Purchased yesterday from 2nd owner. Couldn't be happier!
got it on the cheap cause it needs shift solenoid & a heater core.
Already planning a weekend for accomplishing this....
Literally just wrapped up a heater core in my commuter car two weeks ago =/
The XJ heater core looks easier than the Hyundai Accent design. No surprises there.
Wife gets this beast, for now at least. Will be grocery getter/ soccer mom rig.
Proudly I will report that after driving it maybe two miles she already wants a lift kit on it....
So I have gotta keep mama happy, right? tinted windows, tow package, header, aftermarket stereo, new tires + shocks & some cosmetic touches from previous owner of 12 years.
It may honestly stay a stock rig for a while.... but I'm pleased as punch to have another XJ in my driveway!

 

My favorite year of XJ. I bought my '96 off of the original order just the way he special ordered it. It was quite the find. My quest to get a TJ ended my relationship with it, but it was a great Jeep. Good luck with yours.

 

Great car, looks in good shape and the last year of the better 'boxy' type before they face lifted it...

I just got mine a couple of months ago, too. It needs a lot of love though since the previous owner neglected some things..

Good luck with it!

 

Wife went to drive it to work the other day & it wouldn't start,
new battery, new starter, PO gave me old starter (didn't return it for core charge) starter relay was clicking... checked a few connections & quickly confirmed NSS not sending signal. Only starts in Neutral.
After this find, I took it to work (100 mi rd/trip) washed 8 months of grime & cedar tree junk off of the paint

Hopefully I can get NSS off trans & clean up electrical connections, reseal + hope for the best. As a new NSS is $180 new @ O'Reilly Auto Parts.

I love the option kist on my '96. Manual windows, no sunroof (pnw rain makes sunroof not my fave option)
really no bells & whistles only A/C which needs a recharge.

Not to mention the 96 is the last year before the closed loop coolant system. Also heard it said 95-96 were best years of the HO 4.0
I'm still happy as hell with it, cant wait to check off the fix-it list.

 

Mine was the same with the manual windows which I preferred. Sunroof is kind of a rare option, but I'm like you and avoid it. I also had the 5-speed but did have AC and CC. It was pretty much how I would have ordered it.