Well I just joined the forum last night and as I said in my introduction, I am in the market for an XJ. I have been looking for a while in the online classifieds and have found an '89 that seems like a good deal. I would like to hear the good, bad, ugly from your perspectives. It is older than what I was looking for but from some of the things Ive read here, thats not necessarily a bad thing. Well, here's the details:

1989 2 Door 4X4
Straight Body (has a few rock pecks and dings)
Decent Paint
4.0
Automatic
Leather Interior (didn't want)
Electric Windows & Locks (didn't want)
300,000 plus miles
Runs and Drives Good (no smoke)
$900

The the front drivers axle has a bad U-joint and the guy just pulled it out and stuffed a rag in the axle housing. He has not put it in 4wd since and said that it has not leaked differential oil. I dont know if this is a big deal or not. I guess if the differential is not turning it shouldn't have destroyed anything.

So what do you guys think? Its deffinitely a few years older than I had in mind but for a offroad/extra vehicle it just might be the ticket.

 

I don't know if its a problem down south but up here the entire bottom side of them will rust thru. Make sure the floors are solid.

 

I would hold off. You can find a lot nicer xj's out there that dont have nearly as many miles on them and dont have those kind of issues.

 

900 seems a bit high for an 89 with 300k miles

 

If u r looking for a daily driver, I'd keep looking.

 

x2 on everything said. i paid 1300 for a 97 xj 150,000 and it needed nothing w/ a straight body

 

Thanks guys. Sounds like I will continue to look. It seems that 2 doors are few and far between but I'm not dead set on a two door either.

 

I got a 98 with 170k on it for a $1,000!

Needed $900 to pass inspection -$500 of that was for tires.

take your time - use craigs list. look and drive several so you get a feel for what they have, don't have, need, don't need

 

Yeah you might have to look a litter harder for a two door, but make sure and buy the right XJ. You don't want more issues than you will already have with a high mileage vehicle. Good luck!

 

2 doors are the way to go.

 

Keep looking something better will come up, with that kind of milage it is not worth it

 

Lots of XJs manufactured. IF this is for more of a daily driver, definitely keep looking.

These drivetrains are great, but 300k on an 89 is getting up there. You will almost assuredly be putting money into this on a semi-regular basis.

Spending up to 3k on a nice one (go 99 if you can find one, stay away from 00-01 SEARCH) will pay off many times over in the long run...........

 

I am going to try to find some patience and keep looking! It seems like the few good deals I've seen dont last. This will not be my daily driver. I have an '08 Dodge 4X4 Crew so my son and I are just looking for something to play with. I just want to be able to drive it wherever I need/want to.

Keep the advice coming! I really appreciate it.