Hello I am looking at xj a to pick my first one. I've found one that is a 5 speed and was wondering how rare these are. I've been looking for 6 months and have only seen this one. Thanks.

 

Reasonably uncommon. I recall reading that 10% or less XJs shipped with manual transmissions.

 

I searched for a 5 speed for a while and, from that research, I'd estimate that for any given year on craigslist you'd have the following probability to find one.

pre-91 10-15%
91-96 5-10%
97-99 <5%

Also, factor in that 2-door models more commonly had one, and finding a 4 door was really difficult. The 97-99 4-door with a 5 speed are so damn rare that I found exactly 1 that was worth buying, and it was a 3 hour drive away, and it sold in 1 day (before I was able to make the drive).

I ended up with a 95 that I'm very happy with.

 

Girl at work has a Stick 99. I want it! Dont see many.

 

You'd probably cry if you saw the PO's neglect on my 1999 4-door with AX-15 then. lol

 

I have a 96 5spd and it took me like 6months to find it on Craigslist. Well worth the wait.

 

man when i was looking to buy all i could find were 5 speeds 2 door and 4 door

 

I have a 5 speed Renix and before I bought it i had no idea about xj's. A jeeper buddy of mine told me to ****** it because 5 speeds were uncommon he said. Locally, I havent seen a fellow 5 speed other than mine.

 

Hopefully ill go look at this jeep after I sell my truck. It's. a 99 4 door model. Is there an improvement on mpgs with the manual? The owner is claiming 20mpg.

 

Yeah absolutely. Myself and other 5-speed owners have gotten 26-28 MPG highway. City still sucks cuz its still a 4.0 lol

 

Took me a few months to find my 5sp 98 in mint condition.

 

I was getting 24ish combined.

 

What am I doing wrong? I get like 12 mpg ?

 

The MPG improvement is present, but not astronomical. Someone getting 28MPG in the stick would probably be seeing 24 or 25 with an auto with identical conditions. Typically we see around three MPG difference reported. The best I have ever seen with mine has been 21, all highway. I was impressed considering it was on 33s and 6" of lift and 3.55 diffs.

 

Your profile mentions a 1988 XJ - at that age a "tune up" includes pretty much everything. Or you're leaving it in 1st gear with flat tires lol