and most of them have some rust underneath. I think they started using galvanized floor pans in '96 or '97, though. The newer XJs don't rust as badly.

Ah the XJ Cherokee... The Dodge Dart of SUVs... I have a '97 I bought new that year, about 100K now, still runs fine. AC works, no rust yet. NOT for sale !

If you have one that you bought new and it's rust free, it's a keeper.

I bought my '96 XJ as a donor for the '87 MJ (Comanche) sitting here. Body looks great on the XJ. Sharp looking 2-door Sport. Floors are gone, front to rear. Passenger rocker is starting to blister. Everything else on the outside looks great.

Was tempted to put it back together with a V8 swap (didn't come with engine/trans/transfer case). Had an unbiased buddy come over today and we both took a closer look. Rust was much worse than we thought. It's going back to being a donor for the MJ. But the MJ will be much nicer now.

Rob_Mopar wrote: I bought my '96 XJ as a donor for the '87 MJ (Comanche) sitting here. Body looks great on the XJ. Sharp looking 2-door Sport. Floors are gone, front to rear. Passenger rocker is starting to blister. Everything else on the outside looks great. Was tempted to put it back together with a V8 swap (didn't come with engine/trans/transfer case). Had an unbiased buddy come over today and we both took a closer look. Rust was much worse than we thought. It's going back to being a donor for the MJ. But the MJ will be much nicer now.

Well at least the '96 XJ has a purpose in life...

I bought my '95 XJ with 186k on the odo. I have a hole in the floor on the passenger side floor. My paint has bubbled up in weird areas. Minus the petty damage I have done to it myself, the only major mechanical issues I've had is the alternator, exhaust gasket (which is currently bad), a/c, and the hood latches.

I have to say though that I have 3.55 gears and with two weeks of highway driving, on 16 gallons of gas, I got 325 miles out of the tank. That estimates roughly a littler over 20 mpg.

I'm 6'2" and I fit fine in my XJ (not someone behind me though.

Reminds me of one of mine:

ax4n one of the best trannies you could get back then, period. This blue one had 220k and no issues. Just parted one with 260k, no issues. I had one with 358k on the original trans (and motor), also no issues there either. Still held all 190hp while doing donuts. lol.