Currently in the works trying to find a Jeep on craigslist for the brutal MN winter because my daily is a 370z!

Is it completely unrealistic to find one of these in good running condition for 1k-1.5k??

I have already been paroozing Craigslist and I have been finding a few around 200k miles for that price.

 

Prices very it all depends where you live,Mileage don't matter if the 4.0 has been taken care of.We have many members in the high 200k and some well past the 300k mark.

 

Good running condition? Sure. Good running and not 50% eaten away by rust, in MN, for $1.5k? Not as confident about that one. Might require extensive searching and expanding the search area.

 

^This, the price of good XJs has gone up quite a bit in the last couple years (at least in any place that uses salt on the roads), while you might get lucky and find a deal, for the most part for $1k-$1.5K you're looking at either a rust-bucket that runs good, or a nice solid XJ with significant mechanical issues. Between the two what is best depends on what you want it for, if you're just looking for a "beater" to get through a winter or two and don't care if it lasts a rust-bucket may be ok (assuming it isn't so far gone that it is unsafe), but if you plan on keeping the vehicle long-term I'd take mechanical issues over rust any day, even an engine or trans replacement is less cost (if paying someone) and work (if you do it yourself) than major rust repair (if done right).


For that budget you might actually be better off with a ZJ or WJ Grand Cherokee, they seem to be easier to find in decent shape at a decent price these days, granted they do have a weak transmission and more electrical gremlins.

 

No problem, just keep your feet on the 2X4 and don't mind the exhaust fumes, you'll be fine.

If the Nissan has already been baptized there is no reason to save it now. Might as well just drive it and sell when the paint first starts to bubble.

 

I was in your shoes last year. Finally found one last November for $1500. 186k on the body and 160k on the motor. Had a few rotted places but nothing major. Had the original plan of keeping it as a winter beater but..the Jeep bug got me and check it out now..




Just keep looking and be patient. I found mine after several weeks of looking and I never regretted going with this one after all the other ones I looked at.