Torn down the middle, XJ vs ZJ
 

i am torn down the middle on buying a xj or a zj, i am new to offroading and have never owned a jeep, i am planning on getting a 4" lift and keeping it as mostly a DD while doing some moderate offroading on the weekends, also i am going for the I6 engine because i wouldnt be able to afford the v8 and i have only heard good things about the I6, so the question comes down to getting a xj for the reliabliltiy or a zj luxary, PLEASE HELP

xj... lot of info out there... alot more aftermarket parts witch means aftermarket parts will be cheaper... and they are cooler DUH


my buddy has a 93 zj and he's having a hard time finding aftermarket bumpers for it and seems to have a lot of little things wrong with it

Luxury can be created and customized with proper research and/or skill. XJ's are cheap and easy, like the girl on the corner, give her a little TLC and she will look beautiful and rock your world for years to come.
But let's hear from some ZJ owners.

I would say XJ. There is a ton of aftermarket support for them. If you get a newer XJ, the interior (luxury I guess) is not that bad. The older ones are a little rough but still not terrible.

That being said, I have had a couple XJs so I am biased. I think most on this forum will be biased haha.

Please pick the XJ.

• Looks much better
• More aftermarket support
• Cheap
• Tons of ~4 inch lift kits to pick from
• Makes a great daily driver
• Has more offroading articulation

Xj! If you get a 95-99 IMO there the best years!

Pros for the XJ are: A lot more aftermarket support available, better choice of rear axles available, very tough and take abuse very well, better transmission.
Cons for the XJ: Kind of cramped if you're tall, floors will be rusted out if you're in the snow belt, fit and finish is a little low on some model years, cooling system issues.
Pros for the ZJ: More creature comforts, less wind noise, better ride due to rear coil suspension, can be found cheap and unmolested because most were adult owned, more room for the taller folks, 94 and up already have rear disc brakes, less cooling system problems compared to an XJ.
Cons for the ZJ: Less aftermarket support for bumpers, only two crappy choices for rear axles (D35 and D44a), early models have transmission issues if abused, can have rusty floor boards in the snow belt.

XJ of course :D

Grand Cherokee weighs more so mpg will be harder on you. Aftermarket parts are more $$$. I actually like how smaller the XJ is. I'm an average height guy 5'10" and it fits me fine.

Just go test drive one. I was torn between an XJ and a mustang...test drove both. Did love the speed of the mustang, but the versatility of the XJ is just so much more worth it.

i recomend you try to contact someone in your area with a lifted xj and test drive it. same for the zj also talk to the owners. sense they are in your area and likely someone you might go offroading with they can tell you the faults of the chasis for your area. one thing i have noticed is that the xj platform has no real limits on if upgrades. mainly cause costs are low. the zj market has yet to come down much.

alright so say i go with the xj, what years do you guys think are the best and iv heard some things about transfer cases or something like that, what should i look for and what should i avoid?

XJ all the way

cant go wrong with 1992-1999. they're all great years. definitely get an xj. I personally can't stand the grand cherokee

features I tend to avoid are power windows/locks, dana 35 rear axle (not that big a deal), np242 transfer case, 4cyl engine, rust, renix engines, and any jeep that isn't bone stock. then just the typical list of 'used car' things to look out for

honestly they new the xj the better for the most part better sline counts bigger ujoints upfront

Go Xj I have 98 and 94 I personally think that 94 has more power but either way u will be way happier than if u get a grand. I can't stand those.

your asking on a site that is made up primarily of XJ owners. i think you know what people will say.