trail rate this
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Cape Coral, FL
Four Wheeler magazine voted the 84'-01' XJ Best Buy in midsized suv's.
http://www.fourwheeler.com/featuredvehicles/129_0710_best_buys_in_used_4x4s/compact_midsize_suv.html
Modern suburbia combined with higher gas prices has caused the midsize SUV segment to go nuts in recent years. This is great for the used-truck buyer because there are lots of them to choose from and the aftermarket is well established. Sizewise, these vehicles are great as daily drivers, yet the cost of ownership typically will not prevent the average Joe from owning one as a dedicated trail machine.
1st Place: '84-'96 Jeep Cherokee
Price range: $500 to $5,000
The Skinny: It might be appropriate to say the Jeep XJ is the VW Beetle of the modern SUV world. Literally millions of these unibody rigs were produced in a whole assortment of configurations: Two-door, four-door, I-4, I-6, V-6, gas, diesel, two- and four-wheel drive. These vehicles were Chrysler's catch-all solution for everything from family hauler to rural-route delivery truck. Now they're sought after because of a lightweight (3,057-pound) design combined with easy-to-find parts. Jeep Speed recognizes them as the average working-man's desert racer, while even the strictest of Jeep purists will admit to having a soft spot for yesterday's grocery getter. Built in Toledo, Ohio, these rigs have served as workhorses in every sector of government, including the U.S. Postal Service and the armed forces. If you want a ton of options, the Cherokee will deliver.
The Hot Setup: Look for a '93-'95 model with the 190hp H.O. 4.0L engine. These years featured improvements to the electrical wiring harness as well as upgrades in fuel delivery, body stiffness, and instrumentation. The cooling system features a cap-on radiator design, and the I-6 of this era remained relatively simple in terms of emissions equipment. You can do almost anything with a used XJ; rocks, sand, mud, and snow are always easier in a lightweight rig.
Runner-up: '85-'89 Toyota 4Runner
Price range: $500 to $3,000
The Skinny: Where the mid-'80s Cherokee fell short, the Toyota 4Runner picked up. We loved the fact that these came with a removable rear fiberglass hardtop. Better yet, they're basically a Toyota pickup hiding underneath an SUV costume. Options abound, and these little trucks can be tricked out with everything from solid-axle swaps to V-8 conversions. Consider a 4Runner if you have kids or like the idea of lockable storage. Private party prices are quite high compared to other SUVs of the era, but that's not a big surprise considering how well they age. We suspect 4Runners are at the top of many high-schoolers' wish lists.
The Hot Setup: Keep in mind that just about anything that can be done to a Toyota pickup will apply to the 4Runner. As such, we'd look for a rare '85 with a solid front axle and fuel injection. Otherwise, a solid-axle swap is a good idea for serious trail work. If desert prerunning is your thing, look into long-travel IFS suspension such as the Caddy Kit from Total Chaos Fabrication (951/737-9682).
http://www.fourwheeler.com/featuredvehicles/129_0710_best_buys_in_used_4x4s/compact_midsize_suv.html
Modern suburbia combined with higher gas prices has caused the midsize SUV segment to go nuts in recent years. This is great for the used-truck buyer because there are lots of them to choose from and the aftermarket is well established. Sizewise, these vehicles are great as daily drivers, yet the cost of ownership typically will not prevent the average Joe from owning one as a dedicated trail machine.
1st Place: '84-'96 Jeep Cherokee
Price range: $500 to $5,000
The Skinny: It might be appropriate to say the Jeep XJ is the VW Beetle of the modern SUV world. Literally millions of these unibody rigs were produced in a whole assortment of configurations: Two-door, four-door, I-4, I-6, V-6, gas, diesel, two- and four-wheel drive. These vehicles were Chrysler's catch-all solution for everything from family hauler to rural-route delivery truck. Now they're sought after because of a lightweight (3,057-pound) design combined with easy-to-find parts. Jeep Speed recognizes them as the average working-man's desert racer, while even the strictest of Jeep purists will admit to having a soft spot for yesterday's grocery getter. Built in Toledo, Ohio, these rigs have served as workhorses in every sector of government, including the U.S. Postal Service and the armed forces. If you want a ton of options, the Cherokee will deliver.
The Hot Setup: Look for a '93-'95 model with the 190hp H.O. 4.0L engine. These years featured improvements to the electrical wiring harness as well as upgrades in fuel delivery, body stiffness, and instrumentation. The cooling system features a cap-on radiator design, and the I-6 of this era remained relatively simple in terms of emissions equipment. You can do almost anything with a used XJ; rocks, sand, mud, and snow are always easier in a lightweight rig.
Runner-up: '85-'89 Toyota 4Runner
Price range: $500 to $3,000
The Skinny: Where the mid-'80s Cherokee fell short, the Toyota 4Runner picked up. We loved the fact that these came with a removable rear fiberglass hardtop. Better yet, they're basically a Toyota pickup hiding underneath an SUV costume. Options abound, and these little trucks can be tricked out with everything from solid-axle swaps to V-8 conversions. Consider a 4Runner if you have kids or like the idea of lockable storage. Private party prices are quite high compared to other SUVs of the era, but that's not a big surprise considering how well they age. We suspect 4Runners are at the top of many high-schoolers' wish lists.
The Hot Setup: Keep in mind that just about anything that can be done to a Toyota pickup will apply to the 4Runner. As such, we'd look for a rare '85 with a solid front axle and fuel injection. Otherwise, a solid-axle swap is a good idea for serious trail work. If desert prerunning is your thing, look into long-travel IFS suspension such as the Caddy Kit from Total Chaos Fabrication (951/737-9682).
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