WTB: XJ Cherokee

Looking for a Jeep Cherokee (XJ) but not just any Cherokee.

Must Have:
1997 or Newer
ABS - Yes I want it to have Antilock Brakes
4.0L I6
Automatic
4x4
4 Door
Not Purple, Yellow, or Gold

Preferences:
1997 - 1999
Country, Classic, or Limited package
Bonus Points for leather interior
Bonus Points for NP242 Transfer Case
Power Windows/Locks
Cruise Control
Bone stock, no lift or questionable "off road" modifications

I'm not too concerned about mileage, am okay with one that needs a little TLC, but don't want someones ragged out mudder. I'm not interested in anything located in the rust belt, within ~500 miles of central Arkansas would be ideal.

I'm a firm believer that even on their best day there are very few stock-ish XJ Cherokees worth more than $4,000 in existence, convincing me otherwise will be difficult.

Not looking for a wheeler, just a daily driver capable XJ for SWMBO.

Thanks!

• Lee

Too bad. A very clean looking XJ is for sale on my route to work. White, un-modified and looks to be rust free - the last two being quite a feat in NJ where most XJ's I see have been turned into mudders.

if you want a project, a friend has a 2wd 4 cylinder 5spd 2 door for sale

Ian F wrote: Too bad. A very clean looking XJ is for sale on my route to work. White, un-modified and looks to be rust free - the last two being quite a feat in NJ where most XJ's I see have been turned into mudders.

That's a little further than we are currently planning on having to go. White is SWMBO's first choice too. I have accepted that I need to expand my search area, I've been looking steadily since February. I've either "just missed" them, the seller is a flake and/or think their XJ is made of gold, or it's clapped out junk.

tdrrally said: if you want a project, a friend has a 2wd 4 cylinder 5spd 2 door for sale

It wouldn't be GRM if someone didn't post the polar opposite of what you are looking for.

I think i'd sell ours for $4k, but it really only ticks the 4.0/auto/4dr/4wd/color/pwpl/CC aspects. Everything else is dead wrong haha.

Something like this?

KyAllroad wrote: Something like this?

I got all excited until i saw "parts only" in the title section.

That's a pretty rare car these days. The stock ones are driven into the ground, there are some nicely lifted and not abused units around but at a premium. It looks like '99 and newer Grand Cherokees are a better buy (and much nicer IMO).

In reply to KyAllroad:

That ad doesn't provide enough info to tell, looks like it has a NP231, and appears to be a Sport, so chances of having ABS is pretty slim, the "parts only" is a deal breaker. I can get one with a clean title in similar shape, more miles though local for about the same price. Thanks though.

I got my hopes up about this one: http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/cto/4491375172.html Initially the owner said it had ABS, but when I asked for proof, it turned out to not. Clean and unmolested though.

There's tons of Cherokees for sale, for cheap to reasonable prices in my normal CL search area, but I haven't found that one needle in the hay stack yet. I've lost count of the number of folks I've talked to, has to be north of 20, I'm pretty particular.

It never ceases to amaze me how little people actually know about their vehicles, and for this particular vehicle how many folks "know" they have ABS, but they really don't.

• Lee

In reply to bigdaddylee82:

I can stop and take a closer look at it, if you want. Is there any way to easily tell if it has ABS? Granted, my experience with 90's era ABS on trucks isn't the greatest. Both my '90 E150 and '95 Cummins were 'supposed' to have it on the rear wheels, but either it was broken or disconnected since the rear wheels would lock up easily.

In reply to Ian F:

I appreciate it, but Pennsylvania is a bit farther away than I'm willing to travel at the moment.

Without opening the hood, the only way I can think of checking for ABS would be to look for wires/speed sensors at each hub.

The previous Bendix 9 ABS was E36 M3, but the later ~96+ is a bit more refined.

~'96-'01 ABS pump circled in red:

• Lee

Aww damn, my '95 checks a few of those boxes.

Good luck though, you will find one.

Stick to your guns on this one. You will like the vehicle you end up with.

As far as Grand Cherokees being a better buy... My opinion is if you think the Grand Cherokee is a better buy you are not looking for the things that make the XJ great and should stay away from them. If you appreciate the things that make the XJ great, the Grand Cherokee will not have much appeal to you.

Honestly, an XJ is one of those cars you have to get into for the right reasons to end up liking it. If you like Grand Cherokees any XJ you end up with would probably be bought for the wrong reasons and you'd end up not liking it all that much.

This is SWMBO's XJ, she doesn't want a Grand, she wants a Cherokee, if she wanted a Grand, I'd have bought a WJ already, because they are stupid cheap, with basically all the features we're looking for on 70% or more of them. Nothing's easy with us though.

• Lee

SWMBO is flying out 1st thing in the morning for a conference she'll be at all next week or I'd be on the road already. I'm taking off work Monday, and my step mom and I are making a road trip to St. Louis. With a little luck, I'll be driving a new-to-us XJ back. Consider us Ahab & Ishmael on a quest for the white whale.

• Lee

Watch out for the 0331 head, it has a tendency to crack

In reply to old_:

The one I'm making the road trip for should have the dreaded 0331, but it's got anecdotal evidence of professional maintenance, not abused, with the amount of miles on it, the head should have cracked already if it was going to, or it has already been replaced, and the seller neglected to mention it.

Thanks for looking out for me!

• Lee

bigdaddylee82 wrote: In reply to old_: The one I'm making the road trip for should have the dreaded 0331, but it's got anecdotal evidence of professional maintenance, not abused, with the amount of miles on it, the head should have cracked already if it was going to, or it has already been replaced, and the seller neglected to mention it. Thanks for looking out for me! - Lee

good luck with it!

The search for the XJ is over, after 4+ months of searching Ahab & Ishmael finally landed the elusive white whale, now the search for parts/accessories begins.

I'm wore out, big road trip yesterday, stuck in traffic on I-55 & I-270 in St. Louis going & coming, 3 different waves of strong storms on the drive home. Got pulled over for a headlight out on the Jetta about 10 miles from home on the way back. Left home at 7:00 AM, got back home at 11:40 PM.

Specs:
2001 XJ.
Limited, leather in phenomenal shape, two minor rips in drivers seat bottom bolster from getting in and out.
4X4, NP231 instead of the NP242 I wanted, I'll fix that.
Antilock Brakes!!!
White.
Not quite 1/4 million miles on it.
Came with a folder full of maintenance records.
Driven by a non-smoker, teenage-early 20's female since 2004.
Not a single modification.
Runs great, a lot of power, no smoke.
Documented "tune-up" about a year ago.
Were I so inclined (I'm not) I could sell the Limited/Classic Icon wheels, get a set of Sport wheels and be at or below Challenge budget, under if I got Kumhos.
Calculated 21.85 MPG on the drive home, color me impressed!

Needs some TLC:
Owner said A/C won't stay charged, alleged previous dye test said evaporator was leaking, not looking forward to that job; I added a can of R134a with stop leak (band-aid I know) and it started blowing cold, was still blowing cold when I got it home.
Valve cover gasket is leaking, came with a replacement.
Headliner fabric is falling down, I'm going to try and convince SWMBO to go with a gray tartan plaid fabric to replace it.
The shock absorbers, are toast.
Steering needs some attention, enough bump steer to cause a heart palpitation or two if not paying attention.
Has been in two minor fender benders, front bumper cover is mashed a little in front right, small crack in the grill on the same corner.
Typical paint nicks/chips of a 13 year old car.
It's what a person from Ohio would call "rust free," but being from Arkansas, it ain't; small spot on roof will need some attention, couple spots on the driver side drip rail, and some minor spots underneath in the rear; the rear bumper too, but I think it's going to get replaced with a bumper with integrated hitch, so I'm not concerned with it.
Brakes are a little mushy, and I believe one of the rear drums is sticking a bit.
Has the infinity sound system, blown speaker in the P/S front door.
I don't think the seat warmers work, D/S anyway, haven't tried P/S.
Rear wiper is in-op, switch on dash is physically broken as well.
Tires have adequate tread, but are old.
The wiper blades SUCK!

All in all I'm happy. Huge thanks for Datsun1500, I almost bought a different XJ, it would have been a huge headache of a project, thanks for helping convince me it was the wrong decision.

There was a burned mix CD left in the CD player, I listened to it a few times through vs. searching for radios stations on the drive home. It was Black Eyed Peas, Laday Gaga, and some "raps" I didn't know, it was just noise, then about track 15 to the end was Breaking Benjamin and Chevelle, I took that as an omen that it was meant to be after all.

Thanks for looking out for me everyone! I've never done a build thread, but have considered documenting repairs/upgrades on the XJ that SWMBO has named Moby.

• Lee

good looking xj. seems like it was worth the wait. congratulations