Thinking about being unfaithful to my XJ. Going through a bit of a vehicle crisis
 

I'll try to keep this as short as possible.

I had a warped head causing overheating, so I fixed it and it solved my problem I think. Then it overheated again when I was going too hard up a big mountain. It warped the head again (I took it off and measured it) and it blew the heater core. And the windshield also cracked on the trip.

So I'm kinda pissed at it and looking at other vehicles. I still like it a lot and everytime I look at it in the driveway I get sad because she is broken. I also have a 2013 GMC sierra to sell or traded in, it has low miles so its worth over $10k. I don't like full size trucks though (I inherited it) and would rather have a SUV or smaller truck namely a Tacoma.

Options:

• Fix the XJ's engine, keep the GMC sierra as a 2nd vehicle. This is the SIMPLEST OPTION but least satisfying, I would basically do nothing. I don't know if I can trust the XJ's engine even after fixing it.
• Get a new, low-miles XJ. Swap my aftermarket parts to that new Jeep. This might be the SMARTEST OPTION but it would take a lot of work to do all the parts swapping. I could even sell my GMC when the engine swap is done, and put money into my pocket.
• Get a new/low-miles engine for my XJ. I would still have a broken heater core, no AC, trans that is getting old, etc. This might be the CHEAPEST OPTION. But it would take a lot of work to do all the parts swapping. My GMC would become my daily driver and the XJ could be more of a toy - since it has no heater/AC.
• Get a whole new vehicle. This might be the MOST OBVIOUS OPTIONS and EASIEST OPTION. I have the money, plus the GMC as a trade in. I'm looking at Toyota 4runners, tacomas, land cruisers, etc. I could repair my XJ's engine and retain that vehicle as a rock crawler, or sell it.

What would you do ??

Its a vehicle that were made in the millions. Why do you feel you have any "love" for the vehicle?

IF your not happy.. sell it and move on.

i dont know about you, but many xj owners feel "love" towards their xj..just how it goes....sure you can get another, but man they grow on you haha

Buy a Range Rover, you'll soon love your Jeep again :)

I get attached to things, especially things that I put a LOT of time and money into. And I've poured a lot of my own personallity into my Jeep as well.

Not looking at Range Rovers, but I am looking at Land Cruisers

x2

Get another head, fix your overheating issues, perform better preventative maintenance in the future.


Or is that too harsh? Hmm.

Yeah, it sucks.

Problem is I'm emotionally attached to the damn thing. This morning was 99% sure I was going to get a new(ish) 4runner. Now I'm back to looking at old XJs and ZJs with a good engine to take out of it. What am I thinking???

Really having a hard timing making a decisions

Oh and I took the "warped" head to the machine shop and he cleared the carbon build up off (I should have done that) and sure enough it was NOT warped afterall. Neither is the block. So.... I still do not know why it was/is overheating... no way an air bubble has been ****ing with me for this long

I'd keep the truck and the XJ ! You figure it out, when you do, you'll be glad you kept it !!!

A full size truck is a valuable asset to have around. It makes dragging home more jeeps a breeze. Keep the truck. Buy another XJ in better shape. Use yours for parts/part it out. I love my XJ but wouldn't lose any sleep over trading it for another one if something catastrophic happened to it. These things are like legos, dime a dozen and easy to swap parts around.

^^ this is the straight up truth. If you don't have some "love" for your Jeep... then you probably weren't born to be a Jeep owner.
I can speak from personal experience with my XJ... there are a few times that she's pissed me off to the point of not wanting to deal with it anymore... but then when it came right down to it.... I just couldn't bear to part with her. And I'm glad that I didn't.
When it all comes down to it, every vehicle on the planet will piss you off from time to time, because they break. But ole XJ's aren't rocket science and can generally fix them yourself. And parts are still everywhere for them. Not many older vehicles have the same level of "cult following" as older Jeeps do... especially XJ's.. just the way it is.
From what you said, I think you'll probably kick yourself if you sell it.... and either wish you hadn't and end up getting another one.