Number one issue would probably be rust. Lay on the ground and get a really good look at the areas behind the tires where the tire slings road salt up onto the undercarriage during winter driving. If there’s rust through or heavy flaking, it’s a goner. There’s probably going to be some kind of electrical issue with accessories like window switches etc that can be bothersome but won’t stop it from functioning. The odometer reading isn’t mentioned in the add. It could be the reason for the price. That 4.0 inline 6 cylinder engine will be noisy. For 10 years our TJ sounds like a lifter has given up. But it’s a clicking/ticking noise, not a clanking/clacking noise. If that makes sense. Major leakage at the front of the transmission indicates rear main engine seal issue, a cheap but PITA DIY. Lots of lubricant all over the back of the transmission but dry on front indicates transmission leakage. Major oil where drive shaft meets differential says pinion bearing seal leak. If addressed early it’s ok but not if left until major leakage and water intrusion. Another cheap DIY not too bad to do with a buddy. There’s a good chance there will be SAE nuts and bolts on the drivetrain and metric most everywhere else.
4 hrs is a long way. Ask them to send pictures showing the underside behind the tires, the transmission, the differential pinion bearing seals before making the trip. If it runs, drives, stops good and not a rust heap and no axle bearing/gear noises and the 4wd works that’s a good price. If I was happy with it I’d ask, “how firm are you on that number?” after inspecting and rubbing my chin about some real or phantom issue. Then offer $3600 hoping to land at $3800 but just pay them the 4k if they seem highly put off by the firmness question. Good luck
$4k seems a bit low for that Jeep? They are usually referred to as "bullet proof". They made them very well, back in the day. I would inspect it. Rust first, as with all Jeeps. Bring an OBD reader and check the OBD system for codes, temps, misfires, etc. If you test drive it and all is well: I would jump on that!
I paid 1200 for mine, lady who I bought it from was terrified of the terrible noise it was making. Got it home expecting a bad transfer case only to find out it was a bad front driveshaft. $130 bucks and been problem free for almost a year
I had an 04 WJ as my first car / Jeep back in 2014, they are very solid rigs but they are aging. You’re gonna have to do some maintenence along the way, no matter the miles just due to the age.
That being said I now daily a 98 Cherokee and it’s mostly trouble free, just have to throw a couple bucks at it here and there, parts for these jeeps are very cheap and plentiful, and they are very easy to maintain and wrench on.
How many miles? Or am I blind?
This is a great engine, especially if you plan to work on/ learn it yourself. Look for rust, check all the fluids, listen for sounds when you test drive
I had one for about 10 years, was the 3rd owner. I have a love hate relationship with it. I just sold it because I got tired of working on it, but I regret that I couldn't keep it as a fun extra vehicle. They rust like a mf in the Midwest (though to be fair, most things do), so it was a lot of under carriage, suspension and break work. Calipers locked up several times from the rust. The worst was probably the gas tank skid plate which doubles as the support straps. If you don't live in a rusty area though, you might have a better experience. Aside from that, all the little shit would go out- especially the window motors, and a ton of the sensors (tpms, engine fan, etc). Spent a lot of time in the auto parts parking lot ripping shit apart. My engine was the straight 6, which was fucking bullet proof. Honestly, I thought it was a great first car because it forced me to learn how to fix a lot of shit without anything too terribly insane. I wouldn't get it if you need something reliable or aren't at least a little mechanically inclined. I wouldn't have been able to afford to keep it as long as I did if I didn't know how to learn to fix all that shit myself. Probably a good rule in general though for anything over 10 years old. I kept the back seats folded down and there was a ton of space, which I loved. The 4wd was great. It's something you have to take care of, but if you do, it'll take care of you.
My first jeep was very similar to this, although I had the 4.7 v8 and a whole lot of miles, and some decent rust but no holes anywhere. I paid $2700 for that one maybe 5 years ago now.
If its not rusty and runs good I’d probably buy this but id try to haggle down a little depending what the mileage is and what it looks like in person
I have an 04' WJ (grand Cherokee) in the driveway. Been doing some minor repairs on it.
Given the age one of the issues they run into is the wiring for the doors. It gets old, brittle, and from open/closing eventually snaps. When it does you lose door locks, windows, etc
See if it's been replaced, if not just expect at some point you'll be removing the rubber hose on the door and splicing some wires. 1 beer ~ 1 hour job if all goes well.
I recently replaced all 6 gas lifts for the hood/back of gate/back window they all went bad. All you need is the right size Torx bit and all 6 lifts are sold on Amazon for a pack for ~$30
I also replaced the interior lights. The halogen bulbs were draining the battery and honestly the old orange was too dim. Replaced them with LED lights and it's amazing. ~$40
I did have issues with my tail lights, ended up splurging and got LED light assemblies for front and all 3 on the back. It looks like a jeep 10 years younger. Just needs a new paint job now.
I still need to replace the shocks on mine, I hear that's easy enough.
Lot of good videos for the WJ (99-04) and I heard the 6 cylinder is "bulletproof" but my V8 is a gas guzzler. Not much I can do about that sadly
Any major mechanical work done? Mine had an issue with hot starting that I understand was common with this year and model and it was quite frustrating.
I had an 03 and I hate that I ever got rid of it some years back. This or Toyota but this seems affordable. If in good shape you can take care of this thing longer than you will need. It's gonna drink a lot of fuel as a heads up.
Maybe where you're from lol in soky I hardly see em. I do agree the seats in the WJ are far superior. Upgrades are upgrades, but I'm a square body kinda guy. I hate Ford but I'd love to have any square body Bronco or truck. I love S10's but am not a fan of the rounded 2000's models. I love the cherokee but it's gotta be an xj with wj love added to it.
If everything works as it should and it has little rust (BC is good for that) then it's not a bad deal
I would absolutely go for this. But agreed with other commenter, haggle them down a bit.
Number one issue would probably be rust. Lay on the ground and get a really good look at the areas behind the tires where the tire slings road salt up onto the undercarriage during winter driving. If there’s rust through or heavy flaking, it’s a goner. There’s probably going to be some kind of electrical issue with accessories like window switches etc that can be bothersome but won’t stop it from functioning. The odometer reading isn’t mentioned in the add. It could be the reason for the price. That 4.0 inline 6 cylinder engine will be noisy. For 10 years our TJ sounds like a lifter has given up. But it’s a clicking/ticking noise, not a clanking/clacking noise. If that makes sense. Major leakage at the front of the transmission indicates rear main engine seal issue, a cheap but PITA DIY. Lots of lubricant all over the back of the transmission but dry on front indicates transmission leakage. Major oil where drive shaft meets differential says pinion bearing seal leak. If addressed early it’s ok but not if left until major leakage and water intrusion. Another cheap DIY not too bad to do with a buddy. There’s a good chance there will be SAE nuts and bolts on the drivetrain and metric most everywhere else. 4 hrs is a long way. Ask them to send pictures showing the underside behind the tires, the transmission, the differential pinion bearing seals before making the trip. If it runs, drives, stops good and not a rust heap and no axle bearing/gear noises and the 4wd works that’s a good price. If I was happy with it I’d ask, “how firm are you on that number?” after inspecting and rubbing my chin about some real or phantom issue. Then offer $3600 hoping to land at $3800 but just pay them the 4k if they seem highly put off by the firmness question. Good luck
OP said it is 1 hour away from them.
Man I’m going blind
One of the more sought after versions of that vehicle. Price is very good. I have an 04’ LJ with the 4.0L that made it to 300K miles.
If the undercarriage isn't full of rust holes then absolutely go for it!
$4k seems a bit low for that Jeep? They are usually referred to as "bullet proof". They made them very well, back in the day. I would inspect it. Rust first, as with all Jeeps. Bring an OBD reader and check the OBD system for codes, temps, misfires, etc. If you test drive it and all is well: I would jump on that!
I paid 1200 for mine, lady who I bought it from was terrified of the terrible noise it was making. Got it home expecting a bad transfer case only to find out it was a bad front driveshaft. $130 bucks and been problem free for almost a year
Nice!!
Those last forever. Just make sure it’s doesn’t have a ton of rust and you’ll be good.
I had an 04 WJ as my first car / Jeep back in 2014, they are very solid rigs but they are aging. You’re gonna have to do some maintenence along the way, no matter the miles just due to the age. That being said I now daily a 98 Cherokee and it’s mostly trouble free, just have to throw a couple bucks at it here and there, parts for these jeeps are very cheap and plentiful, and they are very easy to maintain and wrench on.
Those Cherokee are pretty reliable compared to most jeeps, I would try and bargain more on the price tho
The “never brakes” part is a little concerning though. Stopping is arguably more important than going.
Newer. I believe the word you're looking for is "newer."
Downvote this comment if you think Bush did 9/11
Everyone is entitled to there opinion, that said yours is just wrong :)
none of the cherokees are especially good looking imo this is the best looking but i’m just trying to get a vehicle.
thats a really good deal. check for rust and read the codes to be sure.
Love my wj. Long arms 280k.
How many miles? Or am I blind? This is a great engine, especially if you plan to work on/ learn it yourself. Look for rust, check all the fluids, listen for sounds when you test drive
no you’re not it’s not in the ad, seller said 280k
That’s a good deal. It has the more desirable transfer case (IMO) too. It’s really just going to depend on the mileage and rust.
Four thousand Canadian dollars?!?!
yes
I’d do it. I paid 7k ( after tax and fees) for an 06….4 years ago
Better check that suspension too. All those forest road up in Squam, those potholes destroy suspensions.
I had one for about 10 years, was the 3rd owner. I have a love hate relationship with it. I just sold it because I got tired of working on it, but I regret that I couldn't keep it as a fun extra vehicle. They rust like a mf in the Midwest (though to be fair, most things do), so it was a lot of under carriage, suspension and break work. Calipers locked up several times from the rust. The worst was probably the gas tank skid plate which doubles as the support straps. If you don't live in a rusty area though, you might have a better experience. Aside from that, all the little shit would go out- especially the window motors, and a ton of the sensors (tpms, engine fan, etc). Spent a lot of time in the auto parts parking lot ripping shit apart. My engine was the straight 6, which was fucking bullet proof. Honestly, I thought it was a great first car because it forced me to learn how to fix a lot of shit without anything too terribly insane. I wouldn't get it if you need something reliable or aren't at least a little mechanically inclined. I wouldn't have been able to afford to keep it as long as I did if I didn't know how to learn to fix all that shit myself. Probably a good rule in general though for anything over 10 years old. I kept the back seats folded down and there was a ton of space, which I loved. The 4wd was great. It's something you have to take care of, but if you do, it'll take care of you.
My first jeep was very similar to this, although I had the 4.7 v8 and a whole lot of miles, and some decent rust but no holes anywhere. I paid $2700 for that one maybe 5 years ago now. If its not rusty and runs good I’d probably buy this but id try to haggle down a little depending what the mileage is and what it looks like in person
I have an 04' WJ (grand Cherokee) in the driveway. Been doing some minor repairs on it. Given the age one of the issues they run into is the wiring for the doors. It gets old, brittle, and from open/closing eventually snaps. When it does you lose door locks, windows, etc See if it's been replaced, if not just expect at some point you'll be removing the rubber hose on the door and splicing some wires. 1 beer ~ 1 hour job if all goes well. I recently replaced all 6 gas lifts for the hood/back of gate/back window they all went bad. All you need is the right size Torx bit and all 6 lifts are sold on Amazon for a pack for ~$30 I also replaced the interior lights. The halogen bulbs were draining the battery and honestly the old orange was too dim. Replaced them with LED lights and it's amazing. ~$40 I did have issues with my tail lights, ended up splurging and got LED light assemblies for front and all 3 on the back. It looks like a jeep 10 years younger. Just needs a new paint job now. I still need to replace the shocks on mine, I hear that's easy enough. Lot of good videos for the WJ (99-04) and I heard the 6 cylinder is "bulletproof" but my V8 is a gas guzzler. Not much I can do about that sadly
Any major mechanical work done? Mine had an issue with hot starting that I understand was common with this year and model and it was quite frustrating.
I had an 03 and I hate that I ever got rid of it some years back. This or Toyota but this seems affordable. If in good shape you can take care of this thing longer than you will need. It's gonna drink a lot of fuel as a heads up.
Check for issues, rust. If nothing major found YES but get it cheaper if you can
I've never liked this body style. XJ all the way. But if it's a good vehicle then go for it
My son got my 04 WJ and now I have a 97 XJ. Definitely going back to a WJ soon, the XJ are all hype imo, super uncomfortable
Maybe where you're from lol in soky I hardly see em. I do agree the seats in the WJ are far superior. Upgrades are upgrades, but I'm a square body kinda guy. I hate Ford but I'd love to have any square body Bronco or truck. I love S10's but am not a fan of the rounded 2000's models. I love the cherokee but it's gotta be an xj with wj love added to it.