Glory days of the XJ hobby
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 8
From: Northern New Mexico
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
CF Veteran
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,379
Likes: 127
Year: 1989
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
i'm changing the subject a little, but if being a website developer has taught me anything, it's that if you start a personal project, don't do it for the potential $$ you might be making, but rather because it's a hobby and helps pass time. I've made websites for the fun of it that in the end generated more money than a couple others i created with the sole purpose of making money in mind.
What I'm trying to say is that you should look at those other cars as time capsules, something that you'll slowly build and in 10-20 years from now, people will look at them and say "woah this guy really has a clean *insert old car you don't see around anymore here*" and when the time comes and you want to start a new project, you might be able to sell it for a good profit to someone looking exactly for that car.
If you go in with the idea that it's worth nothing now and there might be a high demand for them in the future, you won't have the same drive to upgrade and restore the car, you'll only have money (how much you're making/losing) in mind, and how much it costs. To me that's things you do when you have a business and need to make money, not when you're one or two guys working on a project.
What I'm trying to say is that you should look at those other cars as time capsules, something that you'll slowly build and in 10-20 years from now, people will look at them and say "woah this guy really has a clean *insert old car you don't see around anymore here*" and when the time comes and you want to start a new project, you might be able to sell it for a good profit to someone looking exactly for that car.
If you go in with the idea that it's worth nothing now and there might be a high demand for them in the future, you won't have the same drive to upgrade and restore the car, you'll only have money (how much you're making/losing) in mind, and how much it costs. To me that's things you do when you have a business and need to make money, not when you're one or two guys working on a project.
That's why I worry about the price, Not because I would make money (I never do) but because they will be priced out of my price range down the road.
CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,024
Likes: 2
From: Quebec
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
You're right. I would never buy them to actually make money on them, but mostly because I think they are cool/unique/underappreciated. and I want to buy them NOW because their value will likely go up and I won't be able to afford them in the future. Take for example a mid 70's corvette. One of my favorite styles, 15 years ago, when I had the chance to buy one, They were all over the place for cheap. But my parents talked me out of it (I was still living at home, just out of high school). NOW poor examples command $10k. And I kick myself thinking I could have had a great one for a couple of grand.
That's why I worry about the price, Not because I would make money (I never do) but because they will be priced out of my price range down the road.
That's why I worry about the price, Not because I would make money (I never do) but because they will be priced out of my price range down the road.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 799
Likes: 4
From: usa
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 6 cylinder
Besides what would i do with all the off road junk they put on those XJs.
I live in flatland USA, so no there's no rock crawling for me.
Some of those Davis XJs are eye candy to look at though.
I think you're right, 50k+
For 50K, wonder what kind of warranty goes with the squeezed-in V8 engines, tranny, reconfigured drive shaft, re-designed suspension, on and on.
Sounds like the makings of a cluster @#^% to me.
CF Veteran
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 8
From: Northern New Mexico
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Naah, got my own XJ!
Besides what would i do with all the off road junk they put on those XJs.
I live in flatland USA, so no there's no rock crawling for me.
Some of those Davis XJs are eye candy to look at though.
I think you're right, 50k+
For 50K, wonder what kind of warranty goes with the squeezed-in V8 engines, tranny, reconfigured drive shaft, re-designed suspension, on and on.
Sounds like the makings of a cluster @#^% to me.
Besides what would i do with all the off road junk they put on those XJs.
I live in flatland USA, so no there's no rock crawling for me.
Some of those Davis XJs are eye candy to look at though.
I think you're right, 50k+
For 50K, wonder what kind of warranty goes with the squeezed-in V8 engines, tranny, reconfigured drive shaft, re-designed suspension, on and on.
Sounds like the makings of a cluster @#^% to me.
Banned
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,744
Likes: 2
From: USA
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L i6
What I see in the local XJ market is tons of them for sale at $2000. However, almost all of them have 175k to 250k miles. I just don't see this type of car having many examples of low mileage garage queens. After all, they are a utility truck, not a weekend muscle cruiser.
One reason the muscle cars were preserved was that they were not great daily drivers. They were killed by the OPEC gas crisis on the 1970s where gas prices almost doubled by 1980. The XJ is living in a time of cheap gas prices.
One reason the muscle cars were preserved was that they were not great daily drivers. They were killed by the OPEC gas crisis on the 1970s where gas prices almost doubled by 1980. The XJ is living in a time of cheap gas prices.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
At some point I will do a full restore of either a 94 or a 99. Probably have to put new windows on the house first lol.
Oldest kid (who already says he wants my jeep for his first car) starts kindergarten in August, so that's ten grand a year I don't have to pay for daycare. That'll be a good start.
Oldest kid (who already says he wants my jeep for his first car) starts kindergarten in August, so that's ten grand a year I don't have to pay for daycare. That'll be a good start.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: 4 Corners, USA
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I-6 Cyl. w/ 0630Head+MikeWilsonAdapter (preserves engine/brain function w/ stronger head) 62mmTB
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
My 99 turned 100k miles today. I love it so much that I'm looking for another (good) 99, which isn't easy. Is it weird that I'd probably mothball it for few years?
Banned
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,553
Likes: 4
Year: 2000 and 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
money is funny,,,not!
in the 60's the stock market was under 1000, now x20
candy bar 5 5 cents, now x20, a dollar, gas 29 cents, recently 3.99, 20x.
so i 59 i bought a driveable 49 ford for 65 $.today a 10 yr old car??4-8 grand.
but you buy with todays money.
i made 75 cents /hr in 1959, today 10-15 dollars/hr, x20
its called govt sponsored inflation!!!
in the 60's the stock market was under 1000, now x20
candy bar 5 5 cents, now x20, a dollar, gas 29 cents, recently 3.99, 20x.
so i 59 i bought a driveable 49 ford for 65 $.today a 10 yr old car??4-8 grand.
but you buy with todays money.
i made 75 cents /hr in 1959, today 10-15 dollars/hr, x20
its called govt sponsored inflation!!!
Banned
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,553
Likes: 4
Year: 2000 and 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
money is funny,,,not!
in the 60's the stock market was under 1000, now x20
candy bar 5 5 cents, now x20, a dollar, gas 29 cents, recently 3.99, 20x.
so in 59 i bought a driveable 49 ford for 65 $.today a 10 yr old car??4-8 grand.
but you buy with todays money.
i made 75 cents /hr in 1959, today 10-15 dollars/hr, x20
its called govt sponsored inflation!!!
in the 60's the stock market was under 1000, now x20
candy bar 5 5 cents, now x20, a dollar, gas 29 cents, recently 3.99, 20x.
so in 59 i bought a driveable 49 ford for 65 $.today a 10 yr old car??4-8 grand.
but you buy with todays money.
i made 75 cents /hr in 1959, today 10-15 dollars/hr, x20
its called govt sponsored inflation!!!
CF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,929
Likes: 5
From: York PA
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 Litre I6
money is funny,,,not!
in the 60's the stock market was under 1000, now x20
candy bar 5 5 cents, now x20, a dollar, gas 29 cents, recently 3.99, 20x.
so i 59 i bought a driveable 49 ford for 65 $.today a 10 yr old car??4-8 grand.
but you buy with todays money.
i made 75 cents /hr in 1959, today 10-15 dollars/hr, x20
its called govt sponsored inflation!!!
in the 60's the stock market was under 1000, now x20
candy bar 5 5 cents, now x20, a dollar, gas 29 cents, recently 3.99, 20x.
so i 59 i bought a driveable 49 ford for 65 $.today a 10 yr old car??4-8 grand.
but you buy with todays money.
i made 75 cents /hr in 1959, today 10-15 dollars/hr, x20
its called govt sponsored inflation!!!
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
I still see a few XJ around here for less than $1000, but they're pretty beat. I bought one for $400 last week to harvest the long arm suspension from. It was a pretty thrashed out redneck trail righ but the "glory days" thing occured to me as well, so I thought it would be useful to stash the other usable parts.