Wrangler or Tacoma?

I owned a minimally optioned 2013 Wrangler Sport for 5-years. Zero issues. It had an MSRP of just under $30k. I paid $26.5k before taxes and sold it for $24k.

 

That's funny... Just last week a 2 door Wrangler passed me doing 75 mph. As a former JK owner, I thought to myself "that can't be fun". When I looked better... it was my 2015 JK that I sold last June. I know for a fact that at 75 mph that thing is outright dangerous. It bounces, it follows every single tiny crack in the freeway (quite a few in SoCal), and braking is rough.

There are no Wranglers with good road manners. The JL is better that the JK, but being better doesn't mean it's good.

Two buddies of mine sold their JKs at around 80k miles because of expensive fixes that needed to be done. One got a Ram and the other one got another JK, which he now wants to get rid of. No problems with it, he just got tired of a "cool" vehicle that rides like crap.

Wrangler owners put up with them because they are cool. I agree, they are totally cool. It's up to each driver to decide if the coolness factor is enough to sacrifice quality and ride comfort.

 

i bought mine because
1. Can flat tow behind my motorhome
2. Wanted a convertible
3. Room for my 2 labs behind the front seats.

 

Wrangler sales were down in 2019;

2018: 240,032
2019: 228,042

 

Its been some time since i made this thread and as you can tell from my signatures, have had both and currently have a JL unlimited Rubicon. Yes reliability is an issue with these vehicles but i dont intend to own it past the powertrain warranty period( 60k miles). They hold their value just as well as the tacomas if not possibly better.

 

The JL is a really cool vehicle that currently has no other competition. I think a lot of Tacoma faithful would love to own one if it were not manufactured by FCA and it had a better freeway ride.

 

I dunno... I was a Jeep tech in the TJ days and IMO, wandering steering on a Jeep is a feature, not a bug. No accusations towards you at all but lot of complainers aren't people who have experienced a drag link setup and don't understand that that kind of suspension will nearly always have a few degrees of play.

Unless there's some issue like the steering box lash being too loose from the factory, I'm not sure how much Jeep will help them.

 

Absolutely. If Jeeps were reliable, they would take a huge chunk out of Tacoma/4runner sales.

 

exactly. the front end has leaf springs. i figured that had alot to do with it. still, it wanders all around and if that's a characteristic of the vehicle, so be it. I personally can't see myself tolerating that for a 4 hour trip at night in the rain..... my taco and the patriot? can do that perfectly. hell, my xterra is up to that task easily as well..

 

while i had the 2019 jl unlimited as a loaner, i kept getting waves and never waved back as i didn't realize it in time- i wave at other cool tacos and some wave back but most dont.

 

Most newer Jeep owners don’t wave back. Most are mall crawlers. Near the trails, most will wave back.

 

Because base means base. A Gladiator is still in the running for my Tacoma replacement in a few years once they've worked out more kinks on the diesel but even getting a Sport, I'd be looking at $40k once I add the max tow, hard top, and OEM switches + alternator upgrade packages. IMO those are the minimum packages to make it a good vehicle and you still don't get the 4:1 transfer case or lockers.

Even the included safety and adaptive cruise that are included on the Tacoma are a $1,700 option for the Jeep.

 

I have both. A JKU and Tacoma. Both have different benefits...its really not apples to apples. Apples to Apples is FJ vs JK/L

I don't understand why this is so hotly debated. Taco's are not crawlers. Jeeps (except now the Gladiator) don't have a bed..aren't great overlanders...

 

I really like Wranglers, but I can't go back to not having a truck bed. If I ever get rich (I won't) I'll get an old Wrangler for the cool factor.

 

I agree with you rageman, totally different segments, which is why I also own both.

 

good luck.

I get this a tacoma site.
People here hate on jeeps, no matter what model. Most people that have given their opinions have never been in a jeep.

The JLU and the Gladiator are huge steps in the "Fiat" era jeeps but no one wants to recognize all the
TSB and recalls that toyota has been thru.

I'm not saying one is better than the other. What im saying is each has a purpose..

I'm a 1st gen Tacoma owner. bought new in 2002.
i'm also a JLUR owner.

 

Truck vs SUV. What's your needs. SUV with light trailer Almost does the truck stuff but not really. Had a 2015 JK 2 door. Loved it. Wife has a 2018 JL 4door. Nicer interior and egress entrance than my 2019 Tacoma.
I like the Jeep UI more than my Tacoma UI.
I wanted a truck. Did not want full-size but with the gas milage I am getting I might as well went full-size

Love Jeep
Love Tacoma

Jeeps were not bad for maintenance but I suggest an extended warranty i

 

I had an old flat fender Willys and the Jeep wavers went wild. Some would flash their lights, honk and gesture as I passed and at first I thought they were signaling trouble but I soon learned they were just easily excited.
I will always wave regardless of what I’m driving, I’m often alone and you never know when you might need a tug. Karma can be a real SOB.

 

Nice job boss. Did you get the 6 yr/70k warranty?

 

Having had 2 TJs and a YJ, not sure I could ever move to the Caravan engine but I definitely want another JEEP one day, but it won't be my daily, they're just not great at it