Why not get a Jeep?

Buy a 15 taco then a late 90s XJ for $1500. Best comb I've ever had.

 

I love the XJs - I have owned quite a few - but I'm looking for that short-wheelbase, top and doors off thing.

I already own the '15 Taco. The end state of this thread is looking like I'll likely get a mid to late-90s Wrangler for cheap and use it as a project / run-around-town-fun / beat-it-on-the-trails vehicle.

 

Exactly. I love my Tacoma, but it can't go half the places I used to take my stock TJ... and I'm talking about pretty mundane forest trails, wash outs, mud pits, creeks, and rocks in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, not Moab.

 

Good choice. A friend of mine bought a relatively inexpensive '97 TJ with 200k+ on it about six years ago. He swapped out most of the suspension and driveline parts, adding 44s and ARB lockers, new springs and control arms, wheels, new shafts, new transfer case, and 35" tires. It's a beast. Not the prettiest, but it'll go anywhere you point the front wheels, except the highway at more than 50mph.

 

Newfangled!

 

Agreed. Jeeps are definitely purpose built. I'm not a huge rock crawler though, I like exploring and blazing trails. So taco works for me. If people want to get into serious rock crawling, keep would probably be a better fit. Taco builds are out there and are unique, but you'll spend a lot more money and time doing something that a jeep may already be equipped for. Keeps are toys to me. My truck is all around purpose. Plus it has a bed. Couldn't live without that!

 

Can't we all just get along lol. They both serve their purposes but I'll take the Tacoma any day.

 

I have had Jeeps, most recently a 2013 JKUR. They can be fun, but are slow and ride like crap.

 

I follow your Taco pretty closely! Your 400k+ is amazing.

So was your JKUL your other vehicle aside from your Taco?

 

I would love to have a Jeep... unfortunately after hearing my family members nightmares with their Jeep has driven me towards my Tacoma

 

Thanks. The JKUR and Taco also had a Sequoia kid-hauler for a garage mate.

 

I see.

So got rid of it b/c it just wasn't working out for you?

 

At reasonable speeds on rough roads it rode much worse than the Taco. I found myself taking the ancient Taco on more and more trips. then finally, the 2016 Tacoma came out and I made the trade.

Original plan was to replace the old 2006 tacoma with the Jeep. 2006 still here, Jeep is gone.

 

I see. Cool, thanks for the input!

 

IMHO, the 4.0 inline 6 is actually a great engine. Sure, it could have more torque/hp, but that darned thing is bullet-proof.

 

Truth. AMC 4.0 a little torque monster that will run forever.

 

Yeah, I have to call this out. The 4.0L inline 6-cylinder that they ran from mid-90s to 2006 is bulletproof. I have never seen another engine more reliable. I don't have many miles on my 2.7L Taco, so that's yet to be seen, but the 4.0L is as reliable of an engine that I have ever owned or worked on.

X2. Bulletproof.

 

I like Taco > Jeep because:

- IFS, rides smoother
- Vastly greater storage capacity, hauling, etc., even if you have a short bed 4dr vs. 4dr JK
- Longer wheelbase (rides smoother, gets less shitty when hitting snowy/icy roads)
- Reliability, not that my old Jeep had that many problems.

Reasons I like a jeep over Taco:
- SFA.
- Shorter wheelbases were always great offroad
- Always felt better at higher speed on rough stuff with the greater amount of unsprung weight, likely could be a spring rate/valving issue
- Much much better articulation with the SFA and short arms, let alone a simple bolt-on longarm kit.

I sold my jeep and bought my Tacoma and haven't looked back except for the SFA. The Tacoma will go, and has gone everywhere / father / faster than the Jeep ever did. It's more refined feeling inside, more spacious (comparing XJ, not sure about JK), and because the truck is an adventure-access tool, I drive on the highway a LOT to get to the places I play, I can easily haul gear for myself and my passengers and friends, all while having MORE power, SMOOTHER ride, and still being able to wheel hard when I get there.

I'm sure eventually I'll get the itch bad enough to do a SAS on the taco, and that'll solve the complaints of articulation, then Taco will be perfect

 

The gf and I were both considering a 2015 4 door jeep about 6-7 months ago.

She wanted it bc of the "cool" factor and the fact you could make them look really beastly after some heavy modifications. In the end, she wanted something a bit more luxury so we got her a MB c300.

As for me, I was going between a Tacoma, Jeep or Raptor. For about 2-3 weeks, I went on review after review. I went as far as Looking up build cost (lift,rims,tires,light,etc..). Each had their own issues whether they be small or big....not one auto maker is perfect. After a ton of research I decided to go with a Tacoma for the sole reason Im not the type of person to change cars frequently and my 04 TRD DC ran strong for 10 years with not one issue except for a small driveshaft issue which was a owner maintenance problem.

 

I have had 1 cj7 and 8 xjs, which I have found to be quite reliable, and I have beat the shit outta all of them, I have an 96 xj with 233000 miles, and the trans finally gave out 2 yrs ago, "The Boss" still drives a 2000 that she will not part with, just my opinion.