Wrangler or Tacoma?

That's what gets me most about Jeep, the amount of plastic and cheap materials they have in their vehicles turns me off, just feels low end with a relatively high name brand cost for what you get. If I can get a comparably priced truck with much more utility and more refined finishing it's an easy decision.

 

I was cross shopping for a new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and a Tacoma. My requirements were pretty straight forward; 4 door, 4 wheel drive, and I want to go off-road. I picked the Tacoma over the Jeep because I feel that it has more utility. I can tow and haul more things in a Tacoma when I need to. Really can't go wrong with either IMO, the Jeep was solid as hell when I was looking at it but it just didn't fit my requirements.

I don't think this truck is boring at all. I've only had it for a few weeks now and am very impressed with it so far, now I am looking forward to snow and going off-road

Still love Jeep's though.

 

I traded in my ‘13 Tacoma for a JK and then traded that in for my current Tacoma. I needed a truck more than I wanted a jeep. The jeep was fun off-road and cruising around with the doors and top off in the summer but the Tacoma is just more practical in every way (and still damn good off-road.)
Still miss the jeep every now and then.

 

Just talked the wife into trading her 2014 Wrangler in for a 2016 4Runner. There is not a single thing I miss about having a Jeep. My Tacoma and her 4Runner can do everything that Jeep could do and its way more comfortable and 10x more practical. Jeeps are only cool and fun 1 percent of the time, the rest of the time they are a rusting money pit. My opinion is just find a friend with one, the nostalgia wears off quick.

 

Been around Jeeps since I was 7. Dad had em while we growing up. We have 4 that we keep on our farm just to hunt out of or dick around in. With the exception of the 88 Grand Waggy, they all are CJ's. 2 CJ8's and a CJ7. Are they fun...absofuckinglutely-practical...not even a little bit. Buy the Taco. You will be much happier. Save your pennies and buy you a decent used Jeep if you must have it, mod the hell out of it, and roll on. Your back and your bank account will thank you.

 

I've owned a 2015 JK and currently my 2016 tacoma (both base models, both bought new).

Oddly enough, the weight of both vehicles is very close, as was their OTD price.
Both have staggering resale value. I ended up keeping my JK for only a year or so, the resale value was too good not to take advantage of, think of it as a dirt-cheap long-term rental.

Jeep - much more fun, amazing offroad (BLD is pure gold), its short length is great, can purchase a lifetime/unlimited miles warranty for $2k (this has increased since that time), that great V6 and shifter!

Tacoma - extra size/bed for supplies/mtb's/kayaks etc, it's reliability falls somewhere between that of a forged anvil and the mortality rate of living things, all the modern features I wanted, but with a healthy dose of old-school truck charm.

 

Wrangler is the GF/Mistress. Taco is the wife.

 

Thread got me curious..... there were quite a few 4x4, V6 Wranglers for sale below $5000. Buy the Taco, then buy a well used Jeep for fun.

 

I joined a local Jeep group for lack of a Tacoma group. I found Jeeps had their purpose, serious mud and cramped/narrow/sharp trails - correct me if I'm wrong. I brought my stock Tacoma along on one of their runs, though it was a very mild run, found it could do anything the stock Jeep could. However I bought my Tacoma to be a truck, tow, haul, transport - with a little off road fun mixed in. Depends what you need. Jeeps seem fun but are they incredibly practical? Probably not!

 

I owned an 05 Tacoma and loved it. I have owned a few other things including a 14 4runner trail edition. I currently own a 2 door JK Rubicon on a basic 2in lift, 35's, and full armor...farthest possible thing from practical. That said, if someone came up to me and offered a straight up trade for my old 14 4runner trail or a 3rd gen tacoma for my Rubicon, I would say no. I love my Jeep and no IFS Toyota is going to be able to follow down the trails without some serious modification and even then..It wouldn't be fun for it. I love off-roading too much now..actual off roading..not dirt roads.

I still want a 3rd gen Tacoma though for less hardcore trails. I love daily driving my Jeep though so it'll be staying with me for a long time. Get both!

OP..if you want a truck that's practical and can take you camping on the weekends..get the taco.

Btw...my 05 tacoma had more issues in 60k than my jeep has. Just saying.

 

Details

 

If you want a decent reliability SUV, thats great off road, terrible on road. Get the Jeep.
Want something with well known reliability ranked #1 for reliable vehicles, pretty good off road, pretty comfortable ride on road, and has a lot more cargo space. Get the tacoma.

I've had jeeps in the past (TJ) even considered getting a new one when I was looking at the taco. But they ride like complete fucking shit on road, but will do circles around a taco.

Jeeps have a huge market for aftermarket parts and are a lot cheaper to mod. You can spend a lot.

But $5000 can do a lot more to a Jeep than it can to a Tacoma.
Since I needed more cargo space, wanted more reliability and good off and on road. Went with the taco.
I've spent plenty on it already now and I keep up with most jeeps no problem. Only place I have a hard time is really off camber rock crawling and the shitty departure angle of tacomas and the long break over angle of them too.

Regardless I'm happy with my taco and it gets me anywhere I want to go. I'd say if you just want a crawler off road rig, jeep would be better. But for offroad/overland/camping, tacos have it.

And for what its worth the new V6 jeeps are pretty shitty of an engine lol.
The 4L was unstoppable though.

 

what year rubicon?

And this is what I was saying. A simple 2inch lift can do a lot more for the jeep.

 

Maybe newer Jeeps but definitely not the older ones.

 

Having owned both a wrangler and a Tacoma, the Tacoma is so much smoother as a daily driver and still has done everything I’ve asked it to do off-road

 

for TJs it made a big difference

 

Taco + fj40

 

You are going to get very lopsided opinions on a Tacoma enthusiast site as everyone is going to try and validate their own purchase decision.

You will get the exact opposite opinions on a Wrangler site.

Two completely different vehicles with two completely different functions, not really in comparable classes.

If you just need a fun vehicle, think of a 2 door Jeep as an off road sports car: impractical yes, but take the top and doors off and there is nothing that is comparable on a nice sunny summer day.

If you need a truck there is no decision to be made except what color, as a Wrangler is about as close in utility to a truck as a fruit basket is to a dump truck.

Since I already had an F250, I ended up choosing the 2 door Wrangler (zero desire for the 4 door)

It drives and rides fine on the highway, is quiet enough to carry on a conversation (hard top), cruises at 80 with ease, and in the 4 months I've owned it hasn't leaked, exploded, broke, or killed any innocent bystanders.

It has been back to the dealer once, but that was for the free oil change

Decide what you want vs what you need and get what best fits your current and expected lifestyle.

Both are pretty fun to drive

 

Ah it was never anything serious. My 05 went through two idler pulleys and eventually the harmonic balancer. Even after that it never stopped having a whining noise. Driver side wheel bearing around 59k. Probably my fault. The overhead temp/ compass stopped one day and I never bothered with it.

Eventually around 100k the throw out bearing and clutch were replaced. Normal maintenance. Going into 3rd gear it was grinding around 112k when it was cold out.

Man I loved that truck though. It was a TRD sport with the 6 speed manual.

 

2010. Yeah, the Jeep has been a money pit! Not because it breaks down...but because of all the aftermarket stuff you can buy and install easily!