When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
the more people pick them up for a few hundred $, cut the **** out of the body, do a half *** 6" lifts and throw 37's on stock axles only to roll them over six months later and start again, the more the clean ones will go up. Have you seen the price on a clean Bronco from the 90's? It's coming to an XJ near you, soon enough
This. A million times this.
Originally Posted by SLP82
would just rather have a XJ. I have 3 kids and a wife that won't fit in the Wrangler.
You know, the XJ is technically a compact SUV. They really aren't THAT big. I'd look at a late model WJ if I had to cart around a family.
Also, more and more people (like myself) were not just on the market looking for any old 4x4. I was specifically targeting a XJ. So when you compare the price of some other vehicle (even a Rubicon), that doesn't mean much to me because that is not what I was looking for. I can get beat up 4x4 trucks and suvs around here all day long for $5000-10000. But that's not what I was looking for.
The cases where the owner is not a Jeeper and is just selling the vehicle as any old vehicle is becoming way more rare as well. Even the unknowing get the clue pretty quickly when they get 10 phone calls, 3 of which are from 100+ miles away within the first 1 hour of listing the vehicle. When I found mine, the owner took 3 separate phone calls on the vehicle just during the 20 minute test drive I took it on. One of which was offering immediate cash to have them hold the vehicle so that they couldn't sell it to me (the owner declined that offer obviously).
I feel lucky that I got in before the door really closed. I thought I overpaid a little when I found mine 4 years ago (96, 49k miles, $5900). Within about 12 months of owning it I didn't feel that way any more. I don't think I could replace mine for $5900 now. It would cost me about $9k, and I would likely have to travel much further to find/get one.
Those days are gone. It is what it is. These guys doing YT videos and blogs about XJs being cheap - are just out of date and out of touch. Or they are basing their story off of one anecdotal situation (the friend of a friend who got one for $500, which of course still happens).
Looks like the cheapest route is to find a donor vehicle of the same year. Seems I will need the suspension, drive shafts, transmission, transfer case, wiring harness, 4x4 shifter bezel, front axle, and might as well grab the rear as well as the gearing will likely be different. Reading all this, seems like it would be easier to find a high mileage 4x4 and just run it until the motor gives out and then have the engine and transmission rebuilt. Decisions decisions.
That's way too much stuff unless you just have to have the Part Time dash light working, it's not necessary just a nice thing to have.
You need transmission, t-case with shift linkage, front axle and drive shafts out of an XJ with the same engine as the one you're swapping parts into. MOST (make sure you verify on your donner vs the new) of the axle gearing on the XJ are the same 2wd or 4wd. 4.0L Autos typically have 3.55 and most 4.0L with manuals have 3.07, 4cyl XJs are going to be sporting 4.10s IIRC.
Suspension is the same between 2wd and 4wd models. But keep in mind the youngest XJ out there is 18 years old so unless the previous owner did the work most susupensions are going to need to be rebuilt with new springs and bushings.
You know, the XJ is technically a compact SUV. They really aren't THAT big. I'd look at a late model WJ if I had to cart around a family.
This won't be a daily driver. It is just going to be more of a toy to take the family off-road. Some people go buy 4 seater or 6 seater side by sides to take the family out. I see the XJ as that more or less. I personally think people who spend 25k on a side by side are stupid when you can pick up a way stronger built 4x4 small truck (Tacoma comes to mind), or suv (XJ) and throw a lift on it, some 33" or 35" tires, winch, and maybe one or two lockers and still be way under 25k and have something that can last 20 years (or more) versus a side by side that will be trashed after 15k to 20k miles and not hold almost any value.
I guess if these XJ are just gonna keep going up in value it doesn't really matter how much I pay for it. I don't intend to destroy it. I should be able to lightly wheel it for 10 years and sell it later for probably even more money.
Well the prices are all over the place even in just one area. There’s some with 100,000 around here that one place will be asking $4000 and 50 miles away there’s one they’re asking $9000. It all depends on the dealer and how much they think they can inflate the price and still find the right sucker to buy it. And every 5 speed or 2 door I see lately is marketed as rare. Lol.
As for Toyota’s , they’re rediculous around here. Trucks with over 200,000 are still at $10,000 and up asking prices. And they’re 10 years old. I recently read a post on here where a comment was made about Toyota’s being a dime a dozen. I was quite confused by that.
Another thing I might add. I was talking with a guy who owns a body shop/used car dealership last fall. He was showing me some auction previews and sales and the xj’s Aren’t really selling for much at the auctions around here. So the other trick these dealers use is to pick them up cheap and inflate the crap out of the sale price.
The way we can bring the values down is to stop paying outrageous money for them. Too many people are now wanting to jump on the Cherokee bandwagon and don’t know any better. The only vehicles that should be at collector prices are older ones with low miles or any with under 70,000 miles in my opinion. Those are rare and valuable. Vehicles with 100-200,000 are all over and should be priced accordingly.
This is mostly the result of a healthy economy and people having the extra $$$ to either buy and hold onto stock XJs or buy and build stock XJs. This was my dilemma from about six months ago until about 3 weeks ago when I bought a 99 XJ.
Despite what people say, clean XJ's alone are RARE. Typically a clean XJ and low miles goes hand-in-hand. There are exceptions to this rule, say if you live below the rust belt but typically this is the standard. Don't fall for the "There were millions made". There were millions made yes. However after 20-30 years of abuse, modifying and wheeling, neglect and cash for clunkers... How many are actually left worth sinking time and money into? We're basically applying The Great Filter Theory to these XJs and the results aren't promising.
All I can say, from recent experience is... Be patient. Don't be afraid to wait. Weeks, months and maybe a year or so. Your gut will tell you when somethings worth the effort to go look at. Someone buying a 20 year old XJ regardless of how clean it is, or how low the mileage is, for $14,000... That's damn near MSRP and is kinda dumb. Also remember the listed price is just that, a listed price subject to negotiating.
Yeah the guy (dealer) selling the 1998 xj for 11k with 120k miles on it says he won't budge a single penny and feels its priced a "little low to be honest". I can find a 3.6L Rubicon 4 door with dana 44s and lockers, in clean stock form with 90k miles for $24k. I will buy one of those for $24k before i drop $11k on an XJ with dana 30, dana 35, and no lockers or limited slip and more miles.
Whats crazy is I use to see 1st Gen Tacomas in 4x4 with TRD package (factory rear selectable locker) for a ton of money years ago. Now I see 2002 to 2004 4 door crew cab (they call it double cab) 4x4 TRD (selectable locker) V6 with 120k miles, stock, very clean for $8,900 here around Houston.
If someone would build a midsize/compact lightweight suv, with out all the bells and whistles, with a 200 HP 4 cylinder, and independent front and independent rear suspension, with 33" tires from factory, and has 16" of ground clearance, selectable lockers front and rear, and keep it in a stripped down condition at $20k, they would instantly drive down the price of all these older 4x4s climbing towards $20k. Basically the only "options" i would want is a/c, power steering, and cruise control.
If you're just looking for something barebones, maybe consider a ROXOR. They’re a company base in India with a license from Jeep to manufacture and sell a 4x4 based on the CJ platform here in the USA. Their facility is actually based in Detroit.
Because they’re extremely barebones they can be had brand new for $15,000 msrp. Probably get them cheaper with some haggling.
They were launched in 2018 and are already getting a huge amount of aftermarket support and modifications.
I was just checking out Craigslist and there are 3 Cherokees in the $5-$6000 range. From 80k to 130k. None of them dealers of coarse. Most people selling them as private sales usually will know what they’re worth. Those prices are what I would pay without hesitation. They are all also rust free and clean.
I just sold an 01 last fall. We were the second owners. Bought with 165000 and it had 220000 when we sold it. It had very minimal rust, brake lines were still silver with no surface rust and I had replaced all the steering components. It needed springs and one rocker had a small hole and it had a bad weld on one lower reader door hinge. Aside from that it was super clean. I figured $2500 and it would be gone quick. Well after a few months and my two best offers of $1300 I dropped my asking to $1800. A few days later a good ole Cherokee forum member contacted me and he ended up buying it. I had really thought it would have sold sooner for more but you just never know I guess. Meanwhile I see them for sale with more mileage for more money. And the rockers are rotted off and the interior is trashed. Makes me wonder if they’re actually selling for more than what I got. I am glad I held out though. Not just for the money but I sold it to someone who was genuinely happy with it and would do to it what I couldn’t and make all the necessary repairs before it was too far gone. So as others have said, it’s worth waiting to find the right one for the right price. Look a little farther away too. Not just local. If you’re saving $3000 on the purchase you could even buy a plane ticket and drive it home and still spend less cash.
Well the prices are all over the place even in just one area. There’s some with 100,000 around here that one place will be asking $4000 and 50 miles away there’s one they’re asking $9000. It all depends on the dealer and how much they think they can inflate the price and still find the right sucker to buy it.
If I decide to sell ours, I'm listing it on Bring a Trailer and I'm not taking less than $9k and will try for $12k+ given it's like brand new inside and out, never seen snow except for my 1-2 times in it and has only 86k on the clock. I don't call them suckers, it's just simple supply and demand.
03-27-2019, 05:44 AM
