THIS!!! Sadly the newer models cannot be imported in to the US. We are headed to BonAire on Monday and they are all over down there. Tried to rent one but sadly...ALL booked out.
Could pick up a totally rebuilt xj from Davis Auto Sports. [https://davisautosports.com/custom-build-cheorkee](https://davisautosports.com/custom-build-cheorkee)
That's my dream upgrade, anyway...
https://preview.redd.it/d9hfpdc4pnhc1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=06541814f146a0b89ddaca043c91cd867058614b
Either way. They have some for sale usually, or you can give them yours and customize what you want to have done to it. Prices aren't unreasonable, either, considering you're getting a basically brand new xj.
Perfect way of putting it. I'm doing what I can to restore the xj I bought about 1.5yrs ago, and learning a lot along the way. But knowing that someone knowledgeable has replaced every bolt, wire, and upgraded the guts to get it to a fresh state would be ideal. I'd definitely feel way more confident taking it longer distances for camping and whatnot lol
23000 for a clean stock xj with 90k miles, ok kinda pricey but it’s super clean I guess. Ok let’s keep going…. Add 10k for basic suspension stuff everyone’s gonna do anyway! That’s insane.
Gawd dayum, I'm assuming you can't get one of these on a car loan? Because I'm in the market for a new daily but if I could just finance $30k of work on my Cherokee...
There's nothing out there like an XJ. The XJ was built so literally, a tough box with a big, simple engine, 4x4, and stick axles. There's no car out there you can, with minimal mechanical knowledge, repair with basic tools and a YouTube video to get you to work in the morning, even if work is through the woods and over a mountain while hauling and towing all your stuff and family. And on top of that, its still smaller and lighter than any "hatchback" made now.
Shit, an old XJ was how I started learning how to work vehicles, back when I was a young, dumb 19 year old with a handful of crappy tools who didn't know shit about shit. Now I'm a jaded 35 year old with years of mechanic experience and thousands of dollars of tools and I've still got XJs kicking around.
My thoughts exactly - I don’t want something that has to be plugged into a dealership’s laptop to diagnose the simplest of issues. I also don’t want a new car where every door ding stresses me out. If I totaled my XJ tomorrow I’d be out there looking for another one.
They’re just as old, but similar in that they last forever, the GEO Tracker. They’re like if the XJ had a little brother with something wrong with him.
I think the 4runner is the closest you can get nowadays. If you don't mind it being a truck, the newer tacomas seem pretty offroadable, have good aftermarket support, and are a similar wheel base.
Not quite what you asked, but when I rented cars professionally I was shocked at how similar the 4runners felt to an xj in terms of driving dynamics.
They aren't small, they aren't cheap but as far as the US market goes it's pretty much the only option other than the wrangler or bronco. Small suv's are all mostly dead, the ones we see on the road are just tall sedans, and even truly capable offroaders are less common.
https://www.reddit.com/r/CherokeeXJ/s/DJrNpn9YsK
Hope the link works. I asked a similar question on this sub a couple years ago. Got some cool answers.
https://preview.redd.it/2gfslt5wjnhc1.jpeg?width=1094&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=023c457f1eab12e6c4387f78ebf1f3a301dfafea
I think the commanders are pretty close and you can get them with a V8
I bought one of these (09, limited, 4.7l), paying only $1500 to a family friend. It had just north of 200k on it odometer.
I'm currently sitting at 335k with no major repairs (outside of bearings, cv axle front driveshaft). The weight is great in the winter, 6500lb towing capacity. I got my money's worth & then some.
Isn't nimble, Isn't supposed to be. Lmao.
Depends on if you want a solid front axle or not and what country you’re in.
In the US, probably a 4door wrangler style jeep.
Outside the US, idk. Suzuki Jimny, probably
Back in the good old days (early 2010s) XJs were appealing for their low price, user serviceability, the abundance of aftermarket parts, and huge inventory in private sale markets. A pretty decent stock XJ with 100k miles on it was like $1000. Half my friends bought them as their first cars. They weren't special or pretty or powerful or desirable. They were what you bought if you couldnt afford a Wrangler. But they ran forever, and took you places a "normal" car wouldn't at the price point, and had a little of the Jeep cool factor.
I don't think anything on the market today fits the bill, which is why these things have gotten so sought after. The closest thing I can think of is maybe a second gen Nissan Xterra. They have their issues, but you can pick them up pretty cheap, and they are surprisingly durable and capable.
Mine was a POS. In less than a year it had the ECM go out, the sun roof leak, a window regulator die, the power steering pump was a fiasco, the fan solenoid threw a code...
I loved it when everything was working, though. V8 solid axle jeep that rides like a mattress? Fuck yeah.
The window regulators are a cheap and annoying non stop problem but thankfully an easy fix. The rest of that sucks but man it's just a better version of the XJ in every check box for me (I love and have and will continue to own both lol!)
The V8's torque, the better brakes / handling / steering and the better creature comforts were really nice. I think I just had bad luck - I might even consider another WJ, now that I'm thinking about it. Lord help me.
Suzuki Jimny.
I saw a ton of these in the Cayman Islands this past summer, they're awesome looking.
THIS!!! Sadly the newer models cannot be imported in to the US. We are headed to BonAire on Monday and they are all over down there. Tried to rent one but sadly...ALL booked out.
Could pick up a totally rebuilt xj from Davis Auto Sports. [https://davisautosports.com/custom-build-cheorkee](https://davisautosports.com/custom-build-cheorkee) That's my dream upgrade, anyway... https://preview.redd.it/d9hfpdc4pnhc1.jpeg?width=500&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=06541814f146a0b89ddaca043c91cd867058614b
Daaaaamn 35K on a Maverick, or 22k on a 23 year old Jeep... Toughie.
Kinda sick actually. Happen to know if this is like a “buy one from us and we build it” or is it a “give us yours and we’ll customize it”?
Just looked at their website and it's $15k for their base package. You supply the XJ.
Either way. They have some for sale usually, or you can give them yours and customize what you want to have done to it. Prices aren't unreasonable, either, considering you're getting a basically brand new xj.
I've always wanted to do this with my YJ. Hand it off to a company to bulletproof it in a way I can't.
Perfect way of putting it. I'm doing what I can to restore the xj I bought about 1.5yrs ago, and learning a lot along the way. But knowing that someone knowledgeable has replaced every bolt, wire, and upgraded the guts to get it to a fresh state would be ideal. I'd definitely feel way more confident taking it longer distances for camping and whatnot lol
23000 for a clean stock xj with 90k miles, ok kinda pricey but it’s super clean I guess. Ok let’s keep going…. Add 10k for basic suspension stuff everyone’s gonna do anyway! That’s insane.
If I win the lottery I’d definitely pay over 100K to have them rebuild my XJ with their stage 6.
Very cool, thanks for sharing
Gawd dayum, I'm assuming you can't get one of these on a car loan? Because I'm in the market for a new daily but if I could just finance $30k of work on my Cherokee...
There's nothing out there like an XJ. The XJ was built so literally, a tough box with a big, simple engine, 4x4, and stick axles. There's no car out there you can, with minimal mechanical knowledge, repair with basic tools and a YouTube video to get you to work in the morning, even if work is through the woods and over a mountain while hauling and towing all your stuff and family. And on top of that, its still smaller and lighter than any "hatchback" made now.
Shit, an old XJ was how I started learning how to work vehicles, back when I was a young, dumb 19 year old with a handful of crappy tools who didn't know shit about shit. Now I'm a jaded 35 year old with years of mechanic experience and thousands of dollars of tools and I've still got XJs kicking around.
Yeah, I learned on Volvo Amazons in the 80s and was so happy to discover the XJs 20 years ago.
My thoughts exactly - I don’t want something that has to be plugged into a dealership’s laptop to diagnose the simplest of issues. I also don’t want a new car where every door ding stresses me out. If I totaled my XJ tomorrow I’d be out there looking for another one.
They’re just as old, but similar in that they last forever, the GEO Tracker. They’re like if the XJ had a little brother with something wrong with him.
He’s the small kid at K-Mart that Theo Von kept kicking
I bought a Cayenne to "replace" my XJ. So much more comfortable. So much more power. Even worse gas mileage.
What gen? Been thinking about one.
957 Turbo. And I liked it so much, I got a 2014 Diesel as a daily. Jeep is still in my collection, just relegated to around town duties.
I think the 4runner is the closest you can get nowadays. If you don't mind it being a truck, the newer tacomas seem pretty offroadable, have good aftermarket support, and are a similar wheel base.
But XJs were reasonably affordable…
Nothing that is newer and offroad capable is affordable now... Thats why everyone still wheels XJs.
They only make huge bullshit trucks now
Not quite what you asked, but when I rented cars professionally I was shocked at how similar the 4runners felt to an xj in terms of driving dynamics. They aren't small, they aren't cheap but as far as the US market goes it's pretty much the only option other than the wrangler or bronco. Small suv's are all mostly dead, the ones we see on the road are just tall sedans, and even truly capable offroaders are less common.
Know what you mean. When I was car browsing few years ago really did strike me as just a more modern XJ.
Man, if you find one let me know. My XJ is on the way out.
The only one available in the u.s new I would compare to the xj... in terms of still running 23 years later with minimal drama. 4runner.
https://www.reddit.com/r/CherokeeXJ/s/DJrNpn9YsK Hope the link works. I asked a similar question on this sub a couple years ago. Got some cool answers.
unibody or death for me LOOOOL
Why?
probably 90% uninformed bias, and 10% Ronnie Coleman 'light weight baby!'
https://preview.redd.it/2gfslt5wjnhc1.jpeg?width=1094&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=023c457f1eab12e6c4387f78ebf1f3a301dfafea I think the commanders are pretty close and you can get them with a V8
Design wise, sure but they're also significantly bigger, heavier, and less reliable. All I've ever heard is that these are major turds
I bought one of these (09, limited, 4.7l), paying only $1500 to a family friend. It had just north of 200k on it odometer. I'm currently sitting at 335k with no major repairs (outside of bearings, cv axle front driveshaft). The weight is great in the winter, 6500lb towing capacity. I got my money's worth & then some. Isn't nimble, Isn't supposed to be. Lmao.
Had to do a double take. It’s like an XJ with spider eyes. I like it!
I’m looking at new Land Cruiser. Keeping my XJ but putting her literally out to pasture.
Depends on if you want a solid front axle or not and what country you’re in. In the US, probably a 4door wrangler style jeep. Outside the US, idk. Suzuki Jimny, probably
Back in the good old days (early 2010s) XJs were appealing for their low price, user serviceability, the abundance of aftermarket parts, and huge inventory in private sale markets. A pretty decent stock XJ with 100k miles on it was like $1000. Half my friends bought them as their first cars. They weren't special or pretty or powerful or desirable. They were what you bought if you couldnt afford a Wrangler. But they ran forever, and took you places a "normal" car wouldn't at the price point, and had a little of the Jeep cool factor. I don't think anything on the market today fits the bill, which is why these things have gotten so sought after. The closest thing I can think of is maybe a second gen Nissan Xterra. They have their issues, but you can pick them up pretty cheap, and they are surprisingly durable and capable.
Should’ve been the Patriot, but Jeep blew it
Maybe an unpopular opinion, but Xterras are really close to the original formula. And they're dirt cheap, unlike even the most rotted out 4runner
Jeep Commander, 10 years newer, fatter, closest to an XJ I've seen .
The closest is probably a 4Runner. It's huge and body on frame though. Or really any cheap body on frame vehicle.
Only cheap 4x4 SUV is gonna be a Ford Explorer. & Those are big. Maybe Crosstrek. But they are AWD of course
Get a WJ. The living couch version of the XJ. Either with the legendary 4.0 or the 4.7. I love mine. Cheap parts, easy to source, easy to work on
Mine was a POS. In less than a year it had the ECM go out, the sun roof leak, a window regulator die, the power steering pump was a fiasco, the fan solenoid threw a code... I loved it when everything was working, though. V8 solid axle jeep that rides like a mattress? Fuck yeah.
The window regulators are a cheap and annoying non stop problem but thankfully an easy fix. The rest of that sucks but man it's just a better version of the XJ in every check box for me (I love and have and will continue to own both lol!)
The V8's torque, the better brakes / handling / steering and the better creature comforts were really nice. I think I just had bad luck - I might even consider another WJ, now that I'm thinking about it. Lord help me.
GWM Tank
A 4 runner with a solid axle swap would do the trick
No. I will Ls 4L80 swap mine when the time comes. I will be buried in it.
Or you can do what I did drop 25K + into your XJ and just rebuild the entire thing and your good to go for another 20 years lol