Hello all in the market for a Jeep Cherokee. Ive been doing research and think that this listing on craigslist might be interesting. Since I really have no mechanic skills at all I figured I get a Jeep Cherokee as cheap as possible and try to learn about the vehicle and work on it myself. Here is a listing that just come up. Thoughts?

http://newyork.craigslist.org/lgi/cto/5760044919.html

 

If it has no rust in the rocker panels which is the metal under the doors,No rust in the floor pans and it runs drives and the 4x4 works id buy it today.

 

Yep, assuming the rust the ad talks about isn't too bad, I'd snap that up in a heartbeat.

 

If it runs it'a worth that.
I'd be raiding my piggy bank.

 

Rusty rockers will be a deal breaker. It looks like a great deal if it isn't too rotten.

 

So I spoke with owner and he said its been sittinf in driveway for 2 years. It starts up but can't maintain charge for to long. Says it needs some work.

 

Eeeeek!

 

Does the Jeep have the AW-4 Transmission? Does the engine have a good steady rhythm? If so-BUY IT!

 

Yeah, if it has a good engine and tranny, buy it, buy another one with a blown motor, then junk yard that body with with the blown motor and put the other two pieces together for a good Cheap Cherokee.

 

If you want a off road toy it could be ok,If you want a daily driver that jeep would be a good parts jeep but not a daily driver.

 

That's ugly. Fuggedabout the body. If it's running well and has a good drive line (trans, transfer case, axles), it's worth that in parts.

IF you want a parts vehicle.

If you don't want a parts vehicle, walk away.

 

 

Can't tell how the rest of the frame rails look, but the one in the picture looks good. I can see floor board rust, which is normal for an XJ that age in the east coast close to the water.

Even if the engine and tranny are good, you should expect to spend 1-2k replacing fluids, battery (maybe alternator too), sensors, tires probably, and all the other maintenance items that a rarely used vehicle never gets replaced because it is not being used.

Oh, and a lot of wrenching and learning.

 

That roof rust will be hard to repair since no one makes that sheet metal that i know of,And the roof is always the hardest part of any car to weld on unless you fully skin which would be a huge job on a xj.The rusty floor pan in one picture i hate to see what the rest of the floor looks like.Like said would be great for parts or a crawler but as a normal daily driver its not worth it.

 

This ^^^^