So my 98 XJ is getting tired. Just dropped $700 into it to pass inspection/annual maintenance this past December. Has 270,000 miles on. Feels like I’ve had it forever but it’s only been about 10 years or so. My mechanic who’s been the soul inspector/maintenance guru on this XJ says it’s getting tired. Not the motor or the trans, but pretty much everything else. I won’t go into details.

We’re halfway through winter here in the NE. Got a good polar vortex going but snow fall has been below average. This is a good thing because the transfer case has been banging in 4H when we have had bad roads. Every few revolutions of the tires and BANG! So it probably needs a rebuild or a new chain at the very least. It’s also not fun having little to no heat in the cab when it’s -1000 degrees out.

Anyways I’m in a good spot for a new vehicle. Problem is I am not impressed with ANYTHING on the market right now. The XJ has spoiled me and I fear I will not find reliability like this in even a new model year vehicle. Jeep certainly hasn’t put out anything to get my attention. Tacoma? Dime a dozen, they’re everywhere and frankly I don’t like the look of em’. Ten years from now who says the 2019 models will hold the same value as their predecessors. The new Colorado has my attention. I’m not A Chevy guru thought so reliability, I don’t know. Car payments I’m not too exited for although they would probably be manageable.

So this is my dilemma. I can try like hell to find another XJ, which is not an easy feat where I live considering the salt and rust. I would also have some criteria that would need to be met. Sub 130,000k or close to it. Preferably 1999 year. Stock suspension and little to no rust. Or at least some rust that is insignificant enough for me to manage over a weekends worth of body work. What would y’all do? Try to find another XJ in semi-mint condition, buy a new vehicle from the stealership or just grab any ford ranger or taco off CL and run it into the ground? I need a push in the right direction to figure this out. Wife’s no help because she already has a nice car (WITH HEAT AND A/C) and just tells me to go to the dealership.

Looks great in the ad.

About an 8 hour drive round trip. Like you said however upon closer inspection... Not sure. The price is a little steep but a few hundred miles north and it would be priced even higher. It will probably be sold by the time I get can get down there. If it’s still posted in the following week or so I’d definitely consider it.

Yeah I don’t exactly like spending money either. Specially when it takes me so long to save it. Which is why I’m not too keen on financing a new truck. I did bookmark that ad. If it’s still up in another week I’ll give them a call, ask for more pics and try to negotiate a better price but I doubt it will last that long.

Consider a WJ or WK? A little more updated and nearly as reliable as the XJ. IMO

I think I’m going to hunt for a lower mileage XJ. My 98 just passed inspection so at least I’m good for another 11 months which means more time to look. I always wanted to upgrade and mod my current XJ but as time went on it became less and less favorable to put more money into.

Is your XJ rusty ? I’d like to hear how it’s tired ? Have you flushed the heater core ? Sounds like it could just be TC linkage or adjustment but a used 231 is dirt cheap and a very easy quick swap. I’ll play devils advocate here and say it’s almost always cheaper to repair than to replace .

Its tired as In almost everything aside from the engine and transmission. The rust built up behind the rockers and there’s pieces of the body missing in the area between the front and back doors, on both sides. This is an area I’ve hit twice now over the years but is still reoccurring. My best guess is there’s rust higher up in the body/inside door pillars dripping down to the rockers. The rear wheel wells are gone, which I until recently I was completely oblivious to. Removed the inside plastic panel behind the spare mount to fix a tail light harness and there’s rot behind it around the window. Again something I was completely oblivious to. Had the windshield replaced last year and... rot around the windshield. Guy said it was bad enough he almost wasn’t going to do the repair.

Just about every bolt I’ve tried to touch over the years are seized or the heads so corroded they instantly round off. The electrical is on the fritz. Clock spring went and had to take the fuse for the horn out because it was randomly beeping. Rear springs are flat. Roof is getting rust holes and the sheet metal up there is sagging. don’t know how that happens. Its pretty much all rust behind everything I pull apart or attempt to repair.

I bought this XJ for $2k at 170,000 miles. So it wasn’t exactly pristine when I got it. The PO’s had already been fighting the rot but were doing a horrible job at it. Most of it they just covered up. Since I’ve owned it I’ve never been able to “get ahead” of the rot because I wasn’t an owner when it started creeping up. Specially when I can’t see it. I wouldn’t say I’ve neglected it either as everything else has been well mainted and it’s still running at 270k.

The XJ has definitely paid for itself though. Was probably one of the best investments I’ve ever made. At this point however I think the next best way to invest the money would be in to a cleaner XJ. I can get a jump on issues coming up, but prevent them as well. No more chasing repairs rot or rust. This current XJ I feel would better serv out the rest of its days as a woods rig or something of the like. It still has the power for it. Someone skilled with a welder could fix a lot of these issues as the frame/unibody is still solid.

Ive flushed the heater core before every winter because it’s always been an issue. It doesn’t seem to help all that much anymore. Before it would clear right up. So it’s probably gunked up and needs replacing. As for the tcase, I haven’t pulled it open yet to get a look at it. This winter has been so mild I’ve only engaged it twice. There was definitely no obvious signs of failure last year as I was running it several times a week. When I stopped using it last season it was 100%. First time use this season, feels and sounds like the chain is skipping.

Also with a cleaner XJ I wouldn’t feel like I’d be wasting money on suspension and upgrades I’ve always wanted to do because I know I will enjoy them for the next 10 or 20 years.

With all that being said I think we’re on the same page haha start shopping !

I’m looking at another XJ now. Overall body seems to be in good shape. Meets most of the criteria I’m looking for. The one caveat is there’s rust in the floor pans. Some being on the frame rail as well. Looks like driver side. I’m adding pics that the seller sent me. This a make or break? Keep in mind this is a New England XJ rust is common although I’m unsure about the frame but it’s sub 130k miles.