Bros, Help Change My Mind About My Tacoma

I'm new on this forum, so flames are somewhat expected, and my value as a contributor on topics Tacoma is probably worthless, but here it goes...

My last 2 vehicles have been Jeeps and I've had a total of 4. I had a 2008 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon, which I lifted 5" and put on 37's with a regear on day one. I loved it for what it was designed for, which was crawling on rocks in Colorado and Utah. I also drove it up to Alaska and played around with it there for a year. It never gave me a problem until about 32,000 miles, when a gear in the oil pump failed and I lost oil pressure, spun a bearing and kissed the valves. I was on a trail run, so I had it dragged to the trailhead, called the Chrysler 800 #, and they sent a wrecker and picked it up, 200lbs of caked on red mud and all. The dealer's service manager called me the next day and asked me to send my service records, which amounted to receipts from my local NAPA for filters and oil since I did all my own service work. He called the next day, said thanks, and that my new motor would be installed in about 10 days. I sold it the day I picked it up from the dealer, as I'd had my fun with it and with a brand new motor it was worth as much as it ever would be. Wranglers have awesome resale value (they seem to swap places year to year with Tacomas and FJ Cruisers at the top of the list) so I walked away happy and bought a new 2011 Grand Cherokee Laredo X with a V8.

The Grand Cherokee served me well for 2 years and 18,000 miles until I got wrapped up in a 40 car pile-up on I-70 and it was totaled. Insurance company wrote me a check for what I paid for it (I got a really good deal on it when I bought it)

I never visited a dealer for work on either vehicle, and never had a reason to complain about either. The Wrangler was awesome on the trail, and manageable on the road even on 37's. The GC with the Hemi was a hoot to drive every day, really comfortable, and could tow my '98 Wrangler back and forth to Moab on a trailer at 80 mph with no complaints. I would buy either one again.

I'm looking at a Tacoma as my next vehicle because I miss having a truck bed (I always had full size pickups before I moved into a condo that required I park in my 20' deep garage) I am struggling with the lack of power and the relatively basic interior. No Satellite Radio or auto dimming rear view mirror on a $34K 2013? Really? But there is no questioning the Tacoma's reliability or resale value, and its an awesome trail vehicle for anything but rock crawling.

The online "cost of ownership" calculators show the GC and 4Runner within a few hundred dollars per year, so I'm not sure thats as big a deal as it has been made out to be on here.

So to the OP, you have to figure out what's best for you. You will take a bigger hit on resale with a Jeep GC, as you will with most vehicles. It probably works out to a difference similar to the cost of a nice dinner each month. Cars are something that we use up. They are not investments. There are millions of people out there not driving Toyotas, and many of them are quite content with their choices. Good Luck!

 

Keep the tacoma. You cant beat toyota quality. I have owned 3 toyotas and they have never let me down. A friend of the family is a die hard jeep fan owning 3 wranglers and 2 Grand Cherokees. They have all been in the shop numerous times for drivetrain related issues.

 

you buy the jeep yet?

 

I voted to do it, but that's because you Bro'd us...

In reality, I'd suggest sticking with the Tacoma. But, I also can't see spending $37k on a car...

 

My Mother was Co-Owner of a Chrysler / Jeep Dealership for 15 years and I bought 1 Jeep. I drive a Tacoma.

You answered your own question.

 

Please keep your Taco.
A Grand Cherokee? I mean.. come on man.

 

Too many people I know have had trouble with the Jeeps.

 

I dont even have my first Tacoma in the garage yet. I pick it up on Friday...so cant speak from Tacoma experience, but I did have a JGC -owned it for 6mo total 2mo were fine other 4mo from hell.

 

Not only do jeeps, suck and are just.. dull lol to me they have no charter, what so ever! it looks like a box haha.

 

for the love of god man, dont do it!

the taco is a great truck, the jeep is a fake pile of crap


the best car is the one in your driveway without payments. always

 

This is a Tacoma forum and of course the majority will tell you to keep the truck. I have a big family and we've had many cars and trucks between us and there was only a couple of jeeps and served us well with not too much issues though the majority of cars/trucks we own now are Toyota. In fact, my uncle just picked up the new corolla. We also have Honda, Nissan and even Ford and Chevy. From what I can remember, the most troubled was with a Dodge. So I say do what you want with your money and if a new jeep will make you happy, why the hell not? Personally, I'd go with the no payment.

 

Buy a Chrysler product and you will regret it the rest of your life. I'm serious. I love Jeeps - the old school Wrangler model, anyway - but damn by 90 thousand miles the things are spraying oil everywhere and falling to pieces.

 

Not saying this because I don't like Jeeps, (I do like some Jeeps, FWIW,) but I'd stick with the Tacoma. Or maybe switch to a 4-runner if the truck is simply too much for you now. Toyotas are still far more reliable than Jeeps, and have better resale value, as you have pointed out.
Whatever your choice is though, I hope you will be happy with it!

 

The newer JGC has the new pentastar v6 and 8 speed transmission correct? Do we have enough runtime with this setup to really say how reliable they truly are? I know the wranglers hold their value decently well.

 

That sh!t is bro alright.

 

Well the pentastart has been in service for about 3 years now. Was early reports of cylinder issues, but that's been cleared out. Tranny's 1st year though.


I don't know, I'm still on the fence on both sides. I really don't like the 4-Runner. I think they look hideous.

I'm meeting up with a sales manager tomorrow to look over numbers and the JGC..... We'll see how convincing he is.

Without a doubt, if I do buy it, I'm buying the warranty with it. It's an extra $2200 for lifetime coverage.

I've also been factoring that price into my search, and quick frankly, nothing has peaked my interest.

 

My parents just bought a 2014 JGC Overland 4x4 V8 and I must say, it is a very nice and very advanced vehicle. The lifetime warranty was purchased as well which provides piece of mind. It has about 3k on it now and no problems, but only time will tell.

So I say if it's what you want then go for it!

 

Seriously a Jeep Grand Cherokee ? Man up and keep your truck dude !

 

Do as you see fit, bro.

But a Yota that has a lot of life left and no payment...

IMO, not worth the buyers remorse.

Good luck either way, bro

 

I do a lot of fishing. Bass fishing to be specific. I keep lots of tackle and rods in my truck. I keep tons of stuff in my boat too.

I would like a "trunk" to secure things a bit better or lay it out. Right now, I got 2 tackle boxes on the back seat floor. 3 2-piece rod laying on the seats. Inflatable life jacket. Tool box and emergency box.

I would like more storage and I would prefer a trunk or cabin type storage.

I took a quick peek at the Honda Pilots, but damn they are ugly.


The way I see it right now.

My Tacoma is like that next door type of girl that you've known for years.
The JGC is that hot chick at school.

But I hope I'm not blinded by the hotness and she turns out to be a bitch that I ignored.