Why did you originally buy your XJ?

Two_Jeeps · 01-25-2009, 01:10 AM

I looked before posting this and couldn't find anything similar - so I hope it's not a duplicate post...

After spending a year or so reading and posting on this forum, I've seen all types of Jeeps used in all sorts of situations. Of the thousands of different looking XJs I've seen - the one thing they all seem to have in common is that their owners really do love them and love using them for one specific reason or another.

A lot of times when someone posts a story or photo of some recent work - they are hit with a bunch of replies that "it's cool, but you should lift it" or that's nice - but now you need to add some bigger tires" or " great job - - now where's the nitrous" etc...

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with a built Jeep or that they should all be daily drivers - but these things are purpose vehicles and the other day I got to thinking - for what purpose did most people buy their XJ?

I'll start...

I originally bought my Cherokee to be a bike and dog hauler. A friend of mine had owned it for about five years and was moving. He needed some cash and was looking to sell the Cherokee. After spending thousands of miles in it for one bike/camping trip after another I couldn't stand to see this particular Jeep go to anyone else, or go become a grocery hauler that would never leave the city.

Six years later it's still my daily driver (even though I've got two newer trucks to choose from), it's undergone a complete overhaul (inside and out), and my 8-year old son has claimed it as his own, (and I've promised to give it to him as soon as he turns 15).

So far I've traveled to over a dozen different states in this Jeep for the sole purpose of "clicking in" an hitting the trail. After all these years and an additional 90K miles, I'm happy to say that it's main purpose is still the same... to haul me and my buddies, my dog, and my bike around to the trails.

Let's hear some stories about why you all bought your XJs, and what you use them for (daily driver, extreme trail rig, it's all I can afford, whatever!). Be sure to post pics as well.

Here are a few shots of mine over the years - doing what it was built to do.

First photo I took of the Jeep a few weeks after getting it. It had already been outfitted with two new bike racks and was happy to do the job.

A few years later - at a weekend bike trip in NC.

This was last bike trip I went on before moving from GA to OH.

**srmitchell** · 01-25-2009, 01:20 AM

Because believe it or not THIS

whole thing fits in the back. I've done many gigs with the xj.

I was looking at wranglers, but drum capacity was the top of the list, and the people who price wranglers are high. Im not a cheerleader anyway.

Glad I went this way.

RVApunkROCK · 01-25-2009, 01:21 AM

Always been into Jeeps. Family friend of ours has been restoring and rebuilding CJs for years.

Had about $1000 to spend on a vehicle last October and it was between my XJ and a 79' Power Wagon and the Power Wagon sold out from under me and I wound up getting the XJ for $400.

coop18 · 01-25-2009, 01:27 AM

the reason I got my first XJ was it was $300. It went through stuff I still dont understand how. Soo.... I got me a daly driver.

**1990JEEPXJ** · 01-25-2009, 01:58 AM

i got mine because my parents had a '92 laredo when i was a kid that they bought brand new. had it for almost ten years. so when the time came for me to get a car, i settled on my '90 laredo. its almost exactly the same as our old '92 except minor things.

diskman_1 · 01-25-2009, 02:00 AM

Got my first XJ (1984 Pioneer) for free from a friend about 3 years ago. He inherited a new car from a family member and had no use for the XJ any more as it was old and ugly and needed a new home. Having never owned a Jeep before, I took it for free. I had the head and valves redone as it smoked at idle badly (valve guides/seals). But was overall a great little runner. Went through some SERIOUS snow storms the first winter I had it and never got stuck. Over the next year or so I repaired the rust and repainted it.

I then picked up a '92 XJ off Craigslist this past fall and sold my beloved '84 after putting many hours into it and upgrading it. Now I work on my 92.

My '84 actually gave me the XJ "Fever" and I have since owned an '84 (sold), '86 (sold), '87 (sold), '99 (still have), and my '92 (winter driver).

beefsupreme · 01-25-2009, 02:02 AM

I started out with a 97 Grand that I picked up for 2000. It was only 2wd, but I had grand ideas of converting it to 4wd. Just the couple of times I had it off road was enough to hook me. I sold it with 199500 miles on it, and was impressed still for its reliability. I started deciding between an XJ or TJ/YJ, but since I have a family, the XJ was a more practical choice. I started looking for them about 8 months before I acutally bought one, because I was very particular about what I wanted: white, 4.0, 5sp, AC, and power windows and locks. I finally found it a year ago, and it has exceeded my expectations. Even stock, I can go all of the places a Wrangler can go with room for 4 and the AC going on those 110 degree days. I absolutely love it, and am looking forward to lifting it in the next month or so. Plus, my kids love it, so that is reason enough to keep it around.

webdog · 01-25-2009, 02:06 AM

My first car was a 86 Laredo, a year later i sold that and got a 91 4 runner got sick of it braking all the time and bought a brand new 05 VW GTI I got into the euro scene for a while lowered it and modified the engine and it drove like a dream.

I changed jobs two years after getting the GTI and could no longer afford the payments / insurance for it so i had to sell it.

I wanted to get back into a Jeep so i got my 88, and since then i have put about 35,000 miles on her relatively trouble free, (never been stranded).

And i picked up my 90 Laredo last month as a project jeep but it is so much nicer then the 88 that i have been thinking about making it my DD and my 88 a project jeep.

**srmitchell** · 01-25-2009, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diskman_1

Got my first XJ (1984 Pioneer) for free from a friend about 3 years ago. He inherited a new car from a family member and had no use for the XJ any more as it was old and ugly and needed a new home. Having never owned a Jeep before, I took it for free. I had the head and valves redone as it smoked at idle badly (valve guides/seals). But was overall a great little runner. Went through some SERIOUS snow storms the first winter I had it and never got stuck. Over the next year or so I repaired the rust and repainted it.

I then picked up a '92 XJ off Craigslist this past fall and sold my beloved '84 after putting many hours into it and upgrading it. Now I work on my 92.

My '84 actually gave me the XJ "Fever" and I have since owned an '84 (sold), '86 (sold), '87 (sold), '99 (still have), and my '92 (winter driver).

Pretty good choice on ditching the 84.

Cv shafts... ewwww.

disheveledhair · 01-25-2009, 02:24 AM

I got tired of public transportation and decided to go car hunting last spring. After a few weeks, I found this jeep for $800. It was in pretty good shape for what it was worth. It's my daily driver. First to go was the starter and then a few more things followed the next couple of months. It's a work in progress. Still have lots of things to fix. But I gotta say, I've been converted to jeeps now.

FLNICK · 01-25-2009, 07:20 AM

I got mine because i was tired of driving my company car everywhere and needed a personal car. Plus, there isnt to much you can fit into a Corolla. And i just love my XJ.

jeepers_xj · 01-25-2009, 07:56 AM

gonna buy one this week, why? cause where i live is in the country side now, and my civic wont get out of the driveway even with snow tires. plus wifes civic hit 200k last friday and the tranny quit at like 200,007

i told the wife, u have 3 choices, find a honda crv for $3k, a jeep cherokee under $3k, or any toyota suv for under $3k, so we decided on a 90 cherokee. it town if they get 1 inch of snow we get like 6 inches.

wessker96 · 01-25-2009, 08:43 AM

Had my first XJ when I was 23 I loved it but really didnt understand why, then had my first kid, by the time she was 1 and a half she was kicking the back of our seats all the time (what a stupid reason to sell a jeep) we traveled ALOT for fun and she drove us nutz always kicking the seats. So i sold it and got another car... but after that I felt like something was missing in my life (like a hobby), we moved to AL about 3 months later I got a YJ while I was there to drive to the beach in and loved it too alot...Kept it for about 2 years had another kid got a passport. Something went wrong with it wasnt worth fixing got another Xj and it was like i found myself again. No real use or reason for the jeep other than I love it! I like to drive when I'm driving a jeep.

SparkyB · 01-25-2009, 08:51 AM

Price. It's a lot of value for the money, and the size isn't bad either. I even had a 2wd XJ for a while.

scoot08 · 01-25-2009, 09:19 AM

i bought mine cause i was looking for a cheap car and had never owned a 4x4 (insurance at 18) but i found one near me for 700 its a 92 laredo... loved it since i first drove it

01-25-2009, 07:56 AM	#12
jeepers_xj Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: pittsburgh,pa Posts: 9 Profile Gallery Classifieds iTrader Rating	gonna buy one this week, why? cause where i live is in the country side now, and my civic wont get out of the driveway even with snow tires. plus wifes civic hit 200k last friday and the tranny quit at like 200,007 i told the wife, u have 3 choices, find a honda crv for $3k, a jeep cherokee under $3k, or any toyota suv for under $3k, so we decided on a 90 cherokee. it town if they get 1 inch of snow we get like 6 inches.