Every now and then, driving past used car lots, you do an absolutely classic double take. Then you make sure there’s no-one right behind you, hit the brakes and head over to inspect closer whatever it is you just glimpsed.
In my case, it was a red Jeep Cherokee XJ and I did the complete Christine manoeuvre. I was hoping it would be the full 4.0, but that wasn’t the case: it was a 2.5 four banger with not much up its sleeve.


XJ:s have attained something of a desirability right now – or did it ever vane? In a modern automotive world where everything is rounded, soft and well packaged, they are honest, boxy and somewhat cramped, so sharp that everything next to them looks like a purple Micra.
A fellow gearhead forumite from PA drives a similar-looking red XJ, so I was happy to snap a few photos and let him get a look at this one on the other side of the world.

With this example, the problem is the asking price in comparison to the less desirable engine and a high odometer reading; you could get a 4.0 six for 4000 pretty easily. It’s not the roughest one out there, but it’s not exactly something that would get you get out your checkbook immediately.

There’s rust underneath, but nothing out of the ordinary.

The roof has been patched up, which is a little bit weird. That’s the spot where you would attach a roof rack, so maybe that’s been the initial paint breaker.