XJ & ZJ - Buying Tips

[Squirejames359]

Originally Posted by NISMO

are they reliable enough to daily drive? Provided you look after them of course. Because that's what the Jeep will be haha

Mine's a daily drive - pre-update XJ. Basic maintenance as per any car will keep it going. It's pretty much stock but with big bore shocks and slightly larger tyres but that's it. Thirsty but I don't commute very far to work. Best of all they're cheap to buy. Great off road, electric windows and cold aircon. I love 'em. My only annoyance is that the diesel XJ ain't auto, otherwise I probably would have bought that instead.

Cheers, Squire

[NISMO]

Originally Posted by Squirejames359

Mine's a daily drive - pre-update XJ. Basic maintenance as per any car will keep it going. It's pretty much stock but with big bore shocks and slightly larger tyres but that's it. Thirsty but I don't commute very far to work. Best of all they're cheap to buy. Great off road, electric windows and cold aircon. I love 'em. My only annoyance is that the diesel XJ ain't auto, otherwise I probably would have bought that instead.

Cheers, Squire

Oh, awesome to hear! I am currently looking at a 96 ZJ Grand Cherokee, getting inspected today actually. I heard they have the same 4.0L engines as the XJ?

I work in the City, so I'll only be driving it after work, not much driving

Really? I was the opposite! I love manual, but I heard the TD ones have a bad engine!

[Squirejames359]

I reckon the engines are the same, the GC is more spacious (the XJ is rather small) with a few extra luxury bits. From memory the front suspension is IFS which isn't as flexible off road.

I like manual too but my wife doesn't drive manual, auto only so I'm kinda stuck.

I thought the diesels were supposed to be quite good and frugal too. I never really researched too far coz I couldn't get one anyway.

Hope the ZJ comes up OK from the inspection.

Cheers, Squire

[WHHEMI]

Originally Posted by Squirejames359

I reckon the engines are the same, the GC is more spacious (the XJ is rather small) with a few extra luxury bits. From memory the front suspension is IFS which isn't as flexible off road.

I like manual too but my wife doesn't drive manual, auto only so I'm kinda stuck.

I thought the diesels were supposed to be quite good and frugal too. I never really researched too far coz I couldn't get one anyway.

Hope the ZJ comes up OK from the inspection.

Cheers, Squire

The ZJ is not IFS, the GC didn't come with IFS until the WH model.

[NISMO]

Originally Posted by Squirejames359

I reckon the engines are the same, the GC is more spacious (the XJ is rather small) with a few extra luxury bits. From memory the front suspension is IFS which isn't as flexible off road.

I like manual too but my wife doesn't drive manual, auto only so I'm kinda stuck.

I thought the diesels were supposed to be quite good and frugal too. I never really researched too far coz I couldn't get one anyway.

Hope the ZJ comes up OK from the inspection.

Cheers, Squire

Ah ok, I have never heard of the GC

Ah ok, I love manual

That particular one was not good as it was made by Renault apparently

The ZJ was not good haha, suspension was done, rear brakes done, leaks coming from everywhere, including Rear Main (GB out job), safe to say I decided against it haha

[anthonygubbin]

GC's are not much good offroad compared to an XJ, unless you trick them out. A cheap XJ will have plenty of problems unless they have already been addressed. You can find a list as long as your arm with common XJ issues. Two strongest things in an XJ is the engine and trans. If you buy an early Jeep expect it to need repairs. The newest XJ is 15 years old now, therefore do the sums. Stock 99s -01s have LP D30 front axles which are no where near as good as the HP D30s. Unless the diffs have been rebuilt or replaced the bearings will be fkd and that's a given.

Regards A

[anthonygubbin]

IMHO XJ's are POS. But having said that I would love to get another one. They drive great across the local roads around here, and our roads are bad, real bad. If I get another I really hope that I can bring myself to just drive it, and not worry about problems it will no doubt have unless those problems keep it from going. IMO you need to decide if you can just drive and not worry about fixing things that will be ok until they get really bad or whether you want a good XJ and fix all the issues and beef it up like most of us on here are inclined to do. The bug got hold of me when I had my old 98 and I spent $8k plus on mods. But I used it for off-roading something I don't want to do if I get another one. I am building a house as an owner builder and my priorities have changed significantly to when I was married, living on the mainland with a good paying job and could splurge on an old Jeep. If I get another XJ I am planning on doing the latter. Just buy it cheap as possible, spend nothing on and if it has a major mechanical breakdown, park it and use it as spares for another one. Going XJ's can be bought for under 500 bucks and not have a whole lot more problems than a $4k one. That's just my thoughts on them. Some will disagree but IDGAF....

Regards A