Shawn Chartier

Ok everyone, I need help convincing my wife to get an xj. She has a 2010 Chevy Malibu that is a lemon. She wants something that is bulletproof, awd, good in all weather and is good on fuel and has a comfortable ride. Everything she tells me she wants in a car just screams stock xj. I have a 92 cherokee Laredo but I can't sell her on it cause mines beat to hell for previous owns haha. But at 255k it runs like a new xj. So all in all, I need input from stock xj owners. I'm how the ride is with stock suspension and tires, how the it does on gas. Any little detail to help convincing her that it's the best option she has for the price. I'm looking for 98-01 models mostly even though their all the same. Thanks guys

jay_sco

Have you considered the WJ? Probably more comfortable ride (coils F+R), comparable (if not better MPG), AWD with the 247, more carlike interior, newer production (for a couple years) so may be easier to find one with lower miles.

robertj

I think it would be a mistake to talk you wife into a vehicle she's clearly not interested in. XJs aren't for everyone, and WJs have their issues too that include a glass transmission and crappy electronics.

My '96 XJ is completely stock on all season radials and rides like an XJ. It's got solid axles and rear leafs, and you can't make them ride like a car. Gas mileage is between 18 and 20 MPG if I baby it. You mention AWD, but an XJ is not at all like an AWD vehicle, because you have to think about when to put it into 4x4 unless you have a seldom seen SelecTrac transfer case.

I think you want an XJ. Seriously, happy wife, happy life. Let your wife pick her next car.

Fred/N0AZZ

This is the way to go really as far as looks is the WJ's 99-04 with the 03/04's being a better choice engine wise for both offerings the 4.0 and 4.7HO V-8. Being that I have both a 99 XJ (the best yr. for them period) 00/01 had engine head problems along with others and a 04 WJ Overland edition with 4.7HO. There is no comparison in driving the 2 as a DD the WJ wins hands down.


Mileage wise for stock the XJ with 4.0 got about 16-17 before I started working on it, the WJ 4.7HO gets 17-19 mpg and a very powerful V-8 with full time 4wd. It also has every option you can think of on a car plus several you never thought of before. Full leather interior comfort for 5 here is an option list on mine for an example.


*TL Lux Leather Trimmed Bucket Seats
-DB Dk/Lt Slate Gray
ADES Cold Weather Group
ADLP Skid Plate Group
AFFS Luxury Group
AHX Trailer Tow Group IV
APAS Monotone Paint
ARGS Overland Decor Group
ATCS Radio-CD/Cass/10 Disc/Infinity Spkrs AWBS Quadra-Drive II (R) 4WD System
AWES Up Country Suspension Group A83P Mutually Exclusive Package BAZS 136 Amp
Alternator BC6S 625 Amp Maintenance Free Battery BRYS Anti-Lock 4-Wheel Disc
Brakes CACS Low Back Bucket Seats CBWS Highline Door Trim Panel CFNS Rear
60/40 Folding Seat CGSS Supplemental Side Air Bags CGUS Child Seat Anchor
System-LATCH Ready CG1S Next Gen Multistage Front Air Bags** CJ2P Supp. Side
Curtain Frt/Rr Air Bags CKDS Floor Carpet CKNS Cargo Compartment Carpet CKTS
Cargo Tie Down Loops CLES Front & Rear Floor Mats CLGS Covered Cargo Storage
CLHS Cargo Trim Panel w/Storage Net CLPS Driver Foot Rest CSCS Cargo
Compartment Cover CSRS Passenger Assist Handles CUDS Mini Overhead Console
CUFS Full Length Floor Console DGES All 5-Speed Automatic Transmissions DGQ 5-
Spd Automatic 545RFE Transmission DHAS Lock-Up Torque Converter DHFP Quadra-
Trac II On Demand 4WD System DJJS Dana 30/186MM Front Axle DMES 3.73 Rear Axle
Ratio DRKS Dana 44/226MM Rear Axle DSBP Vari-Lok Progressive Front Axle DSCP
Vari-Lok Progressive Rear Axle EVC 4.7L V8 Power Tech HO Engine GBBS Tinted
Windshield Glass GCBS Front Door Tinted Glass GEGS Deep Tint Sunscreen Glass
GEPS Flipper Liftgate Glass GFAS Rear Window Defroster GNCS Sun Visors w/Illum
Vanity Mirrors GNKS Rear View Auto Dim Mirror GT3S Power Heat Driver Auto Dim
Mirrors GWAS Power Sunroof GXMS Remote Keyless Entry GXXS Sentry Key Theft
Deterrent System HAFS Air Cond ATC w/Dual Zone Control HGAS Hood Insulation
HGDS Deluxe Insulation Group I51S Route 51 - CSX, Memphis, TN JA6S
Electroluminescent Instr Cluster JCBS 120 MPH Primary Speedometer JHBS Rear
Window Wiper/Washer JHCS Rain Sensitive Windshield Wipers JJBS Dual Note
Electric Horns JJJP 12V Rear Auxiliary Power Outlet JKAS Glove Box JKPS 12V
Auxiliary Power Outlet JKYS Power Accessory Delay JPBS Power Locks JPDS Power
Windows, Driver One-Touch JTFP Power 10-Way Heated Memory Seats K4BS EXTERIOR
COMPONENT COLOR K9KS MED. DRIFTWOOD MET. - Rails - Rock LACS Illuminated Entry
LAGS Warning Chime LAZP Vehicle Information Center LBBS Courtesy Lamps LBCS
Glove Box Lamp LCES Rear Courtesy/Reading Lamps LDBS Cargo Compartment Lamp
LETP Traveler/Mini Trip Computer LEWS Radio/Driver Seat/Mirror Memory LMBS
Halogen Headlamps LMGP Automatic Headlamps LNJS Fog Lamps LPSS CHMSL Lamp LSAS
Security Alarm MDAS Front License Plate Bracket MFDS Bright Grille MHAS Black
Windshield Moldings MTBP 4.7L HO Badge MVBS Grand Cherokee Badge MVCS Jeep
Badge MVEP V-8 Badge MWES Side Roof Rails MWF Adjustable Roof Rail Crossbars
MZBS Quadra Drive Badge MZMS Overland Badge NAS 50 State Emissions NBGP
Federal Tier 2, Bin 9A Emissions NFPS 20.5 Gallon Fuel Tank NHFP Power
Steering Cooler NHMS Speed Control NMHP Hydraulic Engine Cooling PXR Brilliant
Black Crystal Pearl Coat QXRS Brilliant Black Crystal Pearl Coat RAAC All
Radio Equipped Vehicles RBPS AM/FM Cass/CD Radio w/Changer Ctrl RCES Infinity
Speakers RDDS Fixed Long Mast Antenna RDPP 10-Disc Remote CD Changer RDZP
Steering Wheel Mounted Audio Ctrls SBAS Power Steering SCWS Wood/Leather
Wrapped Steering Wheel SDUS Heavy Duty Suspension w/Gas Shocks SUAS Tilt
Steering Column TBLS Inside Mounted Spare Tire TBWS Full Size Spare Tire
w/Matching Whl TS6S P235/65R17 OWL All Terrain Tires TZAP Goodyear Brand Tires
WGWS 17" Aluminum Chrome Clad Wheels WLZC All Aluminum Wheels XAM Power
Adjustable Pedals w/Memory XEEP Fuel Tank Skid Plate Shield XEFP Transfer Case
Skid Plate Shield XEUP Front Suspension Skid Plate XFBP Bright Tow Hooks XFHP
Class IV Receiver Hitch XFKP 7 Pin Wiring Harness XFLP 7 to 4 Pin Wiring
Adaptor XGDP Universal Garage Door Opener XPFS Protective Coating and Remover


I bought this 5 yrs ago with 200,000 miles on it with every option working in good repair and it looks like new inside and out for under $5400 and have done only service to it since.


BYW I have a hell of a time keeping my wife out of it when the weather is bad as she then parks the 13 Town Car and drives the WJ same when she goes to the store easier to put things in the rear hatch than the trunk.

93XJeeper

I'm getting 18 mpg average in my 93 XJ.

anteb

Have a stock 99 XJ manual that I DD.

I love it, but most women don't. The ride, even in stock form, is pretty bad. You hear and feel everything. The 98-01s are ~15 years old+

Getting around 17-18mpg. Higher than most others I've seen...probably because I'm easy on it and shift it myself.

Been incredibly reliable. Turn the key and it starts. Easy to keep maintained and even if something does go wrong, parts are cheap.

It very well might be the car that fits your criteria, but not one that your wife would like.

Rogue4x4

Best advice in this thread.

aroundincircles

another one for letting the wife pick the car. my wife is one of those who doesn't share her opinion as much as just tell me "no" after the fact.. I've spent a lot of time and money buying cars that she's hated, and I have to hear about it and deal with selling it. This time, I gave her a short list of cars, and said "you pick one of these." she did, and she's happy about it.

It was a short list because I had a few requirements, 3 rows, room to actually put stuff behind the 3rd row, and I had to be able to fit in the third row. Not many cars fit those requirements.

jay_sco

That's about what I did recently. She wanted a midsize car; I researched, price checked, test drove, compared, and have her my opinion on the top three. She selected the one that looked the best (in her opinion). If it was strictly up to me we'd still be rolling with team minivan!
And I'll agree with "happy wife, happy life". Although a BMW would have made her very happy...that just wasn't going to happen, we got a Mazda 6.

mschi772

• bulletproof--sure, unless that bullet is made of salt/rust
• awd--4wd is not the same as awd; does she know the dos and don'ts of 4wd? particularly part-time 4wd
• good in all weather--K
• and is good on fuel--HAHAHAHA; starting with a stock XJ, almost all of my mods have been with better efficiency in mind and still only get, at best, 18 mixed and 21-23 highway
• and has a comfortable ride--you think XJ's are particularly comfortable? really???

A ZJ or WJ would be more comfortable for sure, but no better on gas, and many of the Chrysler transmissions they used aren't as reliable as the XJ's.

aroundincircles

We had baby #4 on the way and had to move from a wagon to the minivan class. Got a Ford Flex, we REALLY like it. We rented a couple of minivans to see if there were any we liked, but ended up testing a flex, and It was perfect for our needs. We have the middle bench, which I like for the extra seat we get, but sometimes would like two captains chairs so we didn't have to always be folding down a seat to get to the back.

aroundincircles

I'm just going to throw this out there, If you are looking for an awd that kinda resembles an XJ, has all wheel drive (i assume you want it good in the snow). reliable, comfortable, and inexpensive, Look at a patriot. You're buying this for the wife, so she doesn't need crazy off road capabilities I'm sure. but a patriot, especially right now, is super cheap. ~20k for a base model 4x4, but they have up to $5500 in incentives, and I was offered 5.5% below invoice and incentives on one as well. the only thing, I would put better tires on it. The factory ties are pretty terrible.

Fred/N0AZZ

Have a friend who is a sales manager at a Jeep/Chrysler dealer and they are not selling, in fact they still have several 15 models on the lot and lots more to choose from around the country from other dealers.

BooGTS

They are complete crap, that's why. I had one for a company car for 2 days and was itching to get back to interior quality, power and powertrain refinement of my 15 year old XJ - that's saying a LOT!

Only respectable vehicle other than a wrangler, which does not fit the criteria, is the grand cherokee and reliability is prolly a question mark long term. Not to mention an astronomical price.

Kinda with the guy recommending the WJ with AWD in maybe a limited or overland trim. Likely the high point ever of a mix of Jeep styling, suspension, powertrain, comfort, and reliability.

aroundincircles

Not selling??

sales are up like 23% last year, and they've sold nearly as many as cherokees. are you talking about the renegade? those are not selling, they are over priced, and smaller than the patriot. many of the dealers around me have 2015 renegades, but cannot hardly keep the patriots on the lots.