Considering buying an 01' XJ with 77,000 miles, VIN came back clean. Getting slightly cold feet about buying it, because I want to daily it, but it would need to make a 2000 mile trek pretty frequently, ~2 times a year and am wondering how big a gamble trying to do that with the Cherokee will be. Confident in doing a fair bit of mechanical stuff myself and lots of preventative maintenance. Wanted to get out of my head and seek some secondary opinions, whats the take here?

 

77k miles is impressively low. If it was garage kept in a region where the roads aren't salted, you've got your hands on a pretty rare XJ.

XJs can be very reliable if serviced and maintained frequently. But stuff can and still will go wrong. You can count on the CPS failing and the heater core leaking. The driver power window switch array will likely fail. The valve cover gasket will likely leak badly as will the rear main seal. Some people have issues with water ingress into the cabin from a few different locations. Its fixable/preventable. '01s have issues with hot start due to the pre-cats heating up the engine bay. Its fixable. The good news is that they are pretty easy to service.

 

If you have to ask, you probly dont want one. Especially an 01.

 

If the price is right why not buy it?

These era jeeps have their issues/tendencies across all the years, some are better than others but arguably the 4.0 in general in all years is just as reliable abroad. Same for the transmission, that AW4 *automatic* or ax15 *manual* will likely outlive the entire rest of the jeep anyway. I honestly don't know if they did offer the 01 in a manual or not btw- interesting though.

If the jeep is in good running shape or can be respectably brought back to good running condition I dont see a reason not to.

 

The only thing came to mind for me was the tendency for the heads to crack on the 2000 and 2001 models. From what I have read, overheating is not required for those particular heads to crack. YMMV, Good Luck! Of course, at the right price a XJ in the last year of production with true mileage in the 70's range would be hard to turn down from my perspective!

So if you pass on it, I would appreciate more information....like what state it is in, etc...

 

I bought my 2000 XJ new, I have 185000 miles on it ,I do my regular maintenance I have never had a issue except a sagging headliner.

 

That is good news! Do you ever take off the oil filler cap and look at the head? That is where they crack. Don't know if the manufacturer cut some corners, used different metal, less metal but there is no denying the fact they crack!

Wish you the best luck in the future with your XJ!

 

I have looked but its not something I have done a lot , I give everything a good going over but I hardly think of that, Its my daily driver its never been off road that may have something to do with it and its all stock and it has a easy life it may out last me because Im a old man lol.

 

I bought a 1984 Cherokee new off the lot back in the day! Opted for the 4 cylinder, as the Chevy V6 did not have a great reputation back then. Only once did I drive it like a maniac, when a oncoming driver threw a bottle into the windshield one night. Chased that **** (driving a firebird) like a crazy man until my brakes faded but never was far behind. I was determined to deliver my response! The 4 cylinder would get up and go for what it was. About a year later found the head cracked at each spark plug, so it had to move on. I am on my 7th XJ now with this old 1996 but it fits my need. I drive a Silverado 3.0 Duramax on long drives and a Honda Accord on city chores leaving the XJ for fun! I ain't a youngin by any stretch but still enjoying working and driving the XJ!