I have a chance to pick up a 1999 Jeep XJ Cherokee

[JDHasty]

Fleet vehicle (professionally maintained) with < 50 K on the odometer.  4L Auto, 4X4, Air, Power Windows & Locks but that is about it.

I'm thinking it would be a heck of a lot better for running around town in, much easier to park.  The big plus for me is that I would not be shopping for a new 60K F150 SCREW Lariat 4x4 every ten years by using it every day.

Our Polaris Ranger was stolen last year and I am kinda thinking that without putting the Polaris in the trailer and towing it the Jeep would work almost as well for my purpose.  Of course I will lose some ability to get as far back into the woods as with the Ranger.  The downsides to the Jeep is that the kids are still devastated about not having the Ranger that I can just turn them loose with & the Jeep will not fit up in the back of our toy hauler. 

I am thinking about going ahead and getting it.  What say you?  How much is too much to spend on it?

The fleet mechanics say they "change the oil and out new wipers on them."  They don't know what their weak points are because they just don't break.       

 

[dewandgin]

Own the same beast have 148k on it and it just keeps running. I put a 3 inch lift with 32 inch BFG mud terrains on it and drive the heck out of it. Change the oil 3k and tune it up every 30k and keep the outer ujoints on the front checked and make sure when the exhaust manifold cracks that you get it fixed asap. Have hauled multiple deer and elk out in it.

I paid $2500 for mine 3yrs ago and it had about 100k or so on it.

[Alchase]

Which motor does it have?
Both the 4.0L and the 2.5 are very good motors. I have owned both.
 Depending on the price, XJs have some issues, most are well know and easy too fix for a novice wrench.
They also have very good articulation when set up correctly. There is a ton of after market parts available as well.
You won't find a more versatile vehicle for its time.
I put 180k on one and 270 on the other and 210k on my MJ Comanchee (same running gear in a pickup)

[CJ1962]

I've owned two Cherokees.  Great hunting rig. You can turn them around in pretty tight places.  Only draw back is the 4.0 liter engine only gets about 18mpg on a good day.

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[BigGoonTuna]

18mpg seems to be on the high side, my parents owned a few over the years and it seemed like 14 was about average.

pros, the 4.0 is a great engine, one of the best AMC ever produced, and a damned shame chrysler retired it in favor of a V6...
cons, transmissions were often less than great, random electrical gremlins, unibody construction.

i'd actually like to find a good one for a family rig here pretty soon.  seems like most of them i see for sale have been hacked up pretty bad though.

[pianoman9701]

I'll never buy another. Mine's a GC Laredo with the 4.0. Engine went out at 110K, heater core went, water pump, window actuators, the cheapest seats in the business which had to be replaced at 120K.

[Wanttohuntmore]

I've had three, an 85' with a 2.5 carbureted, an 87', and a 92.  Will buy another.  I routinely got 20-21 mpg on the highway.  My toyota s were usually a little less.  I think their extra weight possible affected that.  I didn't like the brakes on the jeeps but loved the 4.0.

[papisjeep]

good rigs only downsides are #1. all seem to develop rear main seal leak & #2 all seem to crack the exhaust manifold
keep up on the maintenance and these are 300k rigs

[Shank]

XJ's are, IMHO, one of the best rigs built. It is one of my 1st recommendations to people who are shopping around for a reliable, cheap 4x4.
One of the longest running minimally changed production vehicles to date.
Drivetrains are darn near built proof.
4.0L engine, AW4 automatic (look under a Toyota automatic pickup of the same yr....look familiar?) NP 231or 242 t-case, Ran in so many other brands as well. Dana 35 or Chrysler 8 1/4 rear end. Then a Dana 30 ft end.
Daily driver; comfy, dependable inexpensive
Off road wise same as daily driver but a huge aftermarket following as well.
I can go on and on about these little rigs.
I worked for a local jeep dealer for a long time and have been pretty intimate with these, and still don't have to much negative to say about them.

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[Special T]

Not sure about your vintage but I would say they are the bang for the buck in used 4x4. I now own one and wonder why I messed around with my extended cab S10 & kids for so long. If you do pull the trigger. Www.jeepforum.com is the place to discover their strengths and weaknesses. Mine had the blower motor melt a bunch of wiring. Did a bunch of damage because I didn't figure it out quick enough.

[b23]

There are many that will argue the 1998-99 were the best two years for the XJ's.

Most, unless it was a late year production, had the high pinion Dana 30 front.  The cylinder head cracking issues weren't until 2000 but I've heard some claim that some of the really late production 99's had the 2000 style head so I'd check the numbers on it just to make sure and 99 was the last year before they switched to COP distributor less ignition on the 4.0's.

I'd check to see which rear end it has as well.  The Dana 35 is notorious for having axle problems.  General rule of thumb for the later year XJ's is if it has ABS, it probably has the Dana 35.  It doesn't have to be a deal breaker but I'd certainly consider it a negative and my purchase offer would reflect it.

[JDHasty]

They auction them.  What is the max range I should be bidding?  They have others that will go in the future, but I have been one of three or four driving this one and I know it's a good running little truck 

[Thehowler]

Jeepforum.com is indeed a great forum. NAXJA is another, and is almost dedicated exclusively to the Cherokee XJ.
If the vehicle was abused at some point off road, than keep a eye on the rear Dana 35. They will not stand up to too much abuse. If just a pavement pounder, it is probably fine.
The XJ is  the perfect little rig to upgrade for offroad use.
I own a Wrangler and also a XJ Cherokee.

[Alchase]

They will not stand up to too much abuse. If just a pavement pounder, it is probably fine.
The XJ is  the perfect little rig to upgrade for offroad use.
I own a Wrangler and also a XJ Cherokee.

We beat the tar out of ours, a daily driver as well. Definitely no trailer queen.
I would consider the XJs to be one of the best stock 4x4s for its time.
My 89 LTD was one of the few 4x4 rigs that could drive from Washington to Moab, Utah"in comfort" and wheel all week and drive home.