I am sure all models are great! I was still wondering if there was a general consensus for what is considered the best factory trim model and year of the XJ?

If you wanted to get one, and could wait for the right one to come along.. Would you know it when you saw it?

 

Without a doubt.
'99 XJ Limited with the Up Country suspension and all the bells and whistles.
In a Federal Emissions version.
Seems like they liked to put the D35 with ABS and the factory LSD in some.
I want the 8.25 with the factory LSD. No ABS. Which I don't think you could get anyway with an 8.25 anyway.
Not even sure if you could order one like that.
When I see Jeeps for sale sometimes they put the VIN in the ad.
So I run it.
Assuming the build sheet is correct I have yet to see an 8.25 with the LSD.
But almost positive they do exist.
Figure that with the Select A Trac transfer case will be what I want my Jeep to do.
Get around when it snows and just be a DD.
Basically what I am trying to turn my '00 into.
Thing with the '00's and '01's are most '00's are CA Emissions. Mine is. But not all. All '01's are.
Something about having a distributor, a regular coil, spark plug wires, etc is more comforting to me too.
Not that there is anything really wrong with having a coil bar.
Maybe cause I am old. LOL.

 

It is widely agreed upon, without exception, that the 96 sport in black is the definitive XJ. It bests all other years and models in every regard. A scientifically proven fact backed by 1000s of hours of research.

 

Can't argue with jordan96xj on this one. My first XJ was a '96 and I do have a soft spot for them.
I would still own her if structurally she wasn't a disaster or I had the capabilities to fix her.
She did run like a champ though.

 

A loaded two door with rear wing windows.
4.0/AX15/np231 combo and 8.25 rear.

End of story

 

Black 96 with AX15, manual windows and doors and no rust.

 

Found these just for you. LOL.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/p...005056400.html

Now if I could just figure out how to put them on a 4 door. MLOL.

 

If we're talking personal opinion or the "right one" coming along, I'd choose a white 96 country with tan interior, only say country because I rarely see them. I personally wouldn't want a Renix, or a bad head from the 00 and 01, and I just enjoy the style of the pre-96 ones much more.

 

Nice. Good price too with factory tint the way they look

 

Was thinking that was a little high.
Thinking more around $250 on Ebay, when they come up, shipped.
Then if you can get the guy to ship them that much more.
But you do bring up a good point about the factory tint.

 

I've seen them anywhere from 300 to 500. Tint and no tint. But I've only seen like 5 sets local in 3 years

 

5 sets?
That is 5 more sets then I have ever seen in a boneyard.
Pretty sure never even have seen them up close and personal on a Jeep around here either.

 

I think something like that might be the one right there. 4-door would be fine for me, but the 4.0, AX15, NP231, and the 8.25 rear sounds like they are the mandatory requirements. Look for 1996 - 1999 model years in the Limite package. Hopefully I can find one that has remained completely stock, with nothing more than minimal surface rust on it?

Color would be a secondary concern to me, and not a deal breaker if everything else is right about it.

I'll be keeping a look-out for something like this.. No hurry, but looking...

 

I've never seen any in a boneyard in my life. I've only actually seen one 2 door in a boneyard before.

 

My Dad's 94 was a 2-door. Personally, the 4 door is a heck of a lot more convenient.