68Datsun510

Hey all, my name is Cody, new to the "jeep scene" really, but my family has owned several ZJ and XJs over the years, always loved them. As you can tell from the username I'm a Datsun guy as well, the vehicle hobby is a big thing! =)

I dont even have an XJ to brag about yet, but definitely looking, 2 local craigslist ads have a retired state vehicle with 199,xxx miles for 3K, the other one has a "modified" 98 with 140k for the same price, but no guarantee of maintenance as the state one would have...

Who knows id they are even both still available as its a tad lade to ask...

Any reason i should avoid either? the modded one has a 5 speed, the state car is an auto.

Thanks in advance!

jay_sco

Welcome from another Californian, pics of the Datsun please!
'98 is a good year and auto/man is a preference, they're both good and can't go wrong with either. What "mods" does it have? If they're good parts and were installed correctly it's ok, if it's some cheap crap slapped on then it may say something about the rest of the vehicle. I wouldn't assume that a state vehicle was maintained any better just because it was assigned to a fleet mechanic. You'd have to inspect them all in person to get an accurate assessment.
Even if they're all gone it's ok, there are still plenty of XJs out there. Where abouts in Cali are you?

68Datsun510

This is my 1969 Datsun 510 =)





And this is my friends car, lives in Southern Oregon, he, in particular, is afraid of no dirt road, and has taken his L20B equipped 510, with a subaru LSD places most would be afraid in a 4 wheel drive! This is just his driveway though lol





Anyway, the one with mods lists this...

jeep Cherokee 4x4 1998, 4dr, 5 spd, 140k, runs good ! cold ac, cruse control, ex ca ranger, 3" lift, (no spacers) nice roof rack, locker in rear, New parts - radiator, hoses, alternator, clutch . This is a low miles 4x4 hard to find with 5 spd

Its about 80 miles away so difficult to inspect without any form of commitment

jay_sco

Welp, I guess it's a choice you have to make.
It's got a 3" lift. What brand, new shocks, longer brake lines, full leafs or add-a-leaf? Many more questions you can ask. Miles are similar on both and shouldn't be an issue. What factory packages (trims) do they have?
A cheapo 3" lift can be had for a couple hundred bucks, locker (assuming it's an auto locker) can be found for $2-300. Will you be lifting it more? If so then the 3" will be tossed anyway.
I don't know about your driving habits but I've always been a die hard manual guy. My DD is stick, and the F750 I drive all day at work is stick. I wasn't too picky when XJ shopping and ended up with the AW4 auto, I kind of like it.
Offroad stick vs auto is up to you, many online debates about it if you'd care for some light reading.
I don't see any matching XJs close to me but you may find someone here (that's not in the market to buy) that's willing to check one out for you.

Nice car! They're getting hard to find.

68Datsun510

Well that one i just found out is sold anyway, would love to find a 5 speed, but there are moments when even a dedicated manual guy like myself would prefer an automatic....... SF traffic, LA traffic, hell, even Sacramento traffic. I have a racing clutch in the 510 and my left leg almost fell off.... Im located about 40 miles east of Sacramento.

THe state truck is a bare bones basic model with manual everything, auto trans, idiot light gauge cluster, etc. I would like a slight 3-3.5" lift, hopefully factory LSD, 31-33" tires, just a not crazy slightly more "enabled" jeep. Im a stickler on maintenance so even if i get an auto i know how to keep it happy.

1ATony

welcome to the site

Tony

jay_sco

Nothing wrong with bare-bones, less to go wrong. Gauge cluster swaps are easy, there are a couple write ups on it, something on my "to do" list. The XJ is only slightly larger than your Datsun, it's not a far reach to roll the windows. I can reach all 4 from the driver seat.
Happy searching.

bullettooth2008

Welcome from England.

68Datsun510

Thank you for the responses, it's because of the Datsun that I actually do prefer things to be manual. I watch and laugh at friends of mine's vehicles burning up electronic gadgets that mine does not have =P

bullettooth2008

I have never owned an automatic vehicle, always manual.

68Datsun510

I was referring to things like locks and windows, i greatly prefer manual transmissions as well, sadly they are in incredibly hard to find in Jeeps.... Thankfully the auto that comes in jeeps isnt a slouch...