Every time before I make a major investment in my XJ, I think, is it worth it or should I just sell it? Well, its one of those times again, as the truck needs tires now, and I'm already on track to spend $1060 on it this year in maintenance. Which got me thinking to run some numbers on my maintenance records, and I'm wondering how yours compare, especially pre-96 vs 97-01 XJs? Also, do any of you drive Wranglers, Tacos, or 4Runners or other rigs with better or worse numbers?

1996 XJ with 194,000 miles. Figures don't include purchase price or gas costs.
Years owned: 2.5
Miles Driven: 28,000
Total Cost: $7175
Avg cost/10k miles: $2250
Dollars per Mile: $0.264

 

1990 2dr sport
owned 10yrs
bought with 246k currently have 443k(adj. mi. 197k)
have spent 4010ish in parts and service
dollars per mile- .2035

 

93 Sport, not including cost and gas
65K over 12 years (now has 262K)
Total Cost: $2940
Avg Cost /10K: $452
Dollars Per Mile: ~ $0.05

Most of the parts I needed when I fixed it myself I got from a Pic-A-Part. Most of the cost was when I took it to Firestone and had the rear brakes done and a front shaft replaced.

Including Gas and Vehicle Purchase Cost Per Mile ~ $0.23

That's going to go way up as I restore it and build it for off road.

 

Years owned: 19
Miles driven: 205,000
Total cost: Geez...
Avg cost/ 10k miles: varies
Smiles per mile: unlimited

It's become my trail rig and weekend toy for driving around town. I don't care about the money invested anymore, it's my hobby and one of the only things that makes me happy. Now I don't spend all my money on it, but I'm not afraid to spend a little on my XJ.

 

Can have this outlay or get a $300 a month car payment and it would still need tires.

I have approx 3K in mine over 5 a year build.

 

Mine was free... I've probably got about $1K in it, though...
I think I've put 3K miles on her so far... So that boils down to about 30 cents per mile.
That's a lot compared to some of you, but mine sat for 7 years before I got it... So it needed a lot of random work -- mostly the fuel system.

However, I want to say that the cost of XJ ownership is PRICELESS!

 

Waiting for BJ to chime in with the added cost of tools, parts, two post lifts and the $900/hr mechanic, LOL....could probably buy a Bugatti Veyron with that scratch

 

$7000 is outrageous in only 2 years.
Do you take it to the dealer for all repairs?
Can you post the repair history?
Did you do a lot of stuff that wasn't needed?

This is why cheap cars are never cheap.
You're into your XJ for $10,000 and counting, and you're still driving a 18 year old car with 200k miles.
$10k could have gone a long way towards a much newer car.,

 

Pot- kettle, kettle- pot.

 

Stop reading my mind. I thought for a second he started it

Spoke too soon

 

The way I see it, driving and fixing my jeep is my hobby. Everyone has them. If you don't want to pay x amount of dollars then invest in a new car which even today there's money to invest in it

 

Absolutely perfect.

 

LOL, right?

 

Not really.
I paid $2000 for my XJ.
Put about another $2000 into it.
Perfect winter beater.

 

Just about any large purchase you make will require some sort of maintenance, be a car, house, boat, ect. Even brand new shiny cars off the lot will require it. The way i see it is if i spend what i need to now it will save me a lot more in the long haul. My jeep has actually been cheaper to maintain than just about any other vehicle ive owned. Granted the gas mileage leaves somthing to be desired, but ive kinda taken to jeeps now. I always said id never own one lol