Hello everyone! I'm reading through the forums and searching so I'll probably find some of my answers but I'm excited and wanted to get rolling!

I just payed off my current truck (2001 Explorer Sport). It needs a bit of work but I've always wanted an XJ. So I'm selling the truck and getting one!

Couple questions:

1: What year should I look for/which is best? ( I heard about engine block cracks on certain years, forgot which ones)

2: Should I worry about mileage? (I'm looking for a solid vehicle to last me awhile and do some off roading nothing too heavy, and of course a lift.)

3: Difference between Sport/Classic/Limited? (Limited seems classy, I'm assuming I want Sport or Classic.)

Thanks in advance!

 

Best year for the first gen is 1996, second gen years are 97-99. 2000 and 01s have low pinion front axles and cylinder head problems. 1991 was the first year of the Chrysler OBDI electronics, but had a poorly designed Bendix 9 ABS system that was very unreliable. 1987-90 used the RENIX operating system, it is pretty reliable, but it does not store trouble codes and can be tricky to diagnose. 1984-86 should be avoided. They had an under powered 4 cylinder or and even weaker 2.8 v6 that was borrowed from GM.
I like the 96 the most out of all of the years, it has the classic gen one look but with gen two improvments.
Don't limit yourself to an XJ, the ZJ is every bit as good as the XJ off road. The ZJ can be had with a 5.2 v8 or the 4.0 I6, it is a bit longer and offers a little more comfort than the XJ. It tends to be easier to find a clean adult owned ZJ than it is to find an unmolested XJ. The only down falls for the ZJ would be the 42RE transmission found behind the I6 and the NP249J transfercase found behind the 5.2.
If you liked to wrench on your Exploder you will LOVE wreching on an XJ or ZJ with the I6. So much easier to work on and do suspension lifts on. Do NOT ask about installing a body lift on an XJ or ZJ, you'll get laughed right out of the forum because they are uni-body vehicles. You will find that the 4.0 I6 will out perform your exploder 4.0v6. An XJ or ZJ will run circle around an Exploder off road too. Welcome to the sickness.

 

it all depends on what you want to do with it. if plan on getting a stock xj and lifting it go with the 97+ so you have the 8.25 29 spline

 

Not all the 97+ have the 8.25, I have an 01 with the D35.

When I get my next XJ I'll prolly go with like a 97-98, something like that.
Crank windows so I can take the doors off!!

Don't worry too much about mileage. Its better to buy a car with 200,000 miles that has been regularly maintained then a car with 50,000 miles and never had the hood opened.

I'm not sure, but I don't think there is a big difference between the different trim levels, other then the upcountry which rides a little higher stock and comes without a rear sway bar.

Whatever cherokee you buy, I'm sure you'll be happy. And I noticed you said you don't plan on doing much heavy offroading... that will change

 

I can see that happening