mdtobe

I bought my 1998 Chili Pepper Red Cherokee XJ Classic model back in 2005 and I think I paid around $4700 for it (maybe a bit less). It took me a while to find it because I definitely wanted anti-lock brakes (its main function is to be my winter vehicle in Chicago). I found it being sold on the Internet, and purchased it sight-unseen from a car dealer in Massachusetts based on a lot of good photos and a very candid description (which included pointing out the small burns in the seat upholstery where "Little Timmy dropped his doobie" (yes, that wording was in the description).

Anyway, I didn't even know about the NP242 Transfer Case and was pleasantly surprised when I learned I could select full time 4 wheel drive (AWD) and fly away from stoplights and around corners in the city, even in rainy weather (though I normally keep it in 2WD on dry pavement). The combo of ABS and available full time AWD really move it forward and make it compete nicely with modern crossovers (but in a more rugged vehicle with an amazing, smooth and bulletproof inline 6).

We've decided we want a second Cherokee XJ and I've now been looking for more than a year unsuccessfully for one with the exact things I want (1998 - 2001, Black, NP242, ABS and Cruise Control in a Classic or Limited model, and sourced from a warm and dry part of the country to avoid rust). The difficulty of finding another like ours is making me really appreciate what I have! And the fact that ones even similar to mine (but usually with no ABS and/or no NP242) are selling for 50 to 100% more than I paid for mine 12 years ago is just the icing on the cake (that is, until I find the one I want and have to fork over all that money).

Best wishes,

John

Guywitha92

John, have you checked Arizona craigslists? Occasionally I will come across just what you are looking for. Depending on your budget, I can keep an eye out for you

moparado

ABS would not be a deal killer for me.
But an XJ without a 242 TC on Winter roads would be.

jordan96xj

The days of the $3000 unmolested rust-free unicorn are over. Even though I have my own now, I'm always still watching...and even since I bought mine, the pickin's just get more and more challenging. (Plenty to buy, just not plenty that are worth buying).

Martlor13

Is a 242 more valuable? I honestly would rather have a 231.

andrewmp6

As just a daily driver that sees snow id take the np242 over the np231,As far as abs i think its a nanny system for people that can't drive.Back on point http://www.searchtempest.com/ will search all craigslist all over the usa and you can find you what you want out west like az and southern cali or maybe bama or ga.Stay south of tennesse to stay out of the rust belt.

Battle

I'm in the market for your rig right now (stocker with a NP242, nicer interior, no rust) and it's damn near impossible to find one on the east coast that's either not lifted, beaten up, or over priced.

mschi772

No human can realistically brake as well in an emergency as ABS can. Nanny system it is not.

abodyjoe

exactly... i love when guys try to argue that they can stop better then abs..lol

abodyjoe

gee your not asking much...lol.. for all those specific things you'll have to be very patient... clean xj's are going up in price daily. gonna be priced out of the young guns reach soon..

moparado

Why?

My old '94 had a 231. My current 2k has a 242.
Not even a close contest for Winter driving.

thatXJguy

Yeah, I'd rather have the 242. It's technically stronger despite popular belief and has more options. Consider it the "rubicon" of Cherokee 4x4.

People that say "I like it offroad better" have always stumped me. NP242 has exactly the same features as 231, and also on-road features. For what it's worth, I went everywhere my buddies with NP231 went.

The downside to it is more moving parts, being harder to find replacements for, and less aftermarket support. Still, Tom Woods makes a little-known SYE kit for it and that's what I ran. It cost about the same as a general 231 SYE, so not much more dime lost on that account.

I think it's more likely that hardcore wheelers just like the 231 simply because it fits their needs better and is cheaper to fix/replace when busted, not because it's stronger. How often does a hardcore wheeler with a built rig "need" AWD-like functionality on the road? Serious enthusiasts usually trailer their rig to the parts where they'll be wheeling and lock it into 4wd from there.

New Process and New Venture use similar numeric systems for categorizing features.

Dug this up over at Jeep Forum:

Cane

the np242 itself is not more valuable, the opposite i'd say, people wheeling say it's a tiny bit weaker than the 231. but depending where you're from you might be willing to pay extra to have the full time option.

for us that live where winter brings lots of snow, ice and slippery surfaces, the np242 really shows why it's so useful. no need to worry about shifting in and out of 4wd because of the surface you're on is really nice.

but if you're from california or texas for example, you only need 4wd when driving offroad so then the 231 is a more popular choice mainly for aftermarket support (SYE) and the fact it's so common in junkyards. therefor the np242 is not in demand and probably won't sell for much more than a regular 231.

Martlor13

better parts support and availability plus i like it offroad better and honestly I don't mind it at all in the winter.

moparado

I see you're in northern NM. A whole bunch of years ago i drove from Santa Fe to Colorado, nice country for wheeling.

I don't buy that 'new' 242 parts are hard to find. Though its probably a challenge finding 242's from a boneyard.

Think of it this way, a 242 TC has the best of both worlds, a part-time option and a full-time option.

My F150 FX4 only has a part-time option.
I'm kicking myself for not getting the 'Auto' full time option for Winter driving on patchy icy/snowy roads.

I see a 2018 Raptor in my future!