Time to Decide, to Keep XJ or not keep XJ

[AlabamaDan]

So, after having my XJ stocker for a while it's time to decide whether to invest some money in her and keep her or sell and buy something else. I thought I'd get your your opinions.

I've got a 1988 Cherokee Laredo 2 door. It's was someone's grocery getter when I bought her. I've had her about three years. I bought it primarily as a hunting vehicle, but due to her dependablity, she's become my daily driver. Inside's good, except for a headliner. Paint's shot. Body's good, never wrecked. I'm the 2nd owner.

Over the last few years I bought some newer Jeep wheels with tires, replaced the alternator and starter. Changed the rear main seal, oil pan gasket and the oil filter rings. I replaced alot of those vacumn lines on the top of the engine with steel tubing. Other than just regular maintenance.

She needs a headliner, exhaust manifold, paint job and eventually a rebuild on the motor. Blowby is REALLY bad and she's lost alot of power. I'd like to add a brush guard and winch (that I already have) but the guard will require custom brackets for mounting. I'd like to add a 3" lift and when it's time for tires go to 32s. I'd also like to add a roof rack and some lights up there for camping and night drives when I hunt.

What will I use her for? She'll mainly be a camping, hunting and possibly my dd. I might take her on old logging roads and trail exploring, but nothing extreme.

So... invest time in fixing up the old XJ or sell it and buy something else. What would you do?

 

[CherBear]

Well it is a pretty old XJ, and it sounds like you are going to put a lot of work into it to get it working well.

Have you considered buying a newer XJ?

That might be cheaper in the long run...

 

[AlabamaDan]

Well that's my decision. I could spend a couple grand on this one and it should be good to go and I'd only have $3500 - $4000 in it. Or, I could sell it for say $1500 and buy one. My thoughts on buying another one is that I might have to do similiar stuff to it anyway. One that's already built out costs what....$6k?

 

[AlabamaDan]

Ideally I know what my wife wants. She wants me to sell the XJ and take her 98 Infiniti QX4 for my hunting/camping truck so she can buy her a new one. But honestly, I want an XJ. One reason is this forum is a great resource. Another is that even with the faded paint and loud exhaust, driving a Jeep is cool!

 

[heyhar]

This is a tough call. Do you (or your family) have another vehicle you have immediate access to? I have a '96 daily driver, and a '92 which I wrecked then rebuilt. My son also has two, '95 and '96. One or two always seem to be in the garage undergoing a repair or upgrade of some sort. But, we also have my wife's '04 Outback, so there's a good, 'nice' car if we need to take a trip. The XJs are old, with lots of miles, and for what we've got in them, they're great vehicles. We know that they will need tinkering from time to time to keep them in optimum condition. All told, we agree it's better than a monthly payment.

That being said, you need to make the determination if evenings and weekends on the floor under your beast is how you want to spend your time. Myself, I'm content to do the fixin', because it's either that, or spend the time working to earn the money to give to someone else to fix the car. Or work to pay a payment. The cars are getting old, probably past their intended life cycle, but as long as I can still climb under it, I probably will. Parts are still plentiful, support, especially sites like is world class, yards are teeming with replacements and upgrades (thanks to our Dear Leader), so serviceability in the near future should be OK. If I land a more permanent source of income, I may need to make a more fuel-efficient decision myself. As long as I can work local, or spend too much time off (like I've been too often this year), the Jeeps are just fine.

Any old vehicle is going to become a maintenance headache, but as I think you've proven to yourself, if it's gotta be old, an XJ is one of the better choices!

 

[AlabamaDan]

I've got three vehicles. A 94 Infiniti Q45, a 98 Infiniti QX4 and the 88 XJ. Haven't had a car payment in years and don't want one. The QX4 is my wife's DD. Gone through it and replaced suspension parts as well as most of engine stuff, without a full rebuild. The Q45 is being restored, but honestly is a high maintenance vehicle. I don't mind working on cars, I enjoy it actually, I just don't have as much time or expertise as I'd like.

 

[CherBear]

How about you sell the XJ and the 98 QX4, then buy a newer XJ and a car for your wife?

 

[FlexdXJ]

Well it is a pretty old XJ, and it sounds like you are going to put a lot of work into it to get it working well.

Have you considered buying a newer XJ?

That might be cheaper in the long run...

Owning it for 3 years as its second owner, thats not really a lot of maintenance. I see older body style ones(as well as 97+) with well over 250k still rolling down the road. As for the bad paint....... Its a Jeep thing!

 

[CherBear]

Owning it for 3 years as its second owner, thats not really a lot of maintenance. I see older body style ones(as well as 97+) with well over 250k still rolling down the road. As for the bad paint....... Its a Jeep thing!

Bad paint?

Spray-bomb!!!!:laugh3:

 

[FlexdXJ]

Well that's my decision. I could spend a couple grand on this one and it should be good to go and I'd only have $3500 - $4000 in it. Or, I could sell it for say $1500 and buy one. My thoughts on buying another one is that I might have to do similiar stuff to it anyway. One that's already built out costs what....$6k?

You can find them for cheaper than 6k but I say keep yours.

 

[heyhar]

Sounds like the QX4 has needed its share of maintenance in its relatively (compared to the XJ) short life. But, I'll bet it would be worth more in a trade, if it's still in good shape. Realistically, the XJ has no value, other than to you. You'll likely not get the cash for it that you might want, but it's not costing an arm and a leg to keep, either. Other than the blow-by, most other stuff on it is a cheap fix. And, every time you get in and it starts, you're ahead of the game.

We try to always have at least one good, dependable, reliable vehicle. The Subie's been paid off for a year now, and we'd like to go a few years with no payment. Our '98 ZJ barely made the end of the five year note before the stuff that I'd rather not deal with started to happen. Off it went while it still looked cherry and had reasonable miles. So far, knock on wood, the Subie has been behavin'.

My sentiments are that you gotta have a somewhat dependable older ride, one that you can run to the parts store on without changing your clothes. But still decent enough to get you to your paycheck. Sounds like you're there. Change out the wife's main ride, and you should be covered.

 

[MG2000XJ]

Trade in the Infiniti for a vehicle of lesser value for the wife, get some cash back on the trade in and put the cash into the jeep.

 

[AlabamaDan]

Oh, trading the Infiniti for a vehicle of lesser value for wife isn't an option. I do good to keep her in what she has. She's already belly aching about needing something with a 3rd row! Besides, the QX4s aren't really very expensive/valuable. Not like the QX56 or Lexus SUVs. But I see the point, invest $$$ in the Jeep.

By the way, here's a pic. This was when I got her. The rattle can paint job has faded quite a bit since this was taken.

Oh, and it has upgraded Jeep wheels and Goodyears now.

 

[AlabamaDan]

So, you guys agree...keep her and invest a few $$$ in it? By the way, we call her old faithful because she always starts and gets us home.

 

[heyhar]

It certainly looks as though it wouldn't take much to keep it respectable looking. It runs decent (except for the blow-by, which they all suffer from to some extent), is not embarrassing looking, and if you're not looking to drive it to California anytime soon, I say keep it. I'll bet there's no rust under it, either! It probably isn't costing much more than insurance to keep it around.

I recently let my '78 Firebird go, we had it 25 years, never used it anymore, and now I have my '92 XJ in the garage. But I sold it, cheap, to a friend, who wants to do something with it, not just wrap it around a tree. If you guys decide not to keep it, I think the best thing would be to find someone who may be able to do something good with it, rather than some hop-head who will just hurt it, or himself with it. Or, maybe keep it, and let some of the foriegn iron go. Ya gotta have something you can put a flag sticker on!

 

[joe_peters]

"The Devil you know..." I would keep it. The worst thing you mentioned is the tired engine--get something for a few hundred and drop it in, then rebuild the stroker on long winter evenings. You could go and buy a newer used XJ, or end up with a can of worms from someone else. Besides, Renix rules and 2-door XJs are the Ultimate in cool!

 

[Johnnie Walker]

Damn broads and their shenanigans. Say you were to trade in that POS she drives.. for something that is "worth less" doesnt mean that is lesser quality. Besides, infinity's are overpriced nissan's anyway. So her vehicle isnt any better than a pathfinder.

 

[Jackhill442]

I like Johnnie Walker. Tell that wife to go buy her own vehicle if her 10 year newer than your car isn't good enough. Keep that Jeep and concentrate on the motor and drivetrain.

 

[hubs97xj]

That you have to "restore" a 15 year old Nissan says something as well... this whole deal sounds a little foolish. If status is that important, buy only new cars. If the vehicle itself matters, buy what you like to drive. If you have to ask complete strangers what cars you should own/drive to please someone else... you're in a bad way.

 

[themangeraaad]

I can't make any comment on the Renix as I have never had one, but I love the 2 dr XJs. I would keep it, either that or sell it and pick up another (slightly newer) one at a good price.

My plan once I get my own place is either to pick up an XJ or MJ (earlier than '95) with straight body and no rust. Hell, my buddy just moved to TX so I may have him shop around for me. Then get it shipped up here and swap in a brand spankin' new drive train. That's just my opinion. I wouldn't sell the Jeep if it has been good to you.. but if you do sell the Jeep pick up a slightly newer one, they can be had cheap enough. Then throw a bit of $$ in to fix it up and have yourself a reliable ride for another number of years.

Edit: I mean if I could get an XJ either locally or from TX with clean body, then pick up a stroker for 2k or so (know a place with good prices, even just pick up a rebuilt stock motor for 1k or so), rebuild an AX-15 for hopefully around $500, get a ford 8.8 out of an exploder with rear disks, rebuild a 231 for a few hundred... could easily have a relatively new and strong drive-train at a reasonable price. Then the interior is another question... but that can be fixed as well