Are nice used Cherokees really this expensive?
 

I'm looking to buy my first Cherokee, so I've been checking the usual places: eBay, Craigslist, local classifieds, dealers, cars.com, and autotrader.com

I'd like to hold on to this purchase for a really long time, so I'm going for late model (2000 or 2001) and low mileage.

I've entered the following details into Kelly Blue Book, NADA, and Edmunds, and the average retail price is around $7000. Does that seem right to all of you?

2001 Jeep Cherokee Limited 4WD 80,000 miles Good Condition

NADA.com $7500 Retail
Edmunds $5500 Dealer Reail
KBB $8500 Retail

I do see a few of Cherokees like this for sale online at these prices (mostly dealers, can't find any private parties). I was just wondering if these are legitimate prices--and if they are worth it, considering how hard it is to come by clean late-model, low mileage XJs.

yes seems about what i would see here in michigan
ive seen jeeps here with 120k on them but they are rust free from down south are well over 7k

For that low of a mieage 5-7k is reasonable. We have all kinds around here with between 100-150k lifted or stock from 2-5k.

I paid 8k for mine at a stealership 2 years ago. It was super clean, stock, fully loaded with 90k. I also opted for a 2 year warranty. It was completely worth it. Its replaced a blown a head gasket, then a new long block)

I paid about 6k here in San Antonio for a cherry 5 spd 2001 sport with 92k from a small jeep dealership. More than I wanted to spend but it was exactly what I wanted down to the color.

If I have to choose between later years or lower mileage, which is preferred? Specifically, I'm talking about between 1999, 2000, and 2001. And the mileage range is between 50,000 and 130,000.

The 2001 has 130,000 miles: $6000
The 2000 has 50,000 miles: $8000

And then a few 1999 with less than 100k miles for about $5500

Which 4WD is generally preferred and why? NP231 or NP242?

If it's under 100k most the time you're going to pay $5k+ if it's in good shape. Seen more than a few 99+ with under 100k sell for over $10k recently.

Demands going up, supply is ever decreasing, especially after Cash for Clunkers.

231 is stronger and has better aftermarket support
242 is still strong and has full time 4wd which can be used at speed on pavement.

You might want to consider a late 90's rather than an 00 - 01. Do some reading on the 0331 head.

^ THAT. a 99 is the best mix of newer intake, etc WITHOUT that dreaded 0331 head

Other than the 0331 head, is there virtually no other difference between a '99 and an '00?

....low pinion d30. No plugs or dist cap...pretty big difference

Virtually, but i am more a fan of the 96 back body style, so i'll let someone more familiar answer that in detail

I bought mine in 2007 at a dealership for $5000.

It is a 98 and had 77,000 miles on it at the time. I think I got a great deal especially coming from a dealership. Considering that they have been out of production for 11 years I would expect the low mileage ones (rare find) are going to pull a premium.

BTW what the heck is the deal with Edmonds being so much lower than everyone else? I have always used KBB (I didn't really even know about Edmonds) and I guy called me on a very low mileage Civic I was selling. I had based my price off KBB and he was hassling me because my price was so much higher than Edmonds. Sold it the next day to someone else full price.

Does distributor-less ignition make a noticeable difference in real world fuel economy, performance, and reliability?