Ok guys, I need an outside opinion...


I am looking for a 1995+ (for the airbag) Cherokee for my girlfriend, only other requirement is that it be a manual transmission (she rocks).

I found a 1996 with 173K miles on it for about $3400... I called the dealer and he said that it had a leak coming from the valve cover gasket...

Now, should I buy it hoping that its not a cracked head? Or should I buy it anyway and just replace the head if it is cracked? Or maybe its just a bad valve cover?

I would go check it out...but I'm currently in Japan.

Should I have her wait for something else?

 

Ive never seen a cracked head leak oil externally. 4.0's are notorious for valve cover leaks. That would be my guess as to what it is.

 

price seems high to me... it should have no problems for that price...
here is a 96 country with less miles and money
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/2212975294.html
94 grand cherokee 5spd with air bags for less money... http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/cto/2212688521.html

Whats her spending limit? any pictures of it that would help

 

Thanks for the help!

See my problem is that this is the only manual trans. cherokee I have been able to find for about a month of searching.

I have never done any engine work on cars, but being a jet engine mech. I am pretty confident with anything.

I have heard that people have trouble keeping the valve cover leak free once the seal was broken, so would you buy it with 173K and fix the leak or just wait for a better option?

 

well how far would you like to travel? I have seen a bunch of 5speeds in cali...

 

Well she likes the regular old cherokee, not the grand. And she will not touch an auto.

She is trying to trade in her 02 4.7 V8 Dodge Dakota with 146k on it and a leaky transfer case.

My guess is that with the leak the trade in value would be around $4K

 

Im down to travel to Cali, once I get back to Seattle I will be able to make a drive. And I'm sure that the perks of traveling the coastline to find her a car wouldnt be half bad either

 

The other thing I have noticed is that a lot of listings on CL for a manual trans. end up being dealers who were not paying attention and listing it incorrectly...

 

Well you could always bring back a export xj from Japan...

 

How long until you get back... you should just wait... always better to be safe then sorry...

 

Haha, thought about it actually...

I think though, if she were driving a RHD XJ, she would probably get hit on more than I'd like...

 

i think it would be cool tho you know they will have a 5speed one there...

 

Yeah true... I get back in about a month. Our only concern is that we will be moving to Montana soon after I get back, she needs a family car for the kiddo, and would like something that won't die on her soon.

And I would like to get her out of my XJ...

 

Yeah for sure, they are all over.

I'd totally do it but the import tax plus the cost of getting it legal in the states is more than we are able to spend at this point.

 

Well thanks for the help guys, I think the best thing is to probably just wait for another 5 speed to show up.