I have my sights on a seemingly mint 1996 Cherokee Sport with 61k original miles on it. There are only a few drawbacks... it is a dealer that is selling it which freaks me out but he said I could take it anywhere to have it looked at.

Apparently its a one owner, non smoker clean title bla bla bla and its white with two toned black and the red stripe that seperates the two.

My question is, are the 96's any better or worse than a 97+? I think the 97+ looks better overall but theres something classic and clean about the look of the pre 97. I am wondering as far as reliability, off road capability, crash testing and overall which is better and why or why not?


The interior however, dear god is it awful, the super dim guage cluster... all of it makes me feel like I'm in 1985 and the other thing that worries me is whether or not they are even safe? My GF will be driving it too. It does look STUPID clean in the pics though. Maybe its a hidden gem even if it is a 96? The price? $4,200

 

Personally, I would be all over the 96 if it's only $4200 and it only has 61k on it. But I would definitely have it completely checked out bumper to bumper for every little thing including rust. Any problems can work in your favor to bring the price down. I pick up my 98 with 85k on it for $3200 from a dealer. He was asking $4500 for it. A little haggling and pointing out any problems that you can can bring the price down. BTW, How many mile on the 97?

 

There is no 1997, I am just wondering if the 96 is better or worse and in what ways over a 97+ XJ because I'm torn... It seems like this 96 is a great deal but to me I have to be convinced to get over the styling some how. I mean 97+ are dated but damn these ones are ten years behind.

 

The 96 was a good vintage; haha
I prefer my 1999 (early production without the coil on plug ignition)

Your right the 97+ does have a clean look (i have had numerous older ones)

If you have the ability to do it browse craigslist. I don't know where you are but around here (indiana) i see tons of 97+ cherokees that need minor work and they are rediculous cheap, if you have the cash then you have a lot more room to bargain to the point that I have had to hold back from buying another!

good luck on the hunt, if it was me and money was good i would find a 97+ again, but 96 is a good year and if a great deal came a long then i might ****** it up

 

16yo vehicle with 61000 miles isnt worth anymore than a 16yo vehicle with 150000 miles.

 

I think the 96 body style has more personality than the smoothed over 97+ body style.

 

i love the exterior of the pre97, but the interiors are horrid...my 92 is relegated to duty around my property hauling **** here and there

 

lol I beg to differ. I would love to have only 61k on my 96...if you look up all the tech specs the 96 is pretty much the best xj produced. Only thing that changed for the better afterwards is the 99+ intake mani....of course besides the looks. You can always pick up a front clip from a 97+ lol. They sold more 96s than any other year as well, if that means anything. I would talk him down on the price. Look for fluid leaks and rust, make sure transfer case is in good working order. I think you may have found a gem if everything checks out imho.

 

PS there are probably only a handful of xjs left in this country with under 70k miles.

 

What is so great about the 1996 Tech Specs?

 

Get it before it's gone! They don't stay on the market too long around here, and most of them have 100k+ miles on them.

 

Run a report on it, see if thats a legit amount of miles, someone could have easily swapped in a cluster...thing could have half a million on it lol

 

i have a late model 96 and i personally think it was the best year to have by far. My 96 came with the best D30 they put in xj's and it also came with a 29 spline 8.25

 

Definitely do the report!

 

if you look it had one of the better flowing heads on it, more simplistic vacuum set up, the D30 as stated above and the 29 spline 8.25...wiki the Cherokee and read for yourself and crunch some numbers...im not saying anything is wrong with the 1997+, I will have one soon enough as well. Unless if I were to find a 61k mile, 96. The 97+ roundness of course look better but thats an opinion as well.