Jeep decision: XJ or WJ
Discussion
Budget ~ £2.5k, must be petrol, either 4.0 or 4.7. May consider LPG but know little about it.
I've been looking for a while now for one of the above, starting last year in anticipation of the bad winter which we didn't get. I just couldn't find one which ticked all the boxes, with the exception of one superb 4.7 Overlander. Unfortunately I spent too much time deliberating and it was sold by the time I made my mind up. (Only 24 hours after viewing but such is life)
It won't be used for off-roading, just the occasional country/farm lanes, though this is not really the main consideration, I just like the look of these things and, like a kid, want one to play with and to save putting the miles on my main car.
I'm in unfamiliar territory really with these things, though have done a bit of homework on them and come up with the following: -
XJ. My preferred shape. Seem pretty bullet proof (especially the 4.0 straight six) and don't object to miles. Possibly a bit agricultural on the road, which is where it will spend 99.9% of it's time with me, though a good solid tool. Not too many electrical gubbins to fail. These are priced at anywhere from a few hundred quid (wanting attention) up to ridiculous (£4k+), which is decent Land Cruiser territory, though they are becoming a little less available now, so probably a supply and demand thing.
WR. Nice looking (in a Jeepy sort of way). Comfortable ride quality, though I appreciate it's not a motorway mile muncher. (I have something else for that when needed) I think I'd prefer the V8 in this one, ideally in Overland trim but Limited would be fine. Heater blend doors will fail though are fixable, and early front callipers were problematic, in that they warped the discs. This is probably my limit of knowledge.
I'm not sure about transmissions on either apart from the fact that they're both auto, which is a good thing to me, but as for axles, transfer boxes etc. this is a minefield. All I've been told is to drive it slowly over an uneven surface from lock to lock when testing it.
So basically, and I know it's my choice at the end, which would you guys with your vast experience suggest for a Jeep virgin? I've pretty much decided that it has to be Jeep now, so no alternatives please as this will just throw me into yet another turmoil.
I've been looking for a while now for one of the above, starting last year in anticipation of the bad winter which we didn't get. I just couldn't find one which ticked all the boxes, with the exception of one superb 4.7 Overlander. Unfortunately I spent too much time deliberating and it was sold by the time I made my mind up. (Only 24 hours after viewing but such is life)
It won't be used for off-roading, just the occasional country/farm lanes, though this is not really the main consideration, I just like the look of these things and, like a kid, want one to play with and to save putting the miles on my main car.
I'm in unfamiliar territory really with these things, though have done a bit of homework on them and come up with the following: -
XJ. My preferred shape. Seem pretty bullet proof (especially the 4.0 straight six) and don't object to miles. Possibly a bit agricultural on the road, which is where it will spend 99.9% of it's time with me, though a good solid tool. Not too many electrical gubbins to fail. These are priced at anywhere from a few hundred quid (wanting attention) up to ridiculous (£4k+), which is decent Land Cruiser territory, though they are becoming a little less available now, so probably a supply and demand thing.
WR. Nice looking (in a Jeepy sort of way). Comfortable ride quality, though I appreciate it's not a motorway mile muncher. (I have something else for that when needed) I think I'd prefer the V8 in this one, ideally in Overland trim but Limited would be fine. Heater blend doors will fail though are fixable, and early front callipers were problematic, in that they warped the discs. This is probably my limit of knowledge.
I'm not sure about transmissions on either apart from the fact that they're both auto, which is a good thing to me, but as for axles, transfer boxes etc. this is a minefield. All I've been told is to drive it slowly over an uneven surface from lock to lock when testing it.
So basically, and I know it's my choice at the end, which would you guys with your vast experience suggest for a Jeep virgin? I've pretty much decided that it has to be Jeep now, so no alternatives please as this will just throw me into yet another turmoil.
Thanks for all the help guys, much appreciated. Seems like the general idea is to go for the Grand.
@pcn1, I read that reply a while ago whilst researching these things and found it helpful then, even more so now as the hunt is on again.
The next question would be, do I buy a <£1k snotter, of which there are a few, or splash out a bit more on a decent looking piece of kit? I've found a 1998 4.0 Limited for around £950 that's not too far from me (hopefully going for a look tomorrow) with just under 90,000 on it and loads of history. The alternative is a low mileage (under 60,000) 2002 4.7 Overland, though this is up around the £2.5k mark. I do want something which will last, but not bleed me dry.
Oh, another thing is that it will be doing a lot less than 5,000 miles p/a.
All these decisions to make...
@pcn1, I read that reply a while ago whilst researching these things and found it helpful then, even more so now as the hunt is on again.
The next question would be, do I buy a <£1k snotter, of which there are a few, or splash out a bit more on a decent looking piece of kit? I've found a 1998 4.0 Limited for around £950 that's not too far from me (hopefully going for a look tomorrow) with just under 90,000 on it and loads of history. The alternative is a low mileage (under 60,000) 2002 4.7 Overland, though this is up around the £2.5k mark. I do want something which will last, but not bleed me dry.
Oh, another thing is that it will be doing a lot less than 5,000 miles p/a.
All these decisions to make...
scrwright said:
don't get a pre 99 ZJ, no where near as good as a WJ.
This is interesting as I didn't realise there was much difference. Just had a quick trawl round the web and it seems that there's loads. I'm still going to look at the two tomorrow, but will now hold back making an offer on the early one which is a ZJ as I've now discovered.I only wanted a shed really, but want a reliable and reasonable one.
Thanks for all the input guys, really appreciated.
I'm now going to look at three tomorrow to my East, and another three on Thursday to the West. 2 x 4.0 and 1 x 4.7 each day, so worked out well really.
I've hopefully taken all the above helpful information on board, and will be having a good crawl around each one, so very open minded at the moment. Colour makes no difference to me really so that shouldn't sway me either way.
As for the economy side, I'm not really bothered as I'll probably be doing more miles tomorrow looking at them all than I will the rest of this month. And at under 20mpg
I'll report back tomorrow with any news.
Thanks again for the useful info.
I'm now going to look at three tomorrow to my East, and another three on Thursday to the West. 2 x 4.0 and 1 x 4.7 each day, so worked out well really.
I've hopefully taken all the above helpful information on board, and will be having a good crawl around each one, so very open minded at the moment. Colour makes no difference to me really so that shouldn't sway me either way.
As for the economy side, I'm not really bothered as I'll probably be doing more miles tomorrow looking at them all than I will the rest of this month. And at under 20mpg
I'll report back tomorrow with any news.
Thanks again for the useful info.
Went to look at three Jeeps today.
1. Private Sale: 1998 ZJ 4.0. Very straight genuine looking motor which just needs a bit of paint. No oil or fluid leaks, started up and ran and drove sweetly. A heater warning light (according to owner) illuminated in panel, just an amber square thing? Heater seemed to work but air con not cold. May have another look... Owner was a really nice man and an enthusiast which helped. He was all over my motor like a rash.
2. Dealer: 2003 WJ 4.7 Overland. Absolute dog. Nothing else to say apart from why waste my time? I phoned yesterday to say I was coming. At least they could have put a battery on it and blown the flat tyres up.
3. Dealer: 2001 WJ 4.0 LTD. No advance warning given here, just called in to see it on the way home. It started fine though I couldn't drive it as it was being prepped for sale. One bit of body damage to front wing, though he reckons he'll have his body guy sort that. No MoT but will come with 12 months. Needs tyres but they'll be done for MoT. He said it needs three, I suggested he put all four on for the benefit of the drive train...
And Paul, none of the above had any real rust on them, certainly no rot.
Four more being viewed tomorrow, one private and three dealers.
1. Private Sale: 1998 ZJ 4.0. Very straight genuine looking motor which just needs a bit of paint. No oil or fluid leaks, started up and ran and drove sweetly. A heater warning light (according to owner) illuminated in panel, just an amber square thing? Heater seemed to work but air con not cold. May have another look... Owner was a really nice man and an enthusiast which helped. He was all over my motor like a rash.
2. Dealer: 2003 WJ 4.7 Overland. Absolute dog. Nothing else to say apart from why waste my time? I phoned yesterday to say I was coming. At least they could have put a battery on it and blown the flat tyres up.
3. Dealer: 2001 WJ 4.0 LTD. No advance warning given here, just called in to see it on the way home. It started fine though I couldn't drive it as it was being prepped for sale. One bit of body damage to front wing, though he reckons he'll have his body guy sort that. No MoT but will come with 12 months. Needs tyres but they'll be done for MoT. He said it needs three, I suggested he put all four on for the benefit of the drive train...
And Paul, none of the above had any real rust on them, certainly no rot.
Four more being viewed tomorrow, one private and three dealers.
Oh I've got the time.
Looked at another four today:
1. Dealer: 2002 WJ 4.7 Overland with 60,000 miles. Nice tidy looking car but wouldn't start. Put a jump pack on it and it fired straight away then died. No fuel. You'd think that a dealer would have them ready, especially when advertised and forewarned of my arrival. However, and to give the guy his due, he promised that he would get it sorted, put 12 months MoT on it and tax it for 6 months. Also a three month warranty. Nice car, but should be for £2,500. Full Jeep Service History.
2. Private: 2000 WJ 4.7 LTD. Beautiful and well looked after car in a nice deep red. Unmarked interior, started and drove fine. MoT out at the end of this month though, and the advisories on the previous one (front discs worn and pitted on inside) not been done, which makes me wonder what else he hasn't bothered with. Oh, and the engine, whilst seeming good, took an age to lose revs. 80,000 miles
3. Dealer: 2001 WJ 4.0 LTD. Another dog unfortunately. Non starter, wants loads of paint and oil leaks under the engine. 4 new tyres and lots of MoT. 110,000 miles
4. Dealer (from home): another 2001 WJ 4.0 LTD. My favourite so far. Slight imperfections in paint which, at 13 years old, I'd expect. Really nice interior, started up first time and everything worked on it. 3 months tax & MoT. Smooth drive and transmission, 4 brand new tyres and loads of service history, albeit non-Jeep. 89,000 miles
So typically, out of the seven cars I've looked at, the last one stands out a lot more than the others. The Overland was nice, but this one's nearly a grand cheaper and looks as nice, if not nicer as it has side steps fitted and has been fully prepared for sale. It's also the one nearest to where I live, being about 5 miles away. I've done over 250 miles in the last two days to find one round the corner...
Going to sleep on it tonight, and see how I feel in he morning about it. Incidentally, the only rust I've seen on any of them is under the door rubbers at the base of the window, which seems pretty common.
Looked at another four today:
1. Dealer: 2002 WJ 4.7 Overland with 60,000 miles. Nice tidy looking car but wouldn't start. Put a jump pack on it and it fired straight away then died. No fuel. You'd think that a dealer would have them ready, especially when advertised and forewarned of my arrival. However, and to give the guy his due, he promised that he would get it sorted, put 12 months MoT on it and tax it for 6 months. Also a three month warranty. Nice car, but should be for £2,500. Full Jeep Service History.
2. Private: 2000 WJ 4.7 LTD. Beautiful and well looked after car in a nice deep red. Unmarked interior, started and drove fine. MoT out at the end of this month though, and the advisories on the previous one (front discs worn and pitted on inside) not been done, which makes me wonder what else he hasn't bothered with. Oh, and the engine, whilst seeming good, took an age to lose revs. 80,000 miles
3. Dealer: 2001 WJ 4.0 LTD. Another dog unfortunately. Non starter, wants loads of paint and oil leaks under the engine. 4 new tyres and lots of MoT. 110,000 miles
4. Dealer (from home): another 2001 WJ 4.0 LTD. My favourite so far. Slight imperfections in paint which, at 13 years old, I'd expect. Really nice interior, started up first time and everything worked on it. 3 months tax & MoT. Smooth drive and transmission, 4 brand new tyres and loads of service history, albeit non-Jeep. 89,000 miles
So typically, out of the seven cars I've looked at, the last one stands out a lot more than the others. The Overland was nice, but this one's nearly a grand cheaper and looks as nice, if not nicer as it has side steps fitted and has been fully prepared for sale. It's also the one nearest to where I live, being about 5 miles away. I've done over 250 miles in the last two days to find one round the corner...
Going to sleep on it tonight, and see how I feel in he morning about it. Incidentally, the only rust I've seen on any of them is under the door rubbers at the base of the window, which seems pretty common.
Here you go Paul: -
http://www.teamgrandcherokee.com/outside-window-si...
This the link which Steve posted from the thread back in March
http://www.teamgrandcherokee.com/outside-window-si...
This the link which Steve posted from the thread back in March
Eventually bought this one: -
It's a 2001 4.0 LTD (51 Plate) with 89,000 miles on it, and seems fine so far.
It drives OK, pulls well though a LOT slower than I'm used to, though me dailies a Bi-Turbo E63. The box changes smoothly and all seems good mechanically with no visible leaks.
It's a bit wallowy which is to be expected I suppose, though I may Poly-Bush the rear end as I've read that this may help. All the electrics seem to work, heated seats heater etc., but there's a wire been badly bodged on the rear window/demister. May have a play with it later, may not. Don't really trust my soldering skills that close to glass...
There was an advisory on last years MoT regarding corrosion, which I was a bit concerned about, though it's just the box section underneath the side steps, so not really detrimental or structural and can therefore be fixed at my leisure. I'll whip them off at some stage to see if a repair is feasible, if not it's either replacement parts or just leave them off.
Thanks to all who gave me advice on here, and I hope to be reporting back in another 12 months or so to tell you how much I'm liking this machine.
It's a 2001 4.0 LTD (51 Plate) with 89,000 miles on it, and seems fine so far.
It drives OK, pulls well though a LOT slower than I'm used to, though me dailies a Bi-Turbo E63. The box changes smoothly and all seems good mechanically with no visible leaks.
It's a bit wallowy which is to be expected I suppose, though I may Poly-Bush the rear end as I've read that this may help. All the electrics seem to work, heated seats heater etc., but there's a wire been badly bodged on the rear window/demister. May have a play with it later, may not. Don't really trust my soldering skills that close to glass...
There was an advisory on last years MoT regarding corrosion, which I was a bit concerned about, though it's just the box section underneath the side steps, so not really detrimental or structural and can therefore be fixed at my leisure. I'll whip them off at some stage to see if a repair is feasible, if not it's either replacement parts or just leave them off.
Thanks to all who gave me advice on here, and I hope to be reporting back in another 12 months or so to tell you how much I'm liking this machine.
skinthespin said:
What is it with WJ owners and there desire to also own daft cars....VXR8 & Jeep, E63 & Jeep and I have an XFR & a Jeep.......should we all go to the same therapist?!
It's essential to compliment a big engined saloon with a big 4x4. Also aesthetically pleasing. I used to have an XFR but had an Outback as my "go-to" motor then.skinthespin said:
On a serious note, just got rid of my 4.7 for a 2.7, surprisingly little in it performance wise but cant miss the V8 beat....also done the blend door, mod, easy really and all the usual caliper stuff, but to be honest its nothing more than you would expect from any 10+ year old car, also stick to the US forums as someone has already said, wealth of info compared to the UK.
I have the 4.0 as stated above as I couldn't find a V8 in the condition I was after, though appreciate what you mean about performance. Not the quickest off the mark are they? How can they get so few horses out of so much capacity? Having said that, I took it for a little run to work and back on Monday just to give it a try out really and, according to the digital readout, averaged 23.8 mpg. If, as I am led to believe, these are American figures then that equates to 28.5 of our imperial ones. This was on a 125 mile round trip consisting of mainly motorways, but still impressed. Everything seems to work fine on it (so far), even the heater, though the brakes leave a bit to be desired, will have to have a look soon.skinthespin said:
Just put 33's on mine and 4 inch lift, will post some pics soon but love it to bits, just as happy as I am in the Jag apart from when I have to park it, in which case I am much happier as I do not worry about scratches, kerbing etc!!!
I'll be keeping mine at a standard height as off-roading is not something I need though, as you say, it's a pleasure to drive. I also agree about the parking aspect. I can leave this anywhere and not worry about it, whereas I'm constantly worried about dinks on the Merc.tr7v8 said:
That looks identical to my 4.0L WJ, same blue, same corrosion on the side steps, just yours is cleaner! My other car is a 2000 Porsche Boxster S so not too mad.
It's only that clean because that's the seller's photo.
It won't be getting too much attention from me bodywise, apart from those damn side steps... A Boxster is a nice sensible contrast to a Jeep I'd have thought.tr7v8 said:
I hate to tell you but most WJs seem to display UK Gallons, mine does. On a run I can get 21-22MPG, but around town 12-14 isn't impossible. My 40K miles average checked brim to brim on a spreadsheet is 17.6MPG. Thank god for a fuel card.
I know the BHP output is low 188 or 190BHP from 4 Litres but the torque is enormous & they last for ever. Don't forget the engine design dates back to the late 50's & early 60's
Ah well, it was a thought, though in reality I kind of expected as much. I log all my fuel purchases, though I don't anticipate accuracy for a good few months as it's not really going to get used until I've gone through all the mechanicals on it.I know the BHP output is low 188 or 190BHP from 4 Litres but the torque is enormous & they last for ever. Don't forget the engine design dates back to the late 50's & early 60's
Just a quick update on my WJ. I've not done a lot either in it or with it, mainly due to work commitments, though I've tried to use it whenever possible.
Had a few minor issues, mainly vacuum pipes leaking, so they're slowly but surely being replaced. First noticeable sign was that the tick-over shot up, caused by a split pipe.. I taped it up as a stop gap repair (still taped as I then forgot about it) but have now acquired a few replacements. I've also changed the front tweeters as they were very rattly, which apparently is a common fault. There seems to be a slight whine from the rear diff, so will be checking the oil level but if it's not that then I'll just keep running it till I can't stand it any more.
On a brighter note, took it for MoT today and it went through with no advisories so that was a bonus. It's now in my mates garage for a full service and general check-over. Rear pads being replaced as they're well down, but everything else seems fine apart from an oil leak which has not yet been traced.
Finally, the rotten side steps are being replaced with a nice new shiny chrome pair, for no reason other than I like them.
Had a few minor issues, mainly vacuum pipes leaking, so they're slowly but surely being replaced. First noticeable sign was that the tick-over shot up, caused by a split pipe.. I taped it up as a stop gap repair (still taped as I then forgot about it) but have now acquired a few replacements. I've also changed the front tweeters as they were very rattly, which apparently is a common fault. There seems to be a slight whine from the rear diff, so will be checking the oil level but if it's not that then I'll just keep running it till I can't stand it any more.
On a brighter note, took it for MoT today and it went through with no advisories so that was a bonus.
It's now in my mates garage for a full service and general check-over. Rear pads being replaced as they're well down, but everything else seems fine apart from an oil leak which has not yet been traced.Finally, the rotten side steps are being replaced with a nice new shiny chrome pair, for no reason other than I like them.
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