TA2Jeep
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- 661 - $o*Cal
OK, so after a very frustrating month of searching for an XJ, I’ve got 2 on deck that I’d like opinions on to make a choice between. My end goal for a rig is to be lifted 3” on 31s (Yeah, I know everyone says I’ll want to go bigger, but I am only 5’6”) with an Aussie locker up front. The rig will be used mostly to go exploring in SoCal areas, doing mines and ghost towns with some more “extreme” runs happening when I hit the trails with you guys. I’ve got about $3k - $4k to spend. The rig needs to be AC equipped and reliable as I’ll have my family bouncing around with me.
Option 1 – 1994 4 door sport stocker. AOD with 8.25 out back and factory tow package (Would the 94 have the limited slip and tranny cooler?). 180k miles, but the motor and tranny are in good shape. Coolant leak, but it appears to be just a hose issue with some rotting on the neck of the thermostat housing. AC / Heat and everything works as it should, just normal 17 years of wear and tear. Paint is faded rollover red (I am not a big fan of red) and no major dents or physical damage inside or out. Jeep is original owner by a family in West LA. Saw some 4x action in snow, going to Mammoth and such, but nothing serious. Jeep was purchased by parents and then each of the 2 boys had it while learning to drive and through high school. It’s a Jewish family in West LA so I can see the potential where it was pretty well taken care of and not abused, even though it was driven by 2 high school boys for a while. I can pick this up for about $900 (Minus smog, transfer and other DMV fees), which leaves me a good amount to get lifted and all the other equipment I need to be trail ready.
Option 2 – 1999 4 door classic stocker. AOD with 8.25 out back and factory tow package. Does have limited slip and tranny cooler. 114k miles and in good condition all around except for the fact that it’s missing the left front fender flare. Paint is the oh so gorgeous gunmetal blue and no damage in or out save for the missing fender flare. Interior is obviously in much better condition than the ’94. 3 previous owners shown on carfax (Current dealership would be #4), started life in Arizona and spent about 9 years in Washington (As far as I’m aware, they don’t use salt in the PNW); it sits on a dealerships lot in SoCal right now. Does have tow bar mounts up front, so how many of those 114k are “real” miles? Will be $5500 out the door including all smog and DMV fees and I would have to put some on credit card. With that pricepoint, I would have to wait some time before I could even get a lift and tires and the tires that are on it now are not in good shape, but I’d be pretty loathe to get new ones as I know I’d be going to 31s within a year; but I don’t know how well the current rubber will serve me on the trail.
Thanks in advance to everybody who reads through my big long story and offers their advise / feedback.
In my mind, I do like the styling of the ’99 better and I do very much love the gunmetal color. I think the interior appointments would be more comfortable for myself and the family and the ’99 has everything it needs to be the base for my “dream rig”. With the 5 year and 65k mile difference, the ’99 should be more reliable – in theory. With the ’94, I’ll be able to do just about everything I want right off the bat and with what seems to be some required minor repairs needed, I get some bonding time with her as well. With it being a faded ’94, any body damage from the trail would not be as big a deal as it would be on the pretty ’99, but again, the majority of my offroad time will be exploring on trails, not a bunch of black diamond runs. I am fully aware that both will receive custom pinstripping from the mesquite in my area. I do suffer from short / round disease, and the big tri spoke wheel that’s on the ’94, as cool as it is, is just too big and I think I would have to grab a smaller Grant or something; For the ’94, is there any other option for dealing with the steering wheel?
Thanks again for reading through my novel and I look forward to your valuable feedback and opinions.
Can’t wait to get out there and play in the dirt!
Option 1 – 1994 4 door sport stocker. AOD with 8.25 out back and factory tow package (Would the 94 have the limited slip and tranny cooler?). 180k miles, but the motor and tranny are in good shape. Coolant leak, but it appears to be just a hose issue with some rotting on the neck of the thermostat housing. AC / Heat and everything works as it should, just normal 17 years of wear and tear. Paint is faded rollover red (I am not a big fan of red) and no major dents or physical damage inside or out. Jeep is original owner by a family in West LA. Saw some 4x action in snow, going to Mammoth and such, but nothing serious. Jeep was purchased by parents and then each of the 2 boys had it while learning to drive and through high school. It’s a Jewish family in West LA so I can see the potential where it was pretty well taken care of and not abused, even though it was driven by 2 high school boys for a while. I can pick this up for about $900 (Minus smog, transfer and other DMV fees), which leaves me a good amount to get lifted and all the other equipment I need to be trail ready.
Option 2 – 1999 4 door classic stocker. AOD with 8.25 out back and factory tow package. Does have limited slip and tranny cooler. 114k miles and in good condition all around except for the fact that it’s missing the left front fender flare. Paint is the oh so gorgeous gunmetal blue and no damage in or out save for the missing fender flare. Interior is obviously in much better condition than the ’94. 3 previous owners shown on carfax (Current dealership would be #4), started life in Arizona and spent about 9 years in Washington (As far as I’m aware, they don’t use salt in the PNW); it sits on a dealerships lot in SoCal right now. Does have tow bar mounts up front, so how many of those 114k are “real” miles? Will be $5500 out the door including all smog and DMV fees and I would have to put some on credit card. With that pricepoint, I would have to wait some time before I could even get a lift and tires and the tires that are on it now are not in good shape, but I’d be pretty loathe to get new ones as I know I’d be going to 31s within a year; but I don’t know how well the current rubber will serve me on the trail.
Thanks in advance to everybody who reads through my big long story and offers their advise / feedback.
In my mind, I do like the styling of the ’99 better and I do very much love the gunmetal color. I think the interior appointments would be more comfortable for myself and the family and the ’99 has everything it needs to be the base for my “dream rig”. With the 5 year and 65k mile difference, the ’99 should be more reliable – in theory. With the ’94, I’ll be able to do just about everything I want right off the bat and with what seems to be some required minor repairs needed, I get some bonding time with her as well. With it being a faded ’94, any body damage from the trail would not be as big a deal as it would be on the pretty ’99, but again, the majority of my offroad time will be exploring on trails, not a bunch of black diamond runs. I am fully aware that both will receive custom pinstripping from the mesquite in my area. I do suffer from short / round disease, and the big tri spoke wheel that’s on the ’94, as cool as it is, is just too big and I think I would have to grab a smaller Grant or something; For the ’94, is there any other option for dealing with the steering wheel?
Thanks again for reading through my novel and I look forward to your valuable feedback and opinions.
Can’t wait to get out there and play in the dirt!
