There are many fine examples of Jeep XJs & MJs out there that work good as a daily driver, so not trying to take away from those that do it. But at this point, especially for those looking to buy in, should an XJ be a daily driver?

Reason I'm asking, as with the advance of technology, the availability of cheap yet efficient used cars, and the high cost of owning an XJ (gas, insurance, maintenance, etc.), shouldn't XJs be "acceptable" for daily driving (commuter style).

There is definitely good reasons to own one, in stock form, for routine use, like those living in bad weather climates, see off pavement duty semi-regularly. But with average mileage running as poorly as 9mpg and topping out around 20mpg, and insurance being 3 or 4 times higher than say something like Honda Civic or Chevy Cobalt (assuming one is driving and reporting the avg. 12,000 miles per year), is it really smart.

I personally came to realize with my own XJ (with a 3" lift and 31" tires) it served my storm chasing duties great but was terrible for daily use. In the many threads I see posted when folks buy, they commonly ask about price. I've often recommended not worrying if the price is right, and focus on having a cash reserve because it is gonna cost you after the purchase. Other threads talk about "budget build" and "daily driver" and seek advice how to save money. Is it maybe a poor choice of priorities?

This is just a curious thought process and discussion. Not saying anything is right or wrong, this is just to explore opinions.

 

for a short 20mi/day commute or so it's a great choice. at any one given time at my old community college there were at least 7 xj's in the parking lot. great cheap reliable cars. my 2wd 5 speed was a great little commuter and still one of my favorite cars I've ever owned

but as soon as you grow up a bit and can afford a car payment, most choose to lose the cherokee. except for us enthusiasts. and as always, if you're looking for better MPG buy a Honda

 

I don't mind, I can afford it.

 

^^what he said. I drive about 130 miles a week between work and school and I really like my xj. I originally got it just because I loved the way Cherokees look (even stock). Even after a 4.5" lift and 33's it is still good for a daily driver for me. mpg isn't the greatest but what else would someone expect getting an old 4x4 and modifying it. Then on my free time I can go wheeling and/or keep adding to it.
Once I do have real money after school I will buy a newer truck so I can tow my xj to the trails
But other than that, the aftermarket world for the Cherokee is great and parts are easy to come by (especially in the JY)

 

My Jeep runs great, and gets okay mileage. I could get 30 mpg but I'd have to spend another 10,000 dollars on a used car that is harder to work on and still has problems. Cash for clunkers was somewhat debunked due to the resource strain that manufacturing a new vehicle requires. I will try to keep this for as long as possible. Also I ride a bicycle to things that are nearby like grocery stores and the walgreens. No need to burn petrol for simple toilet paper runs.

I *will* probably get some sort of street legal 4 stroke to go to work on as they can get 30+ mpg easy but come cold days, I'd hop in the Jeep. I guess I'd get something like a Tercel or similar 3 cylinder ****box to go to work in, but I'd rather a motorcycle for usefulness. And headsplattering goodness.

My insurance is low, not sure what you are talking about are you under 27?

 

I'll probably get a street legal dirt bike soon also. Mostly because I want a new bike not because dd'ing my xj is too rough lol.

 

I see what you're saying here, there's a fantastic post from OttawaXJ a few years ago that went over the math of buying a commuter to hand a long drive. I believe it was a Toyota Camry. Paid for itself in a year and a half. I think titled "Best upgrade for your XJ".

I think that an XJ should stop seeing DD use when mileage or environment no longer support it. Mileage is obvious, and depends on a lot of factors. I fill up my XJ every two weeks on average. No way would purchasing another vehicle be justifiable. If I had a longer commute the absolutely: I expect to move in two uears and I imagine a VW TDI will be on the table... Or maybe just an engine swap By environment I mean mostly salt... like any restored classic, some people will not want to drive their XJs in winter.

Where the hell do you live that insurance on a 20 year old station wagon/SUV is more than the MOST stolen cars in the continent? Hondas are reliable and ****ing expensive to own here.

 

My lifted cherokee is a dd, but my commute is only 2 miles each way so the 10mpg doesn't bother me that much. Actually, the only vehicle I've ever owned that gets better mileage is my 99 Dodge 1500, and it only gets 14mpg. I'm used to it.

 

My insurance is cheap. About 50 bucks a month, Its just a jacked up station wagon

 

well I know enough people that commute in hummers and realistically you're lucky to see 8-10mpg.... so its all what you want to drive.. an xj is a dual purpose vehicle, if it is your dd it can double as a recreational vehicle so you're actually saving money owning one opposed to buying something else to play in the dirt...

my old MJ was one of the most trouble free vehicles I've ever owned (including Toyota), my xj has also proven to be a solid contender and I feel will give me MANY trouble free miles.. Primarily it was a third vehicle to be used by my wife to get out of a hill we lived on when the weather turned nasty (seldom does) so she wouldn't destroy her newer cars (shes always on a payment plan )...My jeep and truck are paid for..

XJ's are fairly safe as they are a little bigger, I just got into a serious accident last year in florida with a concrete truck, totaled my wife's '09 Acadia, if we were in a smaller car I have no doubt we'd be dead.. I DD a '05 Duramax CC 4x4 and used to have a smaller Nissan Frontier for quick/short commutes and it felt unsafe getting out of my big truck into that small low to the ground tin can,the Jeep doesn't feel so unsafe, low or made from tin... I will never own a small, unsafe pos again !!!! ever !!!!!

My XJ will be a DD as soon as I finish painting it, I will let my duramax rest a little as I upgrade it as well, gas should never be a concern on a DD, safety and durability should... I enjoy working on cars, and when you build and maintain a vehicle there is something to be said about that, there is a feeling you get behind the wheel of something you work on, build up and maintain yourself... a feeling you can never get from my wifes '13 Buick Enclave.........

 

XJ with TDI
/discussion



When I decided on an XJ it came down to a few things.

I wanted 4 wheel drive
I wanted to fit in it
I wanted to get better MPG than my C1500 with a 350
I wanted to pay less than 2k
I wanted to fit 4 people in it and not have to let them in my door
I wanted cargo room
I wanted something that I could work on

XJ fit all of them.

The low cost of parts and easy upgrades were a bonus. I think it's perfectly plausible for a DD.

 

I daily drive my XJ around 350 miles per week. It comes out cheaper to run than my Evo X running on 93 octane. Until I tune the Evo for E85 at under $3/gal. Then maybe the tables will turn.

 

Yeah, my commute is like 5 miles a day, so I can live with the xj and its quirks. Its not really good on the highway. I bought it for a winter vehicle. If I had a long commute I would not have chosen it. My last winter vehicle was a 2000 ford escort wagon. That thing ran great, rode smooth, and got great mpg. It was no match for big snow but I hauled tons of stuff in that thing. Of course it looked farty and had no power but I loved the mpg.

 

E85 is snake oil. My buddy has a flexfuel Ford escape. While the cost to fill up is cheaper, the mpgs are lower, he says its about even in the cost dept. The problem that I have with it is why does the price fluctuate up and down with the price of gas? If regular goes up 10 cents, so does e85. Its all a scam.

 

We take the Golf when we are doing big mileage. It's amazing having to pee before gassing up! Thing gets 400+ to a tank, and the tank is only like 12 gallons or something ridiculous.