Buying a Jeep Cherokee sport 1998, Help!
 

I've been hunting down a late 90's Jeep Cherokee sport all over the south and central FL and ran into a 1998 sport (details below). I ran the VIN and everything seems fine, but my big question is the price (seller is asking for 5.9k), generally, I see these cars run from 2500-3500, but with ODO up to 150k+, this one has 95k and according to carfax has never been rolled back. Also, the body seems fine and the rust doesn't seem terrible considering this car is from 97. I'm going to meet up with the seller next week (bringing my mechanic and a car dealer, who I know personally). The buyer seemed open to negotiations after our phone call today, so how much do you guys think the car is worth?

Description and pictures

https://imgur.com/a/d313lzZ

Rare One Owner 1998 Jeep Cherokee
Original 95K Alabama miles 6 CYL 2WD
White/Black over Beige
Jeep was working all his life as a part of Local Government Fleet
Jeep has regular service and maintenance all his life
Jeep very Clean inside and out
Smoke-Free, No accidents, Clean Carfax, No rust
Jeep is in great condition the motors runs great and strong and starts up fine with no issues
The automatic transmission works fine
The AC is cold and heat works fine
Very good Goodyear tires on Aluminum Jeep rims

No. Unless you want a 2WD. And even then thinking no.
Also I found it very doubtful that was a fleet vehicle all its life.
I am looking at a wood grain radio bezel. The one that would be in higher end XJ's. Wondering why something like that would be in there.
I put one in my '00 but because I liked it. IMO not something somebody would do to a company car or fleet vehicle.
Somebody went to the trouble to change the rims. XJ did not come with Canyon rims. But.....
You have a removable headrest driver seat but one piece bucket passenger.
Even the cruise control makes me wonder but..... IMO is a good thing though.
My understanding is that Fleet/Police vehicles come with a rubber floor.
Skid plates and all sorts of other goodies. But then this is the 4WD ones that I have seen.
So while it might have been used as one thinking it is just a lower end XJ
I can see where you have the one switch bezel. Thinking that it is a low end Jeep thing and not a fleet Jeep thing also.

I just see to many inconsistencies. That makes me wonder.
Hey it is your money and time.

Nearly $6k for an under-100k-mile, stock Cherokee seems about right these days. If it was a 4x4, I could easily see someone asking nearly $10k for it. That thing looks really clean too. I bet you could buy it for $4,500 to 5k though.

Ralph makes a good point though - there are some things done to it that the factory wouldn't have done.

If you want the car mostly for its aesthetic appeal, then it being 2WD likely doesn't matter.

Those leaf springs look tired though.

I have to concede to what Battle said for the most part.

I guess it just boils down to the fact that I just don't get. I get having that much money in one when you are done with one. More. Hell I have to have a total of almost $4K in mine including the initial purchase price of $1500. And to be frank with you think I paid a little to much. But it kinda fell in my lap, was local, a spur of the moment purchase, etc. We are not even talking about setting it up for 4 wheeling. My build is a refresh adding a bunch of factory options she did not come with. Bought 5 years ago with 147K, kinda running but not really driveable. Surface rust on the hood and roof but really solid for New England. If I were to sell it around here today, has about 163K, thinking if I got $3K that would be a lot. But that figure I stated does include so many spare parts that I have picked up in my travels.

I am curious what a $2500 Jeep with 150K looks like in your area. I mean body and interior wise. Up to '99 150K is nothing. With decent maintenance barely broken in IMO. '00 and '01 couple issues make it less so. 0331 head for instance. I think there is a chance that might be a little overplayed. Makes a good bargaining chip when considering buying one though. LOL.

Are you dead set on a 2WD? Finding a 2 WD in New England is not so much. Guessing in Florida a little bit more of them exist.

Yeah, after digging around I'm going against buying it. But generally, the jeeps around southern FL on craigslist go for 2500-3500 when they have 150k+, 4k-6k for the lower millage ones, I'm trying not to go over 4k.

I would not focus on mileage to much. I do mean within reason. One of my buddies always says give me a good body, interior, and glass. At a decent price. Anything mechanical I can fix.

I remember those days haha! 4x4s are hard to find in Florida. I bought my 99 in Homestead in 2013 - 4dr sport 4x4, 4.0 5sp with 129k. Stock truck. Paid $4,900 for it from a dealer who would not move on the price, even when I offered $4,500. But, I paid for the convenience and don't regret it at all.

Keep looking. You'll find it.

I bought this a year and a half ago from a person in Sarasota . One owner , 4wd, 145k. Everything worked , just needed a Master cylinder. $2000.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...17ea01c292.jpg


It now looks like this and I'd guess I am just sitting around the $ 6500 mark total, with too many mods to list... Just be patient , the pop up pretty frequently . Scan craigslist constantly and be ready to go with cash at a moments notice , then dont last long at all...

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.che...fe171c0f4e.jpg