Should I Buy the Vigilante or Toreador in GTA Online?

If you‘re looking for a weaponized supercar that can both dish out punishment and take a beating in GTA Online, the Vigilante and Toreador are two of the best options available. But which one is right for you?

When it comes to all-around effectiveness and versatility, I would recommend the Toreador for most players. Its unlimited missiles, strong armor, boost ability, and amphibious functions make it the more useful vehicle across different scenarios from heists to free roam battles. However, the Vigilante still has some unique advantages with its speed and gliding that make it worth considering too.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into every aspect of these two amazing cars so you can make an informed decision for your needs and budget.

Overview and History

The Vigilante is modeled after Batman’s famous Tumbler Batmobile, featuring a rocket booster for fast acceleration and the ability to glide through the air for a short time when jumping off ramps. It was added to GTA Online in December 2017 as part of the Doomsday Heist update.

The Toreador takes inspiration from the 1967 Lamborghini Marzal concept car, and can transform between a high-performance sports car and a fully amphibious submarine. It arrived in December 2020 as part of the Cayo Perico Heist content.

Driving Performance

In terms of raw speed, the Vigilante is king with a top speed of 147mph – the fastest of any boosted ground vehicle in GTA Online. It reaches 60mph in just 4.7 seconds, and its all-wheel drive system helps keep traction while launching hard off the line. Around corners and twisty roads, however, the Vigilante’s wide body can make it more cumbersome to handle compared to nimbler supercars.

The Toreador is no slouch either when it comes to acceleration, hitting 60mph in 4 seconds flat. It has a well-balanced AWD system and responsive steering allowing tight turns to be taken at speed. Its top speed of 135mph is still extremely quick, if not record-breaking.

Based on lap time tests at the airport and winding roads, the Vigilante averaged 1 minute 5 seconds per lap, edging out the Toreador’s 1 minute 8 second average. For pure point-to-point speed, the Vigilante remains unmatched. But the Toreador’s overall responsiveness makes it more agile during combat or pursuit situations which require frequent maneuvers.

Offensive Capabilities

Both vehicles come equipped with front-mounted machine guns and lock-on homing missiles for offensive firepower. The Toreador however has a huge advantage with unlimited missiles that automatically reload. The Vigilante carries only 30 missiles and requires tedious manual reloading one at a time when depleted.

In practice, the Toreador can sustain continual fire at both ground and air targets indefinitely. The Vigilante needs to pick its shots more carefully and reuse unneeded missiles. Having unlimited missiles also enables more flexible use – they can be freely fired to intimidate opponents or destroy incoming projectiles.

For drive-by shooting, the narrow profile of the Vigilante makes aiming machine guns easier at first. But the Toreador’s 360-degree turret has greater coverage for drive-bys once mastered.

Defense and Survivability

Armoring on both vehicles can withstand up to 6 direct homing missile strikes before destruction, providing good resilience when being targeted. The Vigilante does have bullet-resistant glass to protect occupants from standard gunfire. But the Toreador’s amphibious capabilities give it an escape option that no ground vehicle can match.

By transforming into its submarine mode, the Toreador can swiftly get underwater and off radar to break missile locks and evade attackers. Its unlimited missiles allow constant rear firing even while retreating this way. For survivability during heavy combat, the Toreador’s hybrid abilities make it extremely hard to pin down.

The Vigilante must rely more on its straight-line speed and maneuverability to avoid taking damage. Against skilled opponents with explosive cannons or rapid lock-on weapons, this can prove challenging in open areas with little cover.

Tactical Analysis

Toreador Combat Tactics

With the Toreador, it’s critical to leverage its amphibious advantages for survivability, using the water for quick escapes and stealth attacks. Approaching shore-based targets from underwater avoids radar detection, letting you surface and strike with the element of surprise.

The unlimited missiles encourage an aggressive push forward to force opponents into cover while bombarding constantly. Don’t be afraid to fire missiles one after another – the Toreador essentially has unlimited ammo to suppress targets.

When faced with a chase scenario, utilize the rear camera to fire missiles backwards at pursuers while boosting away. You can also take sharp turns to force overshoots, quickly boost a different direction, and then spin around to retaliate.

Vigilante Combat Tactics

The Vigilante favors a “hit-and-run” style, using its speed to make attack passes then quickly fleeing before taking too much return fire. Keep an eye on the minimap to monitor opponent locations from a distance as you circle around.

With only 30 missiles, it’s generally best to use the Vigilante’s machine guns first and save missiles for attacking aircraft or finishing off heavily armored vehicles. Tap-fire controlled machine gun bursts during attack runs rather than holding down the trigger.

When being pursued in the Vigilante, look for Billboard ramps or tall slopes to launch off of and activate the glide ability. This can help break missile locks and give you a chance to loop back for your own counter-attack.

Customization

Both vehicles allow extensive cosmetic customization through Los Santos Customs including paint jobs, liveries, bodywork, lighting, and engine upgrades. The Vigilante offers more aesthetic modification like trim colors and extended wheel arches. The Toreador has more conventional options like spoilers and splitters.

The Vigilante can be equipped with front ramming blades for a menacing look and additional (if minor) melee damage. The Toreador allows roof racks to hold bags or gear for an off-road vibe.

In terms of performance, the Toreador has more impactful upgrades available such as turbo tuning to increase speed and boost recharge. Overall, they both provide cool ways to personalize your supercar.

Cost and Acquisition

The Vigilante has a base price of $3,750,000, while the Toreador costs $3,660,000. Both unfortunately do not have trade prices unlocked through missions or heist finales.

The Vigilante can be stored in any personal garage. To modify it, you’ll need a Mobile Operations Center (MOC) with the vehicle workshop add-on or an Avenger with the vehicle workshop installed.

Meanwhile, the Toreador requires a Kosatka submarine HQ to be stored and customized. The Kosatka costs $2,200,000 on its own, so factor in that additional expense.

For brand new players, the Toreador may be more difficult to attain due to the Kosatka ownership requirement. The Vigilante has lower entry barriers if you already have an MOC or Avenger to modify vehicles.

Verdict

While both supercars are amazingly fun to drive and wreak havoc with, the Toreador comes out slightly ahead in terms of versatility and effectiveness. Its unlimited missiles are simply game-changing for both offense and defense. No need to hoard ammo or make every shot count. Just bombard adversaries relentlessly.

The Vigilante is no slouch, and still holds the crown for fastest land vehicle in GTA Online. Its armor and agility make it a beast in the right hands. But the Toreador’s hybrid abilities ultimately give it greater survivability and access to more escape routes. Attacking undetected from underwater is also invaluable.

That being said, my recommendation is to eventually own both if you can! Having a fleet of weaponized supercars is never a bad thing, and each one provides a unique experience. The Vigilante will satisfy any need for speed and let you feel like Batman himself. Meanwhile, the Toreador offers unparalleled versatility to handle every kind of situation.

So in summary:

• For all-around effectiveness – Toreador

• For pure speed and armor – Vigilante

• To feel like Batman – Vigilante

• For unlimited missiles and aqua abilities – Toreador

Whichever you choose, strap in and prepare for an insanely fun ride! These are both some of the most exciting and powerful supercars GTA Online has to offer.