Wife's new Ride??

Looking for some opinions from fellow Toyota Owners.

I just got a new Tacoma last month, we were going to wait another year or so and upgrade the wife's ride...but she is hearing more and more rattles on her 04 Grand Cherokee so she is bugging me to go shopping. I may have to give in sooner than later. The Grand Cherokee only has 90,000 miles on it. It is the overland edition and she has owned since new. What kills me is what the original msrp was on this thing and what they are worth now.

SO....the final two choices are likely 2011 4runner vs 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. I am a big fan of the 4runner, we have test drove before and I thought it was awesome. She is a bigger fan of the new styling of the 2011 Grand Cherokee. I think CHrysler did a good job of the new gen GC, but my argument is resale value sucks, and it will start to fall apart again at 90,000 miles. Where the 4runner will have a ton of value left when it hits 90k miles and its super reliable. Not to mention this is the first year of Chrysler's new V6.

Price - around the same. Similarly equipped Loredo vs SR5 both sticker around 35k. Problem for me might come with trade in value. I know I am going to get a little more at Jeep for her GC. Now I see a lot of the Toyota dealers that post their internet pricing went from taking 3k of 4runners to now about 1500 b/c of the eventual shortage, which is crazy to charge more than you were if an item is still available.

What is everyones thoughts on those two vehicles overal? 2011 GC or 2011 4runner? Do I have clouded judgement b/c I own a Toyota?

 

The 4Runners are awesome. Same auto tranny as the V6 Tacomas. And my understanding is they're all built in Japan ... read: built right and built well. Head over to www.T4R.org and check out what owners have to say.

If your last GC is falling apart so quickly (90k??? Are you kidding me?) why even bother going that route again?

 

I had a 96 4runner i still regret selling it, Yeah i dont' think i would even look at the Jeep Grand Cherokee. If you can afford the 4runner buy it. They are nice !

 

It was my wifes '05 4Runner and that made me make the move to the new Taco in January. The 4Runner seems to use better quality product inside and out than the Taco eg. the materials in the wheel wells are thicker and connected to the frame better whereas the Taco is flimsy cheapo plastic that uses little plastic connectors and makes noise even when I wash the rear fender. At 92k miles the 4Runner is rock solid.

Another SUV you may want to take a look, that I am using as a rental right now on business trip, is the Ford Explorer Limited. Very nice vehicle.

 

That's the problem...most women buy cars for looks and not functionality or reliability. I'd sell the GC outright on Craigslist and buy the 4 Runner. I sold my wife's 2005 Equinox a few months back for way more than I would of got for a trade. We then bought a new Toyota Sienna. If you're having issues with the GC don't even bother getting another one until Chrysler's reputation is restored.

 

4runners ... Should not be debate

 

My wife's 99 4runner has 165k and runs like a top. Still worth about $7-8k. Just the facts to help you with your decision, not to mention the new 4runner looks great!

 

Jesus H. 90k miles and 7 years old and its falling apart.

Get the toyota

 

Why is this even a debate? Despite the fact that anything Dodge touches is a piece of shit, what sort of answers do you think you will get on this site?

4Runners are bad ass, plus you know it will last forever, the money lost at trade will be returned in the long run when the 4Runner is running strong over 90k with no rattles. Problem solved.

 

If you just bought a new Tacoma and are now looking to buy a new 4Runner, the Toyota dealership should be able to help you out with the trade. Not many people buy 2 brand new vehicles so close together. See what you'd get at the Jeep dealership and see if the Toyota one will match it or at least come close. They're probably going to send your trade off to auction regardless of where you trade it in.

 

The current 4Runner weighs 800 lbs more than a Taco 4x4. Something to keep in mind. The Taco is reliable even if it feels flimsy.

@SoxTacoma12: You can always sell the GC to a Jeep dealer, then go over to the Toyota dealer. Selling the old vehicle and buying the new one should be kept separate.