Cherokee No.1

Well, my wife has grown weary of navigating our 2000 Ford Excursion and she wants something smaller. She's seen some SUV variants that she likes and they all share some common features, they've got "old school" looks, square box profile and they're fairly sparce in the creature comfort realm. We've arrived at the Cherokee XJ by virtue of their current availability and price point. In fact I have a solid price of $3500 on a 2001 "Sport" with 131K on the clock and a reasonably straight body. She drove it and feels like it fits her. I know she won't be going off-roading, on purpose at least, but she does like the look. I'm excited at the prospect of having another project vehicle. We drove this vehicle over a fairly nasty road and while there were quite a few rattles and squeaks, the front end seemed to be fairly tight and the motor ran out well and the tranny shifted smoothly when driven at normal acceleration and firmly when the accelerator was mashed hard. Driver's side door speaker is MIA and the rear view mirror is missing. Tires will have to be replaced immediately and I think shocks will be a high priority. After driving it a bit, including a few spirited short bursts, I stood at the front of the vehicle to listen for sounds or smells of leaking coolant or anything else. I heard gurgling from the reservoir, but nothing else. I think that would be normal as the system equalized. If anyone has any input, I'm all ears. Also I'd like to get a Carfax report if anyone could help with that.

XJwonders

Ask the seller if it had overheated in the past. Be wary of 2000-2001 models, they have the 0331 heads which are susceptible to cracking.

cruiser54

Excellent advice.

95Cherokee

Welcome back, check everything out good, maybe a Carfax report, was able to find mine online for FREE.

And yours was so much better than the typical newbie 1'st post.

"Lol, Hi guys, just a got an 88 XJ with 700,000 miles on her, stock for now but looking to put a body lift on her if my Mom lets me, there's no floor what so ever due to rust but nothing a little sheet metal and JB Weld can't solve!"

cruiser54

How did you dig up your first post?


LOL. JK.

Cherokee No.1

Good to know, this is a used car lot though, not much chance they'll know, but I'll check the condition of coolant and oil to see if there's any of either where they shouldn't be.

Well I've been poking around trying to find the free Carfax and haven't come up with it yet.

I try to be a practical buyer, I've had my share of ill-advised, "I can bring it back from the dead" project purchases. I'm too old for attempting a sow's ear into a purse transformation, but I do like to make a vehicle better than how it started.

We'll see if this is the one upon a second inspection.

cruiser54

Might wanna target pre-2000 for your purchase.

BigSquirrly89

I love the old ones before airbags lol