OK all.. Last week I ended up stumbling on a great find when i wasn't even really looking. My girlfriend was inquiring about a used, cheap vehicle from our old mechanic in CO, and in steps 1988 Cherokee Pioneer 90,000 Original Miles! The reason my girlfriend was looking for a new car was because her amateur mechanic boyfriend turned a $15 fuel sensor fix into a camry death sentence. Out of the mix she finds a 1988 Cherokee Pioneer 90,000 Original Miles that had 1 owner in CO. Classic dream story of an elderly couple who bought it new back when, didn't use it for years, pristine condition inside and out, and then it finds it's way to me. At first i thought it was a perfect car that i can use to drive to work, go camping, shuttle around kids... But now i am starting to realize that a car in this condition with this many miles is somewhat of a rarity. I'm definitely buying it, but I have no space in my life for a collector car that sits or i feel guilty using as a daily driver. My question is whether I should use it as a daily driver (goodbye classic), use it only occasionally with care, or resell it to someone who will preserve it well into the future? I live in MN where rust is a certainty even with great care and to get anywhere throughout the cities you will be driving 60mph on pothole-filled roads. Any thoughts from the bleeding heart jeep fans out there?

 

Dude, seriously, just drive it. My '86 Pioneer was the same, one owner, only 67k on it, and in pristine condition. I'm pushing 79k now, lifted it, and I wheel it. I have no problems bouncing it off rocks and daily driving it. It now sports a smashed bumper, caved in fender and door, and scratches up the wazoo. I love it and don't care what anyone thinks. It's a Jeep, it wants you to drive it and wheel the **** out of it. Don't disappoint her.

 

x2 on just driving it.

It's a Jeep Cherokee, not a sports car. It's not going to appreciate in value.

 

Friends don't let friends drive stock mmmkay?

 

Its still a Cherokee. There were 2.8 million of them made. Not exactly rare, not really sought after. Special? Its all in the eye of the beholder I suppose. Personally, I love all my Jeeps, but at the end of the day, they're still an inanimate object. Use it as it was intended for, put some miles on it, let it rust away. Such is the life cycle of a Cherokee.

 

No reason to beat the **** out of a nice, classic Jeep if you don't want to! They're not a rare collector's item yet, but someday they will be, just like every other Pre-Chryco Jeep ever made, and you shouldnt feel guilty for keeping 'er stock. The fact that you care enough to come here and ask says you care enough to take good care of her... It's your call, but you sound like you're as fit as anyone to own it! Good find, btw! Pics?

 

ya just get it and drive....i bought my 96 for my wife and little girl to ride in and after awhile i got her a new grand cherokee and now im driving this one all over the place and havin fun with it. Gonna be putting some money in it soon.

 

I really appreciate all the responses. I've been really torn with the decision since I would love to keep a stock Cherokee in it's original condition but i will need to drive it. Here is a pic. When i get back with it i will post some more.

 

get lift and tires, keep everything else stock. welcome and nice xj

 

Nice pioneer man, keep it and drive it.

 

Keep it, drive it carefully. You don't need to bounce it off rock walls, just keep the salt off it. If you lift it keep all the original parts so you can put it back stock to sell it. Of course, there may be a collector out there willing to pay you top dollar now. Look into collector car mags like Hemmings and try posting an ad in there and then you can take the money and buy a 97-99 and feel less guilty about doing whatever you want to it.

 

With the price i am getting it for, and the price i see them going for, that option has defiantly entered my mind. I wish i could be more practical and understand that it would be a wise move on my part. I haven't even picked it up yet and i already feel like it would be hard to sell it even for a good profit. I guess keeping and taking care of it is the only way I can end up with a clear mind. Crazy the connections we form with jeeps.