Thinking of getting another xj and useing the one I have now as a doner or sell it. What is the best year of xj and pros and cons of the years?

 

Well, you'd need to stick with a 96 or older if you want all your parts to interchange.

"best" depends on what you consider good/bad. I like the 96 and older style myself, looks-wise. Most people say the '99 are best all around, cuz they have the newer style intake, 29-spline vs. 27-spline 8.25 (unless its got ABS, IIRC) but still has the older head. The 00-01's can have the "0331" head which tends to crack easilly when overheated compared tothe older style head.

Hope this helps.

 

Ya I've hers of the heads. My mail man always sits in my drive way due to cooling issues. the body on mine is starting to leave the drive train. Idk maybe I need to learn on doing body work cause I really don't want get rid of her. It runs great(other than sounding like a deisel on idle).

 

This has been covered many time. A simple search should answer all you questions.

 

89

 

early 99 with the 0630 head

although...if i could find a nice 91 with a H.O. again....i personally would rather have that than a 99

but really 91-early 99 is your best choice

 

I hear ya there The GF has a '93 and i have a '95 and i prefer these older ones to the newer ones. I'd pay the going rate for a low-mi 00-01(about 5-6K here) for an older one if it were as clean and low mileage.

 

http://southbend.craigslist.org/cto/3365166095.html

 

clean '92 Base 2-door and CHEAP?!?! ****** that up if its as nice as they say. and btw, in 94 XJ's got heavier due to stronger roofs, side impact "beams" in the doors, etc. My '93 Base 4dr w 204k will SMOKE my '95 Sport 4dr, 191K in a straight line. But, thats a nice 2dr there and the mileage isnt bad at all. i have two 200k ish xj's and never even factor their mileage into anything.

 

That's what I thought also. Real nice hang on got another good deal

 

http://southbend.craigslist.org/cto/3369749809.html

 

The last line says it all in that ad.....you could probably get it for 900-1000 if you wave the cash in his face. I got my 95, w brand new street tires 225/75R15, very clean but the floors are TOAST, for 1150. cleaned it up, did ALL fluids, bought some 60-70% tread 235/75 At's on alum jeep wheels for $140, registered, inspected all for under $1500 including the cost of the jeep. and now i have a full set of new 225/75 spares. lol

 

Idk im undecided right now. Cause I do love my 4 door. I baby sit and haul her around in the xj. And I got a wedding coming up thinking about patching up my baby for now. I got my xj for 1100 and the only spot of rust I don't like is where the back hatch is. You pull up the passenger side tear plastic and look in there there is part of I think is the frame work for the back is real bad rusted. I may fix er up

 

after doing all the research I picked an early 99 to buy and then found one. It's been trouble free since I bought it about 6,000 miles ago. Sure I did some work / maintenance but only because I wanted to.

So if I were to recommend, I'd say 97-early 99 for the XJ.

 

The best year is the one where the owner is the best, and has already invested the most in repairs.