Toyota Highlander or Jeep Grand Cherokee

Noah R wrote:

Cause the environment, brah.

I am also covered, when not driving my F-150, I ride a train to work every day. Or an Infinity Q50 my wife drives.

Oh, we're talking about trucks now? I'll play!

I have an '09 TRD Offroad Taco that I bought new. It's been great, still runs like a champ, but we got the 5' bed and regret that. We also picked up a camper trailer last year and while technically within the tow package rating of the Taco, it still went a little too 'whee whee whee whee' up the big hills to be fun.

So, when my subie shit the bed, we got the F150 XLT 4x4 with the 6' bed access cab. Hole-ee-shit, I love that thing. Even though it's full size it gets 25% better MPG than the Taco. It's a full queen bed in back and a dream to drive - did a 5,000 mile road trip all October and lived in it. Tows the camper like a champ, too.

I was nervous about Ford after sucking the Toyota kool aid for a decade, but  figured if there's one thing Ford does well it's trucks. 

Now we're a two truck family, because 'mericuh. I'll probably keep the Taco a little longer then move back to a more gas efficient whip.

La MoMoface wrote: Oh, we're talking about trucks now? I'll play!

I have an '09 TRD Offroad Taco that I bought new. It's been great, still runs like a champ, but we got the 5' bed and regret that. We also picked up a camper trailer last year and while technically within the tow package rating of the Taco, it still went a little too 'whee whee whee whee' up the big hills to be fun.

So, when my subie shit the bed, we got the F150 XLT 4x4 with the 6' bed access cab. Hole-ee-shit, I love that thing. Even though it's full size it gets 25% better MPG than the Taco. It's a full queen bed in back and a dream to drive - did a 5,000 mile road trip all October and lived in it. Tows the camper like a champ, too.

Now we're a two truck family, because 'mericuh. I'll probably keep the Taco a little longer then move back to a more gas efficient whip. 

Welcome to the Club....Seriously the Silverado and Sierra people can play to.

No Jacked up, trump votin’, Ram weirdos though...

What years and what’s your budget?

Toyota is objectively way more reliable than Jeep. 

A highlander is built on a modified Camry platform. So super reliable. Modern Unibody construction. Great all around vehicle. Good for fire roads. But not serious off road. Probably good for 200,000+ worry free miles. 
Jeeps seem to start having issues around 100,000. 
Some people spend 99%+ of their time on the road but buy trucks for the less than 1% of time they’ll need them. On road a truck based vehicle (body on frame) gets worse mpg, worse ride, worse handling. A truck will do better on rough roads any tow a lot more. 
If you want serious off road capability get a 4Runner or long bed Tacoma and camper shell. Problem is Toyota trucks are so good they hold resale value well so aren’t cheap. Either will pull a smaller camper but the Tacoma could also take a pop up camper like a Four Wheel some day if you want to upgrade someday. 

This website gets reviews of thousands of used cars turned in a dealerships, and ranks them by issues with engine and transmission. 
Toyota / Lexus are #1. http://www.dashboard-light.com/reports/Toyota.htmlHighlander, 4Runner, Tacoma. Are among the best vehicles for long term reliablity. 

Jeep and Grand Cherokee are a little above average. http://www.dashboard-light.com/reports/Jeep.html
Full size Fords and Chevy’s are good. Ram has a great diesel but not the chassis. 
I have a Ford 4x4 crew cab long bed 7.3 power stroke diesel. With a cab over camper. Super sweet. But I use a Subaru Impreza for day trips because it gets way better mpg and is way nicer to drive. I may give the Impreza to my son and get a Highlander or more likely a Lexus RX which is basically a Lexus branded Highlander but you can find better deals on them used around here. I usually buy low mileage, one owner used. Like under 50K to save maybe half the cost of new but still have a nice car that will last another 150,000 miles. 

Glowering wrote: What years and what’s your budget?

Toyota is objectively way more reliable than Jeep. 

A highlander is built on a modified Camry platform. So super reliable. Modern Unibody construction. Great all around vehicle. Good for fire roads. But not serious off road. Probably good for 200,000+ worry free miles. 
Jeeps seem to start having issues around 100,000. 
Some people spend 99%+ of their time on the road but buy trucks for the less than 1% of time they’ll need them. On road a truck based vehicle (body on frame) gets worse mpg, worse ride, worse handling. A truck will do better on rough roads any tow a lot more. 
If you want serious off road capability get a 4Runner or long bed Tacoma and camper shell. Problem is Toyota trucks are so good they hold resale value well so aren’t cheap. Either will pull a smaller camper but the Tacoma could also take a pop up camper like a Four Wheel some day if you want to upgrade someday. 

This website gets reviews of thousands of used cars turned in a dealerships, and ranks them by issues with engine and transmission. 
Toyota / Lexus are #1. http://www.dashboard-light.com/reports/Toyota.htmlHighlander, 4Runner, Tacoma. Are among the best vehicles for long term reliablity. 

Jeep and Grand Cherokee are a little above average. http://www.dashboard-light.com/reports/Jeep.html
Full size Fords and Chevy’s are good. Ram has a great diesel but not the chassis. 
I have a Ford 4x4 crew cab long bed 7.3 power stroke diesel. With a cab over camper. Super sweet. But I use a Subaru Impreza for day trips because it gets way better mpg and is way nicer to drive. I may give the Impreza to my son and get a Highlander or more likely a Lexus RX which is basically a Lexus branded Highlander but you can find better deals on them used around here. I usually buy low mileage, one owner used. Like under 50K to save maybe half the cost of new but still have a nice car that will last another 150,000 miles. 

Lol, I like how you spent 250+ words about how great the Taco's and Jeeps are but own.....a Ford F-250/350.

I agree with the Lexus option. A good friend who also hauls a pretty serious boat (Ranger 2080MS with a 250 Verado) has one and it has no problems pulling that beast out of primitive landings.  The down side is trying to find an air filter on the NW Angle in MN, where he lives part of the year.

Mark Pilate wrote: No Jacked up, trump votin’, Ram weirdos though...

 F off! Haha..  I’ve been driving a black Dodge Ram 2500 with a diesel since 2003. Once the truck hits 200k I start looking for a new one. All the company trucks have 200k-300k. The Cummins motors run strong while the rest of the truck falls apart. Nonetheless I got my money’s worth so far. Fortunately my 2014 only has 68k miles. The dealer wants $68k for a new one. Yikes!

 I would’ve voted for Bernie if the DNC would give the people want they ask for.

Bill Kirby wrote:

 F off! Haha..  I’ve been driving a black Dodge Ram 2500 with a diesel since 2003.....                       

Haha - you don’t happen to have twin exhaust stacks behind your cab and “Prius Repellent” stenciled across your back window...?  Extra points if you have playboy stickers in the upper corners.  (I may have seen your truck on 1-94)

 I would’ve voted for Bernie if the DNC would give the people want they ask for.

There needs to be a “no confidence” option that if it got the majority, the f@&kers on the current ballot are swept clean away and start fresh without them.  I think this last election it may have happened. 

Lol, I like how you spent 250+ words about how great the Taco's and Jeeps are but own.....a Ford

Haha. I was addressing the OPs ?  Mid size crossover SUV. A full size truck is a different beast.  Tundras are great but wouldn’t handle my camper and would cost twice as much. 

My former climbing buddy who has gone to the dark side (literally, cave diving and canyoneering) just got an Econoline Quigley 4x4 conversion. Apparently the desert SW has quite a few places only reachable by some sort of off road vehicle and his old van wasn't up to the task. He bought the longer version, so he has a bedroom as well as ample storage for bikes/tanks/ropes and a small mini bike with the fat tires.

He had to liquidate his old van, his 28 foot Winnebago Aspect RV and some cash to get it. I will miss that RV, but we don't climb together much anymore and he wasn't using it.

But it is the perfect vehicle for living in Denver...

Mark Pilate wrote: Haha - you don’t happen to have twin exhaust stacks behind your cab and “Prius Repellent” stenciled across your back window...?  Extra points if you have playboy stickers in the upper corners.  (I may have seen your truck on 1-94)

There needs to be a “no confidence” option that if it got the majority, the f@&kers on the current ballot are swept clean away and start fresh without them.  I think this last election it may have happened. 

 LOL You got me there. I used tow heavy trailers so no, none of that silliness.

Just to keep hijacking the thread - thoughts on the new Ranger?

La MoMoface wrote: Just to keep hijacking the thread - thoughts on the new Ranger?

I'm curious about this too. I'm bias and I've only driven Toyota truck all my life - Still have a T-100 and 3rd gen 4Runner, but may look to upgrade in the near future. My sister has a Chevy Colorado and they love it. It seems like the general consensus is that the other manufactures have poured a ton of money into developing new mid size trucks and Toyota has some serious competition now. As of now I'm seriously considering the new Jeep Gladiator or 4x4 Sprinter (I know...), but every time I do research I always come back to how reliable my Toyota's have been. 

Since we're tangent-ing...

2020 Outback

30+ hwy mpg, 2.4L turbo option (now tows 3500 lbs), super safe with great standard safety features - that part seems helpful as we drive a decent amount for climbing trips...

closer to $30k vs $35-45k for a Taco/Ranger/Colorado 4x4, it seems.

We think that'll be our next vehicle, in a few years. Very hard deciding between Outback and tent camping (our car camping setup is quite comfy) vs truck and some sort of bed/pop up setup or even a Van... Its usually nice to leave camp setup as the majority of places we frequent require short drives to crags.

or if VW actually brings the Tarok to the US - that would be interesting. Sorta like a smaller, cheaper, better MPG Honda Ridgeline. Seems it would compete with an Outback. Our current car is a 2016 Golf Sportwagen, holds a ton and gets great MPG - give me that in a truck-ish version for light offroading and I'd be interested...

Subarus are great! Just replace engine every 100k

Frank Truth wrote: Has Subaru worked out the kinks in their 2.4? I have known os some that need a head gasket at around 100,000 miles to the tune of $3000.

I believe the 2.4 turbo is fairly new - first used in the Ascent 

https://www.thedrive.com/news/18562/meet-subarus-new-fa24-boxer-engine

 

Not sure how a history of blown head gaskets has already appeared.

Matt N wrote: Our current car is a 2016 Golf Sportwagen, holds a ton and gets great MPG

same for me. the sportwagen is an underappreciated recreational vehicle.  better mpg than a subaru and the option of a turbo + manual trans + AWD in a real wagon (don't even argue that a wrx is a wagon...its not).

Frank Truth wrote: Has Subaru worked out the kinks in their 2.4? I have known of some that need a head gasket at around 100,000 miles to the tune of $3000.

I dumped my 2012 this past summer. When I bought it, they said the infamous head gasket issue was fixed. Well, it was, but at 84k the cam seal started leaking - a $4k fix, located right next to the head gasket. 

Frank Truth wrote: Completing hijack, most vehicles are good for a hundo, the second undo happens based on good maintenance and design the third, good maintenance and design. Engines that get there are: Chrysler's straight six, 4.0, Toyota's 4 cal 1.8, 2.0, V6, 3.4, Ford's V8 4.6, and mod 5.0, GM's V8 4.9, 5.3 and 6.0. Honda 4 cyl 2.0. Early Subarus might make it.

If I could have a frankencar it would be a straight axle Tacoma with a GM 5.3.

And the Toyota v6 4.0, and V8 1uz and 2uz, 4cyl 22R, 22re

Ross Goldberg wrote:

And the Toyota v6 4.0, and V8 1uz and 2uz, 4cyl 22R, 22re

What about the Toyota v6 3.0...? asking for a friend :)