So, I joined this community because I'm in the process of buying and rebuilding a '96 XJ salvage from a friend. The more I work on it though, the more I realize it's going to need a TON of work to be truly roadworthy, let alone trail ready. The entire undercarriage is caked in two year old mud hiding who know how much rust, the leaf springs are sagging, the tires are bald, the tank is full of black sludge, the interior is decent but needs touching up, etc etc. The saving graces are that the body is straight and the drivetrain is rock-solid. I've never heard a 4.0 sound and pull as good as that one!

The other side of the coin is that another friend has a '99 Honda Passport (read: Isuzu Rodeo) with very low miles, tip-top cosmetic shape BUT has a knocking sound in the engine. It COULD just be a bad timing belt tensioner, but the pessimist in me is screaming about lifters or rods knocking. He only wants $1250 for the Passport, about how much I'd be dropping on the Jeep to get it in my name. I'm torn as to whether I should take a chance with a nice car with possible engine issues, or a worn-down old Jeep with a solid drivetrain. Either way I'm out a couple grand in repairs, but I could be safely driving the Jeep within a month. The Passport might throw that rod at any moment (if that's what it is).

Anyway, sorry for typing your eyes off guys and gals, just wanted to get that out there. Any advice is welcome of course!!

 

i would go with the jeep but thats just me im not an import fan

 

Okay, my second job is at a used car lot. I have no warm fuzzies left for any make of vehicle.

The Passport isn't 'a nice car with possible engine issues'. It is a nice body with a shot motor. At the very least it needs an upper rebuild. Not cheap. If the engine is already having issues, I'd have grave concerns about the rest of the routine maintenance. By 'low miles' I'm guessing about 80K. There is no reason to be having engine problems in a Passport for any reason other than neglect at that sort of mileage. The interiors fell apart way too quick, but the drive trains on these little trucks were pretty solid.

Parts on Hondas are expensive. You will be out a LOT more money when all is said and done than you would be with the Jeep. There is a very active aftermarket for Jeep parts. That is simply not the case for the Passport.

 

Thanks for the advice guys, I'm probably just going to go with the Jeep. I know the 4.0 inside out and I trust it even more than the super reliable Chevy 305 in my C10 truck. I'm still going to try to diagnose the Honda for my friend so he can sell it; at the very least I can pull the timing cover and rule out the tensioner. He's helped me out a lot over the past year and I don't mind doing that for him.

And I have to remind myself that a roadworthy vehicle isn't my only goal with the Jeep; I was also interested in fixing it up for the sheer fun of it as well as owning a vehicle I will have an in depth knowledge of. The lazy side of my brain took over for a bit when he offered me that low price on the Honda, but common sense is prevailing and I know I'm better off with the certainty of a good drivetrain in the Jeep.

Oh and Jay, I agree completely that it shouldn't have engine issues at such low miles! It has just over 100,000 and should not be that worn down yet.

One last thing: The Jeep community is close-knit and feels like family, whereas the group over at PlanetIsuzoo and other Passport/Rodeo forums can be down right rude and unhelpful! While that certainly isn't grounds for a buying decision, it does mean I'll have a ton of like minded, friendly folks to consult here. :-)

Thanks again guys!

 

Glad youre going with the jeep! Solid axle FTW

 

I say stick with the jeep. But the with the rodeo more than likely has the 3.2l v6 which is very common with valvetrain noise that can get very annoying. In Time the replacement motor will more than likely come up with the same symptoms. It does not at all hurt anything this rodeo will run for years, Trust me i had two 95 isuzu troopers and they both did the same thing and i drove the **** out of them both. Never had any problems except the high pressure steering hose. Sorry for the rant just giving my 2cents.

 

I agree with keeping the jeep. If nothing else you can use the drivetrain and put it in a donor jeep since they're strong.

Also like you said you'll be Ianthe jeep community. And there is nothing like the jeep community. Ive tried to find one!

 

Well the entire issue has been rendered moot. The owner of the Jeep has decided to forgo the complicated inspection and doesn't want to pay the back taxes, so he's going to keep it as an offroad-only vehicle (his original intention when he bought it as a salvage) instead of selling it to me. Of course, he's reimbursing me for the work I've already done to help him get it road ready. He's my boss at the part time job, as well as a good friend, and I'm still going to help him get it trail ready.

I'm also still working on the Passport for my other friend, and he's on the verge of just giving it to me if I'm truly willing to put money into an engine for it. I'm thinking it over, but in the mean time I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for a good deal on an XJ.