XJ = Good Daily Driver?

[smbundy13]

Just thinking about trying to get out of a car payment and into a 2001 cherokee. I am looking to find one that is stock and there seem to be a few in my area.

my question is, are these good daily drivers? I drive almost all highway with little to no off-roading right now. I would like to eventually lift it and put maybe 32" tires on there but nothing crazy.

how do these things ride stock as compared to lifted?

any thing I should lookout for / look for? I am looking at getting an 01 since they would usually have fewer miles on them.

thanks very much for your help.

[Piginajeep]

see if its had the head fixed, 00-01 are known to have a head problems. If it has over 100,000 its probley aready been fixed..

my wife drives a 2000 XJ, and I have a 87 MJ we drive daily.. I like mine alot:yup:


I cant wait for spring to start driving the JK again, The JK rides 10X better than my stock XJ, even with 37's!

[smbundy13]

thanks for your info. i appreciate it alot.

[ronjenx]

I had an '88 XJ as a daily driver for 14 years. Drove it from Maine to Oshkosh and back 4 times. I thought it was great! Never had a problem with it.

[smbundy13]

sweet, thanks for the info. how was the ride on it? just curious.

now i just gotta decide if i want to try to convince the wife to do this.. hmm

[IntrepidXJ]

Up until I got the JK last month, I was daily driving my 2000 XJ for the last few years. It got the job done :)

[wigsajumper]

My wife drives a stock 99 XJ 45 minutes each way to work. She loves it especially with the snow. We have driven it to on multiple day length road trips and it has worked out really well.

[smbundy13]

thanks for the info fellas. unfortunately for me, the wife put the nix on my master plan. oh well... i appreciate yalls help.

[smbundy13]

so, what is a fair price to pay for an xj in good condition with 100k to 150k miles... year models from 97-01?

I have seen so many different prices it is confusing. I want one that i can drive home and start driving everyday if i want to.. not one i need to work on to get running.

it seems that people see the word jeep on the front and automatically add a couple grand to the price...

thanks for the info.

[usnfoley13]

price is dependent on who is selling it. you can get a deal on one that has no issues or drop a pretty penny on one and have to fix it up. 00-01 can go for anywhere between usually $2000-$6000 but again can be had for less than the $2000 mark. if someone just wants the vehicle gone and it is in outstanding condition jump on it if it is a good price. Don't let the price point scare you away, go look at them and you may score a steal of less than 1K.

[GearWhore]

I'd also check out the 1999-2004 Grand Cherokee WJs. I had an 85 and 89 XJ, then bought a used 2002 WJ in 05 or 06. Had about 115k on it when I got it and traded it last summer for a JK with over 180k. I didn't put much $ into it, and it was a great daily driver. I miss the power and even the relative quiet over my JK and XJs. The leather seats were also super comfy. The lifts were more than the XJs, but it was a better stock performer off-road (look for the Quadra-Drive models). I can't remember what I paid for mine, but I bet you'd be able to pick up a 2000-02 model in the 3000-5000 range you'd be paying for and XJ, with more room, more comfort, better ride, and much better towing capacity (all with about the same mileage).

[glen]

I bought my XJ new off the lot in 92. Its had a hard life on the rocks until i got my JK back in 07. It has been a great rig. never left me stranded in it's 127000 miles, original engine, original trans, heck it even has the original freeon in the AC and still blows cold! (however I think I got lucky with that one!) I recently started driving the XJ to work again 100+ miles per day to save putting the miles on the JK and it still drives great!:yup:

[Stuka]

We paid $1600 for my wifes '89 XJ Limited, and its her daily driver. Great paint, everything works (even the 6 way power seats!), has the tow package, and has a 3" lift.

Was a great purchase :)

[smbundy13]

so, what amount of mileage is an ok amount for a used xj that will become my daily driver?

I know that the straight 6 is supposedly one of the most reliable engines out there, but all enginse have a breaking point.

any help is mucho appreciated.

might be getting back into a jeep sometime in june after my trip to the world cup, if i am lucky. (if only an xj)

[Stuka]

so, what amount of mileage is an ok amount for a used xj that will become my daily driver?

I know that the straight 6 is supposedly one of the most reliable engines out there, but all enginse have a breaking point.

any help is mucho appreciated.

might be getting back into a jeep sometime in june after my trip to the world cup, if i am lucky. (if only an xj)


My Wifes has 190k on it. Passed smog with flying colors and runs great. The main things that may need work when you get up into higher miles is all the accessories. Also all the front end bushings. It uses the same coil setup that a TJ uses. When these wear out, you get major death wobble. So thats worth checking. The i6 (258, slightly different than the 242) in my J10 has 243k miles on it. Compression is low, and it smokes a little, but otherwise runs fine. Oh, the lifters tick now and then.

But lower is better. If you will be putting say, 10k a year onto it, try to find one around 100k. Just know you will have to replace parts from time to time, as with any older vehicle.

[smbundy13]

Thanks alot for your info. Yeah I am trying to convince my buddy to sell me his XJ. I think it has around 100k miles on it so that would be pretty sweet. Since my wife will be getting a new car, the XJ will mostly be for me to drive to work.

Stuka you are all over this thread!! haha. thanks for all the info you have given me.

[Stuka]

Thanks alot for your info. Yeah I am trying to convince my buddy to sell me his XJ. I think it has around 100k miles on it so that would be pretty sweet. Since my wife will be getting a new car, the XJ will mostly be for me to drive to work.

Stuka you are all over this thread!! haha. thanks for all the info you have given me.

I automatically subscribe to any thread that I have commented on, so thats how I knew that you replied :)