Wrangler or Tacoma?

It's not reliability, practicality, comfort, convenience, or the 90% of trails you can do in a similarly equipped Tacoma... It's the 10% you can't...

It's not the 10% of trails you can't do in a similarly equipped Tacoma... it's the reliability, practicality, comfort, convenience and 90% of trails you can...

I am lucky enough to own one of each... but, if I could only have one, the Tacoma wins hands down. Edit: but only because 8 mpg and barely enough room for one bag of groceries is just plain crazy.

 

I have a '13 JKURubicon and a '17 Tacoma. I had a Tundra but decided I didn't want to deal with trying to park that thing, drive it around town, and just wanted something more compact. I've owned both Wranglers and Tacomas off-and-on since the late 80s and like both, but the Tundra was just too much for me although it was a nice truck and served me well for 6 years.

Before I got my current Tacoma, when I had the Tundra, I would never for a moment have considered getting rid of the Jeep. It was my daily driver as the truck was not practical in that application. I just assumed I'd keep the Wrangler for the forseeable future and use the truck solely as a truck. But the Tacoma has changed all of that. I now use it for my DD and rarely drive the Jeep. To the point that I am thinking about selling the latter. I haven't decided for sure yet, but the Taco does everything the Jeep will do, at least the way I use them. I'm not a hard-core off-roader, but do use it to access remote camping areas, hunting spots, etc. The Tacoma does all of that very well, and possibly better.

 

I have both myself, we'l at least my wife and I do. I own a 2014 JKU and she has a 2017 DC/LB TRD O/R. There are pluses and minuses with both. I wheel my jeep as often as possible, with a 2.5" lift I'm able to run 35's and I've added a locker up front. Off roading is a win for the jeep, but her truck is still stock though. The wheel base is what kills it , too long for tight trails and breakover is ridiculous and this is from someone with a 4dr jeep. Ride quality is much better in the Taco though but the jeep is lifted. Her truck has many more creature comforts than the jeep since she has the technology package. Remember, one is a truck; so if hauling is a priority , keep that in mind. Luckily we have both. One other consideration is price, my jeep stickered for 10k less than her taco both bought new. Luckily I work for Toyota, so we got a bit of a discount. YMMV.

 

The problem is Chrysler makes vehicles like throw away garbage. In theory a Jeep truck should be better than a Tacoma with the solid axles, lockers in front and rear etc. But quality control is a huge issue with Chrysler. We have some issues with Tacos, but nothing near the Chrysler issues. I've yet to see a very reliable Chrysler product for the past decade and I've owned several if them. Good thing is my Jeep buddies seem to enjoy fixing all the stuff that breaks on their Jeeps, creates some camaraderie I guess...

 

The only way you should have a Wrangler is if you off-road more than you drive on the street. There is really no other positive to a Wrangler.

I had my built rubicon for 45 days. Traded it in with the paper tags still on it.

 

The problem most people have with wranglers is they want a bad@ss off-road vehicle and modify them right of the bat. Stock wranglers actually ride and handle decent if you leave them alone. As far as reliability goes, I hope I'm not jinxing myself, I've had no issues in the first 50k miles.

 

I had a 2001 and a 2011 6 cyl, basic Wrangler. Kept each of them longer than I keep most of my vehicles. Kept them stock and plowed snow for myself and my neighbors and my small mini storage business with each of them. Never had a mechanical issue with either other than routine mantainence. I think I had one recall on the 2011 for a computer reflash. First thing I'd do is remove the back seat and store it. Never took the tops or the doors off(pita.) I liked them for my utilitarian use of them and that fact that they looked good to me clean or dirty. Thought they had some of the best paint jobs of any vehicles I've owned (51 in 50+ years of driving, no shit.) the seats were uncomfortable in both and you had to learn that driving them on slippery roads was different due to that short wheel base.
The resale value was amazing. All in all I liked them and would have probably bought one this year instead of the Tacoma but for the crazy high prices. This is my first Tacoma, it's a bottom line, access cab work truck. No cruise, no intermittent wipers, I'm thinking of it as a Wrangler with a bed. The last mid size truck I had was a mid 80's Ranger. Hope the Tacoma works out. The price was sure better.

 

EXACTLY!! There is no 'rational' argument that exists TO buy a jeep. THERE! I said it, we were all thinking it.

If you don't already WANT a jeep because of its inherent 'jeepiness', there is absolutely nothing anyone could tell you about a jeep that would make you reconsider that position. Sure, its great offroad, but that is the very essence of its 'jeepiness' so it doesn't count as a rational argument here. Can anybody here come up with one reason (other than a severely bloated wallet) that someone WOULD buy a jeep? Like honestly even the jurassic park guys would have been better served by a damn Tacoma. Maybe then the T-Rex wouldnt have caught the truck and destroyed it because jeeps, despite their small size, are also painfully slow

 

One reason...my daughter (11 y/o) keeps giving me crap about selling the Jeep for the Tacoma. But you said “rational”, so I got nothing.

 

You haven't driven a Pentastar 2 door have you?

They will scoot quite nicely, to the tune of low 6 second 0-60 and high 14 quarter miles (with the 3.73 gears anyway)

 

Nope! I had the last of the AMC straight 6s in my '06. Come to think of it, mine did also have 33s so maybe my view on that is a little biased, but I am about to put the same size 33s (255-85-16) on my tacoma so then it will be more of a fair comparison. My tacoma feels like a freaking Trophy Truck in comparison to my old jeep it would run circles around it anywhere.

 

My 3rd Gen DCLBTRDOR Far exceeds anything the wrangler has to offer, in all aspects. Whether it be off-road or onroad. 40k vs. 40k and what you get with each isn’t even worth talkin about.

My .02

 

We must have different definition of “scooting quite nicely”. That is painfully slow. That’s slower than most trucks.

 

1. I agree
2. In the real world, the best 0-60 time I ever saw in my Jeep was probably 10-12 seconds. Es no bueno. As I said I had 33s so that probably counts for some of the lethargy but still it was a chore to drive most of the time. Only time it was ever fun was doors off, top off, running down a beach and that's still despite everything that makes a Jeep a Jeep, not because of it. Running down the beach is gonna be SO much better on Fox 2.5s

 

Don’t get me wrong, I love jeeps. I flip them for fun on the side and have had every configuration of Wrangler (YJ+) and I love them for what they’re made for. Now when I spent over 40k on one to be my daily is where I went wrong. Still made money on it though. Lol

 

More for you then bro! I had my time in a Jeep and I'm good on that. I'll be keeping my Tacoma until it dies or the government makes everybody get fuel efficient cars or electric cars or some shit like that

 

The 4 door isn't that sprightly, but the 2 door is faster than a Tacoma.

The only midsize truck that is faster is the new Colorado with the 8 speed auto and it runs times that are near identical (6.1 vs 6.3. 14.8 1/4 vs 14.9)

Tacoma 4x4 is 7.1 to 7.9 0-60 with 15.4 in the 1/4.

The old inline 6 4.0 was a torque monster but slow.

The 3.8 in the 2007-2011 Wrangler was just embarrassing, to the point of being near dangerous pulling into traffic with the 4 door.

Add in the most common 3.21 gears and it was a recipe for taking a nap between shifts.

 

I have owned both. I think almost all the comments here mostly agree on most everything, and I agree also.
2006 Rubicon W/Banks Sidewinder turbo. Faster than my Tacoma when it was running good. Nothing cooler than cruising with the top and doors off. Never got a chance to take it offroad, not even the beach. On the highway, I had to drive .the whole time. If I took my eyes off the road, the jeep would decide to go somewhere else. Traded it in due to issues with the turbo and a bad attitude on my part.
Traded it for a
2017 DBSB OR. Second 4 wheeled new purchase ever, so I am kinda in awe of the technology. Already took it offroad camping at Big Bend NP and thought that it was exceptionally capable in the more rugged trails, but I don't really have any offroad experience, so.
Next month went wheelin with crazy TW people from Houston at Hidden Falls Adventure park and learned that a stock Tacoma can do absolutely amazing things.
Guess I'm no help either.

 

Hey guys! I am considering both of these vehicles. I will only drive a manual transmission and want an SUV/Truck so my choices are limited. I do like the new JL but after building one on the website, a decently equipped sport s model is 40K+. I think I would prefer an suv as opposed to a truck but with the price of the new wrangler and the questionable reliability of Jeeps I am not sure. Any input would be appreciated!

 

To me at least my 4 door wrangler put a bigger smile on my face while driving than my Taco does. It was also better off road but I’m comparing a jeep with 35” tires to Tacoma with 32” ones. The Tacoma is more versatile and still acceptable off road. No one here will have experience with the JL yet but they’re supposed to be better on the street. I just got tired of fixing stuff and wanted something that didn’t make a 12 hour drive to Colorado feel like 12 rounds with Tyson.