by "RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
Published 04/05/2017 at 13:31
by "RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
Published 04/05/2017 at 13:31
No Tags
STARS: 5
That I want an XJ. Have long wanted an XJ. Currently this one. Manual windows, simple as can be, to daily and have a little fun with. I’m selling my current daily, my previous daily turned project, and probably offing my rusty old Vanagon, but plan to keep the F150 for truck stuff for the time being. This is too small for the family to trip in, though, so what I should really do is buy my buddy’s off-road modified Coleman trailer for half this money and just tow that with the old Ford. Fun to dream though.
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"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
04/05/2017 at 13:33, STARS: 4
protip - you cannot off road modify a coleman trailer on the same grounds that ikea nightstands will not be heirloom.
Owner of a coleman camp trail...er
"vicali" (vicali)
04/05/2017 at 13:37, STARS: 4
Coleman bad, Boler good*;
*store everything on the floor, because that’s where it will end up anyways.
"TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts." (thebloody)
04/05/2017 at 13:38, STARS: 2
"Party-vi" (party-vi)
04/05/2017 at 13:40, STARS: 1
Too much money for that one. Ripped seat and bad paint can be had for a lot less.
"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
04/05/2017 at 13:41, STARS: 1
These are some of the best cars ever made. Seriously (just not the 4 bangers). I could go on and on, and I’ve never owned one. My friends own 2, both of which are well over 200k and aside from the typical New England rust you’d have no idea. The big old 6 makes amusing agricultural noises and is silky smooth. Lots of torque for offroading. I say go for it!
My engineer friend who makes 70k/year wouldn’t DD his XJ trail rig if it wasn’t a great car. These are lots of fun to work on and the parts are dirt cheap. All problems are solvable... EXCEPT for the neutral safety switch issue. It’s very difficult to diagnose/repair unless you just get a new transmission. And not actually a problem whatsoever other than the fact that it puts your check engine light on so you can’t pass inspection. So RUN if you see a CEL
"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
04/05/2017 at 13:41, STARS: 0
I’ve had experience with a couple, and agree completely. I wouldn’t do anything too heavy with it though, I don’t think my family is going to take to that as yours has, and the good camp areas within striking distance for me have a lot more pavement between me and them than dirt. The particular trailer I have a line on belongs to a good buddy, it’s got an uprated axle, reinforced frame, real wheels and tires, and some other stuff to bulletproof it a little bit, it’s a veteran of multiple Baja trips. About as offroady as a Coleman will get.
"benjrblant" (benjblant)
04/05/2017 at 13:44, STARS: 0
Quickly glanced at the text, read “Bowler,” got hella excited for this:
Then saw your pic and realized we were not on the same page.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
04/05/2017 at 13:45, STARS: 0
yeah but not for kiddos
"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
04/05/2017 at 13:45, STARS: 0
It is a little high, but no rust and not too beat up is pretty hard to find. Most of these things are beat to death.
"Party-vi" (party-vi)
04/05/2017 at 13:47, STARS: 3
Oh I’m sure it’s got rust. Them floorboards probably looks like Swiss cheese.
"vicali" (vicali)
04/05/2017 at 13:54, STARS: 0
The 1650 is a 16 footer, but they are heavy, and fiberglass isn’t a known for it’s offroad capabilities..
Plus Alex (pictured) basically rebuilt his including rejigging the frame and and recutting the wheelwells for bigger tires - he’s currently shunned from the Boler community..
"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54)
04/05/2017 at 13:54, STARS: 0
And here I am looking at how to lift the Jetta during/after the Ute conversion, and throwing some A/T tires on some smaller 15" wheels...
"Tristan" (casselts)
04/05/2017 at 13:59, STARS: 0
But, California... I doubt it. I’m mostly just shocked at how bad that seat is for only 163k miles.
"Party-vi" (party-vi)
04/05/2017 at 14:00, STARS: 1
I had almost 295k on mine (or 289k I can’t remember) and none of my seats were cracked or worn like that. Those seats have seen some ass-time.
"adamftw" (adamftw)
04/05/2017 at 14:02, STARS: 2
Uh, the NSS is like a $35 part and takes all of half an hour to remove and replace. It also doesn’t put your CEL on. The trans is actually Aisin-Warner (aka Toyota A340) and pretty stout as well. The only PITA CELs are the 00-01 coil pack CELs. Usually solvable with upgrading to Dodge Viper coil packs.
"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
04/05/2017 at 14:05, STARS: 0
I’ve worked on a few of these for clients, and there aren’t many cars I still like after working on them, but these are one. They just feel happy to drive,I enjoy them.
"Tristan" (casselts)
04/05/2017 at 14:05, STARS: 2
Look for a 2wd. Most of the “I’ve only got $3 and want to go offroading” guys won’t touch them and they haven’t been beaten within an inch of their lives. A 4wd conversion is a Saturday project. Pictured above: My ‘97 XJ. I bought it as a bone stock 2wd auto with butterscotch diarrhea interior. Now it’s got a 5-speed, 4wd and charcoal interior.
Also, it’s a poorly built miserable piece of shit and I recommend XJs to no one.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
04/05/2017 at 14:08, STARS: 3
I never wanted one until I started reading David Tracy’s articles. Now it’s on the long list of cheap junky vehicles I want to own. I have remarkably unrefined taste.
"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
04/05/2017 at 14:09, STARS: 0
But this is CA, there’s a good chance they’re solid. I’ve seen older ones with factory roof racks rust up top, but never chassis or floor issues here.
"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
04/05/2017 at 14:09, STARS: 0
Yeah it’s pretty hosed. The older cloth interiors seem to wear better.
"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
04/05/2017 at 14:13, STARS: 0
Seriously, if you want to know how to offroad a Jetta, I’m your guy...
I helped build and crewed this thing for years.
"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
04/05/2017 at 14:19, STARS: 0
Recommend them to no one in a “surfing sucks, don’t try it” kind of way, or actually don’t recommend them? I’ve worked on and driven a few and like them. I mean, I also like Fox Mustangs and old F150s, not exactly pillars of build quality themselves. Weird, because I’ve spent a lifetime working on overcomplicated but well made German cars. Guess I gravitate towards simpler shitboxes now.
"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
04/05/2017 at 14:20, STARS: 2
I’ve long had a simmering hankering for one, but it’s been increasing. We have similar tastes in shitboxes, I think.
"Pyrochazm" (pyrochazm)
04/05/2017 at 14:25, STARS: 1
Dude get it! Even in stock form they off-road like a crazed woodchuck. Durable, reliable, relatively easy to work on and parts are dirt cheap.
"Viggen" (viggen37)
04/05/2017 at 14:28, STARS: 1
I need to get another one. I miss mine.
"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
04/05/2017 at 14:32, STARS: 3
I miss the one I don’t even have yet.
"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
04/05/2017 at 14:34, STARS: 0
We’ve given up on the NSS a long time ago. This is a ‘99 though, so no coil packs. My buddy read his code with a scanner and did replace the sensor but it’s still throwing that code. We just can’t figure it out.
"Noah - Now with more boost." (antriebverliebt)
04/05/2017 at 14:35, STARS: 0
I agree, they’re very happy cars. They are just so humble, and almost vintage at this point too.
"Justino6969" (justino6969)
04/05/2017 at 14:35, STARS: 0
Look harder. I picked up this one for $2k back in September with a near-perfect interior and 143k miles.
I also disagree with the being too small to family trip in; this thing has a lot of room on the inside.
The XJ bug bit me many years ago, and I finally realized my dream last year. I believe in you!
"Justin Hughes" (justinhughes54)
04/05/2017 at 14:36, STARS: 0
I’m intrigued. Big rally fan, I do ham radio communications at local events, and I definitely plan to rallycross it. I’d love to hear any advice you have. Here, or jhughes@rightfootdown.com. Thanks!
"Viggen" (viggen37)
04/05/2017 at 14:37, STARS: 0
I just gotta keep this one Massachusetts legal and take better care of it.
"mtdrift" (mtdrift)
04/05/2017 at 14:41, STARS: 0
You won’t be disappointed, but $4300 seems a little bit steep for one in this condition. I’d say around $3600 and you’d have yourself a good deal.
Protip on those front seats that look like Bobcats have had their way with them - acquire a set of lightly used thrones from a ZJ Grand Cherokee at the scrap yard. The seat rails are interchangeable from the original seats, so it’s a semi-direct bolt-in installation, and the ZJ seats are worlds more comfortable and supportive.
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
04/05/2017 at 14:45, STARS: 0
Yeah, I think we do.
Although I’ve never wanted Vanagon ... I do in general like shitty old vans.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
04/05/2017 at 15:00, STARS: 0
Make me miss my YJ a lot. I have tried to track it down, but it went to Colorado with a kid for college. I want mine back damn it.
"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
04/05/2017 at 15:13, STARS: 0
"shop-teacher" (shop-teacher)
04/05/2017 at 15:31, STARS: 0
If I’ve learned anything from Oppo, its that I do not possess the intestinal fortitude it takes to own an old German car.
I will admit, however, that there is a part of me that wanted to lease a New-new Beetle when it came out, specifically the battleship grey one with the heritage wheels my local dealer had out front. There’s also a part of my that wants a GTI for the sole reason of plaid seats. Neither one will ever happen though.
"adamftw" (adamftw)
04/05/2017 at 19:30, STARS: 0
The NSS is the CEL? You prob have a short.
"Tristan" (casselts)
04/06/2017 at 00:22, STARS: 1
As in it’s the worst reliable car ever. Will it run and get you home? Sure. Can it be made to go anywhere? Yup. Should you own one if you are the type of person who likes things to work properly? Absolutely not. So you just got the melted O2 sensor wiring sorted? Here’s a CEL for an impossible to troubleshoot Evap system fault. You just swapped the third cracked exhaust manifold for an uber-expensive Borla header in hopes of fixing that obnoxious exhaust leak? LOL! NOPE! CRACK! You managed to keep the check engine light off for a couple of months so you thought you’d try to sneak through emissions? NICE TRY SUCKER! CHECK ENGINE immediately before pulling in to the bay! And your horn just quit working because fuck you. And while you left if parked for a couple months thins winter, the windshield developed a MASSIVE leak and the inside of the Jeep is now a mold farm. And the clutch master cylinder you just replaced is starting to make the same loud creaking noise the old one did after one week. And the brake light switch just fell off. And that A/C compressor you replaced last summer? Frozen solid. One month out of warranty. And you can try to free up the rusty hood release cable and latches, but it won’t work... you’ll still have to pull with all your might to pop the hood.
I could go on... Seriously. It’s the worst case of fix-one-thing-and-two-more-break I’ve ever dealt with. NO... I’LL NEVER SELL IT.
"gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee" (gogmorgo)
04/06/2017 at 00:44, STARS: 1
Or pull the trailer with the XJ?
I really need to get new floors and rockers into my XJ so I can get it (legally) back on the road. ‘92 2-dr 5-speed. I also previously owned a ‘93 XJ country, also rotted to shit, but it didn’t live very long, pulled the drivetrain out for my MJ and it got chopped up.
Tough as nails, parts are very available still, HUGE aftermarket. Highly recommend. You’ll continue wanting one until you own one, might as well get it over with.
"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
04/06/2017 at 08:00, STARS: 0
Ah, got it. This is how I feel about Vanagons.
"Jobjoris" (Jobjoris)
04/06/2017 at 08:52, STARS: 1
The XJ is awesome. I also feel the seller of this white one is awesome. 4 out of 10 pictures with his own finger in front of the lens: Must really love him self. No idea what his gas problems are as well looking at that driver’s seat...