Any advice input to help me decide on car purchase...
 

Ok been a GM guy my entire life. Now finding this new enfatuation with jeeps. Wanted a wrangler but i also like the old style cherokees (xj). want somthing lifted small with 33's. found one at a decent deal. Has about 128k on it. Needs new shocks/steering stabalizer and new tires. couple small things here and there but not in bad shape at all. Truck has no rot at all. Its a 2000. Its a little weird driving but i think its cause its lifted and the tires are shot. Anything anyone can tell me to stay away from or look out for if i go look at it again. Again not familiar with jeeps but i know alot of guys on here have them. Thanks for any help!

Oh no. Oh nooooo

what has been read, cannot be un read.

as long as the jeep you buy is a straight 6 i don't see a problem....do NOT buy a V6 Jeep....the V6 is garbage

Njjoa grows larger.......

Don't

My brothers into Jeeping and he has an 02 Wrangler lifted with 33's, was out wheeling last night. It's a cool thing but way more destructive then performance cars, it can be an expensive hobby. I'd go around more to the Jeepforum and ask questions, us F-Body owners are confused on why one lifts and not drops :P

well im not gonna wheel it all the time... probbly once in a while. Im pretty familiar wih lifted trucks and wheeling cause my brother used to have a bunch but just not jeeps...

Just wait for teh jeep fanboi....

i know im waiting for his input... haha

1) Buy Jeep
2) Go Mudding
3) Make it brown
4) Forever Happy

I had an '01 XJ for 6 years as a daily driver. It was a great truck and never left me stranded (except when the stupid Optima Redtop died). They're easy to work on, cheap to maintain, and basically bulletproof if you buy one with the right options. Make sure you get one without ABS since that will have the stronger 8.25 rear, and also has the AW4 auto trans and 4.0 inline 6. Honestly, I would buy one UN-lifted and then lift it yourself when you are ready - buying a previously lifted and wheeled Jeep can be asking for trouble (IMO).

XJs are fun....we all know that haters are gonna hate. :mrgreen:

Anyway, I know you said it's clean, but get under and look carefully for rust. Bang on the rockers (especially the area under the rear doors) hard to see if there are any weak spots that have started to rust from the inside. The rear upper shock mounts are notorious for being a royal PITA to change (cheap studs rust / break easily), so plan on that not being a completely simple swap.

What lift is on it (brand and size)? Some of the cheap lifts cut corners on things that aren't needed 100%, but will definitely compromise ride / handling / reliability (such as trackbar relocation brackets or poorly made adjustable trackbars).

Being that it's a 2000 it has distributorless ignition (only on 00 and 01 XJs) as well as a greatly complicated exhaust emissions setup (same 2 years). I don't remember all the specs, but I think it runs 2 pre-cats, one reg. cat, and either 3 or 4 O2 sensors (compared to the 96-99's 1 cat, 2 O2 setup). These replacement parts for the 00-01 setup are far more costly. Personally, I would look for a 98 or 99 if you like the later body style, or a 96 if you like the earlier body style. Going that route, you have more parts in common with other cherokees, and likely less headaches with replacement parts.

- Justin

not sure on brand of lift. buts its 4 inches.. only brand name i can spot os the steering stabilizer that is skyjacker. but that might just be that part. i checked for rot this truck hs none and i know it was wheeled before but it was pretty decently taken car of for being a wheeled truck. as for the emmissions and stuff. this i did not know about and this is the kind of info i was looking for so now im going to give it some more thought. If some of those cats are deleted will the truck pass emmissions you think? truck is sorta loud outa the tail pipe to have 3 cats... i didnt notice how many it had though and exhaust was fairly rusty. thanks guys for the info this really helps alot.

the only one you might be able to get away with deleting is the pre cat, and that might require a header...anything else should most definatly trip a check engine light....the straight 6, while it is a great motor, i guess it would be considered a "dirty"motor

You can't delete the pre-cats on the '00-'01 XJ unless you also get some sort of tune (not even sure if there's something available). Reason being is that there are 4 O2 sensors as Justin mentioned, but the layout is - upstream O2 before the pre-cat for cylinders 1,2,3, and a downstream O2, and an upstream O2 before the pre-cat for cylinders 4,5,6 and a downstream O2 as well. They are built right into the header, and a royal PITA. I had to have one of mine replaced under the federal warranty (truck had 79K miles when one went bad). The downstream cat is the only one you could probably delete but the guys at the inspection station would notice that.

If you are just looking for something to cruise in and use as a woods truck I would just pick up something cheap off of craigslist and have some fun with it. If you find that you are really into it and want more / better, then set out to look for a nicer one. Obviously this won't work as well if you are looking for this to be your new DD as well.

Something like this would be a good way to get you started: http://jerseyshore.craigslist.org/cto/2471476338.html

- Justin

yea what ever i get is gona be DD... im looking to replace my current saturn sl2 that needs some work and i dont wanna put money into it. I want somthing that will be decently reliable but i can still have some fun in the woods with and in the snow with every once and a while. I already have the firebird as my toy and i cant have a DD and a woods truck too. So id like eto combine the two hah... Im still seriously considering this 2000 only cause it seems like a decent deal and it does run pretty good. gonna think about it though for a day or two might take it to the shop i work at to check it out really good if the guy will let me.

If you want to swing by me, I'll take a look at it with you.

possible guy lives off midstreams... i gotta see i might just say **** looking at it more and buy it or find somthing stocker i dont know. now im thinking how much am i really gonna wheel to drive somthing on 33s everyday. Im just thinking the gas miliage. I have no one to wheel with either id prob be going alone most of the time.

Yeah you are going to two extremes of gas mileage with an sl2 and a lifted jeep with big tires.

sl2 sucks on gass for 4cyl... it gets at best 22mpg... its old and tired which doesnt help but my old corrolla with 150k on it got 33mpg consistantly.any truck i get isnt gonna get great miliage so if i want a truck iv come to terms with it and ill make it work into my budget.

You will be in the low teens with that jeep. Its nearly half the gas mileage you are currently getting. See what I'm sayinnnnnnnnnnn?

I am currently cruising around in a '92 XJ with about 245k on the original drivetrain, and I have been averaging about 17mpg in mixed driving. Still working on the tuneup - no idea how old plugs and wires are, and there is a decent sized crack in the exhaust manifold, so plenty of room for improvement there. In a 95% highway trip I took last month to upstate NY I got about 21.5mpg.

My '96 with 1/2 the miles that has 3.5" lift, 31s, 4.10s, aftermarket bumper, etc typically averaged 15-16, and got a best of 19.8mpg.

Maybe you should look into getting a stocker, just doing a budget boost (2"-2.5") and going with a 30x9.5 tire. Still has a nice look, plenty capable off road, no need to regear axles, and should still net you decent mileage (especially on the highway with the taller tires).

- Justin

Bahahahah DOHC pwnz you.

My SOHC SL1 gets ~30mpg. :lol:

hows the miliage in your lifted xj on 31's? this truck is on 33x12.5 so its a meaty tire its gonna kill miliage i know but its that or putts around in a car i hate forever...