recently had an offer to trade my 98 xj for a 97 stock tj with a little less mileage..ive been contemplating for a few days now what do u guys think?

 

Xj can fit more groceries

 

My wife has a 98 TJ, she loves it. Other than lack of interior space, they aren't that different.

If you do go to the other side, don't get an attitude and become an arrogant *****.

 

I see xj for wheeling they look way better when flexing out. Tj I see more as a dd

Also xj has more space

 

O.o

 

Hi, Sir....
IMHO, we can't compare those cars....I drive both a XJ and a YJ (not an TJ, I know), and couldn't decide to get rid off none of them. The TJ is way more comfortable than the YJ (used to own a '99 TJ for almost five years), but the car's utility is quite similar in both of them (except for motorway journeys )
If you're used to a comfortable, quiet car, keep your XJ with you. It's the best car ever meda...don't they say that...????
Cheers...

 

That is a tough one... the TJ might have more resale value... The TJ has an actual frame, coiled springs in the rear and more aftermarket support. However many many came with 4 cylinder engines... also with the dreaded Dana 35 rear axle. You haven't really said anything specific about the TJ other than it is a stock 97.

If it was a 4 liter with the AX15 I would be banging on the guy's door right now!


In the defense of the XJ.

The XJ is WAY more versatile and at least IMO has much better road manners. The cargo area is bigger in the XJ. Unless it is a hardtop TJ the security is better in the XJ. IMO a built XJ will trump the cookie cutter wrangler any day of the week in looks and in many cases... function! It is cheaper to find parts for the XJ in the JY because they are so plentiful. Plus you have Cherokeeforum.com

 

I'm probly gunna catch a lotta flack for this, but here's my honest opinion. I love my XJ more than anything sides my kids and my ole lady, but if i found a fool that'd trade me a descent TJ with a 4.0 and a 5spd, I'd deff put it on him. There's a lotta ppl on here that will say the XJ is better, and they may actually believe that, but it's simply not true. The one and ONLY advantage the XJ has over a TJ is interior room, O wait, and towing capacity. TJ's are superior in just about every aspect other than that. U can run bigger tires with less lift cuz the wheel wells are bigger. The Wrangler has better aproach, break over and departure angles. They're built tougher to. More like a truck, where the XJ is built more like a car. To be Honest, the only reason i drive an XJ is $. U can pick up NICE XJ's for 2-3000 dollars. The Cheapest u can find, most clapped out, rust bucket TJ will bring nearly twice that. Im so sorry CF. If u tell anybody i said all that, I'll deny it. =)

 

Back when I lived in PA, I had a 99 TJ bought new in Nov 98. It was a Sport with the 4.0 and AX-15. We wheeled in places like Paragon and around the Shamokin. My club cut the first trails at Rausch Creek. I had $10K in mods in that TJ, yet it still looked fairly stock. For wheelin, get the TJ hands down.

Last year I traded the TJ for a 98 Classic. It has a 4.0 liter and AW4. My off roading has mellowed in the last few years, so the TJ, while capable, was not what I needed any longer. For driving comfort and interior storage there is no comparison, the XJ wins hands down. My Classic is still very capable off road.

I remember XJ's did pretty good keeping up with us TJ and YJ drivers. But the XJs that got used developed ripples in the body between the lower rear side glass and the hatch, and stress cracks throughout. The unit body could not handle the stress of no frame.

If you wanna wheel, get the TJ. Light wheeling and daily driving, keep your XJ.

 

You must have been through some insane stuff... normally some flexing in a rock garden isn't going to kill the unit body like that.

 

i have two tj's and two xj's.

i say go for it. you can always get another xj later, for far less money than a tj. you'd be crazy if you didn't.

i like my tj's. both are daily driver/weekend warriors with budget boost and 33's. both 4.0L and ax15 and crappy d35 rear axles (sport models).

i like the fact you can take the top and doors off for a nice cruise.
the yak drives one as her dd and she wheels the crap out of it. it always drives home.

but if i could, i would almost always grab the keys for the xj. it's way more comfortable.

 

Yeah, don't think a yj will outwheel an xj in most situations. Tj, yes probably, but not a yj.

 

Uh Um Um can you afford to own both?? Thats really the only way to win even though you can't go wrong with either or

 

i decided to keep my xj it was only 2.5l and i thought about it and i put way too much time/money into mine lol.

 

The I4 does leave a something to be desired.. Good call