Wrangler or Tacoma?

I have thoroughly enjoyed everything about my jeeps. The last one was a jkur. Excellent vehicle, not a drop of trouble out of it. I’ve never driven anything else like them either. Top off, doors off screaming through the desert is a singular experience.

All that said, I’ve been driving for 30 years and never been without a Toyota truck of some kind. If I could have a fourth car, it’d be another Jeep without a moments hesitation. Truck, commuter, street rod and then Jeep. If I didn’t find a use for the bed of my truck several times a month or had room for a small trailer, the truck could be replaced with a Jeep and might be.

 

I am looking at either a 2018 tacoma OR DCSB manual or 2018 JL Sport S/Sahara manual, both are in the high 30's, the jeep 1-2k more expensive. I like toyota's for their resale and reliability but I would not use the bed too often. I am waiting to see what the blue JL looks like in the next few months; I am planning on using Costco's buying service. Any others on their opinion between a tacoma or wrangler?

 

I've had both (3 TJs and current ride is 2016 OR). I loved them all. After the Jeeps, I got a Prius for a commuter car and was impressed with the Toyota reliability. From a safety standpoint, I can anecdotally say my son has totaled two Toyotas (rolled them both :| ) and came away without a scratch.

There is just something special about a Jeep though. Some of my favorite memories are cruising through the woods with the top down. I use the bed a lot on the Tacoma, so I'm considering either a used Jeep as a second vehicle or trading the Taco for the JL truck when it comes out next year.

Personally, I think you can't go wrong with either. Wranglers definitely have their downsides (noisy, insecure for gear with softtop) so I think it comes down to what you are looking for.

 

Owning both I'd also have to agree with the previous poster that you can't go wrong with either one especially for resale value. For me these days I feel like if you want for the more road and utility I go with the truck but honestly for off-roading I love taking my Jeep out in the tight spaces out in the desert. Now my jeep dealer is saying JL's aren't coming out until April but I can't wait at least just to see them. One thing I don't like to do though is to buy the first year of a new body change. I'm also looking forward to the truck version of the Jeep which is set to release hopefully next year.
One of the note though I like to say is that I do like the creature comforts features more in the Tacoma. The following for the Jeep is awesome I wave at everybody. Every Tacoma owner I wave at gives me a funny look generally.
And I like to add one more note whatever you choose to buy try using the TrueCar app. I saved about $3700 off MSRP on my Jeep and $2000 off MSRP on the Tacoma.

 

I’ve had two JK’s
2012 - Sport (4door) soft top, manual
2014 - Sport (4door) dual top, auto

The manual was a lot of fun and more rugged feeling, I had the engine replaced at 2,000 miles
The automatic with the hard top was a lot more comfortable and quiet.
Groceries, stroller, dog crates, small furniture would fit fine in the back anything else of decent size you will def need a trailer.
The Wrangler has good resale value but dealing with FCA is a PITA to say the least. The new JL has some decent new powertrain options and with their Jeep truck coming out that should be fun see what it brings to the table and how it performs as a truck


The taco is def more versatile and easier on the road you can haul a lot more stuff, all around a better quality product, better company to deal with (thus far) and excellent resale value. It does lack power however unfortunately.

I really miss waiting for sunny days to take the top down and the doors off it’s awesome and that’s what the Wrangler is all about.

 

Man I do miss that Jeep wave, I find myself always starring at Taco owners down the road looking for at a nod or something hahaha

 

Jeeps are notoriously bad on gas unless that has changed?

 

They offer one engine option right now... anything else is still hypothetical. Same with the mythical truck they've been testing for two years.

 

If I didn't find the truck bed so useful, JL would be very high on my list. I would consider the 4Runner, too, but of course it doesn't come with a manual.

Nothing like cruising with the top down on a country road/trail. My kids loved it.

 

Says the Tacoma owner! They've gotten a LOT better after the engine/trans refresh back in 2014(?) or so. Not great, but not dismal like they used to be, either. New ones are rated the same as the Tacoma.

 

People buy wranglers thinking they're buying a cute little crossover and are shocked it gets the same gas mileage as a body on frame truck.

 

Actually for the JL they still offer the Pentastar 3.6, 2.0 I4, 3.0 Ecodiesel

The mythical truck is no longer mythical given FCA already mentioned it coming out and the amount of spy shots out there it’s no longer a speculation

 

The diesel going to be in this year's model in the US? It's not on the build sheet I looked at recently.

 

I’m not sure what date the diesel will be available to order but it will definitely be an option available to the US market.

 

That's my truck.

I didn't keep the stats on my last Rubi but this is about what I was seeing on a 2014 JKUR.

 

The Jeep is a body on frame, solid axle off-roader. The 40 year old soccer moms that use them as crossovers are idiots. I just bought my 4th JK variant a few days ago, two of them being JKUs, one of them a sport and one of them a built rubicon on 35s. They were both traded in low mileage so that can’t really be used as a statistic. Now, both of my 2 doors have been 2008 3.8s with 100+k miles. Both bulletproof vehicles, besides a burning a little oil. They all get decent gas mileage for what they are. I only get 15.3-6 in my stock 3rd gen,
And I got about that before I built my JKUR.

Anyways, here’s a new JLUR at my office.

 

Plenty of Wrangler owners around me, and I don't know of a single one that didn't know about the mediocre MPG. They all bought it knowing it sucks gas, it's loud, not all that comfortable, but lots of fun!

 

But it’s not like the Tacoma is a damn Prius anyways? Lol

 

I vote for 5th gen 4Runner. Sounds like that would fit your needs best. Plus it's not a Jeep.

 

I've never understood the uncomfortable bit. My last one was really comfortable, more so than my Tacoma by a long shot. Maybe the Rubis got better seats or something? It is loud but the entire damn top and doors comes off them. It's hands down the best visibility vehicle I've ever driven as well which makes it easy to drive as long as you're not trying to autobahn them at 90 every where.