I bought my first XJ ten years ago. It was 14 years old and had 165k miles on it. I paid $1500 for it.

It was my third sub-$2000 vehicle in 4 years. The other two were little compact sedan thingies that I sold for about what I paid for them, having done no maintenance whatsoever.

My father was 3 years into his 6 years worth of payments for a Trailblazer he bought brand new, and told me that it was stupid for me to waste my money buying these cars.

So I pointed out that in the last 4 years I'd spent $4500 or so on vehicles, and sold about $3000 worth. So I was pretty much neutral since I had a $1500 XJ.

He, on the other hand, had bought a $34,000 vehicle and put 120,000 miles on it. KBB said it's current private party value was $8,000--a loss of $26,000.

His response: "Yeah, but I've never had to take it in for repairs!"

 

It took some money to get mine restored but now that it is, I shouldnt have any issues for a while. So was more money up front but less work and money spent in the future. Well worth it to me. Plus no payment. Its a win.

As for new cars, well if you buy a new car, you just have to know you are going to loose money. Its not just the interest that gets you, its the depreciation. A $30k car is worth $20K in 3 years. You havent had to do any maintenance on it, but you are already missing $10k. Whose XJ has eaten $10k in maintenance in 3 years? Probably none. XJs have already depreciated to the bottom so at least when you go to sell it, all you paid for is mods and maintenance.

 

Ya maybe a money pit, but a FUN one!!!

 

i paid 1200 out the door for clean 2000,only rust was floor. put about 400 in it including some popular parts .


just driving now,gas only! 6 months and counting.

 

Theres just something about the xj. They made a lot of them but there's nothing else like them.

 

Yes

 

Spent about $2000 in over 3 years / 30,000 miles on irregular repairs to keep it in good shape. Mostly preventative maintenance. It's sitting at 184K right now. That's $55 a month and when it sits, I don't have to pay for anything. I ride my bike to work most days, so fuel consumption isn't that big of a deal. Lost my job for 4 months which would have meant a total freak out over car payments. Never owe money.

 

im fine spending $100/month on it

 

I have added all the things up that I can remember. Some prices may be retail or that I got a discount from advanceauto. I got a few things from napa and autozone. Some things on ebay or other sites.


My 99 that my dad gave to me 8 years ago at 153000 miles now has 206000:


o2 sensor 36
exhaust manifold 100
track bar bushing 20
4 shocks 120
tires 450
leaf springs 185
door check 40
valve cover gasket felpro 36
oil filter adapter o rings 6
sway bar bushing 20
moog tie rod end 45
headliner glue 26
headliner fabric 15 joannes coupon
air filter 10
rear bump stops 30 stock ones
front bump stops 15
h4 headlights 50 ebay
h4 harness from forum member 18
power steering high pressure line 18
radio 129
speakers 80
Brake calipers $40


My red 94 4x4 Cherokee that I bought 3 years ago with a blown motor at 190000 miles now has 205000 I think
Jeep was $600 plus
motor 210 + 100 pulled
exhaust manifold 150 needed it quick from advance dad was mad it was in driveway lol
4 shocks 140
s10 bastard pack 50
valve cover gasket 36 oil filter adapter o rings 6
water pump 25
extended shackles 45
cps mopar 100
nss 50
tps junkyard 5
fuel rail regulator 10
speakers 20
zj fan clutch 35
fan shroud 14
rear drum rebuild 40 ebay
rear bump stops 18
sway bar bushings 20
dodge neon injector swap 80
fuel pump 90 waste of money bad cps instead
straight hood, center console, unbroken bottom dash piece from partout 100
guage cluster after I messed old one up 20
windshield wiper relay free
h4 headlights 50
lmc headlight harness 40
blower motor 30 ebay
blower motor resistor 10
ignition coil 30
paint jcr bumber and tie in brackets 240
hitch 25
receiver for hitch 10
rear driveshaft ujoints 25
front hub 70
inner axle seals
lower coolant hose free
Brake calipers 40


I'm sure I missed a couple lol. So that's roughly $1490 in parts for the green jeep. $1944 in parts for the red one plus $600 to buy it.


They both could use rear main seals, oil pan gaskets, distributor gaskets.


The green one needs a paintjob which I'm going to be getting quotes for down the road. Possible rear drum rebuild and new floor mats.


The red one needs a slip yoke eliminator and front driveshaft to replace the rear after that. Replace brake master and booster with one from a 95 or 96


I would like to thank everyone who helped me the last 8 years especially my dad. Don't be fooled though I did 98% of all the work haha.

 

for the type of vehicle - i wouldn't call it a money pit. find something else with 2 solid axles and the ability to seat 4 ppl with an expected powertrain life of 250k+ miles. those vehicles don't exist. not for $2500 anyway. all of my vehicles are "money pits". i have 3 vehicles and 0 payments, i can do what i want. ill take a dependable, older, proven vehicle over a new one anyway. new ones are far too expensive, have too much bs on them and i cannot option one how i want.

 

Reminds me when i tied up the family garage for weeks building my '64 Plymouth sedan decades ago. Had 413 engine and manual transmission parts scattered all over the garage.

My father had enough! One day he came blazing in the garage yelled at the top of his lungs "I want this thing out of here in one week "... "yyess sir"

Scarred the hell out of buddy and especially my girl friend at the time who happened to stop by that day.
My buddy who was also building a '67 Dodge 383 dual quad with ram intake had the exact same scenario with his father.
Those good 'ol muscle car days!

 

i was worried for a while with this,my first jeep. did some fixin, have some painting needed on hood when warm.not spending now but for gas. i like jeeps and hummers because in the walmart lot you can see them, find them. all others are cookie cutter cars and i really dislike them . line up 10 others and i couldnt name any from a distance. older jeeps have a good look,sensible...
i bought some popular spare parts i hear guys using here, may never need them!!
still have only 1600 in it +gas for daily driver, im ok.

 

Yes amd it keeps me from fixing my 68 charger. Lol i was planning on getting it running this summer but I have decided to go all out with the xj. Next summer I should have her up and running I hope.

 

This.
One of my concerns is if there will be any more xjs in 10 years when mine is no longer worth patching up

 

get a spare now! drive enuf to keep alive..