What the story how you got your xj/mj?

[Shomsky462]

my mom nought it from a guy and then she sold it to her fiance(jeeper guy) then sold it back to me but he put a conferr rack and bullbar on the front 91 xj with flows con ferr rack and bullbar in front and towing package. now im making better.

 

[casm]

Late 2003: I'm driving a 1989 Peugeot 405 Mi16 as daily transport. Great car, reliable, handles like it's on rails, does everything that I want - except it can't go off-road. Peugeot support in the US was really drying up at that point, so it made sense to get something easier to maintain that would also mean I didn't have to be a passenger on desert trips.

Started researching 4WD vehicles. Anything commonly seen packed full of screaming brats doing a school run was right out. Toyed with the idea of a Land-Rover, but Series LRs are slow, heavy, and way too expensive; Discoveries aren't bad, but again there's the support question. Had to remember that I'm not living in a place where you can get parts for these things at auto supply stores anymore. That pretty much narrowed the field down to Toyotas and Jeeps.

Drove a couple of TJs and didn't like them: too compromised for my needs, and the IFS on the Toyotas drove me nuts because I didn't want it to try to handle like a car. Eventually started looking for XJs and bought a black 2001 Sport with the 60th Anniversary package on my birthday. Eleven months later it was swept away in a flash flood.

Seven weeks of looking for its replacement later, I found a fully-loaded burgundy 2000 Limited with both the tow and Up-Country packages. It even had 8000 miles less on it than the '01 did when I bought it. Took it out for a test drive in the rain and was sold on the NP242. Managed to talk the dealer down by $3500 on the selling price because it had been sitting on the lot since before Christmas. They fixed the trunk latch as part of the sale and I drove it home the same day. Don't regret it one bit after 27000 trouble-free miles in it.

 

[60thAnivrsryXJ]

In the summer of 2004 I was driving an AMC Eagle. When August came and it was time to go to college 450 miles away the car was not as enthusiastic about the trip as I was. So my mom took me and all my stuff down there and I was left with my bicycle as my only transportation. On labor day weekend I rode the bus home and the plan was for me to prepare the Eagle to make the 450 mile trip. When I got home though my mom tells me that my dad wants to buy me a newer vehicle instead so I'll have somthing reliable. I was reluctant to give up on the Eagle though. After thinking about it all day and that night by the next morning I had changed my mind and decided to take advantage of my dad's generosity. So I got up that morning and my dad came out to my mom's house and we got to work. I immediately said that I wanted a Cherokee. We called around to see what everyone had and then went out looking around. That was Sunday and I was leaving to go back on Monday plus it would be Labor Day and no car lots would be open so we had to get one that day. I had no idea what to look for because I hadn't really had time to research Cherokees. We just knew we wanted low miles and my dad said he didn't want to spend more than ten grand. We went to a dealer that had five of them and we test drove two of the newer ones. One was a 98 with about 65,000 miles on it and were asking 10,000 for it I think. The other was a 2001 60th Anniversary Edition with 35,000 miles on it and they wanted 16,000 for it. Both of these were in excellent condition by the way. We both agreed that the '01 was a very nice vehicle. My dad basically told the guy to find out the lowest price he could let it go for. So after going to the manager several times he finally says the lowest they can go is 13,500. It was a little more than my dad wanted to spend but he decided that it was a good deal. So we go it to the office to fill out all the paperwork and the guy is talking about getting payments worked out and everything. You should have seen the look on his face when my dad told him there wasn't gonna be any payments and he pulls out his checkbook and writes them a check for 13,535 dollars. It was a surprise to me too, so don't get the wrong idea and think my dad is rich and I get everything handed to me. He lives in a trailer and doesn't even own a vehicle of his own, the company he works for supplies him with a truck. Looking back now I think we got a very good deal for having just looked around for one day. 35,000 miles in three years is less than 12,000 a year which is low miles in my opinion. It has all the bells and whistles to because of the anniversary package. Power everything, heated mirrors, factory fog lights, and body color trim like a limited but according to the vin it's a sport. Sometimes I think it is too nice to tear it up offroad but then again it is a jeep. After a year and a half it now has 51,000 miles on it, a 4 inch lift, 4.56 gears, detroit locker, and 32 inch tires. So that is the story of how I got my Cherokee and why I laugh when everyone asks me when it will be payed off.

 

[XJ Un-Limited]

A guy at my work was getting ready to donate his XJ to charity. He said the engine was going bad because the oil pressure would fluctuate (read "no oil in the pan") and the engine was making clicking sounds (lifters). So I ran with it and didn't make ideas on how to fix it. There was wiring issues because his son had tried to install a stereo and crossed wires, blew the stereo, which in turn cut power to the interior lights and door locks (still haven't figured out the door locks one yet). So offered him $500 for it and he took it, and I drove home with the XJ. So over a year later and 10,000 miles, it still runs, no oil pressure problems, stereo works fine and all the lights work.

 

[xjcrawlr]

Winter, 1998. After just having got my license back (a Honda cant out run a police Huey, I dont care what kind of engine it has) after a year long "break", I decide its time slow down and start looking for a 4x4.

March, 1999. I've driven most every 4x4 out there, they all had something wrong with them. Them by chance, I see a nice black, 2-door at a crappy used lot. WOW, a '94 Sport, 4.0, auto, 32,000 miles, ran great, A/C works, as well as 4 LO....SOLD!

 

[Badcop]

graduated high school and joined the military, baught a 92 se

sold it for a bike, wrecked the bike baught another 94 lim

drove it for a few, went to alaska and sold it

got to alaska baught a 96 se

drove the crap out of it right until the whole badcop drop nightmare

got a 85, put a 4.0 in and rolled that one

got a 90, it was a pos so i stole the axles and sold it

traded a 90 vw for a 89 lim, drive it now

 

[SCblack2000zr2]

a guy towed a jeep into my shop saying it needed a clutch, tured out to be a transmission, bought it from him for 250, fixed it for 250, 500 dollar jeep, AWESOME condition, 170k miles, wheel the sh*($ out of it. love it to death.

 

[DrMoab]

I was hauling cars at the time...Came across this clean 89 (six years ago) at a lot that I was supposed to take to the Mexican border....Seems it had a vibe that they couldn't get rid of....Tried everything.

Knowing jeeps I thought I could find the problem so I called the guy in New Mexico and he sold it to me dirt cheap....Comes to find out the vibe was a bad front driveshaft.

 

[Mike in NJ]

Fairly boring, but the quantity is cool . . . .

DEC 1986 - Unpaved driveway, needed space for camping gear, something that could handle trips to the Rockies from NJ, and pull a boat and stuff. Plus, there was this Jeep/Eagle dealer next road over . . . .

NEW '87 2 door 5 speed - w/44

JUN 1992 - '82 Audi Coupe Quattro gave up the ghost at 252K - needed something soon, liked the '87XJ, didn't like the new Audi's, so figured didn't need no car no more . . . .

NEW '92 2 door 5 speed

APR 1996 - wife wanted her own XJ, heard that they were changing the bodystyle, so . . .

NEW '96 2 door 5 speed

APR 2000 - driving up the street, noticed a neighbor park a CHIEF on his lawn with a for-sale sign. Had to stop in - he felt his '87 was getting old (125K miles!) and should be sold now before it became "worthless". :gag: Looked underneath and saw another 44! Told him I could probably use the "parts" for my other three. We settled on $1800.

USED '87 2 door automatic w/242 w/44!!!

Collectively three quarters of a million miles and they're all still running - (brings a happy tear to my eye)


Mike in NJ atriot:

 

[Beej]

I wanted a 4Runner, but my wife found the XJ for cheaper and with less miles. I begrudgingly bought it. Now I REALLY owe her. But don't tell her I said so, as I can still blame my obsession on her...

 

[87manche]

Was looking around on lots for a V6 Ranger of some sort.
Next to all the beat rangers was an MJ with a newer paint job and 31's.
I like it, brother has an XJ.
Paid $1500 cash for a 4x4 4.0 5spd.
Driveable, needs a tranny, had some horrible electrical work done to it, needs wheel bearings up front.
Still fixing it, but I'm readying a stroker...

 

[zfinger]

I wanted to take my 92' 240sx off the road so I could build it up, and that spring I had wrapped my 93' Geo Prizm around a tree, so I needed another DD backup car. My friend is a used car dealer, and I knew the whole story of the Jeep he had and the work he had done to it. He said he'd sell it to me for what he had into it.

So I put down $1200 cash and $1800 from a bank loan, and bought myself a 97', loaded, with 170K for $3000. And now I'm spending more money on the Jeep then I am on the 240sx. Everything I buy turns into a damn toy!

 

[Darky]

Had a Geo Tracker, but always liked XJs. Thought it would take too long to afford one. Wrecked the Tracker, broke my hand and went carless for a little while then bought a 90 Samurai for $500. I think I got screwed. It leaked oil like it was cool, stalled every time I stopped, shook like a Chihuahua, wouldn't shift into 4wd, looked like it hadn't had an oil change in 20,000 miles (sludge on the dipstick), shifted like crap. It made one trip to see my fiancee and she got scared that it wouldn't make the 3hr drive again and started driving down to pick me up in her truck (that wasn't much better off. No speedometer, severely loose steering, also leaked oil everywhere it went). Finally, I decided I had to get something new. The bank wouldn't give me a loan for much. I tried for $8000, they said no. I tried $5000 they said no. I had my fiancee co-sign for $4500, they ok. I found a 96 XJ Sport, 4dr, 4.0, 4x4, auto with pw, pl, ac and an alpine CD player with decent speakers. It had 94k on it and they want $4495. It vomited coolant after the test drive and had a NSS problem. They replaced the waterpump, supposedly, and I had no problems starting it. He couldn't ever start it, I could. I figured it was meant for me. I didn't have $500 for the tax title and license so I told him I had 90 Samurai for trade and wanted at least $500 for it. I had no title. He said ok, we'll do it and sell it in Mexico. So I talked to the other people who had a 97 Jimmy with power everything, 4.3, push button 4x4, etc for $4500. They refused to give me anything in trade for the Samurai. I, of course, got the Cherokee and now at 138k miles its been a great vehicle. I've driven it 20k a year and replaced the bearings once, driver's side twice, re did the water pump less than a year after the dealer changed it, got a small boost til I can afford a lift and some 30" MTs from XJ_Matt on here. Karstic and XJohnnie helped out (a lot) with the boost up front, XJ_Matt did the rear with me. I got a new stereo since the other one was old. The new one's Kenwood, and now I have Pioneer 6.5's in the rear soundbar. I have much more in store for this thing...

 

[lrsmithwhaley]

I was restoring a 1968 Jeepster Commando and was driving up I-435 in KC, MO on the way to get a lift and new seats before a picnic with my local Jeep club, and I got rear-ended. Totaled the rear-end of the Jeepster. I had a 1970 Jeepster I had bought for spare parts so I bought the 68 back from insurance for $91, then used the other $2100 to buy me a 1991 Jeep Cherokee at a local dealership. I got it for $1998.11 after taxes and dealer fees. I should've tried to get it cheaper but the dealer was a sleaze bag and I needed vehicle so I went ahead and got it. It was the first Cherokee I saw that was in good condition that ran and had a rear bumper. I was wanting a manual but couldn't find one that ran good(another funny story ther for another time). It runs good but has needed some work here and there. Now I am working on getting it ready to off-road(putting on tow hooks and such), and building up the 70 Jeepster into an off-road only Jeep.

 

[johnnyc]

Total impulse buy. There was a used car sale at Angel Stadium in 96. I just went to look around. Saw the Jeep and talked to the salesman about it. He was sooo desperate to make a sale. And since I really wasn't there to buy, I kept starting to leave..

Sat down with the guy and he said they couldn't give me a trade-in allowance on my 88 Camaro with a salvage title. I knew that was BS, so I got up to leave. I kept doing this and the guy was sweating like a pig.

Finally got the price down pretty good and they gave me a $2K allowance on the Camaro. So I agreed to buy it. Afterwards, I said, "You guys still probably screwed me." And he quietly said, "No...you got a good deal." Not that I believe that for a second. But the XJ has given me minimal problems, and is the best vehicle I've ever owned.

 

[husky250rider]

i bought and 88 olds woody wagon from an old lady for $90 it was sitting in a barn for 8yrs 2" of dust covered this thing started right up with a jump drove it for about 4 months until i t boned some idiot insurance company showed him 100% at fault and cut my a check for $2200 and took some money i had saved up and bought my 97 4dr 5spd

 

[Wayne Sihler]

Was driving a 84 plymouth Turbo colt at the time,313 K on the clock and the rust was eating it up,cracked a head or something that caused it to miss under boost in 3rd& 4th gear,have 3 kids need more room.
looked at several XJ,s prices were too high,saw a 95 that was in price range but it had too many miles and too many needless options.Salesman asked what I wanted,I told him,No power windows,locks,etc.Simple= dependable.
They had a 96 just out of the body shop,Drove it,turned 40 k on the test drive,worked the numbers,traded the colt and away i went.
226 k on it now,still doesn,t have a Jeep emblem on it anywhere.Never took it back for them to finish up the work
Wayne

 

[red91]

Was driving a 84 plymouth Turbo colt at the time,313 K on the clock and the rust was eating it up,cracked a head or something that caused it to miss under boost in 3rd& 4th gear,have 3 kids need more room.
looked at several XJ,s prices were too high,saw a 95 that was in price range but it had too many miles and too many needless options.Salesman asked what I wanted,I told him,No power windows,locks,etc.Simple= dependable.
They had a 96 just out of the body shop,Drove it,turned 40 k on the test drive,worked the numbers,traded the colt and away i went.
226 k on it now,still doesn,t have a Jeep emblem on it anywhere.Never took it back for them to finish up the work
Wayne

Wayne....i have to know...HOW did you get them to take the colt in trade ?

No...honest...I cant believe they did that. AND how much did you get for it?

 

[Wayne Sihler]

Wayne....i have to know...HOW did you get them to take the colt in trade ?

No...honest...I cant believe they did that. AND how much did you get for it?

$500--- They only drove it around town,I was with him.Car ran fine in first and 2nd.Problem only showed up under load in 3rd& 4th.He couldn,t believe it had that many miles.
Would like to have it back--30+ mpg and could run like stink.
Wayne

 

[dfreeman616]

my first car was a 90 lumina with almost 200k on it when i picked up a 96 lumina with less miles a couple years ago and sold the 90 for $300, which i had inherited from my parents. used that money to buy the tires/rims for the 96 from a junkyard, only cost ever put into the 96 until brake problems started. come to find out i'd need over a grand in parts alone, didn't want to mess with it, got $400 for the car. so far, i'm at +$400 from cars i'd owned.
my first one, the 87 i currently drive, i bought on ebay for $800, with a factory d44 and 164k miles. since that was near christmas, i got some money to put toward a 'new' car, out of pocket was something like $100 including tax/title. i just picked up a 89 with 60k miles on a remanufactured 4.0L and AW4 from a guy on another jeep board, and i'm taking the good stuff from that and putting it in the 87 (the 89 is smashed, possible buggy project?!?) To date, i've got maybe $1500 into my xj's, including a 3" lift w/adjust trac bar and rusty's tie rod, and the 89 for the drivetrain.