Wrangler or Tacoma?

I wouldn't make your decision based on Toyota's reputation for reliability. That's what I did and I got burned. These 3rd-gens are riding the coattails of the 1st and 2nd gens and the earlier Toyota pickups. Those vehicles we substantially simpler and over-engineered. They weren't messing around back then with computer controlled transmissions that hunt for the best fuel economy (which is still pretty bad) at the cost of a miserable driving experience. I highly doubt the 3rd-gen is going to hold on to this reputation, especially as the word is slowly getting out to the greater truck market.


I remember my 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix that had a failing transmission shifted smoother than this truck. There is absolutely no way these transmissions will last 200k+ miles or even kilometers. No way, I just refuse to believe that. Considering they are struggling to operate when new...it doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out what wear and tear is going to do to them. Enter at your own risk.

 

I almost went for the new JL, I was tempted by the ocean blue color and the new AWD of the Sahara. However, they are expensive even with the 5% below invoice prices I’m getting. Given it’s the first year, decided id wait ( and they don’t have quicksand lol ). They are releasing a hybrid electric in 2020 and 2022 is my target to trade our second car in for an electric JL and hopefully by then the teething issues have been sorted out. In the meantime I can have a very capable off-road vehicle with rear lockers that fits into my regular weekly needs of mtb hauling on the tailgate etc. a little better than the Jeep. Plus given my experience with my former 4Runner, I definitely have a soft spot in my heart for Toyota trucks that goes beyond the surface.

 

Problem solved... and it even gets a Jeep wave once in a while.

 

Ok...I had a '10 Wrangler Sport before my '17 TRD Sport. If you have kids....get the Tacoma. Yea, you can take the doors and top off, but if you get hit in an intersection, you will be seriously hurt or killed. I live at the beach and see it every summer. Tourist come in with their Jeeps, are carefree. They drive down Rt 1 with everything off. One of them gets broadsided its ugly.

My '17 takes on the beach with no issues, just like the '10 Wrangler, but a hell of a luck safer for families!

 

Seems bad for the taco, I have been averaging 23-26 on the highway in my 2016 with stock tires, I can’t believe 32’s would decrease mileage that much unless your doing 80-85 on the highway...just saying

 

Yeah, 20k miles and have never seen 23 let alone 26 on my 16' TRD OR 4 Door on stock tires/suspension. Posted my fuel ups a few pages ago. I get about 1 MPG overall better than my 14' JKUR and I haven't wheeled my Tacoma as much as my last Jeep. Not even runs between SoCA and NoCa on 5 do I get that good a mileage and that's 300ish miles of I5.

 

Is this a 70 series?

 

There is literally no way you’re geting 26mpg, unless you’re going 55mph. I consistently get 15.3-6.

 

Yes, this one is a 1988 BJ-73, Diesel, 2 door, mid wheel base, removeable FRP top. Everything up to the early 90's can be imported. If you are really curious, look up the late model VDJ-76 and 79 Series... still making them in various forms... no more removable tops, though.

 

Will do here is some old land cruisers I came across on Monday

 

I don't think you can average that even at 55MPH. He was probably going downhill with a tailwind. I've done that. Coming back from a ski trip, going down a mountain pass for 10 miles, getting some crazy MPG. So I guess my truck gets somewhere between 13 to 95MPG.

 

I posted my mpg on another page that shows what I was getting and I calculated about 22 mpg for over 3 hours at roughly 70 mph, not arguing, just know what I get...26 was the high range but 22-23 was avg for me

 

Get a Tacoma, and use it to tow a used Suzuki Samurai with you if you want to do serious crawling and stuff. They are so light, they can run just about anywhere stock.

Outback over 150 miles from Alice Springs, Australia, my friend was on a two-week archaeological job where they had to pack everything they needed for their entire stay in their Toyota’s, including food for a dozen people, so they tied gear all over their trucks including off the doors and on top of the hoods. Days out from Alice Springs, they were lumbering along through heavy sand in the bush when all of the sudden he says they were surrounded by a swarm of overweight sunburned tourists driving in 4-door Suzuki Samurai’s that had no apparent gear with them. They were litteraly floating over the sand when they passed my friend’s group, and disappeared ahead of them. He swears they must have come from a mothership out in the desert somewhere close by.

Another time, my wife was stuck in mud with their work truck and a couple Samuri’s passed by them floating over the mud too, and I’ve seen bobble headed tourists going up rocky ledges with them that I had to take in 4-low.

 

Why even mess with Samurai's? Just get a RZR--lighter, faster, just as capable, if not more. Sure, you can get a clapped out Samurai for a few grand. But guaranteed you'll be spending time and $ getting it up to snuff.

 

Street legal? Well- they are in Idaho, Montana or Alaska where they drive those all over town legally...

 

I prefer my wife's 4runner, next my tacoma.the jeep is better when things get tight on the trail. I vote tacoma for best all around.

 

Just had a new (500km on it) Wrangler as an insurance loaner... piece of crap:

• Drivers side door needed to be slammed to close properly (serious two hander)
• Infotainment system that lacked blue tooth phone pairing (had nav and satt radio ...)
• Horrible side and rear sight lines
• Front windshield (angle) needed to be constantly sprayed to see out
• Less power / poorer throttle response than 3rd gen
• Super plastic interior

... 12 year daughter thought it was cool, however ...

 

If it's made after 86 it ain't a real Jeep anyway.........