was looking for one for a long time, my dad spotted one in the classifieds for $1000. I didnt have a job then, but nothing could stop me from buying an xj, so i called the guy, he told me everything was fine but it had high miles. I said that was ok. Went over there to find out that "high miles" meant 291,000. Only xj i could find in my range, so i picked it up. Been fine so far.
What the story how you got your xj/mj?
- Thread starter afd516
- Start date
Begster
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Cape Cod/Boston, Mass
Was nearing the time of my liscence 2 years or so ago, and was eagerly looking for a car. My bro had an Izuzu rodeo, and I thought they were great, saw one for sale that was standard for a decent price, then decided I didn't like suv's that were standards (thats when I didn't know too much).
Came across a red Cherokee in one lot, and thought "who the hell would buy these types of jeeps, they are ugly as hell, especially the back." and moved on.
Shopped around and stopped in another lot a while later, and saw a Green 99' cherokee in a lot great condition, pretty low miles, and it looked amazing, I told my dad I had to have this, and kept begging him. For some reason I fell in love with it. We brought my mom back and showed her, and then the next day my dad decided I could get it.
Then decided I liked big cars, and wanted to put a lift on it and decided that offroading seemed wicked awsome. The first time I did some offroading I came home with some clear coat scratches, and was threatened to have my car taken away by my parents. I then offroaded in secret and realized a couple months later that my dad bascially goes offroading for his job because he is in control of everything environmental around the ANG base near us, and the first time I actually drove a car besides my driveway was offroad. Well I got in an arguement and he said sure you can go, and my parents realized that their efforts were futile and I was going to go no matter what.
Then I decided to take my car offroad and give it some character (beat it to shit).
'99 cherokee sport, 4.O Auto with 96,000Mi, 4.5 RE lift, 32" BFG.
Came across a red Cherokee in one lot, and thought "who the hell would buy these types of jeeps, they are ugly as hell, especially the back." and moved on.
Shopped around and stopped in another lot a while later, and saw a Green 99' cherokee in a lot great condition, pretty low miles, and it looked amazing, I told my dad I had to have this, and kept begging him. For some reason I fell in love with it. We brought my mom back and showed her, and then the next day my dad decided I could get it.
Then decided I liked big cars, and wanted to put a lift on it and decided that offroading seemed wicked awsome. The first time I did some offroading I came home with some clear coat scratches, and was threatened to have my car taken away by my parents. I then offroaded in secret and realized a couple months later that my dad bascially goes offroading for his job because he is in control of everything environmental around the ANG base near us, and the first time I actually drove a car besides my driveway was offroad. Well I got in an arguement and he said sure you can go, and my parents realized that their efforts were futile and I was going to go no matter what.
Then I decided to take my car offroad and give it some character (beat it to shit).
'99 cherokee sport, 4.O Auto with 96,000Mi, 4.5 RE lift, 32" BFG.
ladywolf
UH-60L Jeep Chick
- Location
- Clarksville TN
always wanted a jeep, ever since i was little....bugged the hell out of my dad to let me keep his 50 flattie (which he promptly sold), joined the military, bought a 95 dodge pickup (bad idear) traded it in a year later on my 99xj, had it for 3 years, traded it in on my 05 baja cuz i needed something better on gas mileage (still regret gettin rid of it), had a lift bought for it, brother bought that and put it on his wifes 90 xj, went to iraq the first trip, came home and bought my cj5, went to iraq again in november, put it out to the NW crew that i was in the market for a 2dr XJ, and lo and behold avanteone had one that was the right price for what i was lookin for, and whaddya know? now i've got another cherokee
it needs TLC (for which i was home to go give it) and i forsee lots of mods in the future (after i fork over the money for all the pieces parts) that and i found the perfect paint color (thanx capt)
it needs TLC (for which i was home to go give it) and i forsee lots of mods in the future (after i fork over the money for all the pieces parts) that and i found the perfect paint color (thanx capt)mrrbby
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Huntington, Vermont
I bought mine off of Ebay. Lifted, and very abused, and definetely not maintained. Advertised as a 1996 Cherokee sport dr, lifted 6", safari snorkel, 33's (half tread), nice stereo, aluminum wheels, fender flares, header is cracked, never been stuck (Too damn funny, wasn't trying hard enough). No reserve. That wasn't the vehicle I found though...
The flares were stock TJ (ugly, but they do the job), the rear lift springs were bent, front driveshaft was bent, passenger side brake caliper was hanging on with one bolt, the front differential was shot (housing was good, internals were shot), the 33's were bald and mismatched, the diffs were full of black goo, the exhaust was full of holes, the header was cracked (as advertised), and the custom stereo mysteriously disappeared before I picked it up. It was still a bargain at $2100. A fairly rust-free jeep in upstate NY, already lifted. My friends and I spent a couple of months fixing most of the problems, and getting it ready for the trail. Thanks to the last owner, I can fit 35's in my wheelwells with only 6" of lift. Runs and wheels like a champ now. It was still cheaper than buying a nice one at market value, and getting all new stuff. As an added bonus, I now know how to change out bearings and axles shafts. Now if I could just fix that daggone check engine light...
The flares were stock TJ (ugly, but they do the job), the rear lift springs were bent, front driveshaft was bent, passenger side brake caliper was hanging on with one bolt, the front differential was shot (housing was good, internals were shot), the 33's were bald and mismatched, the diffs were full of black goo, the exhaust was full of holes, the header was cracked (as advertised), and the custom stereo mysteriously disappeared before I picked it up. It was still a bargain at $2100. A fairly rust-free jeep in upstate NY, already lifted. My friends and I spent a couple of months fixing most of the problems, and getting it ready for the trail. Thanks to the last owner, I can fit 35's in my wheelwells with only 6" of lift. Runs and wheels like a champ now. It was still cheaper than buying a nice one at market value, and getting all new stuff. As an added bonus, I now know how to change out bearings and axles shafts. Now if I could just fix that daggone check engine light...
frankenstang57
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- loveland, colorado
After 5 year of racing in the GRM $200x Challenge, this year will be my last. My wife and I wanted a slowerpaced more family orientated motorsport to participate in, so we decided on 4 wheelin'. Heck, Moab is only 4hrs away, way better than the 40 each way to Florida. Long story short, I found a 3.5" Rubicon super-flex kit on a Jeep at Pull-N-Save in Denver. Though I didn't have an XJ at the time, I picked it up with shocks for about $80. I bought my '89 XJ for $400 at a salvage auction. All it needed was a front bumper, grille, and a windshield. $600 for a set of 33" BFG MT's, a little trimming, 'vola!
xjaddiction
NAXJA Member #666
The XJ I saw at a dealership. Wouldn't sell because it had a ProCrap lift and DW . They sent a rookie to an auction for some quality used cars and he picked up a lifted 4x4. He got fired over it I found out later. You should have seen the salesman when I wanted to take it for a test drive. He was scared shitless, I didn't understand why at the time. I guess he had a little heavier DW experience in it. When we were gettin on the interstate, he told me not to go too fast... "since it was lifted and all". When we hit that bridge and I felt the smallest little pre-DW shimmy.. I thought, just some bad balance... When I saw it the first time it was on the spinning lift at the dealership. It had "Big Bad Boy" written accross the windshield (ahhhaaa!, it had 235x75x15's on it)). A month later after selling my Scrambler, it was still there drastically reduced. I didn't know what I was getting myself into. That was May 2000. I built it and wheeled it, for 5 years. I loved that Jeep more than anything I had owned previously (until my MJ I have now).I traded it May 2005, and added some boot for a Ford F-150 Super Crew with 60,000 miles and 12"es of lift with 37 Claws. I would still see the XJ in town, and every time I did my heart would sink a bit. Less than a year later it was sold on EBAY... where oh where did she go...
After selling my XJ I was going to get out of the 4 wheelin' sport... Then I saw a really great deal on a Long bed MJ with 4.0 and auto with 6"es of lift...
The MJ was a friend of mines, had a Rusty's lift on it dana 35, and 30. He went to war. Came back and put some dents on it, then traded with another friend of mine. I traded an '93 ZJ for it, along with help building it to it's current state ; 8 to 9"es of lift, 38's Dana 44's, 5:13's etc.
I couldn't be happier with the MJ...
After selling my XJ I was going to get out of the 4 wheelin' sport... Then I saw a really great deal on a Long bed MJ with 4.0 and auto with 6"es of lift...
The MJ was a friend of mines, had a Rusty's lift on it dana 35, and 30. He went to war. Came back and put some dents on it, then traded with another friend of mine. I traded an '93 ZJ for it, along with help building it to it's current state ; 8 to 9"es of lift, 38's Dana 44's, 5:13's etc.
I couldn't be happier with the MJ...
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dj's 2000 xj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Edwardsville, IL
I was driving along with the G/F and looking for cheap xj. Saw an older style for sale at a major auto seller. Test drove it, said I wanted to think about it, the salesman dropped 2000 off asking price in 5 minutes. So, I wanted to wait because it only 80,000 mile and was like 9 or 10 yrs old. Happened to see the 2000 (my current xj) and thought it looked shiny, so I looked. Wanted $13,500. Just traded in, old lady, 24,000 miles. In July 2004 mind you. Salesman called G/F following monday wanting to know I wanted it, she said lets talk price. He said I'll call back in 5 min. He calls back, $10,162! I said, I'll come and get it tonight! The manager quoted price from a 02 liberty with 85,000 miles on it! They stuck to their price and I got sweet ride! To keep jis job, I agreed to pay $10,662 what they gave old for trade-in. I beleive in Karma. Anyway, title shows up with death ceertificate, GH/F thinks their was a fatal in it, turns out need that as proof of signature from previous owners. Long story, but good fininsh, right? Anyway, just lifted 4 1/2" day after thanksgiving 2005 and cant wheel until over 100,000. Now G/F is Fiance', and co-owner. Good news is speedo reads 52,000. Anyway, happy wheeling! p.s. Just picked up a 1987 pioneer, from Tow/Salvage auction that runs but leaks trans fluid. Maybe have rig for cheap. Later.....
- Location
- NC Sandhills
Back in the latter part of 1999 I was looking for an M715 or older Kaiser era J-truck... to replace the hole in my wallet that was two early CJ2s. The big Jeeps were elusive, but I did find a Colorado Red 89 MJ 4.0, 4x4 with the metric ton axle/springs. Traded an 85 FS Chevy PU and some coins.
That led to another CO Red 87 4.0l/2wd MJ, an 89 trail beater XJ 4dr (with a CO Red hatch), a CO Red 88 4dr Limited, and a blue 90 4dr Limited. (both the Limiteds are 4.0, AW4, 242, D35)
Possibly getting another $200 XJ this week... supposedly it's a "V6 needing a tranny" It is also CO red LOL... intent is getting it to strip off crash parts only, then junking it. (OTOH if it is a I6 that runs well, I've got a couple gearboxes and such)
Presently doing the commuter thing with the 88 Limited, but it's sees a mild trail once in a while. I have 'most of' the junk to properly lift it 3-4," and hope to have it completed in a month or so.
That led to another CO Red 87 4.0l/2wd MJ, an 89 trail beater XJ 4dr (with a CO Red hatch), a CO Red 88 4dr Limited, and a blue 90 4dr Limited. (both the Limiteds are 4.0, AW4, 242, D35)
Possibly getting another $200 XJ this week... supposedly it's a "V6 needing a tranny" It is also CO red LOL... intent is getting it to strip off crash parts only, then junking it. (OTOH if it is a I6 that runs well, I've got a couple gearboxes and such)
Presently doing the commuter thing with the 88 Limited, but it's sees a mild trail once in a while. I have 'most of' the junk to properly lift it 3-4," and hope to have it completed in a month or so.
Tom in KY
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Western Kentucky
My Xj was sitting on a small-time car lot in Princeton KY. One of maybe 20 cars. I was headed for the lake and in a hurry, but I hopped out and looked at it. Nobody around, so I left and tried to forget about it. A month later, I was down there again. Nobody around, tried harder to forget about it. I saw it sit for 3 more months. Finally, I was driving by, headed for the lake, and a salesman was out on the lot. I stopped and talked. $3750.00? I walked away. Winter came, then Spring, I saw that salesman on the same lot with all new cars except for that XJ. I stopped. He dropped $1750.00 off of the price. I said I've got $500.00. He said I'll do a lay-away. A month later, I was home looking at it and feeling screwed. Not as bad as if I had paid $3750.00,, but $2000.00 worth of car-lot rape. I got over it. I only have $3000.00 in it now and I've been driving it for 6 years. Not bad.
- Location
- Torrance, CA
Second XJ:
Coming back from an Adopt-A-Trail meeting I dropped by Cal's place to pick up a rear seat he relayed for me. He mentioned a $500 XJ. Some two months later I finally went and bought it, I'm still waiting on the DMV's green light to title it (no title, having to do a lien sale).
http://events.sequoia4x4.com/v/20060313-newjeep/
Coming back from an Adopt-A-Trail meeting I dropped by Cal's place to pick up a rear seat he relayed for me. He mentioned a $500 XJ. Some two months later I finally went and bought it, I'm still waiting on the DMV's green light to title it (no title, having to do a lien sale).
http://events.sequoia4x4.com/v/20060313-newjeep/
AgentXJ203
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Pittsburgh PA
Back in 2003, I was on financial skids. I was living at home after a failed apartment venture with an old friend (never do that). My Bronco's exhaust valve had failed and I was running over 70 miles per day on my Mother's Taurus while waiting on the replacement part. A family friend needed some cabinets built for his daughter, and had a red/silver 89 XJ Country (originally a Laredo, but it was badged as a Country when I got it) to trade. It was a gem on arrival, sporting 189,000 miles, a 4.0L HO engine, the AW4 trans, NP242 TCase, leather seats, alloy wheels, CD changer, car phone, and a sunroof (that wound up sucking). The trade was made in September of 2003. I was the only one to ever drive it.
After the first night of driving it, the transmission (AW4) refused to recognize 1st gear anymore. I parked it the next morning, and the family friend had it trucked away to be fixed. It came back in Early November, and I drove it until the middle of the month, when the transmission failed again. He had it trucked out once again and fixed. I got the thing back in March 2004. In April 2004, a drunk 16-year-old girl ran a stop sign and took my back bumper, corner sheet metal, and passenger tail light with her as she ran home. After that, it had some minor engine and vibration issues until the motor mounts broke in August of 2004. After replacing those, the truck ceased to fail catastrophically on a regular basis, so I began upfitting it for my hobby (storm chasing/storm spotting/volunteer public safety). Some of these moves included deleting the crappy aftermarket sunroof, lifting it 2", getting 31" tires, and installing equipment like radios, weather stations, and a lightbar.
My mother gave it to me this month, when guess what failed again (the crappy AW4!!!). I have purchased another AW4 with 160K miles on it, and will be bolting it in next Monday. I am slowly working all of the kinks out of it, and have bigger future plans for it. I plan on equipping it with a snorkel, raised vent and exhaust, a 4" lift, H4 modular headlights, KC Off-Road Lights, a winch and winch bumper, and Dana 44 axles with 3.55 gears, 4 wheel discs, and ARB air lockers.
So far, the clock is at 213,000 and shows no signs of stopping!!!
After the first night of driving it, the transmission (AW4) refused to recognize 1st gear anymore. I parked it the next morning, and the family friend had it trucked away to be fixed. It came back in Early November, and I drove it until the middle of the month, when the transmission failed again. He had it trucked out once again and fixed. I got the thing back in March 2004. In April 2004, a drunk 16-year-old girl ran a stop sign and took my back bumper, corner sheet metal, and passenger tail light with her as she ran home. After that, it had some minor engine and vibration issues until the motor mounts broke in August of 2004. After replacing those, the truck ceased to fail catastrophically on a regular basis, so I began upfitting it for my hobby (storm chasing/storm spotting/volunteer public safety). Some of these moves included deleting the crappy aftermarket sunroof, lifting it 2", getting 31" tires, and installing equipment like radios, weather stations, and a lightbar.
My mother gave it to me this month, when guess what failed again (the crappy AW4!!!). I have purchased another AW4 with 160K miles on it, and will be bolting it in next Monday. I am slowly working all of the kinks out of it, and have bigger future plans for it. I plan on equipping it with a snorkel, raised vent and exhaust, a 4" lift, H4 modular headlights, KC Off-Road Lights, a winch and winch bumper, and Dana 44 axles with 3.55 gears, 4 wheel discs, and ARB air lockers.
So far, the clock is at 213,000 and shows no signs of stopping!!!
ladywolf
UH-60L Jeep Chick
- Location
- Clarksville TN
GSequoia said:
wow, WA dmv is easier about titleing. when i bought my current XJ from avanteone, he went to the DOL and had a statement saying that he had done work on it from a guy, and when the guy couldnt afford it, he kept it. got it stamped and legalized by the notary, along with a bill of sale, and i walked into the DMV. walked out 15 minutes later holding my new tabs and was told my title would be in the mail and i'd get it in about a month
trintek
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- san antonio & terlingua, tx
I wrecked my motorcycle and the last vehicle i owned was quickly dying, so... I took a job with a friend of mine that was starting a tech support and cabling company, the first job i took with him paid out roughly 1k after taxes, so hit the streets to find a vehicle. I had a choice between a 91 honda civic in fair condition; a 95 subaru awd station wagon in great condition; and an 84 jeep cherokee 2 door with rusted out drivers side floor pan, extreme amount of vacuum issues, bald tires, almost dead fuel pump, fouled up carb, busted up marker lights, dead clutch master that fouled the hell out of the fuse box and wiring, and a blown front shock...
To make a long story short, i took a 300 dollar loan and bought the jeep.. sure its beat to hell and still needs much work, but... it was the only vehicle with a manual 5 speed, 2 4wd modes, and was easy to modify.
The jeep is still beat up, but this week i installed a new weber 1 barrel carb, replaced the plugs, wires, rotor, and distributor cap, added a tow bar to the front, installed a new clutch master, and am taking it to the chihuahua desert for use as my main trail rig. It still has a long way to go, but it is getting there.
To make a long story short, i took a 300 dollar loan and bought the jeep.. sure its beat to hell and still needs much work, but... it was the only vehicle with a manual 5 speed, 2 4wd modes, and was easy to modify.
The jeep is still beat up, but this week i installed a new weber 1 barrel carb, replaced the plugs, wires, rotor, and distributor cap, added a tow bar to the front, installed a new clutch master, and am taking it to the chihuahua desert for use as my main trail rig. It still has a long way to go, but it is getting there.
A guy I know in the frie department had a 90 2 door that he was in love with. I told him about 8 years ago to let me know when he was ready to part with it. So last Nov. he was told by his mechanic that he needed a new engine for it. He was then ready to part with it instead of paying for a new engine. I paid him $500 for it and it now runs like a top. Of coarse I did have to put a new engine in it.
SuperRA
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Santa Clara, CA
My family bought mines in 87 when i was 11 yrs old. It was mainly a car for my brother. He then took it with him when he got married. Come 2006, he's ready to get rid of it because it's showing its age and starting to run too "dirty" for CA. So I swoop in and save the day! =)
I currently own the first three cars my family ever bought. Yea, call me sentimental...
I currently own the first three cars my family ever bought. Yea, call me sentimental...
Gerr
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- River Drive Norco Ca 92860
I got mine 2 years ago this week acording to the bill of sale, bought a 93 4 door 5 speed 4x4 with 137,257 miles for $1200 from a really nice older guy who lost his licensea few months before that. (I still see him around town once in a while as he shakes his head at what ive done to his baby) 4 inch lift roof rack home fab bumper and another 80,000 miles+
IXNAYXJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Wherever the next race is.
I was at work one day (at a large domestic car dealership) and this little white 2-door Cherokee was coming in trade. One of my duties is appraising the trade-ins. Well I got to looking at it, and despite the 170,000 miles, it was straight as a pin, had a H.O. 4.0, 5-speed and 4WD. I thought to myself it would be a fun little trail rig.
Since it was my job to appraise it, I kinda fudged the value to $500, paid the dealership $1000 for it and drove it home that night. It got a 3" lift and some 31"s later that week, and I wheeled it that weekend for the first time in both my life, and the Jeep's. Now, untold thousands of dollars later, I've got 33" swampers, 6" of lift, TnT LA's a winch etc....
Couldn't be happier!
-----Matt-----
Since it was my job to appraise it, I kinda fudged the value to $500, paid the dealership $1000 for it and drove it home that night. It got a 3" lift and some 31"s later that week, and I wheeled it that weekend for the first time in both my life, and the Jeep's. Now, untold thousands of dollars later, I've got 33" swampers, 6" of lift, TnT LA's a winch etc....
Couldn't be happier!
-----Matt-----
BattyBlueXJ
NAXJA Member #1270
- Location
- Albany, NY
for my first jeep i went to a dealer auction and got a 2 door 94 xj with 120000miles on it for 1000bucks put about 200 bucks in it over 2years wheeled the hell out of it stock(thats how i got hooked). I was planning on bringing it to a junk yard when it broke but it was still going so i sold it for 900 bucks. Then when i got out of college found a nice 93 xj with not a spot of rust a brand new rebuilt engine, breaks,...blah blah blah got it for 3000k. The funny part or "stupid of me part" was i took it for a test drive on a back country road and drove the pass side tire up the side of a hill to see if it would flex. Well lets just say it didnt and two tires were now off the ground and i was about to tip over. I told my buddy to get out and push but he was scared we would tip over if he got out. Well long story longer he got out slowly and pushed me off the hill. lol. I bought my rk lift kit and some tires that same day i got the jeep.
