Hello I am thinking of getting a Tacoma.

Hi there my name is kiwi the Quaker (I have a quaker parrot lol) I need some advice.... I would like to purchase a Tacoma TRD sport, but I'm stuck between a Grand cherokee or the tacoma TRD sport, truck or SUV doesn't matter to me but not sure witch to pick. It's definitely a 2013 model either one so yeah.

How is the tacoma in snow? And rainy rough weather that will scare smaller cars lol.

And does a Tacoma have a higher ride height then a grand cherokee SUV? I want to be higher off ground (had a bad accident in small car so now it worries me and scares me when I'm in a small car/ low to the ground).

Advice will be appreciated thanks.

 

Welcome to TW. On the snow issue, it does well, but consider that any stock tire will limit how well a 4wd can do. Winter tires help, but call that another thread.

Consider resale value and recall history, expected reliability. It may sound self serving , but I think the Tacoma has the jeep beat in all 3. double check though.

As far as ride height, I would be far more worried about what hits you than how high, also crash rating, few vehicles fare well in a head on with a semi for example, otherwise I bet ride height is about the same.

Drive em both and see what you think. ..... many of the next 300 posts will likely be jeep bashing for the most part now.

 

Toyota is known to be way more reliable then jeep. The tacoma is known to be great in snow, tires are the main limiting factor. If you're looking at getting a TRD package, think about what your gonna be doing. If it's mainly street, the sport would be ok. If you plan to offroad at all, I would get the offroad over the sport. The offroad comes with a rear locker vs the electronic LSD, and it also has ATRAC, which will act as a front locker and get you through just about everything. Also, the sport has 17" rims. The offroad has 16s. 16" tires are a lot cheaper then 17s

 

Why not just ditch Jeep all together and get a 4Runner?

A truck and an SUV are to different animals. What are you going to use the vehicle for?

RJM

 

If you are looking at an SUV and truck consider the 4Runner! The Tacoma is great but if you don't need the bed then the 4Runner will suit you well.

 

Seriously, yes. Consider yourself a few years ahead. A Toyota will still be there. Problem free. A domestic, especially a Jeep. Good luck!

 

Obligatory Jeep bashing commencing...

I bought a brand new 2009 Grand Cherokee. Because I got what I thought was a great deal. I paid $20k for a $34k MSRP vehicle.

I traded the Jeep in a year and a half later because I was sick of the little nuisances. I only got $14k on my trade. The jeep was very clean and only had 30k miles. But in those 30k miles, I had electrical problems. I had to do a tune up because the V6 started averaging 9 MPG. The brakes were half gone on the front.

That being said, the new body GC is a beautiful SUV, and they could have fixed a lot of the problems. The new V6 is supposed to be very good as well. However, I love my 2013 Sport Tacoma. It does everything I need it to and looks great as well. It's not as loaded as a GC will be, but I don't think that it needs to be. (All Toyota needs to add is heated mirrors )

In summary, I would say buy the Tacoma. But you should try both and see which you like more. Because in the end, this is a Tacoma fan-boy and fan-girl site, and most of us are going to say get the Tacoma over the Jeep.

 

Some offroad once I find trails and something that will look bad ass the 4runner takes alot of gas compared to other SUV's so witch is why I rather get some other SUV then any of Toyota's (Toyota SUV's are amazing I know but fuel economy is something they are very very terrible at)

 

I may just get a Tacoma.... Now from what I know is the Tacoma offroad TRD King of the hill right? I want to get the best and have that kind of capability on stand by

 

You went from GC to a Tacoma and you love you Tacoma.... Enough said that Tacoma is better then.... I want to feel like I am in a tank you know. Feel well protected.

 

Sounds like weather is your main concern. And you like SUVs. Get the all wheel drive 4runner. My tacoma does pretty well in snow. But i have stock tires and it is rear wheel drive unless you engage the 4x4.

 

Personally I love my Tacoma (1st gen) and my friend loves his Grand Cherokee. Here is something to think about, after 18 years my Tacoma's only feature that doesn't work is cruise control, my friend's 15 year old Grand Cherokee needs major transmission and engine work and has almost none of it's "premium" features in working condition (vehicle control computer, sound package, heated seats, power mirrors, and various other electronics). But I guess they both have lasted over ten years. Good luck with your decision.

 

Alot of good minds here, both the SUV and Tacoma fit 5 ppl so I think having that bed is better because it can hold more then the back of a grand cherokee. 18 years your Toyota lasted still wow gives me a solid insight. Thanks guys. I have always wanted a truck but also admire suvs lol.

DOES THE TACOMA TRD OFFROAD COME WITH A SPORT BED OR LONG? I would like the short bed.

 

I've had a couple of the newer tacomas and rented a few (2013,2014) Jeep Cherokees lately. I prefer my Tacoma in the snow tenfold, it's far more directionally stable especially during cornering and braking. The jeeps I drove always tried to step out in the rear end when I got on the brakes in snow and that's driving in a straight line. I wouldn't even let my girlfriend drive it in the snow for that reason. It happened to snow a combined 30-36" over 3 separate storms on my last trip to the coast this winter so I got lots of snow running in. Every time I had to travel to another city it snowed a foot. I really enjoy testing out different vehicles in those situations and see what they're made of.

The Jeep is more powerful, sounds 1 million times better, has way more fancy creature comforts inside. It has a funny grinding noise coming from under the hooded at certain RPMs at full throttle that was unsettling. The heated steering wheel makes a huge difference during winter here when it's -30, but you only need it for 5 minutes, then you're messing with the touch screen to get it turned off because it's way to hot. It's smoother, meaning a lot less vibrations felt through the powertrain and suspension, and the steering wheel and shifter. The suspension is a lot softer and more comfortable. The vast electronics keep the interior comfortable. Although I found it a pain in the ass to have to navigate through a touch screen all the time just to change the heat/defrost/vent, steering wheel heater, etc. I was constantly screwing with it because those requirements constantly change in winter conditions when getting in and out of the vehicle multiple times per day. Would have been nice to just have dedicated knobs and buttons for those controls like say... oh every vehicle since 1910 has...

For my own uses I would never buy a jeep cherokee. It is completely ruled by electronics. Traction control cannot be completely eliminated and it can't be put into full time 4 wheel drive, it just has the selector that says "mud sand snow sport" and whatever else, which does what it sees fit with the 4wd, brakes, and throttle response. Way too much electronic wizardry in that button. I personally think that stuff should be left to things like land rovers and mercedes. Keep vehicles like the working mans jeep basic. I put little value in interior electronics in my vehicles because from what I've seen, a lot of that stuff just stops working after a few years in modern vehicles. The jeep was a lot smoother than my tacoma, but the tacoma is 5 years older and been to hell and back so that's to be expected. I'm all about the drive, and my tacoma beats the jeep hands down overall driving experience.

 

Another vote for a Tacoma.

My regular cab 4x4 is excellent in snow, I usually turn off stability control. Last winter I got too close to the edge of an unplowed road and got stuck in the ditch. I did have to use low range and look out the window to be sure the front wheels were pointed where I wanted but it got out.

Mine was ok in the snow with the stock tires, much better with Toyo (Rough Contries I believe).

I really kinda want a real limited slip rear differential but I haven't really needed it yet.

 

I can also say from personal experience, not just hearsay, that the Tacoma should be much more reliable.
My 12 year old 2002 Tacoma is like the day when I bought it. I have not spent anything on repairs - just regular oil changes, tires, brake pads & wiper blades.
We have had several Jeep GCs at work. All were falling apart before 5 years and 100k miles. The one I was driving (and took care of as if it was my own) we spent $8,000 in repairs over the 5 years - radiators, sensors, transmission, AC, electrical issues just to name a few.

 

Have had a Jeep and had Toyota. Toyota wins out.

 

Its not jeep bashing when you tell the truth through ownership and experience.

 

That's why I came to this forums for advice from Toyota owners of trucks. Not what some YouTube shluck says.

 

Witch cars?