I might be buying a Tacoma. Can I get your inputs?

To address some of your offroad questions.

A locker and crawl control will depend on the type of wheeling you want to do. A stock offroad is quite capable. I personally use my locker on every offroad trip but I do a lot of tough off-roading.

I don’t know if crawl control is “worth it” but it comes with the offroad and I have used it. It’s got me through obstacles that other vehicles winched through so I don’t doubt the capability anymore. It’s not as gimmicky as people think.

I trust electronic lockers over air lockers, I don’t like relying on air pressure and airlines and you can always jump an electronic locker. The Toyota locker is capable.

As far as wheeling with an automatic, the offroad has a brake booster and an anti-roll feature. It will roll back but the truck will brake a bit so you don’t roll out of control.

Personally these trucks don’t have enough craw ratio to enjoy off-roading in a manual. Off-roading these things in an automatic is super easy and a million times easier than the manual.

 

I had a 4.0 TJ with 4” lift and 33” MT. It was fun to take out occasionally but I also had a daily driver to drive everyday. Jeeps are not very practical as a daily driver for me, manual trans is not very much fun in stop and go traffic. Any 4x4 Tacoma will likely take you to where you want to go in stock form unless you are intentionally trying to test its limits. I bought my off-road because it has the options I wanted, I would have been fine with an SR5 as well. I didn’t want the sport because I had a fake scoop for a decade with my 4runner and tires are cheaper for 16” wheels. The larger rear differential is a plus in my imo as are the locker and traction control features. You can’t go wrong with any of them imo. I’d see what you can find the best deal on that matches your desired options. For me personally I planned to buy used but it ended up being better for me to buy new all things considered. Dealerships suck, I’d do as much researching, looking, and negotiating as you can online. If you can find a 19 you might really do well with a new one. I bought my 19 in September for 31k +TTL. Sell your Jeep outright, I made money on my Jeep after having 3 years and installing a lift and tires. They hold their value well too, and people will pay a premium for MT in a Jeep. I bought my Jeep (97 80k miles for $5700 put about 3k in lift/tires and sold it for 10k lol.

 

I'd just get a Frontier before an SR5

 

For the price that’s probably worth considering too, cheap price new and used, and proven to be pretty reliable although ugly AF.

 

OP, because I'm supposed to be working right now, I just skimmed thru your post and didn't read everyone's responses. My opinion and experiences will most likely be different than everyone else.
I grew up driving standard transmissions. My first new truck was a '86 Toyota Pickup 5-speed. I loved driving it. When I was dating my wife, I tried to teach her how to drive it. She didn't have the desire and I didn't have the patients after she kept grinding the gears. Twenty years ago, I had knee surgery twice. If it had not been for having an automatic truck ('95 4Runner), I would not have been able to drive anywhere. So, having a daily driver w/ auto is important.
I don't regularly off road, but I need the capability. My house is on the side of a hill with a very steep driveway uphill to get out. I also need a large cargo area for my work equipment.
I've reached an age that I want to own nice vehicles and don't want to spend the time wrenching on them. Because of my experiences owning many cars and trucks (both Toyota and non-Toyota), a Toyota brand vehicle was a must. A year ago I looked at what Toyota had to offer and the Tacoma TRD Pro fit my needs. After reading reviews of previous years and seeing the debut of the 2020 at last year's car shows, I decided to wait for the 2020 with its automatic transmission re-tune. Plus, I really like the green. Yes, I know its a lot of money. But, this truck will last me at least 20 years. I was prepared to purchase a year ago, but by waiting for what I really want, I will be able to pay cash for it.
I started talking to my dealership last August. My truck will finally be built Jan. 28th. During this time, I've learned a lot reading TW. Most of it valuable. But there is alot of BS egos as well. Take it with a grain of salt. Take the time to do your research and get what suits your needs. Even if its a 48K Pro, its worth it.

 

I agree. The pro 4X can be had for around the same with tons of options

 

lol I just saw that too. I guess thats why you buy a Toyota.

 

Widely accepted as the correct one is Pew Research Centers but yes everyone has their own cutoff lol.

 

Keep the Jeep,and buy her something for herself too drive.

 

I saw a 2017 SR ACLB 4x4 with the utility package (no rear seats, black bumpers, etc) with 100K miles and they still wanted 20k for it. Might as well buy new.

 

Anyone that grew up in the 80’s was the last group of people with half a brain in my opinion. We all survived no helmets , 3 wheelers, riding in the back of trucks , scalding hot metal inside of cars , and we only got a trophy if we worked and earned it. Lolol

 

Great trucks. They just feel more solid and better built than any brand out there.

 

Agreed, the Frontier is a great truck if a bit dated, and a pretty good bargain.

 

I like your style, there's some great young guns coming to work these days, but the majority? I don't have anything nice to say.

 

You,d be pretty disgruntled too if the generations before you dragged you into a 15 year war in the middle-east, require that you have a masters degree to do menial work, put the country in out of control debt, sunk the economy into a recession, contribute to climate crisis, and then complain about how the next generations has to fix all of their mistakes.

 

Just bought a new OR. I'm still under 500 miles so the transmission is still learning, but it drives like any normal truck from what I've felt so far, haven't had the same multitude of complaints with the new transmission you see on here all the time. Base model SR has android/apple and adaptive cruise/self braking. I was between the SR and OR. Human element took over, I've always wanted an OR Tacoma, so I got one. Anything else and I'd tell myself within 5 years I am trading it in to get the tacoma I always wanted. This way, if I do end up switching, at least I got the best resale out of it?

I drove the 4 cylinder SR, it was a little anemic on big hills but it had no problem getting there. If I do end up trading it in within 5 years, it will probably end up being for a 4 cylinder lower trim, though I do really like the push start it's nice

For a highway vehicle like that have you (sadly) looked into a hybrid sedan or plug-in hybrid maybe? Is two vehicles feasible? A few years used plug in Chevy is pretty cheap, compared to a tacoma. You could keep the Jeep with it and have a highway vehicle? If you don't need it as a daily driver, the tacoma is not a great vehicle (unless you say "I just want one", that's fine).

 

His very first line is his wife does not want to learn to drive a manual transmission Jeep, it is why he is interested in the Toyota.

There is NOTHING wrong with the auto transmission in the 3rd gen. People bitch about the wrong thing. Look at a dyno chart and see how much torque is available at 1800 RPM. With the auto at 70 mph the wind resistance has the truck on the verge of downshifting because of the lack of torque. Blame the engine, blame the need for better MPG, but the transmission is great, it is shifting its heart out looking for some grunt.

 

This is absolutely the funniest thing I have read so far in 2020.

 

don't, get the diesel wrangler it even only comes in auto

 

I agree with this. caveat to the crawl control, is I also don’t know if it’s worth it, as it’s never done anything for me, but I’ve been up on two wheels with the front skid resting on a rut, and the MTS w/ rear locker on pushed me out like a breeze. The truck IS very capable off road.