XJ for my son's first car?

[motorcityxj]

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.

a couple years ago the crash videos from national highway safety insitute, and the insurance agencey that does crash testing. The xj despite debuting in 1984 was superior to many if not all the korean cars in about 2001 2002. The crash videos and photos showed the main "problem" was the floor in the firewall area crumpling up a bit. Not a ton where your feet would get pressed in the dash for sure, but not as good as a late model volvo. The pillars did ok, where as many of the korean cars and suvs all crumpled up like a coke can in unpredictable mess, not a nice neat fold like the volvos do.

Also mentioned the gas. I would sacrifice the gas milage of an xj for the safety of its decent size, and increased ride hide provides much much more safety than an econo car like a civiv, focus etc. Unless he is commuting everyday across town how many miles can a kid put on where milage is such a concern.

 

[Teellandor]

Also mentioned the gas. I would sacrifice the gas milage of an xj for the safety of its decent size, and increased ride hide provides much much more safety than an econo car like a civiv, focus etc. Unless he is commuting everyday across town how many miles can a kid put on where milage is such a concern.

Oh yeah, I hear that the 97+ XJs get better miliaege than older stuff. I would hope they'd do something. <shrug>

 

[Fish'nCarz]

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.

He's wanted an XJ since I brought home Eric's book and left it out on the coffee table. I don't think he'd be happy keeping it stock long, but if he wants mods, he gets to buy them!

 

[motorcityxj]

Oh yeah, I hear that the 97+ XJs get better miliaege than older stuff. I would hope they'd do something. <shrug>

not enough to make it a deal breaker. Definately not the way a 16 year old drives. Make him buy the gas of course, milage be damned you know he will drive it like a race car. Make sure he keeps it tuned up properly to not waste money by the oil barrel, but i would cetainly not sweat a 1.5 MPG. I never noticed the EPA ratings going up much if at all post 1997. Your probably right they have better intake, distributorless ignition ... but that alone doesnt make a world beater milage machine on a 40 year old engine design.

 

[bajacalal]

I wish I had an XJ as a first car, no way I could have afforded one then, they really have come down in price in the last few years. My first ride was an old Chevy s10. No airbags, no ABS, no power steering and a transmission that needed synchros. It was the worlds slowest and most unreliable 2.8 litre ( I think it had been underwater). I put a quart of oil in it every 100 miles. Thats exactly what I want my kids to learn on. They are going to know how to double clutch if I can help it. I think a 2.5 litre 5 speed XJ would be perfect. Too bad gas is what it is now, when I was 16 I thought anything more than dollar a gallon was too much money. But I doubt your son is going to be doing much driving outside of your town so that shouldn't be such an issue.

They are tough little rides and I think it would be good if you and your son had something in common that you both enjoy.

 

[Starboard M]

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!

Unless its a bench seat...:moon:

 

[Ghost]

Unless its a bench seat...:moon:

Good point, I'll have to swap in some buckets at some time!

 

[xjtrailrider]

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!!!

X2, I think that 97' is the best all around year, although I bought my son a 00' with the bad head and its still going strong at 100k.

I have 4 XJ's, 90', 94', 96', and the 00'. My next one will be a low mileage 97'.

My $.02

 

[Fish'nCarz]

OKAY, I'm going to do this. Now I need to find a good, low mileage XJ from probably 95 - 96 on up in good shape for LOW DOUGH, in the Midwest (Michigan is best)! Will you guys help me and keep your eyes peeled for a likely candidate?

Probably be set to buy it after the middle of July (he gets his license July 12th) but could move earlier if its a great deal or needs some work. I'm not looking for a beater, but a good, used XJ he'll be proud to own and can mod-up as he gets the dough. He lives about 9 hours away in southern Indiana with his mom and I shudder to think what she'd think was a good first car. (Can you say Oldsmo-Buick?) Any leads, send me a PM. And thanks!

Brian

 

[Kittrell]

Whats your zip to give us a search area. As well as a top dollar.

 

[Fish'nCarz]

49735. But really anywhere from Bloomington, Indiana to the Mackinaw Bridge. It'd be really great if you are close enough to look at the car if you find one so I don't drive 5 hours to look over a POS.

Thanks again. As always, Rocks!

 

[Blaine B.]

I fit 7 in mine. Anything is possible