I need NON biased opinions (Tacoma OR Jeep)

I loved my Tacoma, but I sold it couple months ago to help pay off debt.

Now I'm free and clear of debt, I would like to get a new toy.

As much as I loved the tacoma, it just.. had something missing, and from the looks of it, the new 2016's are not making me excited at all, honestly the things I love about them so far.. go pro mount and wireless charging...

With this in mind, I by all means am not thinking about the tacoma still, however, I have a new contender.

The Jeep wrangler unlimited (not sure which edition yet)

My main pro about the tacoma is the reliability and the bed came in great use many times.

My main purposes are

• Casual driving
• Outter banks
• Trailing
• Camping
• lots of highway driving
• depednability
• light towing (jet ski)

I know my main problem is picking a pickup verses a SUV. I love the idea of taking off my doors and top as well during the summer.

As mentioned, I would love if someone who maybe has both, or had both, could enlighten me. How has the jeep been for you?

Thank You

 

It's going to be hard to find unbiased opinions on a Tacoma or Jeep board.

At a recent Toyota truck meet, about a half dozen newish (2-3 year old) Wranglers showed up, the conversations I overheard from them seemed to revolve around cracked exhaust manifolds and wiring problems. Made me glad I bought a Toyota.

 

• Casual driving [T] [J]
• Outter banks [T] [J]
• Trailing [T] [J]
• Camping [T] [J]
• lots of highway driving [T] [J]
• depednability [T]
• light towing (jet ski) [T] [J]
• I love the idea of taking off my doors and top as well during the summer. [J]

 

get what ever fits ur lifestyle, i owned a tj a few years ago and loved it. but I've always been a truck guy and love the tacoma as well. most people don't keep a vehicle as long as they think they might, your needs will change and so will your vehicles get the best deal you can and do lots of reaserch to b sure you will b happy with your purchase.

 

Areed. X10

 

I think you'll have a tough time finding an unbiased opinion here....So Tacoma.

 

I did not buy a jeep because of the crappy build quality and the visibility out of the rear glass due to the wiper motor box.

 

Buy a new tacoma and a used jeep.

 

Unbiased opinion in a Tacoma Forum.

I actually like jeeps. If you don't need a truck bed then get a jeep. Or a jeep and a trailer. My buddy at work has the 4 door Jeep unlimited soft top. And it's pretty awesome to take to doors and top down on a nice day.

 

if you are keeping it longer then the factory warranty then taco, if you want to trade or sell it before the warranty runs out then maybe a jeep....long term reliability is not in jeeps dna

 

I picked up a 07 jeep wrangler unlimited, lifted custom bumpers and was sitting on 35's.It almost got me in two accidents due to the break's, this was all 17 hours into owning it. Had the dealership come and pick it up in front of my friends house where it was sitting in its own pool of break fluid. Needless to say I went back and picked up the 07 double cab off road and never looked back.I haven't had one issue in the three years I have had it.

 

With a Jeep ya get "the wave."

 

I went back and forth over the same before I finally settled on the Taco even though my first vehicle was a jeep and it held a special place in my heart. I wanted to be able to drop the top in the summer but figured I would get more use out of a bed when I needed it. It was a very close call but knowing my truck would out live the jeep quality really pushed me more for the taco as well.

 

I grew up with Jeeps and am extremely happy that I sold my Wrangler of 12 years for this Tacoma. I found with this pickup: more cargo capacity, quieter, smoother, more capable, more attractive, better resale value, more dependable. Good luck!

 

That settles it then.

Get a Tacoma.

 

Since you are in that wonderfully rare position of debt free, I highly recommend you stay that way.

Are you in a position to pay cash? (or cash and a trade?).

If not, why not hold off, even if that means delaying your dream vehicle(s).

Buy something that you can pay cash for, that fits 80% of your actual use, not your want to use. Seems like 'lots of highway driving' and 'reliability' become your key points in that case.

Sounds boring, but you'll enjoy not making payments. And when you do buy the 'toy', you'll really enjoy paying cash!

So, no bias in that post, just as you asked. I didn't even mention that an older in-your-cash-budget 4 runner would be something to consider. Capable off road. SUV like. Reasonable cargo area. Consider a used utility trailer for the times you 'need' a bed?

If you want drop top fun, high reliability, easy to work on, great aftermarket support, and the potential for slot car handling, consider a Miata. Very nice 1.8 first gens can be had for a reasonable price. And it can handle a jet ski.

Another short term option is a Matrix/Vibe. Very utilitarian, reliable, budget pricing, easily handle a jet ski or a small utility trailer. When finances allow, add the off road toy of a 4x4.

 

Owning a couple Jeeps in the past as well as Toyota trucks and Tacomas I went through much the same decision process a few months ago.
Sure is nice to buy a Jeep and it be off road capable right off the sales lot.
Some of the posts on this thread would lead one to believe there are no issues with Tacomas. There is a laundry list.
The bed was one of the deciding factors for me another was the interior comfort...aside from the seats in either...(they both could use improvement ).
I personally have not exp dependability issues with either Make over the years of ownership and knowing I am not much help, I could of easily purchased either.
The best of luck!

 

I owned a 2013 Wrangler Unlimited before my Tacoma. The only thing I liked about it was the ability to easily take off the doors and roof. Pretty much everything else was terrible.

Jeep: The transmission required excessive throttle just to get moving, and if there was any incline, reverse was almost out of the question. The stock gearing is appalling. A few gears even sounded like they were about to give out when they were brand new. Only time anything felt right was when it was in 4-low.
Tacoma: Do I even need gas to go in reverse in my Tacoma... not really, smooth in every gear, excellent.

Jeep: Brakes...what are those? Felt like I had to jam them at all times.
Tacoma: I'm just going to tap this middle pedal a tad... and I'm stopped! They always seem a tad grabby after I switch to the Tacoma, but I'll never complain about stopping power.

Jeep: The interior sounded hollow and felt horrible. The driving position sucked and you could not rest your foot next to the clutch without it getting caught, made me almost have to hover my foot on the pedals. When you shut the doors they flexed and I always thought I was about to pull the handles clean off. Passengers in the back pretty much have to have their knees into their chests unless they are children.
Tacoma: Good looking, good feeling, comfortable driving position, easily rest my clutch foot.

Jeep: The engine had decent power, but nothing to write home about, felt pretty smooth though. But I just didn't trust the dependability.
Tacoma: Once again, decent power, but nothing to write home about, very smooth. Rock solid dependability, I jump in one with 150,000+ miles and drive across the country.

Jeep: Funny enough though, once you took the top and doors off... all those problems were forgotten ha ha:roll eyes:
Tacoma Well, I guess I can take my doors off... But look at all this cargo I can take!!!

My opinion, if you are going to buy new, go with a Tacoma. If you are willing to go older, buy a jeep (or older Tacoma, they are sweet too). My buddy's 89 Sahara can take the doors and top off just as easy, but the interior is awesome, tranny is strong. Yeah it doesn't have four doors, but isn't it more fun to climb up the tire into the back anyway ha ha

 

Jeep wave looks more like this -

 

I am highly biased, as I owned a Jeep. Liberty, most recently. As a result, I will never own another Jeep product. It was that bad. Crap that should not have broken at all, broke again and again (power windows). It rusted in places no vehicle should have problems with until much later in the lifecycle (windshield surround rusted, allowing windshield to become loose and crack). I got lucky when the cats went at 79.5k miles. Another 500, and I would have been on the hook for thousands of dollars in parts, let alone the labor.

Many more minor repairs and issues means I will never again be sucked in by their shoddy products. Avoid Jeep.