If I want to take my wife and three kids off-roading I don't have any vehicles that they'll all fit inside. Maybe I need an FSJ Cherokee, Wagoneer, or Grand Cherokee.

At first I was looking for a decent Wagoneer or FSJ Cherokee for my next project. I don't want to pay more than $1,500 and if possible I'd really like to nab something with a clean interior that needs drivetrain or axle work for $500-$800. It's odd, but that doesn't leave many options in the FSJ camp. The ones I'm finding either have rotted bodies, roached interiors, no engine or drivetrain, or they're insanely expensive. Well, over $2K at least.

Then my searching fell back into the Grand Cherokee camp. I could have an injected V-8, A/C, good aftermarket support, and a decent interior for $1,500 or less. My preferred WJs can be had with major issues for $1,500 or less, but I wouldn't want to do an engine swap in one of those. Lots of 4.7L engines seem to be going bad in those now. I also found a rash of '95-up ZJs with bad 44RE four-speed autos. Sure, I'd want to do a tranny and T-case swap in the ZJ, but the prices hover around the $800 mark and the 5.2L Magnum will run forever and a day. It's a much better starting point in my book than a more-expensive FSJ or WJ. I could replace the rear axle, upgrade the front,  toss on a mild 2-inch lift, and run some fender flares for 32s or 33s. Hmmmm, maybe I'll go ZJ after all.