XJ, ZJ or Jetta

[kirksjeep]

My POS Jetta transmission went up on me today.  I managed to limp it home, but now I need another Daily Driver.  I have a budget of about $1500, so I'm not looking for any thing great.   For the XJ guys what kind of gas mileage could I expect with stock size tires?  A Jetta will get about 30 and I know a XJ will not be as good, but 4wd in the winter will be nice, and in the summer, I ride the motorcycle most days.  I wouldn't mind a ZJ either, since they have the 4.0 and the interiors are pretty nice.  Given the choice what would you guys get and why?  My commute is about 30 miles round trip.

[calvynandhobbs]

I'm only getting 11-13mpg with my XJ, but I think stock they get somewhere around 17-19mpg. They are fairly comfortable, but a ZJ will be more comfortable. The ZJ is also a little heavier so I would imagine it wouldn't get quite the mileage the XJ will, but I'm not sure.

[reptile610]

if your light on ur foot you'll get about 17mpg in an xj. thats what i get.... u should some how come up with like 3.5 or 4k and buy mine...... ONLY 87K MILES!!! 

[PaulW]

Kirk i've owned them both, and with a 5 speed in the cherokee i was getting about 20 on the highway.  my zj was getting 19 and my auto xj was at 18.  the zj rode the best, but i cant give up the fuel economy of the 4 cyl imports

[kirksjeep]

Kirk i've owned them both, and with a 5 speed in the cherokee i was getting about 20 on the highway.  my zj was getting 19 and my auto xj was at 18.  the zj rode the best, but i cant give up the fuel economy of the 4 cyl imports

Good to know.  I would love to find a 5 speed XJ, but I don't see that many.  I do about 150 miles a week, and with my Jetta that was about 5 gallons of gas.  With a XJ/ZJ it would be about 7-8 gallonbs of gas.  Thats about $8 more a week, but I can also tow my utility trailer, make dump runs, and have 4wd when I have to get to/home from work in the snow.

[PaulW]

Kirk i've owned them both, and with a 5 speed in the cherokee i was getting about 20 on the highway.  my zj was getting 19 and my auto xj was at 18.  the zj rode the best, but i cant give up the fuel economy of the 4 cyl imports

Good to know.  I would love to find a 5 speed XJ, but I don't see that many.  I do about 150 miles a week, and with my Jetta that was about 5 gallons of gas.  With a XJ/ZJ it would be about 7-8 gallonbs of gas.  Thats about $8 more a week, but I can also tow my utility trailer, make dump runs, and have 4wd when I have to get to/home from work in the snow.

i average about 200 miles a day.  so i need the 4cyl import.  look for an xj with a 5 speed but watch out for the pegout trans.  they're junk.  you'll know it because it uses a hydraulic throwout bearing as apposed to an external slave cyl.

[rocket]

I say go w/ an Aspire with the 5spd, you are looking at the upper 40s.

[PaulW]

I say go w/ an Aspire with the 5spd, you are looking at the upper 40s.

make sure to leave the big speaker at home that way you won't get the lower 40's

[Seabee_BUC]

This lower Forty???   

[kirksjeep]

This lower Forty???   

Think they would let it go for $1500 give or take??

[reptile610]

we'll make them an offer they can't refuse. (crap gas i bet tho)

[PaulW]

doug will sell you his

[BlacXJeep]

doug will sell you his

if he can find the keys... ahahaha 

[PaulW]

doug will sell you his

if he can find the keys... ahahaha 

then right now it's worth 1500

[reptile610]

  found the keys... sitting on my desk but it was dark and couldn't see them