Someone sell me

I am a long time Jeep owner. Love my jeep. I am in the car business and just took a new job running a Toyota store. Since I have been here, I started lifting Tacomas and 4Runners. And, after seeing them, I have this incredible itch to trade in my 2013 Wrangler and pick up a 17 Taco Off Road or Pro...and yes, I can get one.

First, someone sell me on why I should trade and...second... (with the exception of the cement color) I don't think I want the pro, since I will be changing the suspension anyways.

 

Good news, the cement is going to be offered in the OR version for 2018.
Welcome to TW!

 

Test drive to make sure you like it.

 

I have been. Drove one of the ones I lifted for a few days. Auto is a bit of a dog, so I may go with manual. Drives ok. Not too much different than my jeep. Just think I will miss the top and doors off ...

 

Drove a Wrangler recently and I had a sigh of relief when I could drive my truck again. Tacoma drives much better on the highway and is really quiet in the cabin. I feel like I'm in a nice SUV that can also do truck things or off-roading.

 

That old tag line, "it's a jeep thing, you wouldn't know" has always rang true for me. I've drove 3 or 4 iterations... Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Wagoneer. Didn't get a feeling I liked from any of them.

Welcome to the Forum, good luck with your new position. You are now tapped in to a lot of possible customers.

 

What do you think you're worth? I need to market you

 

I had a Jeep 7 vehicles ago. Loved it. The Tacoma's a better daily driver, and I can haul my mountain bike (and more) in the bed.

 

My guess is you aren't looking for us to sell 'you', but you want to hear customer testimonials so you can sell trucks. That's what I'd be gleaning from an enthusiast forum if I were in your shoes.

Right or wrong about that, I'd not try to sell someone in your position on anything about the truck.

You have more access and exposure than 98.32% of the people here did before they bought theirs, both for test drives, discussion with your service manager and shop techs on real world experiences, and behind the scenes Toyota data on the good and bad of things.

Some here have great remorse, some think it's better than sliced bread.

If you really want to build out a gray primer unit, pick up an '18, when the color is not Pro exclusive.

 

I used to have an old cj5 when I lived in California long ago and loved it but I was lot younger and climate was great for it. Ive test drove them many times in last two years and living in Okla now and climate not as good and just so much rougher riding and I commute weekly and put 650 miles a week on. as stated above the trucks are much better for daily driving and I too like having a bed in back. I have a 16 Colorado diesel and trading for 18 trd off road. ill go auto trans I have no issues with it.

 

Having been with Nissan for 15 years...this Toyota thing is a little different. I don't need testimonials to sell customers. They seem to be sold long before they get here. What I was looking for was more of a hey, I had a Wrangler, and while I miss it, this is better...this is worse...expect this kind of a thing.

 

You're a gm at at Toyota dealer and you didn't get a demo in your contract? doh!

 

I came from a Wrangler JKU. Loved it! It was awesome on the trails, as you know. And the Jeep community is great. But I needed to haul stuff around. Be practical. Boring adult shit. House/property-related shit like yard debris, firewood, appliances to camping gear and motorcycle. I needed a pick-up. Though I can't take some of the gnarly trails that I used to (especially since I went DCLB), I ain't lookin' back. Oh, plus my JKU had some weird gremlins, one of which would set the alarm off in the middle of the night for no reason at all.

I have a feeling that you don't need us to sell you. You know what to do.

I went from this:


To this:

 

I was a long time jeeper, and very recent first time Tacoma owner - I do miss certain things about the jeep, like the top/doors, the approach/departure angles for rock crawling, and the fact that some of the "jeep family" is still trying to come to terms with my crossover... but what I don't miss is the rough daily ride (Michigan roads are terrible, and at least two of the roads I take to work daily could rival some trails in terms of rough terrain), the lousy mpg (I know the taco isn't the greatest either, but much better than the jeep was), and having to go super slow on most trails and forest roads as to not get bounced around to death.

I also don't miss the constant maintenance that my previous jeep required... I've come to terms with the "jeep thing" long ago, and realize that any modified and wheeled vehicle requires more care and maintenance, but my '15 jku was either cursed, or was built on jobbie nooner, Friday the 13th, or something. Aside from the normal wear stuff, found a balled up wad of tape wedged under one of the fenders and all around the brake lines; while drilling holes for body armor I found a piece of tape that they had painted over (ripped off with the drill bit, down to bare metal), and the underside of one of the rockers was not painted (and had already rusted up). That's on top of other odd mechanical and electrical gremlins, and breaking things far more often than any other jeep I've ever owned (that were wheeled harder and more often than this one was). Everything was addressed before I sold it, but it had me at my wits end.

I wanted something that would be a more comfortable and reliable daily driver, but could still take on the trails - the Taco fit the bill. Honestly, I'm still a jeeper at heart, and plan on picking up a TJ or YJ in the near future to build as a dedicated offroad/crawler/trailer queen rig; but for now, no regrets whatsoever with my decision.

 

I like my Taco but trading my Wrangler Sahara MT with both tops was the dumbest thing I ever did.

 

I had a TJ for years, I sold it around 2012, I wish I still had it, it was more fun, but the taco is a much better vehicle for me, I need the bed, and everything about it is better except I can't remove the top. The Jeep had a lot of electrical and brake issues otherwise I'd still have it, it was a 2nd vehicle. Someday I'll pick up another, but would again be a second vehicle.

 

I believe the answer is both. And I know how that sounds. But for a reason. I don't do a lot of wheelin. I do spend every weekend from may til September burying wheels up to the hub in mud.

The gen 3 can have issues. It is very much a case by case deal.

Personally my vote is for a TRDOR MT. I have one. I've had 3 tacos. I've had a gen 2 MT and gen 3 MT. I personally don't find the rev hang in the gen 3 excesssive like some do. I do firmly believe it's a way smoother gearbox than the gen 2 when you learn in.

Last 2cent, I finally got to really test the A-trac in this truck. Stock tires pulled me out of a big mess that I thought I'm done foe because I don't have my real tires on yet. Stock, these rigs can get you far, comfortably.

Obviously the handoff is the front end of s jeep, clearance, front+rear lockers (IMO the a-trac might take you right up to the edge of the ultimate scenario where you would "need" a front locker.

Again, to give perspective, I don't consider what I do wheelin. But what I do is go 10-20 miles into closed unmaintained roads that see 20 trucks a year, with 20* loose 3" rock grades, and small brook crossings, which my stock rig passes just fine and I'm happy with.

Get another jeep down the line if you want something designated for crawling or trails. The taco can handle everything else and that if you want an all in one rig. I'll probably end up with both myself, budget allowing.

Hope that helps OP. Feel free to ask away and good luck with the hunt

 

... which pretty much ensures we'll see cements at every stop light in a few months

 

How much do you like a howling rear differential? If you like it a lot the 3rd Gen is for you.

If you prefer a vehicle that doesn't sound like it's about to fail, stick with almost any other brand new vehicle.

 

Don't do it. If you need to be talked into it, the Tacoma isn't for you. Keep the jeep and save your money for repairs.