Amauri
Explorer
XJ's suck. Definitely don't buy one...
LOL. That XJ he posted reminds me a lot of yours. :smiley_drive:
Thinking of an XJ
- Thread starter Schattenjager
- Start date
LOL. That XJ he posted reminds me a lot of yours. :smiley_drive:
XXXpedition
Explorer
that's strange...
i had an XJ and sold it when it had over 250k on the clock.
it had an extremely hard life.
i had rolled it twice and did literally thousands of miles on corrugated roads through australia. the structural integrity of the unibody only failed because i had a 400-pound roofrack on top.
there are a handful of reliable great vehicles out there but
to me the XJ was the best vehicle i've ever owned.
never broke down, i only ever changed the alternator, water pump and power steering pump. i'd say that's quite good for the milage!
i know of another 3 XJ's (from friends) that have between 250k - 400k miles and still no issues, so i'd say they are reliable...
as to design: it's a taste issue
i found the seats ok
the way mine was build up it drove like a tractor, well that was ok with me - it was pretty modified... (the 2006 tacoma (stock) i ones test drove didn't drive nice either...)
i know that toyotas are reliable, too and don't want to say it's gotta be an XJ. i'd know a few different rigs i'd like, but the discussion here is not which is the best rig but what about XJs...
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Momrocks
Adventurer
I will only speak for my own XJ experience but I couldn't be much happier with mine. It gets down to your expectations and whether expectations are satisfied.
I think XJs are subject to a lot of generalization by many who don't own them. They are not a work of 'styling' art, they are not luxurious, they do not have handling characteristics of a touring car. They are very capable off-roaders, simplistic in their design, simple and inexpensive to maintain, very reliable, adequate for road use and all short comings are well known and very well addressed in a second to none aftermarket.
XJs are very prevalent and inexpensive. Their affordability results in many of them falling into the hands of young, inexperienced, and immature budding off-roaders. This segment of owners in their "experimental" stage tend to perform a myriad on ill conceived modifications. These poorly thought out, poorly executed and poorly integrated mods create those unsafe abominations you often see trailside or curbside, months before their ultimate destination to the crusher. These tragedies sadly taint most people's impression of Cherokees as a legitimate solution.
In my mind, dollar for dollar there isn't a better multipurpose off road vehicle out there. There is no mystery with XJs. Their strengths and weaknesses are well documented. You need to compare your expectations with Cherokee's abilities. For me the XJ has been a perfect solution for my camping and trail running needs. As a nice benefit, a large percentage of fortifications performed over the years have been done on the cheap by scouring Craigslist and the like.
:safari-rig:
I think XJs are subject to a lot of generalization by many who don't own them. They are not a work of 'styling' art, they are not luxurious, they do not have handling characteristics of a touring car. They are very capable off-roaders, simplistic in their design, simple and inexpensive to maintain, very reliable, adequate for road use and all short comings are well known and very well addressed in a second to none aftermarket.
XJs are very prevalent and inexpensive. Their affordability results in many of them falling into the hands of young, inexperienced, and immature budding off-roaders. This segment of owners in their "experimental" stage tend to perform a myriad on ill conceived modifications. These poorly thought out, poorly executed and poorly integrated mods create those unsafe abominations you often see trailside or curbside, months before their ultimate destination to the crusher. These tragedies sadly taint most people's impression of Cherokees as a legitimate solution.
In my mind, dollar for dollar there isn't a better multipurpose off road vehicle out there. There is no mystery with XJs. Their strengths and weaknesses are well documented. You need to compare your expectations with Cherokee's abilities. For me the XJ has been a perfect solution for my camping and trail running needs. As a nice benefit, a large percentage of fortifications performed over the years have been done on the cheap by scouring Craigslist and the like.
:safari-rig:
XXXpedition
Explorer
very well said!!!!
and since you mention it: i bought an XJ because it was cheaper than the toyota and the aftermarket was much wider AND less expensive, parts are readily available all throughout the states, even in a small town car part mart...
and since you mention it: i bought an XJ because it was cheaper than the toyota and the aftermarket was much wider AND less expensive, parts are readily available all throughout the states, even in a small town car part mart...
I know I always liked the XJ, and before I picked mine up it was between the XJ and an Xterra. A couple of reasons I picked the XJ were because parts are so available for them. I don't think I have ever been to a junkyard with out a bunch of them. And like mentioned before the aftermarket for these jeeps is huge. Also the simple body styling of their square like bodies makes it easy for most people to home brew bumpers and armor. I know there are some flaws with the design that people will argue about all day, but the only thing I see truly wrong with the XJ is the the use of torx head bolts. Other then that I wouldn't trade it for the world.
BIGdaddy
Expedition Leader
BIGdaddy
Expedition Leader
Yeah, I've salivated over that pic more than once!
deadbeat son
Explorer
You are correct, these are subjective items. I found the seats lacking in support (particularly in the lumbar region) and comfort.
Again, you are correct. I actually LIKE the way the XJ looks. I misused the term "aesthetic" where I should have used "ergonomic". It's the ergonomics I had difficulty with (again, subjective). For instance, when my seat was adjusted properly, I couldn't see a large portion of my instrument cluster for the steering wheel without moving my head around extensively. Similar to the blind spot I felt was caused by the rearview mirror placement on the windshield, this may not pertain to all, but I found it bothersome.
GTABurnout
Explorer
I had a 1996 XJ in college. It was stock height and I loved it. I tried to recreate that Jeep 2 years ago with a 2000 Low mile XJ. It Sucked. Death whooble even after the fancy steering kits. Seats sucked, mpg's sucked and just driving on the freeway was a chore. Any hill would make you be forced to go 60mph.
I would own another one but it would be a second or third truck so I would never again have to drive it on a long trip.
I would own another one but it would be a second or third truck so I would never again have to drive it on a long trip.
I've owned my '98 for 6 years. I had low expectations, because I bought it cheap, but this things just keeps going. I do have the means to buy something nicer, and have contemplated a 100 series cruiser. I soon come to my senses and realize that a swingout tire carrier or just the preventative maintenance for the toyota is nearly the entire cost I have into my Jeep.
At 230K, the only thing that will stop it is the salt they put on the roads up here. It looks nice enough, but I love not having so much wrapped up into a vehicle, that i worry about actually using it. I only pay about $30 a month in insurance, a couple hundred in gas (consistently 15-18 mpg), and the occasional oil change. If it gets totaled or bursts into flames tomorrow, it will have paid for itself many times over.
90% of the parts on my rig are generic autoparts store items, and quality used aftermarket upgrades from the local classifieds. I will keep driving this as I stockpile a large sum of cash for my next vehicle purchase.
At 230K, the only thing that will stop it is the salt they put on the roads up here. It looks nice enough, but I love not having so much wrapped up into a vehicle, that i worry about actually using it. I only pay about $30 a month in insurance, a couple hundred in gas (consistently 15-18 mpg), and the occasional oil change. If it gets totaled or bursts into flames tomorrow, it will have paid for itself many times over.
90% of the parts on my rig are generic autoparts store items, and quality used aftermarket upgrades from the local classifieds. I will keep driving this as I stockpile a large sum of cash for my next vehicle purchase.
The Adam Blaster
Expedition Leader
When I drove across Canada I had the 3" lift and 31" M/T's on it.
I drove across the country 3 times in 2006, the first time was pulling a trailer loaded with a bunch of my stuff as I was moving out here.
I drove the 3000 km distance 3 times between the winter and summer in that year. The seat was quite comfortable for me.
As for visibility/blind spots that deadbeat talks about, that has to be specific to his size of person, how he sat in the seat, etc.
I would test drive any vehicle before buying it and make sure the ergonomics were good for ME.
I drove across the country 3 times in 2006, the first time was pulling a trailer loaded with a bunch of my stuff as I was moving out here.
I drove the 3000 km distance 3 times between the winter and summer in that year. The seat was quite comfortable for me.
As for visibility/blind spots that deadbeat talks about, that has to be specific to his size of person, how he sat in the seat, etc.
I would test drive any vehicle before buying it and make sure the ergonomics were good for ME.
BIGdaddy
Expedition Leader
When I drove across Canada I had the 3" lift and 31" M/T's on it.
I drove across the country 3 times in 2006, the first time was pulling a trailer loaded with a bunch of my stuff as I was moving out here.
I drove the 3000 km distance 3 times between the winter and summer in that year. The seat was quite comfortable for me.
As for visibility/blind spots that deadbeat talks about, that has to be specific to his size of person, how he sat in the seat, etc.
I would test drive any vehicle before buying it and make sure the ergonomics were good for ME.
yup. agreed. I'm 6' tall and 260lbs, and my XJ fits pretty perfectly. very comfy seats.
mine's a 1992 Laredo pkg., just for reference.
Backwoods Rambler
Explorer
My biggest complaint about my XJ, which I otherwise love, is the narrow footwell on the drivers side. If it wasn't for that I would drop in a stroker or v8 and never look back. Instead, I'm on the lookout for an upgrade, probably a JK.
When you sit in one, if the driverside trans tunnel hump bothers you, don't buy one. It only gets worse, especially on longer trips.
When you sit in one, if the driverside trans tunnel hump bothers you, don't buy one. It only gets worse, especially on longer trips.