2012 Tacoma vs 2012 Jeep Wrangler

I had an 04 Rubicon... It was an extremely capable off roader in all conditions and in stock form. Despite it being the better off road choice by far, my tacoma O/R beats it hands down in every other category. Plus, try writing a wrangler off as a business vehicle - (I do know a very talented CPA, however)

 

I would have looked at a Jeep, except for one thing--towing. I've had people tell me they are now fine, but I'd be nervous zipping down the highway with my 3 000lb pop up behind me, especially if it was a little breezy.

 

Right before I bought my Tacoma, I ordered a Jeep Wrangler 4x4. At the time, the build kept getting delayed and I needed a 2nd vehicle. I remembered my old 97' Tacoma that I loved and got online and built a Tacoma to my specs after researching the new ones. That was on a Saturday night. The next day, I went to our local dealership. It was closed due to it being a Sunday but to my amazement, the exact truck that I had built online was on their lot. I went back on Monday to inquire about it. It had an M.S.R.P. of I think $28,600.00. It was more money than the Jeep I had ordered but they offered me a deal I could not refuse. It was the end of September and they had had the truck since February. They also said the truck had slight wind damage from getting sandblasted in a storm so Toyota was having them take off something like $1,800.00 for that. With that deduction, the dealership offered me the truck for $24,400.00 out the door on a 2007 Tacoma 4x4 Access Cab TRD Off Road Package with 6 speed manual with a handful of other options. Needless to say, I jumped at the deal. To this day I still can't find the wind damage from where the truck allegedly got sandblasted. It also still has a trade in value at 22k even though it has been almost 5 years since I purchased it. The Jeep on the other hand, had I bought it, would probably have a trade in value of maybe 10k if I had gone the route. While I love the Jeep Rubicon for Off Roading, that is the only thing I like about them better than the Tacoma. Yes, I wish my truck had some of those options but I am very happy with the choice I made.

 

I've had Jeeps all of my adult life, I really enjoy them. I currently have an '06 Rubicon Unlimited I purchased new. It's damn near unstoppable off road, I rarely even need 4wd.
My wife bought herself a new DC OR 4wd Taco when she graduated in '06, great truck. I found myself wanting to drive it whenever we went out. The truck got totaled and was replaced with an '11 DC OR Prerunner. Whenever we got out, we take the Taco.
The Jeep is great off road. While it's not a horrible ride around town, it's nowhere near as nice as the Taco. The Jeep is also lacking storage room.
Jeeps have always been reliable for me, never understood all of the bashing about them being unreliable. It's a fun vehicle...doors off, top off, etc. Ever since we got the first Taco though, I've been tempted to sell the Rubi and get a Taco of my own. The Taco is much more refined, almost like driving a car but having the added benefits of a truck.
Haven't parted with the Jeep yet, but it's inevitable.

 

Wrangler compared to Tacoma is an apples and oranges comparo.
If you need a pickup bed to haul stuff (like Me) any pickup beats the Wrangler. If you want a trail vehicle the short wheelbase Wrangler has to beat a longer pickup. I chose Tacoma Access Cab 4x4.

 

Lol why would you hate ask this on Tacoma forum ? Everyone is going to say get the Toyota ..I dOnt know much about the wrangler besides my friend has and his sits in the shop more then his driveway ...

 

I've never owned an older jeep, but did test drive an '12 JKUL, 6 speed, and was unimpressed with the engine performance. Guess I had higher hopes for 285hp and 260ft lbs. I also test drove (and later purchased) a 2012 Tacoma DCSB 6 speed. If you ask me, the Toyota's 4.0 was more fun to drive, as it has more low end torque, and you don't miss the extra hp on top. 0-60 are near identical for both, so I'm not sure what the Jeep does with it's extra 40ish hp? I didn't choose on engine performance alone, it's was a family vehicle, and 2 Lab's, a baby, and wife in the JKUL would have been tight!

 

I love Jeeps. My older brother had a 99 until we t-boned a lifted F-250 doing about 45. Jeep was totaled, but we were both fine. The 250 actually rolled onto its side.(driver was fine too) He never had any problems with the Jeep over a 5 year span.

Before I got my truck I was between a gently used Tacoma or Jeep. For me it came down to what I would be doing with it. Daily driving mostly, but towing my boat was my next concern. 6,500 lbs. vs. 3,500 lbs. I also liked the idea of having a bed to throw God knows what in. I don't think there is a wrong choice. It's just what you will be doing with it. If all I did was go off roading I'd have a Jeep, but the Tacoma is more versatile for my everyday life. And it's not too shabby off road either.

 

I have a 2012 Tacoma DC AND a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara. I absolutely love them both. Jeep has come a long way with the Wranglers. I had an 08 Wrangler before and the 2012 is amazing. My 08 didn't have any power and I always hated the engine. My 2012 Wrangler, however, has an amazing engine. MUCH more power, smoother, and way quieter. My 2012 has all the options you can have (leather, navigation, heated seats, etc.) and I don't plan to MOD it. I love it the way it is.

 

I've had both and love both. But, the two are completely different.

The Tacoma is a seriously reliable vehicle. And, it will take neglect really well. Off-road, it will run circles around a full size truck all day. It's also really comfortable on the road.

The jeep is allot more fun to drive in my opinion. The short wheel base makes it handle allot faster than the Tacoma. For a road trip it might be a little more squirly feeling than a tacoma.

I have a 2012 Jeep and it's way more snappy feeling than my 03 3.4L tacoma. But, the 3.6L Jeep engine doesn't have a torque'y truck feeling engine. It feels more "car". But, it's by far way better off road. The Jeep rubicon with the short wheel base is by far the best off-road vehicle I've ever seen.

It's not as practical as a Tacoma, but it's got allot of fun.

 

welp if we are considering the 4 door version of the jeep, hasn't anyone noticed how they are horrible in side impact crashes?

 

All one has to do is read the edmunds.com review of the 2012 Jeep Wrangler here

http://www.edmunds.com/jeep/wrangler/2012/?style=101402304&trim=sport&sub=suv#fullreview

Enough said...

Rick

 

I work for a rent a car company and boy we had to replace a lot of cylinder heads on the newer jeeps and mini vans.

 

What year were the Jeeps and Mini vans with the blown heads? Were the engines the 3.6L or something else?

 

I have a 2003 Rubicon that I purchased new $38 000 for two tops, air condition (I've never used). I've read this thread twice because I'm considering buying the 2013 Regular cab (wish it was a regular cab with the 6 cylinder). I prefer a short wheel base vehicle for my work. My bro-in-law has his 2009 for sale right now because the 3.8 motor was just too much of a dog...slow and poor on fuel. If I was ever going to buy another jeep it would be an old 4 cylinder with a stick, put some lockers in it and just have fun, you don't need tons of power for wheeling.

Pro's of owning a Rubicon

Fun weekend vehicle, good for snow plowing, towing small trailer, fairly easy to work on.

Cons

Poor fuel economy
lots of u-joints
engine leaks (don't know what the Pentastar will be after 10 years)
not a comfortable ride
Will not take my family in it on the highway
Auto tranny is medium duty

 

Can you let me know if you're having any issues with the wrangler. I'm looking to get the new 2013 sahara, but am also considering the 2013 TRD OR. I don't have a commute, about 3 miles to work, we do the occasional camping/off-roading, live next to some canyons and enjoy driving around there. I hate mechanical issues though and am a little weary on buying the jeep because of the bad rap.

 

Sold my 2006 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon this past weekend (along with my 2005 Tacoma 4x4 DC TRD), and purchased a 2013 MGM AC TRD Off Road Tacoma today...after driving the Tacoma, I would never consider a Jeep Wrangler over it again. I thought I might, but there is no way a Jeep Wrangler, Rubicon or otherwise, would ever tempt me again...

I had a 2007 Wrangler Rubicon bought new back in 2006; there is no comparison to the Tacoma I just picked up.

 

I've had a 2010 4 dr tacoma trd and a 2010 2 dr wrangler. With a light foot mpg is almost equal between the 2. Ride with bilsteins is not much smoother; I'd say better on the tacoma due to wheelbase. With newer stronger more efficient jeep motor I'd guess wrangler might might have .5-1mpg advantage. I don't have either any longer. However with newer interior, newer motor, and quieter engine and quieter premium soft top I, shopping for the 2013 wrangler unlimited.

Also, I know experienced vary. But I never had problems with my jeep but had several,with my taco.

Do yourselves a favor and drive both. I believe wrangler is more reliable than the rest of the crap Chrysler lineup...

 

I've had a 89 Toyo Pickup, then a 2000 Wrangler Sahara, and now a 09 Taco.

Off-road, the Wrangler wins hands down when both are stock. With a shorter wheelbase, it's much more nimble down trails.

On road, the Taco is much more comfortable with moderate off-road capability.

The upside to a Taco, is that it's a truck and you can haul "stuff" in the bed, which is why I sold my Wrangler. I like to hunt, and putting a deer in a Wrangler in tubs on the back seat was not much fun.

Below are two vids of both wheeling in the same area climbing the same mounds for comparison.

I admit, I miss my Wrangler.....a lot. It was just a "fun" vehicle. But practically speaking, a truck made more sense to me. Plus a Wrangler on snowy roads is heart rate raising circumstance. She will try to pull a 180 on you on a regular basis without studded tires, due to the short wheel base.

Recommend you go to http://www.wranglerforum.com/ to see what issues come up with a 2012.

Wrangler:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cipuITsa1TA

Taco:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10DQnrat3nA


Good luck on your purchase!

 

Have had 7 jeeps, currently rebuilding a CJ5. We recently traded a 2012 Sahara unltd for my wife's mustang GT/CS if the Jeep would safely tow more than 3500 lbs then I would have kept it, plain and simple. My OR Tacoma will do the job that the Wrangler should be able to do, if only the powers to be at Chrysler would design the wranglers with a higher towing capacity.