M/T Gladiator vs M/T Tacoma

[hawk14414]

I'd say screw the manual transmission...the Max Tow package is the way to go.

Unless, of course, you want to row your own gears......not many options left in trucks as far as manual transmissions.

I went with the JT over Tacoma based primarily on seating position. I found the Tacoma to be horrible in this department. The fact that I can take the roof off the JT also weighed in....

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[jalbrecht55]

One other consideration by the time you add the auto ($2k), max tow ($1k) and 7” screen ($1k) to a sport S ($3k) you are only around $2k street price difference to a rubicon manual. I do wish you could get a max tow manual or a base (roll up windows version) rubicon. Rubicon package is not a bad deal if your already considering a sport S with options (adds $5k) but ends up about $9k more than a base sport.

Lately I’ve been thinking maybe for me the best bet is to replace my LJ with a JT and keep my daily driver also. Given that I lean towards a base sport just to keep costs in check. Just no way I could bring myself use a $45k truck like I use my LJ. Interior perma dusted from dusty trails, body and chassis scraped up, interior pelted by seagul poo from having the top off for the full summer. Get it down to mid 30’s helps, but not sure I can get my wife to agree to this plan. . And then of course I’d want to add some mods.

 

[jalbrecht55]

I went with the JT over Tacoma based primarily on seating position. I found the Tacoma to be horrible in this department.

I totally agree. The new power seat, if your short, is a game changer here but at the end of the day you have a truck that’s nearly as big as a suburban on the outside but yet has less interior space and comfort than a corolla.


I got a message someone must have deleted or I can’t find it on here anyway talking about the poor clutch feel in the Toyota. There is a thread on Tacoma world that talks about removing the accumulator (“ADM”) plumbed in with the clutch hydraulics that is supposed to help with the feel.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mt-accumulator-delete-mod-adm-and-bs-thread.568303/

 

[kostik76]

Let’s not get too political here guys. He wants to support American workers with similar ideals. Unions are far from perfect, but they certainly aren’t responsible for “everything that is wrong with US cars”. Bean counters, engineers, product planners, designers, and executives have all played a huge part in blunders that have occurred...and some of those created the conditions that necessitated Unions in the first place.

I think you are correct. Also I think a big part of this is protectionism and laws about dealership requirements and so on. in our day and age it is certainty outdated and does harm. Just wish we could have a bit more WW style capitalism affording us more freedoms to enterprise.

 

[kostik76]

I totally agree. The new power seat, if your short, is a game changer here but at the end of the day you have a truck that’s nearly as big as a suburban on the outside but yet has less interior space and comfort than a corolla.


I got a message someone must have deleted or I can’t find it on here anyway talking about the poor clutch feel in the Toyota. There is a thread on Tacoma world that talks about removing the accumulator (“ADM”) plumbed in with the clutch hydraulics that is supposed to help with the feel.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mt-accumulator-delete-mod-adm-and-bs-thread.568303/

I did not get to drive tacoma with MT but seating and view was not to my liking as well as 4x4 electronic control. I am not too crazy about shifting it on the JT but at least i know i am in or not, in taco it is press and pray...

 

[PyrPatriot]

I think this is the worst reason. I think unions is the main reason for everything that is wrong with US cars and everything else that is done under unionized banner.

If I had known Jeep was unionized (are they?) I would not have gotten one

 

[kostik76]

Man I have driven them all and I personally have never experienced a larger pile of junk than the Frontier, to the point I was shocked they could even sell any of them.

i considered Nissan for about 10 seconds

 

[hjdca]

If you want a manual, definitely get the JT. I have a manual JT Rubicon, pretty loaded, and we love it, no issues. We have done some serious off-roading with it and it is super capable. The loaded Manual Rubicon seems to be the "Unicorn" of the bunch. Basically none at dealers with a good color. With all the manual bashing on the Forum, FCA might not be offering it for long.... so, you can bet, in 5 years, the manual will be the most desirable. It seems to always work that way.

 

[jalbrecht55]

My own experience isn’t that the unicorn discontinued M/T is the most desirable, they can even be difficult to sell. But if you are looking for one to buy they are hard to find!

 

[BLK HOLE]

My own experience isn’t that the unicorn discontinued M/T is the most desirable, they can even be difficult to sell. But if you are looking for one to buy they are hard to find!

Just order it.

 

[jalbrecht55]

Absolutely! I meant in 5-10 or however many years when they are no longer available.

I had a bit of a rare option Chevy pickup that I bought new. Standard cab, short box, LS v8, manual, 4.10’s, nicely equipped for the time (power everything). Kinda hard to get back then but absolutely impossible now and for the last 12? years since they discontinued this combination. Try to buy one now? Good luck. Have one and want to sell one... limited market. It was the perfect combination until I had my second kid.

My point is I had something that’s very desirable to a small group of people, and generally speaking, not more desirable. When I was looking at new cars and not considering trade in but the dealers still ask ...then they looked at me like I had a third eyeball when I listed the configuration.

 

[hjdca]

Absolutely! I meant in 5-10 or however many years when they are no longer available.

I had a bit of a rare option Chevy pickup that I bought new. Standard cab, short box, LS v8, manual, 4.10’s, nicely equipped for the time (power everything). Kinda hard to get back then but absolutely impossible now and for the last 12? years since they discontinued this combination. Try to buy one now? Good luck. Have one and want to sell one... limited market. It was the perfect combination until I had my second kid.

My point is I had something that’s very desirable to a small group of people, and generally speaking, not more desirable. When I was looking at new cars and not considering trade in but the dealers still ask ...then they looked at me like I had a third eyeball when I listed the configuration.

yes, good point. Cannot argue that. Only get the manual for yourself, not for re-sale. However, time may start to change things... As electric 4wd vehicles and sports cars with massive power and long battery life start to invade our space, what will set us apart from the masses ? What will make our vehicles more fun to drive ? A manual, stick is the only thing that is obvious and the only thing that might be highly desirable to a small set of enthusiasts..... TBD

 

[DarkAardvark]

I test drove a MT gladiator and didn't like the clutch feel. It felt too soft without much resistance. My cars have stiffer clutches that push back. With the Jeep truck, there was no push back and I felt I really had to pull my foot back to engage the clutch. I didn't have the pedal push my foot back for me. Not sure how to explain it

 

[Empty Pockets]

Almost 5K miles on my Sport S and it gets better every day. The tranny did feel vague and imprecise at first and the transfer case took 2 men and 3 small boys to operate. But everything loosened up nicely with use. I pull down a dirt road about once a week and run the transfer case down to 4 low and back again and it is smooth and easy now. The clutch was a little weird at first (I’ve driven manuals almost exclusively since 1975. From MGBs to Peterbuilts) but I think it had more to do with the lack of vibration and noise than the operation of the clutch itself. I’m used to it now and don’t even think about it.

I looked at the Tacoma as well. I had to grin at an earlier post about the kayak seating. That describes it perfectly! It is the primary reason that I never seriously considered the Taco. And the Nissan just seemed small to me. Very, very small.

I am 100% happy with my Sport S, 6 speed. I have the hard top (added the Sunrider for Hardtop), standard tow package, 7” U Connect, Safety Pkg, added a hard tonneau and Line-X. For the most part it will remain stock. Will likely go to an AT tire when the std tires wear out, but not until then. No plans for a lift, winch, etc because I just don’t need them. It’s my daily driver, about 2K miles per month. Average about 19.5 MPG, about 25 on road trips. I’m a very happy guy!

 

[Gatorized]

I test drove a MT gladiator and didn't like the clutch feel. It felt too soft without much resistance. My cars have stiffer clutches that push back. With the Jeep truck, there was no push back and I felt I really had to pull my foot back to engage the clutch. I didn't have the pedal push my foot back for me. Not sure how to explain it

Like any new vehicle the clutch takes some getting used to. Felt the same when I did test drives but am now used to it and don’t feel it is an issue at all.

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