XJ for my son's first car?

[Fish'nCarz]

I'm going to help my son buy his first car later this summer. I'm thinking an XJ because I know how to work on them, they are pretty reliable and tough, and you can't fit a bunch of kids in it. But it doesn't get good mileage, particularly. If we do end up getiing a Cherokee, which one would you buy?

 

[motorcityxj]

I'm going to help my son buy his first car later this summer. I'm thinking an XJ because I know how to work on them, they are pretty reliable and tough, and you can't fit a bunch of kids in it. But it doesn't get good mileage, particularly. If we do end up getiing a Cherokee, which one would you buy?

hmm well depends on your budget. Not sure if this is kids money or yours, if your spending 9 grand you can have a sweet xj and pick from anything out there

I would get 1994 or when ever the first year with standard airbag. Make that the oldest you would go. Also that would ensure you get the high pinion d30 for sure, hopefully the 8.25 rear.

So get anything with drivers airbag, aw4, 4.0. I wouldnt worry about door config color, options etc who cares. Just get it as cheap and as rust free as possible. well actually i would look for one that doesnt have a moonroof or sunroof.

I would get him the 242 transfer case if your in the city, or he does mixed driving on dirt and paved. I wouldnt trust a 16 year old not to forget he left the 231 in 4wd, or for him to think its enough "moisture" on the roads.

 

[sandman]

I bought an XJ for my first vehicle about a year ago. I liked that it was cheap and if I bumped or bruised it while gaining experience, who cares? I'm also glad I was in it three months to the day after I bought it, when another guy pulled out in front of me while I was going 45. Jeep=0, Honda=0, but I walked away and the other guy was out for a little while. Having something with a little more sheetmetal will better protect you in an accident. I know if we would have traded vehicles, I wouldn't have been so lucky, and he wouldn't have gotten that noggin bruiser.
If you end up getting a Cherokee, just make sure its cheap and all the important stuff is in good shape, like the motor and tranny. If the body has some dents and the paint sucks, so what. It's his first car. The big idea is to get something safe, cheap, and reliable so you can learn how to drive. Although, I do love hearing about guys at school twisting up their brand new audis cause they didn't know how to drive, then hearing about how their parents freaked, lol.

 

[Fish'nCarz]

hmm well depends on your budget. Not sure if this is kids money or yours, if your spending 9 grand you can have a sweet xj and pick from anything out there

I would get 1994 or when ever the first year with standard airbag. Make that the oldest you would go. Also that would ensure you get the high pinion d30 for sure, hopefully the 8.25 rear.

So get anything with drivers airbag, aw4, 4.0. I wouldnt worry about door config color, options etc who cares. Just get it as cheap and as rust free as possible. well actually i would look for one that doesnt have a moonroof or sunroof.

I would get him the 242 transfer case if your in the city, or he does mixed driving on dirt and paved. I wouldnt trust a 16 year old not to forget he left the 231 in 4wd, or for him to think its enough "moisture" on the roads.

Good points. I wuz thinkin' 96' and up. I don't know if I'm a big fan of the 242. I have had 3 XJs with the 231 and have not had any trouble with them.
Yet.

 

[Matthew Currie]

Pretty much agree with the above. I should mention that despite being something of a space cadet and not very mechanical, my stepson managed to go for about 6 years without apparently forgetting to take his XJ out of 4WD when he was supposed to, and never crashed it even in the snow, and I think a well trained kid should be capable of driving a part time 4WD.

 

[rocklandxjer]

xj was/is my first vehicle.

id reccomend it to ANYONE. if he wants to go fishing or camping, a stock chero will handle it. its got plenty of room for carrying [anything really]

they arent exactly the FASTEST things out there, so you wont have to worry too much about speeding. they are reliable, and sturdy, and tough in accidents [very resiliant]

also, VERY easy to learn about. id recommend teaching him how to work on it and fix various things. get him to know the vehicle inside and out, and a chero is REALLY user friendly, so that wont be a problem.

i vote 94+, any tranny as long as it shifts smoothly, any Tcase as long as its smooth, and any axle [unless you plan on upgrading the thing, then 8.25]

CHECK FOR RUST. it sucks, ill leave it at that.

look at the motor, if it is relatively clean then the owner probably took good care of it, if its dirty and greasy and stuff, its likely that the P.O didnt really care. same goes for the inside.

good luck.
Travis

 

[JNickel101]

My vote...97-99. HPD30, 29 spline C8.25, AW4 tranny, 231TC...these years had the good head castings and the better header/exhaust setup.

Also vote best dad ever to any dad who gets their kid an XJ!!!

 

[Begster]

Same, my XJ was, and still is my first car. I bought it back when I was 16, and its still going strong now that I'm 19. Well, running that is, not driving at the moment, but that was an offroad mishapp, and hopefully will be fixed before the weekend.

I got a '99 cause I saw it on a lot and fell in love with it. I would vote for a '99 because I love the new body style, you can find some in good condition for relatively low money, HP D30, coiless ignition, etc.

Before I put my lift on, I got great gas mileage. I was driving 15 miles one way to school every day, to work on the weekends with the same distance, and then some every day after school and at night on the weekends. Before I lifted mine I was able to go two full weeks on one tank.

I also take some offence to the comment about getting the 231. Not all kid drivers are retahded like most adults think. I've worked on my car so much over the period I've gotten it, from tune ups, oil changes, fluid changes, to full brake jobs, helping on my initial lift, then putting in new leaf springs by myself, and then removing my front axle then replacing it by myself, SYE and driveshaft. My mom once told my dad to come help me. He replied by saying he couldn't, he had never even done any of the stuff I have done to my Jeep, so he wouldn't have been any help. He has been impressed with most of the stuff I have done.

I couldn't wait to get my licence because it signified freedom for me, and I could go wherever I wanted, when I wanted, and I didn't have to wait for my parents to drop me off. For this reason I learned everything I could about driving. Also, its not like kids don't have common sence. (don't make an arguement about kids going off and drinking and driving or doing drugs, because you as well as I know that adults do it just as much. I know some kids who have even smoked with their parents before) If he gets a 231, then simply tell him not to use it on dry pavement, and only in snow or offroad like that, then if hes not a complete knucklehead, he will listen. He will probably have a sence of pride in his brand new to him car that he won't want to screw it up that fast. I'm sure he will probably know how to use 4 wheel drive better than some soccer mom or lady like that in her Mercedes SUV that thinks because of all the money she paid on it, and that it has 4 wheel drive, nothing will stop her from getting to the store, and she can brake just as easily in snow and ice than she could if it were sunny out.

As for the power, that thing does have some power. Here and there I have had a little fun, and I have been able to burn my friend's Saab 900 off the line, another friends Audi, an old school oldsmobile, and even a friends Porsche 944. (Yes, I infact have burnt him off the line with my lift and 32's. He did come back in a couple of seconds to compltely smoke me, but I did take the lead for a while).

I've had many good times in my Jeep and its always been there and never let me down. I would definitely recommend it.

But back to the XJ. I would definitely do it, and you'll have some security to know that if it does start snowing out or its bad out, he is driving a safe reliable and proven SUV that you yourself have knowledge and experience driving.

 

[alwaysready]

i always planned on getting my kids a pickup.( due to the fact they can only have 2 others in the car legally and no backseat ). i got my first ticket 7 days after getting my license(ahh 16 years ago) i had 6 people in the car including me and had the radio going. didnt see the cop behind me.( some improper lane usage, still dont know exactly why ) if i had a kid that was 16 about now it would be a 95 ford f-150 with the 300 CI straight 6 auto and 4x4. i had one loved that truck,(32's mt's no lift) and they are as bullet proof as the jeep 4.0 and explorer 4.0's and inexpensive right now.
but if its going to be an XJ i would try to get a newer one because chance are they will have it for a long time. so find a clean one. as mentioned 99 older for the high pinion. get an auto.

 

[Fish'nCarz]

i always planned on getting my kids a pickup.( due to the fact they can only have 2 others in the car legally and no backseat ). i got my first ticket 7 days after getting my license(ahh 16 years ago) i had 6 people in the car including me and had the radio going. didnt see the cop behind me.( some improper lane usage, still dont know exactly why ) if i had a kid that was 16 about now it would be a 95 ford f-150 with the 300 CI straight 6 auto and 4x4. i had one loved that truck,(32's mt's no lift) and they are as bullet proof as the jeep 4.0 and explorer 4.0's and inexpensive right now.
but if its going to be an XJ i would try to get a newer one because chance are they will have it for a long time. so find a clean one. as mentioned 99 older for the high pinion. get an auto.

Yeah, an auto. I thought that a stick would be a good learning car, until I remembered burning my first clutch when I didn't have money to fix it and calling my old man from college to borrow $400. Or all the times I stalled on stops on hills in southern Indiana. If he goes off road anywhere, auto means one less thing to worry about and lets him concentrate on more important stuff. I know there are a lot of folks that still think a jeep with an auto isn't a jeep, but there are still folks that think a 4x4 without locking hubs is only a mall crawler.

 

[Starboard M]

Same, my XJ was, and still is my first car. I bought it back when I was 16, and its still going strong now that I'm 19. Well, running that is, not driving at the moment, but that was an offroad mishapp, and hopefully will be fixed before the weekend.

I got a '99 cause I saw it on a lot and fell in love with it. I would vote for a '99 because I love the new body style, you can find some in good condition for relatively low money, HP D30, coiless ignition, etc.

Before I put my lift on, I got great gas mileage. I was driving 15 miles one way to school every day, to work on the weekends with the same distance, and then some every day after school and at night on the weekends. Before I lifted mine I was able to go two full weeks on one tank.

I also take some offence to the comment about getting the 231. Not all kid drivers are retahded like most adults think. I've worked on my car so much over the period I've gotten it, from tune ups, oil changes, fluid changes, to full brake jobs, helping on my initial lift, then putting in new leaf springs by myself, and then removing my front axle then replacing it by myself, SYE and driveshaft. My mom once told my dad to come help me. He replied by saying he couldn't, he had never even done any of the stuff I have done to my Jeep, so he wouldn't have been any help. He has been impressed with most of the stuff I have done.

I couldn't wait to get my licence because it signified freedom for me, and I could go wherever I wanted, when I wanted, and I didn't have to wait for my parents to drop me off. For this reason I learned everything I could about driving. Also, its not like kids don't have common sence. (don't make an arguement about kids going off and drinking and driving or doing drugs, because you as well as I know that adults do it just as much. I know some kids who have even smoked with their parents before) If he gets a 231, then simply tell him not to use it on dry pavement, and only in snow or offroad like that, then if hes not a complete knucklehead, he will listen. He will probably have a sence of pride in his brand new to him car that he won't want to screw it up that fast. I'm sure he will probably know how to use 4 wheel drive better than some soccer mom or lady like that in her Mercedes SUV that thinks because of all the money she paid on it, and that it has 4 wheel drive, nothing will stop her from getting to the store, and she can brake just as easily in snow and ice than she could if it were sunny out.

As for the power, that thing does have some power. Here and there I have had a little fun, and I have been able to burn my friend's Saab 900 off the line, another friends Audi, an old school oldsmobile, and even a friends Porsche 944. (Yes, I infact have burnt him off the line with my lift and 32's. He did come back in a couple of seconds to compltely smoke me, but I did take the lead for a while).

I've had many good times in my Jeep and its always been there and never let me down. I would definitely recommend it.

But back to the XJ. I would definitely do it, and you'll have some security to know that if it does start snowing out or its bad out, he is driving a safe reliable and proven SUV that you yourself have knowledge and experience driving.

Similar to me, got my first Jeep when I was 15, and am 19 now. Its changed slightly since then.

Ask your son what he wants. He might want an eco box instead of a cherokee, or a truck instead of a eco box. You as the parent have the right to say no to anything, but try asking him, as he might have some idea. Personally I wanted a mustang, but for some reason my dad wouldnt let me get one:laugh:

Does your son like to wheel, or work on cars? If he knows something about cars, he probably wont forget to take it out of 4hi. My girlfriend, who doesnt know a whole lot about cars, does know when to take it in and out of 4 wheel drive.

As for years, Id think some of the newer ones would be more reliable, and maybe more comfortable, but that seems to be a personal choice.

 

[Begster]

Personally I wanted a mustang, but for some reason my dad wouldnt let me get one:laugh:

Ya, I had the opportunity to get a '74 Corvette Stingray for $5,500, with 40k original miles, little cracking in the fiberglass up front, but in otherwise great condition. It was less than what I payed for my XJ, but my dad was just like nope absolutely not. I really wanted to find an old muscle car and fix it up. I actually hated the Cherokee before I got mine, thought they were ugly and everything when I saw one from the back in a lot one time. Then I saw mine and I've been all Jeep ever since.

And X2 on asking him what he wants, I bet he would be much more prone to caring for a car if it was something that he liked and picked out, rather than something that he might not particularly care for and was given to him.

 

[8Mud]

An XJ was the first car for my last three kids. Built like a brick and will take lick. Other than a rollover, one of the more robust autos out there. Much like the earlier model Mercedes or Volvo's.
The extra gas was worth the safety factor of an XJ.
The testers say the XJ. isn't all that safe. But from what I've seen the body doesn't crush very easily, it holds it's integrity well in most moderate crashes.
I became a believer when an XJ and a mid sized Chevy had a head on collision near us. Both were doing about forty, nether driver hit the brakes before the collision. The Chev looked like a bomb had gone off inside. Both the occupants in the XJ walked away, the passenger in the Chev died, the driver was seriously messed up. My wife T boned a compact car, pushed the passengers side B pillar all the way to the drivers elbow. I replaced the grill and a headlight bezel in the XJ, the headlight was still in one piece and still worked. It had a little ripple in one fender and a ding in the hood fascia.
Stock XJ's don't roll over well though. My second job (nights) for years, was Tow truck driver, I've seen a few wrecks.

 

[WaXJ_Skier]

I bet he would be much more prone to caring for a car if it was something that he liked and picked out, rather than something that he might not particularly care for and was given to him.

x2

I wanted an Xj for my first car but I found a really good deal on a minivan through a family friend. It was nice to have but I slacked on brakes, oil changes, etc. When I got my XJ that all changed because it's what I want. Now I tend to do all my maintainance 500-1000 miles before it needs to be done bacause I want my jeep to stay in good condition.

 

[POSJ]

You are asking the wrong crowd here. I would also say an XJ, I had a chance to buy one back when I first started driving it was a brand new yellow XJ and my mom wanted me to get it but I said no(kicking myself today). Instead I got a 1995 GMC Yukon 2 Door which I loved to death but the gas mileage was worse, it was harder to work on, parts cost more. You know the Pro's that go along with the XJ and the Con's aswell if the only thing that is a problem is the rollover threat. Invest in a single roll bar that will save his life, since that is all that really matters. Yes a full cage would be better and triangulated to hell blah blah blah. But really one good rollbar will save a life, and he would have a very sturdy ride that could take him places and have fun as a teen but still learn some stuff about vehicles in the long run. It's not fast, it's not "blingy", it's not a chick magnet. But it is an awesome first vehicle and I would have loved to have gotten one if I knew what I know now.
2 cents.

Tyler-

 

[RichP]

I put both my kids in wranglers, my son got hit head on in his while stopped at a stop sign, infinity cut a corner doing 50+ and BAM, drove him back 25ft with the brakes locked, two wreckers to remove the inifinity, nose seperated from the body, jeep drove home with a bent bumper, grill, fender, he drove it for another month or so till we found him a TJ.
Daughter in her TJ had a saturn turn left in front of her from the other direction, she was doing 40, T boned in B pillar, broke the saturn in half, big crack down roof, all 6 airbags blew, all glass blew. The TJ had a bent warn bumper, bent fender, broken turn signal and fender flare and a hard cover book on the dash cracked the windshield. The saturn's A pillar did most of the damage as the TJ was pretty well buried for a second before the saturn took off like a croquet ball into a utility pole and got the other side. Thats the TJ I drive now. The main reason I passed on an XJ is the body parts are harder to replace on them and I felt every kid should have a convertible at least once...

 

[Big Red]

I put both my kids in wranglers, my son got hit head on in his while stopped at a stop sign, infinity cut a corner doing 50+ and BAM, drove him back 25ft with the brakes locked, two wreckers to remove the inifinity, nose seperated from the body, jeep drove home with a bent bumper, grill, fender, he drove it for another month or so till we found him a TJ.
Daughter in her TJ had a saturn turn left in front of her from the other direction, she was doing 40, T boned in B pillar, broke the saturn in half, big crack down roof, all 6 airbags blew, all glass blew. The TJ had a bent warn bumper, bent fender, broken turn signal and fender flare and a hard cover book on the dash cracked the windshield. The saturn's A pillar did most of the damage as the TJ was pretty well buried for a second before the saturn took off like a croquet ball into a utility pole and got the other side. Thats the TJ I drive now. The main reason I passed on an XJ is the body parts are harder to replace on them and I felt every kid should have a convertible at least once...

Nothing wrong with those little Jeeps many people refer to them as "cheerleader Jeeps"! :dunno:
I really would have liked to have had a TJ by now, but people just want too much $ for them and you can pick up running XJs for under $1K many times, I think of myself as a Jeep recycler!

I've had 4 YJs, over a dozen XJs, and 3 ZJs over the past 4 years mostly (I buy and sell a lot). You really cannot go wrong with any of them. For the XJ I'd at least look for a 4.0L/AW4/231 or 242 with hopefully a 30/8.25 besides that just get the best one you can afford and that doesn't have any problems you can determine. Have fun!

Troy

 

[Teellandor]

Good points. I wuz thinkin' 96' and up. I don't know if I'm a big fan of the 242. I have had 3 XJs with the 231 and have not had any trouble with them.
Yet.

The 242 is junk in my opinion. Sure I got my rig cheap because the case had a big freakin hole in it, but when it barfed #2 I finally listened and swapped in a 231. No problems since.

As for years, 92-96 for cost and 97+ for the 'standard' bells and whistles.

...my 2 cents

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

I beg to differ about not being able to cram a bunch of kids into an XJ....but that's a different story

Anyways, I bought mine when I was 16, it was and still is my first vehicle. I Have been making payments to the bank ever since then, and still have about two more years on it (low monthly payment = long loan). Bought it with 62K on it, and it now has just over 94K, and the last 11K have come since last august (been doing about 300 miles a weekend on average, often times more). Had it for two years, got me through my last two years of HS and the part times jobs I was working. One of which was at pizza hut where I used to deliver in it (bad idea by the way...)

It's been dead reliable since the day I got it. Yeah i've done a couple of sensors, a gasket here and there, but i've also changed all fluids over the last two years, and learned a TON of how to do maint. on a vehicle in the process (my old man was a full time mechanic for well over 30 years, so I have a good teacher). Not to mention it's been through two major accidents (neither my fault) and it's still holding up great.

I think an XJ would be a great first vehicle. They run forever, parts are extremely easy to find, many parts work over a variety of the years of the XJ, and plus you have experience with one, which will come in very handy when he would need help fixing it.

Don't let the thought of a 242 scare you, i'd actually recommend it. I've got the 242 in my XJ and a 231 in mom's KJ and both have been rock solid reliable and given me absolutely no problems. My next jeep will have the 242 in it, as the full time feature is very handy in pouring rain, or on offroad surfaces where 4hi is a bit overkill, yet you run into some issues in 2wd. Being able to take sharp turns in full time with minimal wheel hop rocks!

My vote also goes for a 99, for the reasons mentioned above.....newer body style, upgraded intake, HP D30, distributor ignition, 0630 head, etc etc...

Shop around, there are some great deals out there on some great XJ's....i'm kickin myself that I paid as much as I did for mine, but it had low miles at the time and came from Carmax (wouln't be doing business there again), so I didn't really have any problems when I bought it. Except for the turn signal issue, output seal on the tcase started leaking, and a few other minor things, but they were all covered in their "we'll fix anything in the first 30 days" warranty....which I made sure I used to my full advantage

 

[Ghost]

I bought a 90 MJ recently. I was thinking about keeping to to give to my twinns to drive. That way they have to go together in the truck and not have any chicks distracting them while driving! Oh yea they are 8! LOL!