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Goodby JKU Altitude.

5K views 59 replies 41 participants last post by  gouranga56 
#1 ·
We were on a 4-5 day off road trip out of Lillooet, B.C., about 150 miles north of here, when the Wrangler developed a problem. We had to cut it short after 1 day off road, but we did see a grizzly up close! Still, after we got home we decided to look at a 4Runner as the dealer was 25 miles closer. We were sold after the first drive. Made a decent trade with the dealer, who still has to fix the Wrangler, and drove home today in a new 4Runner Trail, oversize tires, locker rear end, much better GPS, and all mod cons.

It's been good knowing you.
Happy Trails
Ted
:iamhappy:
 
#2 ·
I bought a new rubicon unlimited in March and in July went on a 7K mile road trip. We started the trip with a little over 3K miles on the jeep. We had to stop at several dealers to have them clear trouble codes and reflash the pcm. We lost at least a day due to waiting at the dealership. However, now at 13K miles it seems to be running fine.

I was frustrated and jeep didn't care. Unfortunately, there is nothing on the market like a rubicon. I enjoy driving w/o the top and doors. I like the solid axles instead of independent suspension. I like the factory front and rear lockers. I like the after market support. I like the lifetime warranty.

I'm sure the Toyota is nice, but it is certainly not as capable or as cool as the jeep. Good luck.
 
#3 ·
:popcorn:
 
#5 ·
Two weeks ago started out in a Rubicon and ended up in a Renegade. Got about 5 miles off the highway when Jeep overheated. Still had cell service so had it towed to Jeep dealership in Cottonwood AZ and rented Renegade to drive home. The fan had quit working. My 2014 has 16K miles and this is the second time it has let me down.

As much as I love the capability, my previous FJC, Tacoma, and 2 past 4-Runners never left me stranded (each had approx. 65K miles when traded).

My wife are often in the backcountry by ourselves-needless to say this worries us. We obviously carry water, food, sleeping bags, etc and have an Inreach. One more time in the next two years and I will be back in a Toyota.
 
#7 ·
What was the problem? And what did you get on trade?
 
#10 ·
Wrangler owners talk about the real size of their tires, Toyota owners just say they have oversized tires..

And we all know what Toyota stands for....Take Off Your Oversized Tires A##%^@*
 
#11 ·
I just hit 26k miles on my 14 rubi. Havent been to the dealer since the day I got it and a few weeks ago did a 3700 mile round trip out west and across the great divide with no issues at all.

I know people with BMW's and Merc's that have had a lot more problems than me so its not relegated to a certain make/model.

Best of luck with your new ride.
 
#12 ·
I think the issue comes down to customer service here. ALL cars fail. ALL manufacturers make a lemon. It is going to happen. In all honesty they are an awesome opportunity to get a customer for life. If you deal with a customer right on such a thing, you will spend some cash but you will reap tons more with his repeat business and referrals. if you dump on him when he needs ya most, well you turned an opportunity into a lost customer and you may never sell another vehicle.

This admission makes me feel like I am in group therapy, but I owned a minivan..a dodge grand caravan. It had so many little problems it seemed to spend more time at the dealership than in my driveway at first. That dealership treated me like crap and I had to fight Dodge tooth and nail for every single warranty fix. They spent the same amount of money cause they did fix it but instead of spending it right away and making me a satisfied customer, they lost 3 vehicle sales that went to Ford, and Chevy from me and I could not tell you how many friends I turned away from a Grand Caravan after that. All in all, their crappy treatment probably cost them close to 8 or 9 vehicle sales. To be honest, until I got a hankering for my JKU I never looked at another Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep dealership seriously again and if anyone made a seriously comparable vehicle, I would not have gone there for my JKU.

It always blows my mind how these companies and dealerships dont get this and chose to lose thousands in sales to save a hundred dollars or in my case, nothing, to fight a warranty issue.
 
#17 ·
I'm at 23K miles and not a single issue, the only trips back to the dealership have been to reflash the 430N for the backup camera install and every 5,000 miles to buy OEM oil filters :D
 
#21 ·
Maybe the cupholder broke.
That would suck having no place for your whine.
 
#24 ·
Well, my 13 JKU never had a single warranty repair in 3.5 years and 50k miles. My 16 JKU has had a water leak repaired on the soft top. My coworker has a 3 year old 4 runner and so far it had 2 warranty repairs, and the AC and power windows have broken on it since it went out of the standard 36k mile warranty. So, at least in our case, the Jeeps have been more reliable than the Toyota.
 
#26 ·
It was funny. Met up with a customer with a tricked out 4 Runner with his two boys in the truck. Much like this one:



He sat in his yota for a few seconds before jumping out with a smirk on his face. I asked him if there was something wrong, he replied: "Nothing, my boys always said that Daddy's truck was their favorite, and that all changed when we pulled up and saw your jeep."

Good Luck.

 
#36 ·
It was funny. Met up with a customer with a tricked out 4 Runner with his two boys in the truck. Much like this one:



He sat in his yota for a few seconds before jumping out with a smirk on his face. I asked him if there was something wrong, he replied: "Nothing, my boys always said that Daddy's truck was their favorite, and that all changed when we pulled up and saw your jeep."

Good Luck.

I absolutely love your Jeep.Very nice.
 
#27 ·
Toyotas are awesome vehicles. That said I would never buy one. But hey have a great time offroading with your doors on, top on, air condition blasting and it's good that you have a much better gps so the tow truck can pinpoint your location easier on the trails.
 
#29 ·
 
#33 ·
Congrats. I have been jonsing for a Toyo taco and am trying to get my wife interested in one. I will say for many people the 4runner makes much more sense than the jeep. If you are going to just hit forest service roads and do light off roading then why not have one. Bottom line only have to make one person happy and that is yourself....well in my case my wife too lol.
 
#34 ·
I will say for many people the 4runner makes much more sense than the jeep. If you are going to just hit forest service roads and do light off roading then why not have one.
I would only do forest service roads and light off-roading (beach, mountains in winter) so the 4runner would work for me. But you can't take the top/doors off. And jeeps look better.
 
#35 ·
My God that Toyota is UGLY!!

I've had 3 Toyota cars and two Mazda trucks over the years. They all rusted away. The last Mazda truck had a bad engine but was out of warranty. Smoked so bad in the morning, you could hear boats blowing their fog horns.

Traded it in on a F-150. I put 300,000, kilometers on that beast and only replace the alternator and a few sets of tires. It even had the original clutch when I traded it in on our 2012 Jeep. I swore off Jap cars after that.

Think of all the cars over the years, the 510, Celica, Mazda RX's, Supra, 240-260-280 Z'ds and on and on. Do ever see any? I know I don't.

But I do see lots of American 60, 70 and 80 rigs running around.

I hope the Jeep holds up. We have 65,000 kilometers on it now and it's only been in for oil changes and the heated mirror recall.

I also have a 2003 Mustang GT Premium that I bought new. So far, one clutch, alternator, brakes and tires. Just about to hit 200,000 kilometers. No rust, still runs strong. It's been awesome.

Paid $28,000.00 for it with upgraded Cobra wheels.
 
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