Help me spend my money on a new rig

[stoneydude]

3" lift and 31's from the looks of it hp30 it's a classic model so I'm not sure what rear it is, they mention anti-lock brakes so prob a d35 hopefully its 8.25 163k miles asking $5.5k I'll see what I can do with cash to talk em down. I'd love to get another jeep that way I can still wear my jeep hat lol

 

[stoneydude]

So what is a fair price for a Jeep Cherokee? This dealer is unwilling to budge on the price. They re painted the hood and front flares because of sun damage (not the greatest paint job ever), added a 3" lift and new 31's, new windshield that had a bunch of the sealing goop everywhere. It still needed an alignment after the lift, part of me worriies because they added a steering stabilizer I hope they aren't trying to cover up some death wobble. The interior is fair, no rips or tears, the center console is all over the place, one of the ac vents is missing, etc.
I tried to tell the guy my price would be $4k but he brushed me off and said someone would pay his price, I'm sure someone would.

 

[Shocker]

5.5 is too much IMHO. I would be very concerned with all the add-ons. The 3" might be crappy etc etc. I would pass. Way too many of these around to not wait.

I love the Cherokee. Excellent platform.

 

[stoneydude]

Ya I called him back to offer him ~$3750 for it and was trying to justify my price and he cut me off and says they just "sold it." 5 days later it is still on their site. I have a few more cars to look at today 1996 2 door tahoe 4x4 on the floor drop down tailgate (isn't that a country song?) and another 1996 4runner that has a sonoran steel 1.2 kit and arb bumper he's asking $5.5k we'll see fingers crossed

 

[4x4junkie]

well between 1995 and 2002 I turned wrenches for several used car lots in so cal. everyone used to call explorers "ford exploders". not to potential customers of course. this was due to the multitude of problems. not major problems but a multitude of small problems. not that they were the worse vehicles that came through the lots believe me several were much worse off. some models and brands were hands off. highdesertranger

The automatic transmission was about the only real sore spot on Explorers. From what I have seen, it's more due to inadequate factory cooling allowing the trans to constantly run hot, leading to problems (the trans itself seems fairly robust if it's kept cool).

Add on an external auxiliary cooler and I think you'd have a pretty solid rig with that. The 8.8" rear axle is actually highly sought-after by Jeep guys to replace the weaker axles their vehicles come with. The D35 IFS front on the other hand is mostly unremarkable, but will hold it's own quite well if you're not outright abusing it (the frontends on '91-'94 Explorers were far more robust & modifiable, but not sure if that's older than what you're looking for).

 

[Shocker]

Those 2 door Tahoe/Yukons are cool IMHO. I have always like them.

 

[trasko]

I was in your shoes and I went w/ a '98 Cherokee 5-speed. $3800 and it's a known platform. 200k miles, though. It'll work for camping, 4-wheeling and general use. Cheap to fix. Sounds like you aren't too picky so you'll find something. I also drove a 2002 Trooper for awhile and it was solid. Felt like a quality car for the money. The automatics in the '98s and up (I think) are known to take a dump around 120k (every 120k). Given that a rebuild is near the purchase price you should scrutinize the tranny's history.

 

[BigSwede]

I have a few more cars to look at today 1996 2 door tahoe 4x4 on the floor drop down tailgate (isn't that a country song?)

I used to have a 97 2-door Tahoe. It was a nice rig in many ways actually, but it is heavy and wiiiiiide on the trail. Probably not that bad for wheeling in the wide-open west, but in the woods back home the trees tended to beat it up.

 

[stioc]

From your initial list I'd pick the 4Runner, then the Liberty. Another option would be a 2.5gen Montero. Or the truck I have; understated and undervalued but not a slouch even in tough company

 

[Martinjmpr]

Around here you can get an Explorer of that vintage for less than half what they're asking there. Get one with a manual and avoid all the AT problems altogether. $3k on a decent explorer + a couple grand to fix the little things that always seem to go wrong with an older vehicle and you've got a decent 4x4.

That Cherokee was insanely overpriced. $5.5k? I've seen 2000 - 2001 4x4 XJs in "soccer mom" condition go for $2000 - $2500 here in CO.

 

[stoneydude]

Stioc, I just saw a 2001 Pathfinder for sale online and found myself looking through your thread. 117k miles they are asking $5500 or a 2002 Xterra SC with a lil over 100k miles for $5200. Both are great options, I like the Pathy for the more comfortable suspension can handle 31"s and a better DD. The X is cool and the SC makes up for the lack of power but I don't care too much for the looks. How much does the timing belt cost to replace on them?

My dad is loaning me the funds for this and he is much harder to please than I am.

 

[stioc]

The price sounds about right, I'm sure you can haggle it down at least a bit. The 2001 Pathfinder was the first year for the 3.5L engine so make sure it doesn't have the older 3.3L depending on the build date. You want that 3.5L. if you can find a 2002 even better as they got a few minor upgrades. The X have more aftermarket support for sure but I love my Pathfinder and wouldn't trade it for an Xterra unless I wanted to build a rock crawler. Especially a SC, very little power increase and not good gas mileage. You'll do much better with a VQ 3.5L in the pathy. Just my 2cents. Hop on over to the Nissan section there have been a couple of threads about the X vs. a Pathy. Good luck.

 

[Weekender41]

As much as I didnt want to like the Pathfinder... It has been great to me. Very comfortable and plenty of power. +1 for it.

 

[wreckdiver1321]

After owning a first gen Frontier with a VG33ER, I would advise you to stay away from the Xterra. That supercharger makes the already thirsty 3.3L even less efficient. With 235/85s on my Frontier, I would struggle to get 10 mpg in town and 13 mpg on the highway. Add wind and you're in for a short trip. The other effect that the SC adds is the decreased reliability. Knock sensors, already fickle on these engines, go out sooner, and the superchargers are lucky to make it past 100k.

I love the Xterra but I think that a Pathfinder is just as great a choice. It would be nicely comparable to your old Jeep, it's very comfortable, and it's got a decent amount of aftermarket support. Well, you've seen what stioc and Weekender41 have done with their vehicles. Plus I think they look very stylish. Nicely in your price range too. That's the great thing about Nissans. If you're buying, then the resale value is a great thing. You just get much more bang for your buck vs. a Toyota, as well as something with lower mileage.

 

[Expedition Ready]

Hi All,
Just read the posts on here and thought you I would share my LJ. Granted an LJ might not be what you are looking for but it shows with some knowledge and planning you can take any vehicle and outfit it to be extremely self sufficient. But it does come down to what do you want to use it for. I have had great success with grand cherokees as far as reliability. If you are just wanting to go out and explore the back roads and camp this would be a great platform to start with. However it does have it's weak points as stated in your previous post. I would suggest to go with a Toyota 4x4 or Jeep 4x4 with a solid front axle and not an IFS like a liberty.
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It is a 2005 Rubi with a 4.5 rubicon express lift on 35x12.50x15 trxus MT with an 15x8" Mickey Thompson classic wheel.
Onboard cold water 14 gallons, hot water 2.5 gallons. Onboard air with dual compressors so I can run air tools and inflate my tires in under 2 min. Custom Storage drawers with recovery gear, stove, pots and pans,food, extra propane, A folding toilet, Tie downs. Engel Fridge freezer with a custom made slider. Custom made roof rack with a roof top tent and awning. A cold air intake/snorkel.Hella ralley 5000 LED'S ralley 4000 with a set of black magics on the front bumper. ARB front and rear bumpers and a Warn Zeon 10k lb winch.