Should I buy this Tacoma?

Back last year I was looking at Cherokees, Tacomas and Rangers so I could pass my Audi on to my daughter. My order of preference was Tacoma then Ranger then Cherokee. I was finding that the Tacomas and Rangers were out of my price range so I settled on a 2001 Cherokee. 230k miles. 4.0L 4x4. Completely stock. Its clean with no rust. I paid $2,500. Since then I have replaced water pump, front brakes, fuel injectors, coil pack etc. I still have a check engine light with code indicating misfires. I cannot figure it out.

I recently came across a 2002 Tacoma at a dealer lot. 189,000 miles for $7,700. Carfax show accident history with "very minor" damage, 2 owners and about 15 service records. Thing is its a 2.7L PreRunner. I was looking for 6cyl 4x4, but if I'm honest with myself I don't do any real offroading. Maybe a dirt road or groomed trail and here in NC we get maybe 1 or 2 snows per year usually 4" or less. I haven't gone out to look at the truck yet.

If I keep the Jeep I would want to do some mods (expensive) but first need to get the misfires and some other stuff sorted out. With a tacoma I'd probably be happy with some lightly bigger tires.

If I get the Tacoma I would have to trade the Jeep and finance the rest. I guessing a cay payment vs. jeep repairs/ mods may be very close. A car payment may actually be less.

I'm going to check it out tomorrow but I'm curious what you guys think especially seeing as how the tacoma is a 2.7L PreRunner

 

Is it a 4-door or extended cab? That has a big impact on value.
Without knowledge of the accident, it is difficult to assess what "very minor" means.
Frame Rust? Huge impact on whether to buy, value of truck.
I personally would only want a 2.7 in the standard transmission.

And fyi, most Toyota owners have a thing against Jeeps, so if I had to guess, many on here would suggest you get rid of the Jeep. Based on the problems you are having, maybe that is the wise thing ...

 

I had a 2002 4cyl. I bought it from my uncle with like 190,000 and I sold it with 240k. It was in perfect condition when I sold it. The guy is still driving it still today! Tacoma's are the best man

 

Its a 4 door

 

I think I would. A guy I know has one and can't keep my eyes off it when I see it lol. 2x4 is also very capable!

 

Very capable of what??

 

On trails lol... sorry for lack of information its getting late haha as Op stated, he don't do much offroad, it seems like what I usually do and 2wd get through most of the trail. 4wd is awesome in snow but 2wd do great with good snow/ice tires.

 

My 2.7 manual 2nd gen regular cab is fun to drive, but I wouldn't want a 2.7 auto or xtra cab. I'd hold out for a 3.4 4x4.

 

I'd say go with a toyota product instead of wasting more money on the jeep. My friend has a v8 grand cherokee from the 90s and that thing has just been a money pit with all it's problems. He's 4wd with a v8, I'm a prerunner with a 2.7 and I still outwheel him.... although I'm "crazy" . Honestly the 2.7 is over rated, if you drive like a grandma you'll good mpgs. If you drive it like you stole it..... like I do.... you're left wanting a lot more power

 

40,000 less miles, a more reliable vehicle and if you get rid of those stepbars it'd be a great looking truck compared to the Jeep which looks like a mail carrier, no offense.

Seems like a no-brainer.

 

I know I catch flack, but no, don't trade. You could do this deal and quickly end up back in the same boat except with a car note. Despite legendary Toyota reliability it's still a used vehicle. The 4.0 Jeep engine will last a long time.

 

I am partial to 3.4's but I would still pick the Tacoma IMHO...

 

They ARE mail carriers though! They use them on rural mail routes. They have this weird pulley system to convert it to a RHD.



My friend has a '94 Grand Cherokee. Has something like 250k on the odo. It runs so bad, but it runs. Rough idle, random stalling, loud af engine, but it works. I see Cherokees sell for under $1,000 all the time.

 

I drove the Tacoma today. Up close paint never looks as good as photos but it's not bad. There's some oxidation(?) but can probably buffed and brought back to life. Starts and runs fine. Idles waaay smoother than the Cherokee. Interior is clean, but a little smelly. Kind of musty maybe. Has probably been a smokers vehicle. Fender flares and other black plastic is faded and headlights have hazed over. The bed is beat up, but no more than I expect for a15 year old pick up. Handles, brakes and rides fine. THE biggest draw back that I can see is the very noticeable lack of power (torque) compared to the Cherokee. I'm thinking hard about buying it. I'm concerned I won't get enough in trade for the Cherokee and really don't want much of a monthly payment.

SwampYota you hit the nail on the head! It does look like a mail carrier. That's one of the reasons I'd like to do some exterior mods.

 

EDIT: not sure why but my post was added into the quote somehow, see above

 

If you need a truck bed, consider the Tacoma. If you don't need 4 doors, the 2doors and xtra cabs are always a lot less.

If you don't need the truck bed, stick with what you got. It's much better than having a care payment on a 15 year old truck.

 

The 2.7 pre runner is junk it's a auto cAnt haul anything and is a dog on the hills, pre runner is smith on the fire roads tho I can give it that get a v6

 

i used to have a 1998 jeep cherokee XJ 2WD with 146,000 i bought for $4,500 i abused it and spent lots of money on repairs. it was a good jeep and very tough. 2wd always got stuck though!and i always wished i had 4x4. i drove the jeep into some water and sold it for $600.

after that i bought a 1991 Toyota camry with 169K mi for $900. i have been driving that baby since september 2015! i drove it until the wheels fell off. it barley needed repairs! and i drove it HARD i was Amazed by Toyota. i still have it and it still runs. i missed my jeep and i wanted a 4x4 so i was looking at ford rangers and jeeps. the 4runners and tacoma's were too expensive! but i knew i had to keep this vehicle long term for at least 10 years i wanted a solid reliable ride. so i waited and researched hard for 2 years! saving money and researching all types of trucks. i ended up with the toyota tacoma they are legendary and fit my needs the best! i was also looking at 1st gen nissan frontiers. they are a lot cheaper than a tacoma and still a 4 door truck with an optional long bed and supercharger but i couldn't resist the Toyota Name and well known reliability!
if your going to keep it forever and use it as a daily driver for 10+ years get the Tacoma! if your just going to smash up your ride in the woods then get the jeep! the tacoma will hold its value. i would save up and get the 4x4 but they are hard to come by a 4 door pre runner sounds reasonable for $8,000 even if it were salvaged they hold value