Ok, tax returns are in and with that plus my savings I have a $5k budget for my first Jeep Cherokee. I've researched like crazy and I've boiled down my options to 2 choices:

2001 XJ
4wd, 4 door, 4.0L, Automatic with less than 100k miles
Find one less than $5,000

-or-

1990-1996 XJ
4wd, 4 door, 4.0L, Standard with less than 200k miles
Find one for less than $2,500 and sink in up to $2,500 into fixing it up, upgrading (bumper+winch+lightbar+whatever).

I'm torn because I love stick and want to tinker with an older model and some left over cash. Newer models don't have stickshifts, which I love. Since an older model would cost less I could upgrade it and fix stuff with the leftover money.

At the same time automatics are more convenient (cruise control, remote start, blah blah) and I won't have to worry about replacing parts right off the bat with a newer model.

I need some help, new and clean or old but upgradable?

 

You can get newer model Cherokees with a stick shift. They are a little bit more difficult to find, but they're out there. The stick shift is found typically on the SE model.

Just out of curiosity, why only interested in the 2001? Why not 1997-2001?

 

i've seen 01s with under 200k for $3000.

 

Here's a '98 a little bit more than 300 miles from Little Rock, Arkansas:

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...standard=false

 

i just bought my 2000 freedom edition loaded 4x4 4dr for 2500$... 153k, had to replace a few things and do a tune up... i prolly got about 2800 in it... check the thread in my sig

 

Go for the 90 – 96. Cheaper to acquire a quality rig and that would give you more cash for upgrades. Plus there’re more fun to work on and parts are cheap and plentiful.

 

Newer, just because the interior is way nicer and I like the body lines better. I have had a '88 and '89 and now my '99 and I love this one way more.

 

the newer one is the way to go for sure, they' re much nicer

 

i got a question for you, is this gonna be your dd? if so I would go a newer one, but if not then get an older xj and sink the money into makin it yours, if not get a newer one and leave it alone for a bit till you get bored with it then fix her up.

 

like Colorado said, the parts are more plentiful on the older. if you are going to be wheeling often, the older would be the way to go so you can uprade suspension and winch and all that other good stuff. the newer (like Anthony said) would be a better daily driver for longer drives.

YOU have to answer the question: What am i going to use this freakin sweet XJ for?

 

Daily driver. So I guess I'm gonna go with the newer one.

Thanks guys