WHAT IS IT?
Designed ruing the last days of AMC’s independence, the Cherokee, (known internally and to fans today as the XJ), was a landmark design both in the sense that they truly pioneered the compact SUV segment, and it was astonishingly good to drive, handsome and durable. Cherokees that live outside the rust-belt are essentially unkillable with decent maintenance. Like the Douglas DC3 airplane, Cherokees will probably still be performing normal car functions while approaching the design’s 100th birthday.
WHY THIS CAR HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS
Like the Volvo 240, the notion that XJ Cherokees would one day be collectible was unheard of back in the day. Everyone from early adopter, suburban moms to rural postal route delivery people used them hard. This 22,000-mile example in high-spec Classic trim with plenty of leather and thoroughly unconvincing MOPAR fake wood, looks very minty indeed. While its $34,000 asking price might buy a new small crossover, it won’t buy anything with near the off-road capability, timeless style or durability.
This 22,000-mile example in high-spec Classic trim with plenty of leather and thoroughly unconvincing MOPAR fake wood, looks very minty indeed.
THE VERDICT
Delivered by Juror Jim Pickering: I vote yes on this one, as it’s basically untouched from new — and that’s rare on a vehicle with such a large aftermarket following. This is a great example of the dawn of the SUV (before it was called that), and of the lasting influence of AMC in American car culture.
https://www.qautocenter.com/details-1999-jeep-cherokee-4dr_limited_4wd-used-1j4ff78sxxl616914.html
This is a pretty late XJ — production ran from 1983 until 2001. That said, the fundamentals didn’t change much from the earlier examples. The AMC-sourced 4.0 will outlive us all, and the later body touches from the ’97 refresh did a good job of updating the hard-angle chromed trim pieces these wore throughout the mid-1980s. A later one (like this) is what I’d buy.
I spent a lot of time with these when I was working as a neighborhood shop mechanic, and Rob’s right in comparing them to DC3s… oil leaks and all. The 4.0 loved to gum up valve cover PCV ports, which would then soak the engine air filter in dirty oil. Chrysler’s love of cork gaskets was NOT shared by me or the other techs who were tasked with keeping driveways clean, either. But rarely did one of these come in our shop on the hook, which speaks to their simple and tough nature. There’s a reason most of the ones you see now are lifted on 35s and spend their weekends trucking around ORV parks…
I vote yes on this one, as it’s basically untouched from new — and that’s rare on a vehicle with such a large aftermarket following. This is a great example of the dawn of the SUV (before it was called that), and of the lasting influence of AMC in American car culture.
So this is what they look like! Amazing. We are all so used to seeing these in their current form, stripped down rock crawlers or overlanders tarted up with $20k worth of gear that could all be replaced with a $100 tent, a foam roll and sleeping bag. Buy this and drive like it is 1999. But the party wont be over or the engine out of time. That inline 6 will outlive the cockroaches that rule the earth once man does himself in. What an amazing example.
Wow, this is a stunning XJ! Although my preference would be a 2-door, 5-speed with steelies, this is certainly a contender!
Good to see this XJ getting some love from the real experts. I love this one, and could easily make the case that even at the stratospheric ask of almost $35K, this represents good value. As Alan said, it’ll likely outlast all of the boomer and Gen-X judges here. Just buy one of those new-fangled Carplay boxes, pop it on the dash, and you have all the modern infotainment you need in a car that will likely be a gas and oil proposition for as long as you have a license, or a pulse.