hey guys and girls, looking at buying me a XJ, and i don't have big $$$ to spend. must likely between $2000-2500. i have found a couple that i am intrested in, but they have high mileage. I have had experience with the trusty 4.2 is my CJ but i'm never owned a 4.0l. how many miles is too many and what years should i look for or avoid. are there any specific problems with certain years?
the top of my list is a 1994 4.0l, 5 speed, 4x4 with 227K on the clock, orignal motor. the owner is outta town right now and says I can come look at it this weekend (new years weekend) I've heard of these motors being 300K motors, but is this really true? any help is greatly appericated. thanks.
Joshua:thumbsup:
oh yeah, i'm not a stranger to the garage, and i have a matco tool box full of tools at my disposal. so i'm not afraid of rolling my sleeves up. but this will also be my daily driver. so honesty is appericated and please don't suggest to save $8,000 and buy a 99 lifted with 20k miles. it was hard enough saving the 2,500 i got now. thanks guys!
Joshua
Yup, they can last forever as long as you treat them right. There are alot of people on here that have over 200k and say they beat the crap out of them all the time. Just keep the engine cool, and change your fluids and they are good to go. How much do they want for the 94? That is a ton of miles.. Check for blowby in the air filter, a rear main seal leak, coolant leaks.. I wouldnt pay too much for one with that many miles. Just recently I found a 1992 SE with 84k on it, 4x4, 5 speed 4.0 for $2500, and also a 1992 4.0 4x4 automatic Laredo with 170k for $1200. So theres a little perspective for ya. Good luck with your buying, and welcome aboard...:thumbsup:
Edit: If your good at wrenching, Cherokees arent hard to work on.. and if you know where to buy parts, they arent too expensive usually. I just wouldnt want to see you start out by getting the wrong one, and wasting your money.
227k on that clock? thats not bad... most of these things will last well up into the 400k mark, as long as you maintain it. Mine just past the 300,000km mark last week, today I past the 304,000km mark, so you can tell I do drive a lot and I drive the piss out of it more often then not, and mine doesn't even tick yet, or maybe its because the motor was swapped out at 250,000km..........meh who knows, either way you can't kill them
227k on that clock? thats not bad... most of these things will last well up into the 400k mark, as long as you maintain it. Mine just past the 300,000km mark last week, today I past the 304,000km mark, so you can tell I do drive a lot and I drive the piss out of it more often then not, and mine doesn't even tick yet, or maybe its because the motor was swapped out at 250,000km..........meh who knows, either way you can't kill them
304,000km = 188,000miles (approx)
1km = 1.6 miles, (rounded)
It should all be the same though, I want an american speedo for mine. Its clocked for 190 right now, I've had it up to 185.
304,000km = 188,000miles (approx)
1km = 1.6 miles, (rounded)
It should all be the same though, I want an american speedo for mine. Its clocked for 190 right now, I've had it up to 185.
I remember when I was about 7 or 8, I was a young speedfreak then too. I used to look in the windows of every car I could and see how high the speedometer went. Well, I didnt know anything about kilometers at the time, and I was looking at a Caravan "Sport" and it said 220 on the speedo.. I was like HOLY CRAP DAD, THIS VAN GOES 220MPH! I imagine he probaly called me a *******, but I later put 2 and 2 together and figured out that Ontario wasnt in the US..:rofl: It was funny, cause at the time we had an older Caravan and I thought that it would magically go faster then what the lame 85mph speedo said.. I was hoping for 220, lol.
I remember when I was about 7 or 8, I was a young speedfreak then too. I used to look in the windows of every car I could and see how high the speedometer went. Well, I didnt know anything about kilometers at the time, and I was looking at a Caravan "Sport" and it said 220 on the speedo.. I was like HOLY CRAP DAD, THIS VAN GOES 220MPH! I imagine he probaly called me a *******, but I later put 2 and 2 together and figured out that Ontario wasnt in the US..:rofl: It was funny, cause at the time we had an older Caravan and I thought that it would magically go faster then what the lame 85mph speedo said.. I was hoping for 220, lol.
hey guys and girls, looking at buying me a XJ, and i don't have big $$$ to spend. must likely between $2000-2500.
the top of my list is a 1994 4.0l, 5 speed, 4x4 with 227K on the clock, orignal motor.
What is the price for the 1994? I picked up a 1993 with 101,000, 4x4, auto, 4.0L for $2500. Unless its in GREAT shape I would keep looking, for the money you can find better. And yes the 4.0 WILL last a long time if you take care of it. Good Luck.:thumbsup:
That seems a bit hi to me too. Keep looking. The engine will last a long time, 250k+ easy. But keep an eye out for rust. Also, inspect the damn drivers upper door hinge. Mine busted off! gl
Thats is my dream Cherokee (i love 5 speeds), they are impossible to find like that for the price in my area
I paid $3000 for mine BUT it was a family friend and was worth 7000 when i bought it. Had 106k and original owner with ALL highway miles (and i mean ALL). Also has ALL the records. Anyway that was my story.
I am a average do-it yourself car guy and the chereokee is pretty easy to work with. Also if something breaks you can usually upgrade for cheaper or the same price as stock. Just something to keep in mind.
Love to see that link, I'm in disbelief. A Dodge Viper SRT10 (510hp) does the 1/4 in 12 seconds.
To the question at hand I'd not get anything over 200k even if the owner could could come up with service records. The top of your list doesnt sound so hot, get an old one with low miles or a newer one with high miles. Id say spend $1500, keep $500 in the bank for emergency repairs, and spend $500 on mods. Good luck.
Thats is my dream Cherokee (i love 5 speeds), they are impossible to find like that for the price in my area
I paid $3000 for mine BUT it was a family friend and was worth 7000 when i bought it. Had 106k and original owner with ALL highway miles (and i mean ALL). Also has ALL the records. Anyway that was my story.
I am a average do-it yourself car guy and the chereokee is pretty easy to work with. Also if something breaks you can usually upgrade for cheaper or the same price as stock. Just something to keep in mind.
Yes, I was definatly stupid not to go snatch it up. I KNOW I could have got it for right at or under 2k out the door. Man, im an idiot. Damn near half the miles of mine, PLUS its a 5 speed. And the SE is the lightest. That would have been the perfect candidate for a stroker.:drool:
You didnt get a bad deal at all though, and you know it was well taken care of. I paid a little more than you for my 97, and it started life pleauged with issues, and it had 121k on it.
hey guys and girls, looking at buying me a XJ, and i don't have big $$$ to spend. must likely between $2000-2500. i have found a couple that i am intrested in, but they have high mileage. I have had experience with the trusty 4.2 is my CJ but i'm never owned a 4.0l. how many miles is too many and what years should i look for or avoid. are there any specific problems with certain years?
the top of my list is a 1994 4.0l, 5 speed, 4x4 with 227K on the clock, orignal motor. the owner is outta town right now and says I can come look at it this weekend (new years weekend) I've heard of these motors being 300K motors, but is this really true? any help is greatly appericated. thanks.
Joshua:thumbsup:
That's a lotta miles. Do you know the maintenance history? The engine can last forever, it's everything attached to it that your going to have to replace.
My junk has almost 240,000 miles and I have enough confidence in her to wheel myself to Mexico and back tomorrow. If only I had time and dollars. In her high 100,xxx's I replaced alt, starter, water pump etc., etc. When you get into the 200,000 range you have to accept certain electrical issues as well.
I think with those miles you should be able talk them down a bit. In my neck of the woods xj's are a dime a dozen. I'm buying a running donor rig tomorrow for $125. Don't know the miles, at that price who cares?
i got my '91 xj 2door 5spd with 213k on the body and 155k on the engine for $850. everything works and the car drives great...not a problem. keep looking there are better deals out there.
I bought my XJ this year, it had 145K miles and I paid $1,125. It's not bad at all, a little body dmg. but runs/drives great. keep looking. FWIW I'll also vouch for the XJ, I've bought old nasty ones for $5-600 and driven them across country hauling old cars, and then doubled my $ when i sold them! Yay XJs...
They are all true but the 9 second caravan. The fastest Turbo Dodge runs low 10's it's a 87ish Kcar. The vans are down in the mid 12's. I know this because my other project collecting dust is a 87 Shelby Charger, turbo charged and intercooled. My old Plymouth sundance ran a 13 flat with a intercooler and a MP computer. Check out http://www.thedodgegarage.com for the 9 second K-car. The camaro getting spanked is real.
thanks for all your help guys, i think i will hold out for now. i really really want a 5 speed XJ and those are hard to come by, even harder with low miles. i think i'll pass on this one after hearing the deals ya'll have got. they wanted $1800 for it. sorry that i forgot to add that. please PM me if any of ya;ll have one for sale for a great price....
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