So my Cherokee has done me well, but I am facing some pretty costly repairs. Replace heater core $600-1000 alone for that, new brakes and possibly rotors, alignment issues...maybe the death wobble once again, cracked windshield. She has 150,00 mi on her. Do I pump out the money for the repairs or start searching for another XJ? Some say put the money into it and others say it's not worth it. Any advice? Last year alone I spent over 800 on some mega repairs.

 

on a new vechicle you will be staring all over again with fixing the things youve all ready fixed on the one you own.

 

That's the exact reason why I haven't left my XJ. I figure if I fix everything, it'll be like a brand new Jeep. Only better...

 

Haha.. I'm gonna blame it on typos... A heater core is 35 bucks. And, when you take a 13 year old vehicle and off road it, it gets expensive. I don't even 'froad mine cause it's my DD and if I wanna keep it, then I gotta stay outta the mud... I guess welcome to the world of jeepin: beat it, break it, fix it.

 

This. You don't know what's wrong with a car when you buy a new one. Keep the one you have and you don't have to be nervous for the first few months while you wait and see what decides to go wrong. If repairs are too expensive, consider doing some of the work yourself. Brakes are cake if you kept it clean since you've owned it. Except drums, those are a pain.

 

For 4 months in a row I put an average of 400 a month into a car I don even own anymore. This jeep has been breaking the bank, too. Inspection is due up soon and there is still plenty of work left. I think all said and done it's gonna be +/-1000 bucks to get it inspected. So your crying on the wrong shoulder, here... Cars are expensive no matter what...

 

Mine's older than 13, its my DD, and I wheel it all the time lol. If anything breaks, build it beefier! My jeep will be indestructible in a couple years with all the stuff I'm putting on it.

 

had mine 15 years been thru almost all of it cant beat a vechicle you no from top to bottom

 

First of all what year and model is your cherokee. Second are you mechanically inclined. If you are get a repair manual and go to town. Parts are cheap labor is expensive.

 

Well. Go with what works. My 99 sees more pavement that a jeep should so wheeling is really not an option for me. I used to go every weekend, usually short trips, like under 10 miles off road. But even the little weekend trip started to really take it's toll: constantly getting new joints, alignments, replacing/welding lots of stuff in general.. It's just too much for a DD. I have done like 200 miles of all pavement today. I'm gonna do it again tomorrow and then again on Friday. So wheeling this thing is just too expensive. If it was a WW, I wouldn't care, but that's just not the reality of it for me...I almost got a wrangler for 300, but a day late and a buck short and the guy who bought it is selling it for 1100... I was BUMMED when I found out, needless to say...

 

I've probably got 500$ but 150 hours into my jeep. It's gettin close to like new. I also have the satisfaction of knowing I did all the work and I know my jeep inside and out. If I were you I would do the work yourself. It feels good to fix something and have it work. Plus you will gain valuable experience. It's like the saying Im not gonna give you food, I'm gonna teach you to fish so you can eat for a lifetime. Heater core 35$, learning how to install it yourself and gettin er done- priceless!

 

I was told the actual part is pretty cheap, but installing it is a pain in the *** because you have to take the whole dash apart to get to it, which is what makes it so costly if you have to have someone else do it. Maybe I was mis-informed or does this sound about right?

 

Pads and rotors are wear items, you'll have to do that on anything you drive. Windshield, hmmmm $150. Heater core $75 @ AutoZone for my 99, yours maybe be different.
There's a write-up on here somewhere on how to change out the heater core. The only hold back would be if it's your DD and nothing else to drive until it's back together.
All of this will depend on how mechanically inclinded you are. Like already mentioned, you'll never know what lies around the next corner with a different vehicle.

What condition is the drive train in (motor, transmission, t-case, axles etc)?

 

It's a 2000 Cherokee sport. I'm ok with minor repairs, but my main vehicle has bit the dust, so the Cherokee is now my primary mode of transportation...to add to it, I have 4 month old, so I can't risk possibly making a mistake with a repair I do myself.

 

Like most have stated above...why buy new problems when you at least know yours and have fixed some...you may get lucky and get a better xj...but chances are probably not...i went through this same stage a couple weeks ago...over $400 into brakes and $150 for a new header...i have to much time and money invested into my jeep to just let it go for something that MAY be better but most likely just more problems.lol Anyway, its a pain in the butt having so many problems to fix and not much money...but coming from someone who's been in your position...keep it, fix it, and enjoy having all those new parts

Just read your last post about the kid...i also have a kid myself(2 year old) and i really reccomend not touching the brakes yourself...let a shop do it, that is not something to chance if you dont know exactly what your looking for/doing.