I traded my 96 Ram 1500 for my step fathers 99' XJ 4x4 with 136K miles, NO rust on the body or frame, perfect interior.

 

No comparison on the 206k versus 160k...I'd take the 206k all day long.

No rust isn't just no rust...it also means no corrosion in the electrical connectors, no snapped bolts on the shock mounts, no funky rust smell, no weak spots in the structure, etc., etc.

Rust, no matter how much money you throw at it, is relentless.

Take it from me, a Michigan resident that has fought rust all my adult life.

Just my two cents worth...but I've got two rusting cars in the driveway.

 

Only one person mentioned this? A compression test is the best tool you have to determine the condition of the engine.

 

I bought my 1998 xj in Mansfield Ohio for 2,300. It had 158,000 on it and has the 4.0. It runs great and shifts great and is damn near rust free....keep lookin and you will find a good deal...but don't worry too much about miles, as long as you feel the po took care of it. P.S. I found mine on craigslist

 

I just bought a high mileage XJ. It has 207,000 on it and it's a '95. The thing is super clean and everything works and it doesn't have any rust on it. It was the only 5-speed manual XJ I could find that wasn't trashed. I get the maintenance records with it. It's had the same owner for 11 years. It was used as a commuter by a lady who retired and bought a new Liberty that has an auto tranny in it. It's never had a trailer hitch on it and it's never towed anything. Never used off road. The 4WD was for winter driving only. They've changed the oil and filters regularly and used a full synthetic oil at each change. The only problem it has is that the A/C leaks out after a day or so. Big deal.

Oh, and I gave less than 1500 for it. I feel perfectly confident in that engine. Even if it breaks, I can rebuild it and still have the Jeep I want, super clean, with a new engine for a lot less money than any newer 4WD.

I really think there's more to high mileage. You have to look at the story behind the mileage. At the same time, I know it's high mileage and a gamble, but I'm pretty confident I'll get a lot of use out of it before I have to rebuild the engine.

 

I had seen a 1996 XJ Country on Craigslist in Harrisburg Pa. It had 140K miles and appeared spotless. I went to take an in person look, but it must have been sold (dealer). The asking price was $2495!

There is a '94 here locally that needs some rust repair for inspection, and the woman who owns it doesn't want to spend the $ to fix it. $575

 

i got mine for $500...you just have to shop around til u find whats within ur price range. also, usually the older the cherokee, the cheaper the price. my Anya had a mere 109xxx when i bought her. shop around til you find a deal you cant refuse.

 

i found my xj on CL locally

it is a 91 cherokee laredo, it has 173xxx miles on it, bought it for 550

just keep looking and something will catch ur eye in ur price range

 

I'd take a blown engine over rust any day.

 

I just got a pretty nice stock 88 for $900 with 191,00mi. in Seattle. Had a bad flexplate and serious blow by. Picked up a rebuilt engine for $500 (got super lucky) and now it runs and drives great. Had some trouble with the flexplate but, got it figured out...I think.

Needed a few odds and ends too
Radio $20
Spare $10
new headliner $65 (for fabric)
new idler pulleys >$60

 

Do not buy any truck from Philly or the North East for that matter. All the salt they put on the roads up there will eat an XJ away in a few years. 200K aint nothing, when you consider all the 300K XJs on the road. Go do your compression check. If its good, you cant beat a rust free truck. Engines are a dime a dozen and can be rebuilt easily and cheaply. We're not talking Porsches here. Good luck.