Looking for an XJ

[Dissociative]

Originally Posted by XJClassic

had to really stand on the brakes has hard as I could to stop (and even then it was slow to pull up). Felt like the nose drifted a bit under hard braking as well. Clearly something wrong.
- bottom of the transmission pan was wet with oil (though couldn't see a leak). Don't know if this is sign of an issue or no big deal on an old jeep
- air con doesn't blow cold air (concerned could be the compressor)
- no service record after 70,000 kms (though owner says it has been serviced at 4x4 USA and they cold verify). Owner seems genuine (and a fellow jeep tragic).

And to a lesser extent (as I think these are easily fixed):
- power seats don't go up or down (they just grind). Would probably swap out for manual seat mounts.
- power windows grind at top and bottom position. Suspect cable is worn, at worst maybe the regs are on the way out.

Any opinions welcome! I wouldn't pay $7k but need to factor in this is Perth and paying more for less is how we roll...

Looks pretty good, kays quite low. Price is always negotiable, I guess...
As for brakes - well, I replaced my rear shoes and drums and it made a world of difference. Having said that, the D35 was leaking oil onto the friction material... I think it they are well adjusted and not contaminated, worn or whatever, the XJ brakes are actually not too bad.

Do a search for oil leaks, there are a few simple fixes. Aircon could be several things.

Thanks, does indeed look like could be something simple or something big and expensive. This seems to be the case with most of what I mentioned, wouldn't know for sure until further inspection. I guess I'll need to assume the worst in buying so as to be prepared.

Forgot to mention also the cruise doesn't work (switches on but doesn't engage).

Hmmm

[kj69]

Sounds about 2.5 / 3 k over priced for the problems it has at a minimum . Considering there will be more , you just have not found them yet .

[Dissociative]

Originally Posted by kj69

Sounds about 2.5 / 3 k over priced for the problems it has at a minimum . Considering there will be more , you just have not found them yet .

I think you're right would need to be perfect at the asking price and even then I'd be thinking more $6k'ish.

[ApacheResistance]

Three kinds of people buy Cherokees;

1. The ones that love Cherokees specifically for what they are.

2. Broke kids.

3. People who want a disposable cheap wheeler they can beat up and throw away.

#2 & 3 are the CL/Gumtree/Whatever cheapos.

Seriously in my experience the only way to buy a cherokee from someone you don't know is to beat them down. List all of the problems they mentioned, show them the shop prices and then subtract that from what they're asking. Then knock them down another grand because you can.

That's seriously how it works over here.

[Dissociative]

Originally Posted by ApacheResistance

Three kinds of people buy Cherokees;

1. The ones that love Cherokees specifically for what they are.

2. Broke kids.

3. People who want a disposable cheap wheeler they can beat up and throw away.

#2 & 3 are the CL/Gumtree/Whatever cheapos.

Seriously in my experience the only way to buy a cherokee from someone you don't know is to beat them down. List all of the problems they mentioned, show them the shop prices and then subtract that from what they're asking. Then knock them down another grand because you can.

That's seriously how it works over here.

Thanks mate, good advice - suspect I need to be more ruthless in this regard and be prepared to wait for the right one. Seen some bargains over in the FS section here, but all are over east and I don't think would ever pass the mandatory roadworthy inspection here in the west.

Btw I'm number 1 on your buyer types, I think they are iconic and set to go down as one of the greatest vehicles of our time.

[Redtail]

My $0.02 ...

While that one presents well enough, it'd be ringing alarm bells for me. Sounds like they've only maintained or fixed what they needed to. Letting things like seats and mirrors go, plus brakes and then an oil leak all adds up to "not maintained". Aircon regas is around $250 - so why hadn't they done that? (IIRC, the Limited has climate control - altogether more fiddly to repair if it's not just the basic mechanicals of the aircon system?)

K's are low, I'll give them that. But I wouldn't be paying any more than $5000 for it, and then be prepared to spend another $1500 maybe on getting it back to decent mech order.

I took 6 months to find mine - a '99 Sport (180,000km) for $5,500 at a Holden dealer. I reckon I paid a little over the odds, but it was in the right place at the right time for me. 4WDUSA did an excellent job with an appraisal and full service for about $800, 3 hrs (at $99/hr) of which was the inspection and report. Those guys will do that inspection for you prior to purchase, too. Then you know what you're getting into.

As a comparison, there was a '00 Sport at another Holden dealer, oddly enough, with a lift, full roof rack, bull bar and swing-away advertised for $7k about two months ago. A far better buy IMHO.

Personally, I wouldn't get too fixated on which diff, or any specific component for that matter. Keep saving your $$$ until you find a sound one, and allow yourself the extra cash to bung in the bits you want.

I found the links in this forum a huge help. Have a good look around.

Good luck!

PS - If you do find one registered outside of WA, the current owner can register it here for the price of a plate swap if they can prove they've owned it for more than 12 months. If not, you're up for a full registration and inspection and whatever work needs doing as a result.

[Dissociative]

Thanks Redtail, got time on my side so can keep hunting for the right one. With that one, the owner bought a new WK2 sometime late last year and since then it's just been sitting in the drive, not getting used, so I think has become a bit neglected. I remember checking the coolant for example and it was a bit grubby looking.

Interesting tip re registering it here, how does that work? DOT info says you have to attend one of their offices with proof of ID and proof that it will be used here for majority of the time. You also have to declare no non-allowable mods (basically anything of any substance) which some people will probably not be comfortable with I suspect.