2021+ Gladiator vs Tacoma - Manual Transmission

[chdigius]

Interesting video here explaining why the Pentastar V6 fails:



Quite a few comments from users stating they're well over 100kmi - and also are diligent about changing their oil every 3500 miles.

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[chr15m]

Did you get to the bottom of that power steering issue? One of the things that drives me nuts about newer vehicles are all the unnecessary electronics, but I don't think that can be avoided with anything after 2017 or so. What year were the Tacoma's that gave you problems? That sounds terrible, If I'd bought a Tacoma expecting a reliable vehicle and ran into those kinds of issues I'd scratch them off my list as well.

Thanks for the post and sharing your experience there, I'll definitely give the manual Gladiator a test drive to see how I get on with that transmission.

Well I wouldn't personally look at power steering pump issues in the modern electrical issue department. But no, I did not. At least in finding a root cause that is. Otherwise, my research led me to a grounding issue, for which I checked all points. As well as a situational issue, basically it typically is after hard acceleration usually on colder days. So, considering the JT is slow and I now have even more gear on it, I just drive like an old man.

My Tacomas were first run 2016 (lemon) and a 2018. The 2018 was much better than the 2016. I was on the fence for a JT for over a year until I rented one in Maui. In the end, I dont know why I waited. The JT so far has surprisingly (for a convertible) been much more refined than either Tacoma. Toyota seems to remain perpetually behind on times and that showed once I stepped away from them. I had some minor issues with our Tundras as well, but nothing terrible. I dont work in automotive, but I am a mechanic, reliability isnt really a solid reason to buy anything. At this point electrical systems are the worst things to troubleshoot and as you know everything has more of that now days. Buy what makes you happy, keep your head up when it gives you trouble. Some might be worse than others, but none are perfect.

 

[chr15m]

Interesting video here explaining why the Pentastar V6 fails:



Quite a few comments from users stating they're well over 100kmi - and also are diligent about changing their oil every 3500 miles.

Cant speak to it too much without hard statistics, but there are more Pentastars on the road than 2GR-FKS'. There will be more people to speak with about failures as a results. But the failure rate likely remains very low. Happy owners wont speak out either way.

My only prior experience with the Pentastar was another family member owning two Dodge Journeys, each of which he logged 500k miles on the original motor. Work driver.

I actually didn't know there were any issues with them until I joined here.

Where I am at a top end rebuild is less than sales tax on any new vehicle I'd be in the market for, knock on wood.

 

[bd100]

Our JT 6-speed's engine seemed to gain torque and become noticeably easier to drive once it hit 5,000 miles, and again once it hit 15,000 miles. Sudden improvements, like torque programming changes. When new you couldn't do a rolling right turn and move away in third gear. Now it can. So don't necessarily judge a new one based on a test drive at 15 miles on the odometer.

 

[Gvsukids]

I hear ya man, and thanks for the input, but it's gotta be a stick shift for me! I do agree that 8 speed auto is real nice, having driven one.

Tow rating and lack of remote start hurt the sale of the manual for us.

 

[Josh00333]

Hey guys new to the forum, this is my first post. I'm in the market for a light truck next year, and am trying to decide between a 2021+ slight used ( < 20kmi) Tacoma or the Gladiator. Manual transmission only for me!

I've driven my brother's 2017 V6 manual Taco and it's great. I hadn't even considered a Gladiator until I put about 1000 miles on a rented Wrangler 4xe on a trip to Utah earlier this year. I loved everything about it! The auto trans was actually very nice, but for me I gotta have the stick shift.

My only real concern here is reliability. I've read too many stories of that Pentastar V6 failing before 100kmi. Getting 200+ kmi out of a Tacoma seems like it's just a given.

I'm hoping to hear from manual transmission Gladiator owners who were also considering a Tacoma, and have put some miles on their trucks. Are you still happy you chose the Gladiator? What do you love about it? What don't you like about it?

I know there’s gonna be a lot of hate for this note but….. the jeep automatic transmission is fabulous and one of the best pieces of machinery ever. Yeah yeah sure sure one has a problem but overall they’re extraordinarily reliable. They’re putting a ton of different vehicles on great highway great city great with bigger tires.

Oh wait, you want a manual.

The Jeep manuals a pile of garbage the clutch is junk. You need to pull the transmission replace it the day you buy it overall the manual transmission gets you worse mileage, worse performance, horrible heat management problems and clutch after clutch up clutch is gonna fail as well as horrible tow rating.

but some people like model T’s, and manual window cranks too so have at it.

 

[Bbannongmu]

#savethestick

I love my 2020 Gladiator. I have an aftermarket @Centerforce Clutches in mine and it’s a game changer. I shopped Tacoma but the boringness, small backseat, c channel frame and drum brakes all turned me off. Plus I wanted open air freedom.
My Gladiator journey is on my YT channel. https://youtube.com/@jtrspartacus?si=5rMYQCQ-wKMaV8IR
Good luck!!!

 

[Sweetums]

Tacoma's prior to 2024 have a notoriously weak chassis. When they aren't rusting in half they twist and bend like wet noodles. At the launch of the Gen 2.5 Tacoma Toyota was showing off the A-Trac system and a journalist noted the nearly 6" misalignment between the bed and cab on a section of the demo. When asked about it, Toyota's marketing guys said the frame flex was there to provide more articulation.

So the fact that the chassis is fully boxed only to the back of the cab before becoming weaker c-channel is a feature, not a bug.

Incidentally, the reason for those open frame rails is because Toyota chassis were rusting in half, not boxing in the chassis was a measure to try to keep water from pooling and make it easier to apply protective coatings.

The Gladiator isn't perfect, no vehicle is (not even the Tacoma, despite what the owners of them say). If you want solid axles, dual lockers, and to drive with the top and doors off the Gladiator is the right truck. If you want to do light hauling, light towing, and drive around on pavement and mild-moderate dirt roads get the Tacoma.

 

[chdigius]

but some people like model T’s, and manual window cranks too so have at it.

My other truck has manual window cranks, manual hubs, and no factory AC so i'll take that as a complement

#savethestick

I love my 2020 Gladiator. I have an aftermarket @Centerforce Clutches in mine and it’s a game changer. I shopped Tacoma but the boringness, small backseat, c channel frame and drum brakes all turned me off. Plus I wanted open air freedom.
My Gladiator journey is on my YT channel. https://youtube.com/@jtrspartacus?si=5rMYQCQ-wKMaV8IR
Good luck!!!

Nice!! Just subbed to your channel, this is the kind of stuff I love to see and would plan on making these kind of mods to a vehicle that I planned on keeping.

 

[chdigius]

Our JT 6-speed's engine seemed to gain torque and become noticeably easier to drive once it hit 5,000 miles, and again once it hit 15,000 miles. Sudden improvements, like torque programming changes. When new you couldn't do a rolling right turn and move away in third gear. Now it can. So don't necessarily judge a new one based on a test drive at 15 miles on the odometer.

That's interesting my brother said similar about his Tacoma. Once he got past 15k miles it really opened up. Good point about not judging a new or nearly new vehicle.

 

[Bbannongmu]

My other truck has manual window cranks, manual hubs, and no factory AC so i'll take that as a complement



Nice!! Just subbed to your channel, this is the kind of stuff I love to see and would plan on making these kind of mods to a vehicle that I planned on keeping.

Thanks. Not much new on my Gladiator on the channel (working on my sons 2004 TJ Wrangker) but let me know if you have any questions.

 

[BearFootSam]

Tow rating and lack of remote start hurt the sale of the manual for us.

Likewise, this is the first automatic vehicle I've ever bought new for those reasons. The direct feel and engagement of the manual are great, but burning clutch trying to back a fully loaded truck up the hill to the barn is not good. The inherent slip and torque multiplication of the automatic are much kinder to the drivetrain as a whole under heavy load. The torque converter is made to slip and so long as temperatures stay within reason there's no worries, and the JT seems to have excellent cooling for the AT. And honestly, it I have to replace the whole AT at 150-200k miles, it's not that terrible.

 

[chdigius]

Likewise, this is the first automatic vehicle I've ever bought new for those reasons. The direct feel and engagement of the manual are great, but burning clutch trying to back a fully loaded truck up the hill to the barn is not good. The inherent slip and torque multiplication of the automatic are much kinder to the drivetrain as a whole under heavy load. The torque converter is made to slip and so long as temperatures stay within reason there's no worries, and the JT seems to have excellent cooling for the AT. And honestly, it I have to replace the whole AT at 150-200k miles, it's not that terrible.

Thanks for the reply. I have to admit, the auto trans on the 4xe I rented was *really* nice. Probably the most fun I've had driving around in an automatic. (the 375 horses and electric torque didn't hurt either!).

When I go for the Gladiator it has to be the manual though. I already have a full-size pickup if I need to haul stuff, which helps that decision.

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