Late year 96 or early year 97.

 

I'm happy with my 96 2 door. I know what you mean about 96 specific parts, mostly fuel system and wiper/washer components. Not really a problem ever for me. I have had to look around a little bit harder for some parts though. I think if you want an old style xj, go with a 96. And if you want a new style xj, go with anything but a 00 or 01 unless it has tupy stamp on the block. I'd like the newer style for the interior, (cup holders are nice, I had to buy one for my xj...) but it's nice to have the last year of the old style jeeps. I've still always wanted a wrangler... And the 95's have he body and frame galvanized (the yj's) I love my xj, I kinda wish I had a 4 door and a stick through....

 

So, i may go with either a 94, or a 96. (Four door, stick if i can find it.)

 

Only reason I'd shy away from the 96's is because of the intregal fuel pump/pressure regulator/gauge sending unit. It looks as if they can't be found new,rebuilt,neither are parts available to fix yours if needed. There is a guy on here trying to adapt a '97 tank setup to his '96. I've got a '96 and know that the original owner had it replaced one time(under warranty).

 

Just picked up an 01 with 63K on the odometer. After rewiring injector 5 (because some idiot decided to cut the wire) She's running like a champ.

 

My 1st XJ was a 96 and I got t-boned at the rear axle, which broke some of the fuel components. This is one of the bigger reasons my insurance company "totaled" it. So I moved on to a 98!

 

I want a Cherokee this time around I hear the 1999 is the best, does that go for the Grand Cherokee as well ?

 

1999 XJ was the last year of fixes and improvements before Chrysler screwed things up. Generally considered the best.

No idea about Grands, their generations are ZJ 1993-1998, WJ 1999-2004, WK 2005-current with WK turning into WK2 somewhere in there.

WJ 4.0s from 2000-2002 suffer the same problem of cracked 0331 heads as late model XJs do. You'll get better answers on that one though by starting a new thread instead of posting in an old one with "XJ" in the title, lol.

 

After researching the years I decided I wanted a 99 was the year most all problems were ironed out and I liked the body.

 

If you like the good old style, get a 95/96. For the new style I would agree 99 is the best, with 97 as the first year of the newer "Chrysler like interior" they are infamous for electrical problems. The older style xj's are much simpler, and have a cool retro jeep interior, it's very basic but crisp looking. 00 and 01 have the head casting issues. That wouldn't stop me from buying a nice one, you can always change the head. But it's cool to have the last year of a true old fashioned jeep. I have a 96 and sometimes I wish I had the 97+ interior, but the 96 and under are more like "real jeeps" not to say that the 97+ xj's aren't real jeeps but the old style is more "jeepish" i like having the last year, instead of some random year. I think it's cool to have the first or last year of something. Not some random year in the middle, I like the model years that stand out more, even though 84-96 xj's are almost identical looking, and most 84-96 parts are a lot cheaper than 97-01 parts.

 

it's the 00 and 01 with the head casting number 0331. But it's the head, not the block. So that wouldn't stop me from buying me a 00 or 01. I have a 96 2 door.

 

I'm surprised at how many are recommending a '96. From all I've seen about the '96, it was a bastard child year for the XJ. I'd probably go for a 92-95, then 97-99. but that's just me!

 

you callin my xj a bastard child?

 

Yes. Admit it

 

Yes. Half-ased OBD-II and special parts that cannot be ordered. Parts availability on a '96 is objectively the worst.