Affordability: Tacoma vs. Wrangler

Sure a Jeep is the off road vehicle... that is what it was made for.

The Tacoma is a pickup truck with 4WD available and A-TRAC makes it a wizard off road.
However, the Tacoma has long rear overhang and you will bang the back end or damage the rear bumper as you go down and up steep drop offs. So, the length and departure angle is a handicap off roading in a Tacoma. You can carry a sh*tload of gear in a Tacoma, but not in a Wrangler. A Tacoma can cruise at 80 mph as if that were nothing, not so in a Wrangler. But a Wrangler can go anywhere, and is short for tight trail driving, too.

That said, you can wheel in a Tacoma without worry of breakdown, which one cannot in a Jeep. A Jeep needs repairs after or during almost every off-road adventure. Jeep owners expect this and so it does not seem odd to them... That is until (like me) they buy a Toyota and discover that a 4WD does not have to be unreliable or take thousands of dollars in mods just to make it worthy of the trail. You can take a TRD OFF ROAD 4WD Tacoma from the showroom right to the most extreme trail and it will get you there and back.

I am a former Jeep owner, I love Jeeps, but I will never own one again after discovering how nice it is to have a reliable 4WD that I don't need to repair after every trip.

 

I was a Jeep guy for over 10 years, love 'em to death. But this is so much more refined. My Jeep was rough inside and out, as it should be. This gives me the same performance, but for the 90% of the time I am on the road its more comfortable. Gas Mileage is a huge win (27 mpg hwy / 20 City) With an 80 mile round trip commute I didn't want to feel every bump in the road. I highly recommend the Tacoma, despite the new release issues. The now fixed Transmission issue, The vibrating brakes @ ~20 mph are annoying and I don't care for the entune system but definitely not enough to turn me off to this awesome truck.

My biggest wish was that the back seats disappeared more like the F-150 and that cargo box was removed. Better for the dogs...

Overall though, I wouldn't trade it for a Jeep.

 

Let's make sure this thing goes to 99 pages.

I'm still unsure whether every publication and auto journy is wrong that the Taco is a better overall vehicle compared to a FCA product.

 

At this Point I'm assuming OP made a decision, anyways give my 2 cents, first of all you can't got to a Jeep forum or Toyota forum asking for help on that decision, absolute biased answers. there are 2 different types of vehicles, with similar abilities and very different advantages. U have to think or talk to your self witch one fits more your life style. Do you tow? have kids? travel or camping a lot? are you going to off road a lot? planing on upgrades? to many things .
I've Own 2 Jeeps in the past a TJ and XJ both great vehicles, vehicles that will run with rum if there is no gas station around, just to make it short forget about the numbers and buy what you really like and most important what fits your necessities, nothing worst than drive a vehicle you don't like.
Good Luck

 

I've owned 2 Jeeps, a YJ and XJ. Never had a single issue with the YJ. The XJ was just as reliable as the YJ, but the interior quality was absolute shit. Ended up getting rid of both since I needed a truck. Now I have 2 Rams both haven't given me an issue mechanically, but the interior and paint quality is just as horrid as my old XJ. Chrysler has definitely improved in those areas since then. I joined here planning to buy a '16 Taco, but the issues popping up are holding me off. I figured I'll wait to see the midsize market once the Jeep and Ford trucks come out, hopefully the kinks will be worked out of the Tacos by then. Very glad to have joined TW and have met quite a few in my area. Just seems like most of the negative comments in this thread are to justify their purchase.

 

32k is 5k or more than I would consider. I considered the Frontier based on price alone. I could have had a quad cab, 4x4, full leather with heated seats and nav package for 28k. That was before any price negotiations too. I still passed on it and spent more on a 2wd Tacoma with no leather. The Frontier was uncomfortable, loud, and even compared to a 2nd gen Tacoma the interior was outdated. It felt like a mid 90's pickup. The interior room was also lacking in comparison.

My neighbor got the Pro4x. He doesn't dislike it, but said he wouldn't buy it again.

 

I own a 2013 I just turned 100k and the only problem I had was a radiator leak. It has been bullet prrof and it goes hardcore. Mine does have side airbags but I dont sit and live life worrying about what could happen. The pluses of a wrangler are a convertible, best off raod vehicle bar none, great resale value and the chicks dig it.
On the flip side I owned a 2011 4x4 tacoma a 2015 tacoma and just got a 2016. Cant live without the truck. Storgae space inside bits where the jeep has tons of room for equiptment. Dont like camper shells makes the truck look like lame. Sorry shell owners just my opinion. I would say that the tacoma is the best reselling vehicle on the planet and the reliability is second to none. They both have pluses and minuses. But if I were to choose one id go with a tacoma. Just my two cents. Live free and fearless or die. Its the American way. Or at least it used to be.

 

3 year old vehicle with a rad leak bulletproof???? What??!? You must drive a jeep to put those two sentences side by side.

 

Bullet proof tacomas: frame replacement, transmission issues, leaf spring replacements. None of those hit a jeep - just tacomas.

Suddenly a leaky radiator is no issue.

 

Wrangler rattle, cylinder head failure on 2012+, rust on frames (Chrysler's position is surface rust - I had it on my 13 and 14), electrical issues, and water leaks, and an oil thirsty 3.8 on pre 2012's. Seems to me it's pick ya poison

 

We all accept our babies handicaps...

I love Jeeps... owned one once... never again!

I need reliability because I go deep into Baja, Mexico, and often solo. I can't have breakdowns or I could die.

I have now owned three 4WD Off Road Tacomas, none of them has ever broke down on me or ever needed to be pulled out of a stuck, and I go into some hairy places.

Are they perfect, no... but ALMOST!
Things that broke or needed replacing that were not routine maintenance items during the time I had them...

All 4WD TRD OFF ROAD, AUTOMATIC V-6:

2001 Xtra Cab: Water pump (a drip at 90,000 miles). Had it for 136,000 miles in 5 years. Amazing truck!

2005 Double Cab: Clock spring spiral cable in steering wheel, rear suspension too soft (added Ride Rites). The ABS brakes were terrible, only on this Tacoma. Had it for 102,000 miles in 4 years.

2010 Double Cab: Water pump (drip), front hub/ wheel bearing, rear shocks. So far, have it for 88,000 miles in 6.5 years.

 

The off the floor 4wd Tacoma is no match with the off the floor Jeep. After mods, the Tacoma is still no match. But there are different types of 4-wheelin. Unless you really know what you are doing, the auto is better wheelin than a manual trans. As far as impacts go .... The Jeep roll cage is a life saver. I have first hand knowledge as the wife got rear-ended in her jeep. Sitting at a stop light and old man hit her doing 50MPH. The Roll cage prevented the rearend from buckling. They ended up totaling the Jeep.
We have a 14 Jeep Sahara and a 16 Taco. So I can make a fair comparison. No issues whatsoever with the Jeep and no issues with the Tacoma. We love them both. If you are going to 99% on road and the 1% are trails and light 4wheelin then the Taco is more versatile as it has a bed. Got rid of my 08 Jeep Unlimited for that very reason. Got tired of hauling crap in the back.
Then again, the wife has the top and doors off since its summer. So each has its place.

 

I had those same wheels on the 2013 Wrangler I used to have. Loved that they were hubcentric and that they were JK specific...

 

I have had 2 wranglers, my family has 2 as well. I just bought my 2nd Taco. Bottom line, both have a great rating all the way around. Either one would be great to have both have great resale. Buy the one you think you need. If you need to haul stuff, get the truck, if not get the wrangler. I can tell you the Wrangler accessory options are unlike any vehicle. Getting Tboned in a Wrangler is no big deal. MPG isnt much different, i really think it should boil down to hauling people or stuff.

 

I owned a 2012 Wrangler. They are fun to drive, but it was in the shop more than it was out. At 34K, it needed a complete engine overhaul due to casting sand in the engine block.

That was enough for me to swear off Jeeps for good - or at least until their reliability ratings improve.

 

Its the mileage that really matters, not the age. Over 100k on it, a radiator is not a big deal. Not to say age doesn't play a factor at all, but I would say mileage and use matters more.

 

To me, saying "bulletproof"means nothing is wrong with the vehicle, even with some abuse. So, no, Tacomas requiring frame replacement are not bulletproof, but that frame issue is not the norm. Electrical and engine issues with Jeeps ARE the norm. Not bulletproof by my standard.

 

I owned three Jeeps over the span of 15 years, none of which had any electrical issues. No recalls either. Had to replace the sway bar links on my TJ twice. Other than that, all three were "bulletproof."

 

Funny how Jeeps are either great or junk... While a Tacoma may not be perfect, the quality of a Toyota (and other Japanese) products is so far above anything of equal or lower price, I could not consider any other brand. More Toyotas are consistently well made with quality parts, I have found, than American brands. I have owned VW, Jeep, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Chrysler, and Toyota. Only Jeep and Chrysler were consistently failing and breaking down. My friends who own Chevy, Ford and other U.S. brands also have experienced failures in product or workmanship. Some just accept this as "normal" but if they ever bought a Toyota (or Subaru, etc.), they would discover what I have... that a new car does not need to fail randomly! The American way is to buy the best product at the best price. If anything, this should inspire U.S. brands to do better... and they have improved a lot since the late 1970s when American brands were really terrible. But, Ford, Chevy, Chrysler can do better and should!

 

AMEN

End of thread, nothing more to add