Wrangler or Tacoma?

I’ll take Tacoma 100 times over Chrysler Fiat.

 

I drove a family members GC Trailhawk 2 weeks ago and it was a pretty cushy ride. 5 people fit comfortably. I see the appeal, also the appeal of the basic Wranglers.

I drove a Compass as a rental last year and was not impressed. They shouldn't put the Jeep name on a FWD Fiat-based vehicle like that.

Reliability is an issue, though maybe not so big if you're buying or leasing new.

I can't knock Jeeps that have a certain vibe if you're into it--I just think the price is high compared to alternatives. Plus right now I'm keen on the open bed of the Taco.

 

Why choose?

 

Choose wisely Grasshopper!

 

I have both. I think Jeep does a really respectable job with the Wrangler, their other platforms have higher rate of defect. It has no choice on the Wrangler because it really is Chrysler’s Flagship Product. For years it had no true competitors with Chrysler relative to profit. As such Jeep cannot afford to miss on that vehicle. Additionally, I’ve owned three Rubicons, at TJ, An LJ (the old long wheelbse/2-door TJ) and now a JK. The JK was their longest running platform, I think 2007-2017. My JK is a 2014. I love it for what it’s designed and it’s been very reliable (not a single mechanical or electrical issue in 5/years 40k Miles). All of my Jeeps were lifted, and this is hands down the only model that could serve as a daily driver. TJ’s were actually POS’s on Pavement. Horrible Transmissions and Off-road the T-Cases were hit or miss. I liked the TJ body because it felt narrow, but I don’t have dedicated off-road vehicles. I let my kids drive all of my vehicles -and the TJ’s were in my opinion the least safe vehicle for an inexperienced driver.

It will never match Toyota in quality or polish. What I would caution anybody on is buying any vehicle within the first 2 years of its release unless they understand there will be issues to be worked out. Jeeps have always had quality control issues, but as others have pointed out, Wranglers are the most heavy modified vehicles in history. The JL will be no exception. That means even if Chrysler doesn’t fix something , the aftermarket will.

My final comment is this—even though I make my Wrangler sound great—I would take a tricked out Tacoma any day of the week if it were my only Vehicle, and even more so over any Jeep that will see just off-road minor off-road duty.

 

My Godfather had an 03 GC, decent but his ac was out and he always had to rev it to keep the oil pressure up

Later got a '12 GC, nice decent truck, but very slow (v6), though I think it's more him than the truck (doesn't strike me as a maintenance guy)

Side note, not saying to blast it, but what's with people not using there AC's at all? Godfather at least makes sense as he's always cold (jackets in summer), but I joke my friend would try saving $$$ by trying to get an AC delete in whatever dad car he gets

 

Hyper mile.
Cruise 60-65 mph behind a semi. Light throttle. ESS helps when you are stuck in traffic. Accelerate fast to designated speed and maintain.

Never use Cruise control

 

i use to get 24 ish with stock 18 GC with lift and 32s i can easily hold 20+ mpg on highway still

tacoma with my 32s was around 18 mpg not alot worse but always hunted for gears

 

The stock tires for that vehicle were 27" diameter. You lost power when you went to the 31's. You needed to change gears.

 

Jeeps as a teenager... Then gas went to 5 bucks a gallon, so I had a Samurai in my early 20s... Then got a 1st gen Taco in my mid 20s... Haven't looked back

 

Your daughter likely got one of the 4 door Jeeps that had to have the software for the steering corrected. The symptoms were what your daughter experienced. The electric steering was the reason I have a new Tacoma over a Wrangler. It's like buying a Tacoma with an automatic transmission that many people complain about the shifting on.

 

Sounds similar to the JL's trackbar bracket issues...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huVH6GRJoAs

 

Goal

 

Curious since ya had a Samurai, were the claims of them easily flipping exaggerated or not?

 

I tried to get the dealer to do the steering software update and they wouldn’t do it because it wasn’t in the VIN range for the TSB unless I paid for it. The update worked for some and for some it didn’t. I was on the wrangler forum and followed people who had the TSB done and it didn’t work. Tried air pressure too but no change.

 

I bought a 2016 Tacoma DC, v6, at, OR4x4. It was my 4th Toyota pick up. It was a total turd. Toyota bought it back from me as a Lemon.
Replaced it with a 2018 JKU, my third Wangler. So happy.

#1. It's a frickin convertible.

#2 . It's plenty practical. Even with four adults in it I still have room for stuff behind the seats. Not flying around in the bed. Heck, I'd drive three 9 year olds to school in the Tacoma and have no room for their backpacks.

#3. The Jeep doesn't hunt around for gears. It actually stays in the highest gear on the highway unlike the Tacoma. My normal drive to our lake cottage in the Tacoma would downshift 30x on the highway. The Jeep, zero downshits.

#4. Tacoma and the JKU both were rated for 23 mpg highway. The Tacoma's mixed/combined mileage was 16.1 & my Wrangler's has been 19.3 mpg. Same driver, same routes, same fuel, same total miles (10k).

#5. The Jeep has rear disc brakes. Tacoma has rear drums.

#6. JKU Ohio built.

 

I believe there have been 213 deaths and 8,200 injuries involving Suzuki Samurai rollovers... not sure how that compares to Tacomas... guess we'd have to see how many Samurais were produced, and compare to Tacoma numbers...

I personally have never rolled a Jeep or Samurai

 

... and I'm not knocking Jeeps at all, I loved my Cherokees!

 

I'm a Tacoma guy. Never a Jeep guy.
When there's a Tacoma that offers f/r lockers, electronic sway bar disco, removable top and doors. Strait axle frnt.

I'll be in.

Meanwhile...my JLU Rubicon fits the bill.

 

I had a 2014 JKU and now have a 2018 TRD Sport, both manual.

First of all, I am surprised by the people that over 6' that complain about space. I am 6'5 in my Tacoma and have plenty of space. I find the TRD SIGNIFICANTLY more comfortable inside than my Wrangler was.

Also, the Jeep was AWFUL when you accelerated in 1st gear, especially on an on-ramp. The truck would bog down like it ran out of power. The manual in the Tacoma has been much better for me so far.

But jeeeez, I miss the doors and top off in the summer.