Hello folks,

First post on here! I've been looking around for a while for a clean Cherokee to ****** as a daily driver, and since I finally found one that looked worthy, I figured this was a good time to make an account and get some input!

Here's the basics:

1999 Cherokee Sport 4x4 4.0, 102XXX miles. Dealer wants $6k, but from what I've seen around, I'm much happier around $5k.

Here's the pluses I've tallied:

1. 95% rust free; some bubling on the lower pinch weld of the passenger's door, but nothing other than that. Truck appears to be undercoated with POR-15 perhaps?
2. Low(ish) mileage; the engine runs like a tank and the transmission shifts great. The 4WD works great as well.
3. Pretty spec'd up Sport model; has fog lights, cruise control, and the nicer stereo with cassette/CD (not that it matters, as I'll likely rip it out).
4. Practically new Firestone street tires on 15 inch alloy wheels; don't really care about these either as I'm planning on putting some BFG All-Terrains on the Jeep.

Annnnd some of the hits against the truck:

1. Some cosmetic issues; deep scratches in the paint, sizeable dent in the lower corner of the liftgate.
2. Driver's side window appears to have a shot regulator; it doesn't close completely (wind noise) and makes a nasty grinding sound if you try to put it up further. Passenger's side window ain't happy either, and one of the back windows doesn't work at all. Driver's side door also doesn't seem to seat properly.
3. Some odds and ends broken in the interior (center box lid latch and handbrake handle).
4. Pretty bad wheel shimmy on the highway from 60 to 70 mph; nothing discernable at 50 and below. Perhaps a wheel out alignment?
5. Back passenger's seat likes to bounce up and down over bumps, so I'm guessing the lifting bottom isn't latching properly.
6. It's quite an obnoxious shade of red....but it's kinda growing on me.

I'll attach some pictures below here:































This was a warm idle; does the oil pressure gauge seem low? The engine ran like a freight train with no hesitation at all.

Sorry if the number of photos are overwhelming....I like to take photos.

 

That undercoating looks pretty fresh, makes me wonder what they're hiding...

 

I had wondered that as well, it was also unevenly applied in some areas. The rest of the vehicle seemed very clean though (doors, engine bay) and there are no weird mods so I thought it was okay. Maybe wishful thinking on my part to some extent....

 

Sounds like a lot of money, here in England fuel whole lot dearer which puts off lots with bigger petrol engines, this is a 4.0 that didn't even get a bid.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130990656285? ... 1438.l2649

 

The rust on the door paired with that undercoating and the condition of the under carriage driveline make me question it too much, notice the scale on the driveshafts and pumpkin, looks like it was corroded and cleaned. Polished turd if you ask me. And, unless you can get them down to a ridiculous low price, I would avoid a used car lot. Take your time and find the right one. I know it is hard when you want one so bad you can taste it, but you will thank yourself later. Also, have you had an independent mechanic look at it? If not, then do. Have them pull back some carpet and check the floorboards for rust if you can...

 

If your happy with it use the bad to talk the price down a grand or two if you can.Its on a car lot they clean the hell out of everything before they sell it so don't always trust that.

 

I have not yet, no. That would have been my next step. I might go ahead and see if I can get them to look at it; what are the common rust spots on these vehicles? I've read the rockers, doors and floorboards. If I was to go for it (depending on mechanic's findings) I was aiming for around $4500 or $5000. I was also a bit nervous about the rust on the tailgate hinge on the rear bumper.

I'm starting to see with these Cherokees that a clean higher mileage vehicle might be better than a lower mileage one that needs some work... I have up to a $10k budget for whatever daily driver I get, but the hopes here was to get a clean 4x4 with respectable MPG and have some money left in the bank.

 

Those are the spots common to rust, also check the lower rear quarters/fender areas. I personally wouldn't pay a dime over 4k for that though, if you decide on that one, walk in with 4k cash in hand and see what happens. Money talks and cash in hand speaks volumes, lol. I got mine from a used mom and pop lot, they wanted 5k. I walked in with 2500, and got them down to 2300. Only reason I bought from them was I was able to talk them down to what it was actually worth. Get them down to 4 and spend the rest on upgrades and repairs and you could have one nice ride.

 

That does sound like a solid plan. The dealer is asking $6000 for a cash price though so I would be nervous about insulting them with a $4k offer, but it IS a dealership lol, so that etiquette may not apply. I'm new to this negotiating game. I would likely want to take it to the mechanic BEFORE making any offers on the Jeep though, right?

Thanks for the help so far guys!

 

If they are asking 6k cash, they are the ones insulting YOU. Don't be nervous about negotiating. Look at it like this: they can get 4k or 0k. Their choice. And if you don't take it to a mechanic before you buy it I will reach through the interwebs and smack you. LMAO!

 

Hahaha, fair enough! Thank you sir!

I will call the dealer up and see if I can snag the Jeep and take it to our mechanic sometime this week. Maybe they won't care if I bring it back today and drop it off Monday....gives me more time to poke around it.

Edmunds puts clean retail at around $4500 for the mileage, and NADA $5000. It ain't clean retail status...

 

I stopped and looked at a jeep recently looked it over and about fell down (in shock and heart failure) the guy tells me they want 8695.
I said thank you and walked away.
When the outside and inside is soso clean and the underside still has mud on it from wher it was sunk to the differential there might be a few problems. lol
These xjs are sky rocketing in price. I am looking for one for my 15 yr old son.

 

So I'm noticing! One of my buddies that's helping me look around has a '99 Classic he picked up with 83k miles completely rust free for like 3 grand, it just need door locks and the AC fixed.... I'm hoping that kind of deal presents itself. I technically don't need a vehicle until January anyways.

 

crawl up under it and start pushing on the floor. Mine has that same sort of rough undercoat (also bought from a dealer) and it hid a softball sized hole in the floor that was unnoticeable by just looking at it. I found it a few months later while cleaning the underside. That reminds me, I need to fix that!

 

Update!

I talked with my buddy for a bit after sending him some pictures, and we both agreed that I can do better than the red dealership Jeep.

I'm posting around on some local car channels (Cars and Coffee, etc.) and two options have popped up so far; one is a craigslist ad. Mileage is 150k, I spoke with the guy today.

http://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/3992373361.html

The other is a guy who says he has a 2001 one for sale. I'm vaguely familiar with some of the changes that took place with the 2000's and 2001, notably the cracking head problems, and the move to a distributorless ignition.

EDIT: Got a response on the local 2001; here's the guy's response, word for word (as in it's not my grammar....)

"Hello!
Yes, I wanted to tell you about my Jeep. I own a 2001 Limited Stone Grey four door XJ. I am only the second owner of the vehicle, I have had it since 8/17/2010. My particular engine doesn"t have the head issue that have plagued them so horribly thank goodness. It's clean, youcan see for yourself. The mileage is at 142,666. I don't have any rust on this Jeep. The guy who owned it before me garage kept it, i garage keep it for the first year i owned it, then i moved. It has been to the mountains once, up to Staunton and back...it was washed down afterwards. It has been to Hatteras for exactly one full weekend and was on the beach for two out of the three days. This Jeep has always been washed down afterwards.
I have done a handful of modification to it, and have tons that are still in the Box...waiting to be installed. I have tinted all the windows, drive and passenger are legal 50% and the rest are 20% blacked out. I have installed Husky-liner floor mats from the front all the way to the back. I have installed Nitrogen shocks all the way around. There is a new battery under the hood. I have converted the fluids over to full synthetic all are AMSOIL. The engine just recently got an oil change to the signature series fluid which only has to be changed once a year with a new filter as well. I have converted the headlights to HID's but I'm in the process of changing them back (they are getting annoying). I have installed super bright LED's into the dash and they are all bright Green. It does have a CD head unit with an aux input. I also have remote start for the vehicle as well. I have tried to keep all my information on the maintenance of the Jeep and the Modifications also. I have kept almost everything in a folder. I log the gas mileage too just fyi. Please let me know if you want more information, i hope i have covered what you were looking for as well. I have some pictures of it too, nothing too recent though. I can take some for you and wash it as well."

Any thoughts on either?