So I drove a Gladiator

Interbeing · Aug 9, 2020

xxtavixx[OP] initial post: ↑

So i drove a Gladiator Rubicon. It was a really laid back salesman, so I got to really feel it. Perhaps this will help someone who is considering.

Why? Because I had an hour to kill and I was curious, if only 5% serious and it was the first no-frills manual rubicon ive seen in our area. It had a hard top and that was basically it.

Lets get the obvious out of the way, its got a front locker. A solid front axle. It drives and rides like the trucks I grew up on and I enjoy that. Its typical jeep loud. The skid plates were better than i expected.

the drivetrain was surprisingly nice. The shifter was superb. Better than my core shifter.

Power was blah. It was better down low than the factory taco 6mt, but ovtune is better overall - with the jeep slightly better down low still due to better ratios. The jeep had zero pizzaz above 3k rpm despite better spaced gearing. For reference, i have st maxx 255/85. The jeep had falken wildpeak at. In a race, my tacoma would need to stall off the line to lose. the driving experience was pleasant enough. You can feel the weight of the vehicle, lending a solid feeling. It felt smoother on the fox suspension than my 6112/5100 and st maxx.

The rear seat, the big draw for me...advertised with almost 5” more leg room! but when i sat in the jeep with the driver seat in my driver position i measured a scant 1/2” difference due to the seat design. the rear seat is in your face upright, i would not like it. The jeep felt more crammed in every way except the driver kick panel under the steering wheel, my leg hairs dont touch on the jeep. I am 6’2” with a 33” inseam, 180lb and moderately thin/athletic build. my left foot likes to glide the plastic to the left of the jeep’s clutch pedal, in boots i would wonder if I could drive it well. ergonomics were awkward, in my opinion. Shifter was all it had going for it. The seat would be more comfortable if i didnt have seat jackers, to be fair.

Quality. I will be honest, the jeep welds, trim fitment and overall feel are far below the tacoma. I noticed several items that made me question how well built they were.

Side by side, i found my tacoma to be more attractive. Despite bothing having 33’s the Jeep needs 35’s to fill out.

brass tacks. They looked at my tacoma and without getting within ten feet of it said theyd do 35k trade in, for a 42k gladiator rubicon. By the time destination charges, tax, dealer fees and what not came around the difference was 12k. No way.

Based off my quality aspect, i checked the forums. They seem...plagued with issues already.
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I also looked at the Gladiator, I love the look, and the coolness factor, but couldn’t justify the additional cost, and the reliability issues were a real concern.

artieTwelve · Aug 9, 2020

Grossomotto said: ↑

They look like the land cruiser truck and I'd take the truck in the pics over a jeep any day, except perhaps hardcore crawling because of the long bed.

.
Click to expand...

I would crawl across broken glass to own that

Harmon · Aug 9, 2020

The 79 Series Land Cruisers are simply bad ass. These are extremely popular with the hardcore off roaders in Australia, which is the only place you can readly get your hands on one.

There bomb proof and I would give my first born to own one lol.

rpowell25 · Aug 9, 2020

Harmon said: ↑

The 79 Series Land Cruisers are simply bad ass. These are extremely popular with the hardcore off roaders in Australia, which is the only place you can readly get your hands on one.

There bomb proof and I would give my first born to own one lol.

Click to expand...

Pure sex right there.

If you're not already, subscribe to 4WD 24-7 on Youtube and check out Shauno's Beast 79. All of those Aussies are a riot.

knayrb · Aug 9, 2020

Everyone’s entitled to my opinion. Here’s a company that has had bad quality for decades and then was bought by one of the worst quality companies on the planet - Fiat. I think that is the box it came ugly. Maybe if I absolutely wanted one I’d least it because with good care it might hold together until the least is done. I would never buy one because the value drops faster than a fat kid on a seesaw.

mikednw · Aug 9, 2020

knayrb said: ↑

Everyone’s entitled to my opinion. Here’s a company that has had bad quality for decades and then was bought by one of the worst quality companies on the planet - Fiat. I think that is the box it came ugly. Maybe if I absolutely wanted one I’d least it because with good care it might hold together until the least is done. I would never buy one because the value drops faster than a fat kid on a seesaw.
Click to expand...

Chrysler reliability was nothing to crow about before the creation of FCA. GM used to be garbage quality but they’ve finally been improving a bit. Still a gen+ behind Korean and Japanese marks.

Harmon · Aug 9, 2020

rpowell25 said: ↑

Pure sex right there.

If you're not already, subscribe to 4WD 24-7 on Youtube and check out Shauno's Beast 79. All of those Aussies are a riot.
Click to expand...

I will thanks.

The guys at All4Adventure https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChgwjJa5ul8UX8OK8ajnnfA
use a decked out 79 and haul some serious stuff into the bush. I watch these Aussies out in Cape York or the Simpson Desert in the middle of absolutely nowhere it's just amazing.

A 4 Wheeling adventure in the Aussie Bush is at the top of my bucket list.

doublethebass · Aug 9, 2020

Harmon said: ↑

The 79 Series Land Cruisers are simply bad ass. These are extremely popular with the hardcore off roaders in Australia, which is the only place you can readly get your hands on one.

There bomb proof and I would give my first born to own one lol.

Click to expand...

Ronny Dahl is the man

SouthernFried · Aug 9, 2020

Not a fan at all. If it isn’t a traditional 2-door Jeep, I don’t even look twice at it. I’d buy that new 2-door Bronco over the Gladiator in a heartbeat. It’s not like Chrysler is known to make a quality product anyways. You can flip a coin on the reliability of Ford and Chrysler. At least the Bronco has the looks.

xxtavixx · Aug 9, 2020

knayrb said: ↑

Everyone’s entitled to my opinion. Here’s a company that has had bad quality for decades and then was bought by one of the worst quality companies on the planet - Fiat. I think that is the box it came ugly. Maybe if I absolutely wanted one I’d least it because with good care it might hold together until the least is done. I would never buy one because the value drops faster than a fat kid on a seesaw.
Click to expand...

you realize Jeep wrangler/gladiator resale is about as high as the tacoma? Maybe higher than the third gen tacoma. Depending on where you live, its a toss up.

knayrb · Aug 9, 2020

xxtavixx[OP] said: ↑

you realize Jeep wrangler/gladiator resale is about as high as the tacoma? Maybe higher than the third gen tacoma. Depending on where you live, its a toss up.
Click to expand...

Not where I live and don’t understand why it would be. Maybe because the parts fall off on their own so your mods are easier.

SouthernFried · Aug 9, 2020

knayrb said: ↑

Everyone’s entitled to my opinion. Here’s a company that has had bad quality for decades and then was bought by one of the worst quality companies on the planet - Fiat. I think that is the box it came ugly. Maybe if I absolutely wanted one I’d least it because with good care it might hold together until the least is done. I would never buy one because the value drops faster than a fat kid on a seesaw.
Click to expand...

Gotta disagree with that last sentence. Wrangler resale is pretty phenomenal. I’m not sure if it’s as high as the Tacoma is, but it’s up there. Top 3 almost have to be 4Runner, Tacoma, and Wrangler.

TheCochese · Aug 9, 2020

knayrb said: ↑

Not where I live and don’t understand why it would be. Maybe because the parts fall off on their own so your mods are easier.
Click to expand...

Where you live is absolutely not normal. Easily on par with the Tacoma.

DAS Taco · Aug 9, 2020

xxtavixx[OP] initial post: ↑

So i drove a Gladiator Rubicon. It was a really laid back salesman, so I got to really feel it. Perhaps this will help someone who is considering.

Why? Because I had an hour to kill and I was curious, if only 5% serious and it was the first no-frills manual rubicon ive seen in our area. It had a hard top and that was basically it.

Lets get the obvious out of the way, its got a front locker. A solid front axle. It drives and rides like the trucks I grew up on and I enjoy that. Its typical jeep loud. The skid plates were better than i expected.

the drivetrain was surprisingly nice. The shifter was superb. Better than my core shifter.

Power was blah. It was better down low than the factory taco 6mt, but ovtune is better overall - with the jeep slightly better down low still due to better ratios. The jeep had zero pizzaz above 3k rpm despite better spaced gearing. For reference, i have st maxx 255/85. The jeep had falken wildpeak at. In a race, my tacoma would need to stall off the line to lose. the driving experience was pleasant enough. You can feel the weight of the vehicle, lending a solid feeling. It felt smoother on the fox suspension than my 6112/5100 and st maxx.

The rear seat, the big draw for me...advertised with almost 5” more leg room! but when i sat in the jeep with the driver seat in my driver position i measured a scant 1/2” difference due to the seat design. the rear seat is in your face upright, i would not like it. The jeep felt more crammed in every way except the driver kick panel under the steering wheel, my leg hairs dont touch on the jeep. I am 6’2” with a 33” inseam, 180lb and moderately thin/athletic build. my left foot likes to glide the plastic to the left of the jeep’s clutch pedal, in boots i would wonder if I could drive it well. ergonomics were awkward, in my opinion. Shifter was all it had going for it. The seat would be more comfortable if i didnt have seat jackers, to be fair.

Quality. I will be honest, the jeep welds, trim fitment and overall feel are far below the tacoma. I noticed several items that made me question how well built they were.

Side by side, i found my tacoma to be more attractive. Despite bothing having 33’s the Jeep needs 35’s to fill out.

brass tacks. They looked at my tacoma and without getting within ten feet of it said theyd do 35k trade in, for a 42k gladiator rubicon. By the time destination charges, tax, dealer fees and what not came around the difference was 12k. No way.

Based off my quality aspect, i checked the forums. They seem...plagued with issues already.
Click to expand...

Jeep is a FIAT owned company...FIAT never made good vehicles, they put profits ahead of quality...always

DiscoYaker · Aug 9, 2020

KentuckyDoug said: ↑

I saw a diesel powered Hilux in Charlotte NC about a year ago. It had dealer tags on it. I suppose the dealer tags were there because there’s no way to register it legally....
Click to expand...

North Carolina is pretty lenient apparently.. my buddy has registered a couple Toyota Town Aces in the state, just have to present them in the right way. They are much smaller and right hand drive vehicles (steering wheel). Pretty badass little things

sabasarge · Aug 9, 2020

Grossomotto said: ↑

Those are sweet

Click to expand...

Indeed they are. This is almost 30 years ago, and this baby was a beast. In Africa, it’s these, Land Rovers, and HiLuxes that rule.

P-Dawg · Aug 9, 2020

Mt 15 and 16 Wranglers were problem free, but those solid front suspensions gave me a headache when I drove them for more than an hour. I felt safer in the rain on a Motorcycle than a Jeep, and they were just horrible on the highway. If they were cheap it might be a different story but my 15 Willy's 2 door stickered at 32K with an Auto, hardtop, AC, and hand crank windows. Yes, 32k for a 2 door with no power anything. And the price went up.

SouthernFried · Aug 9, 2020

P-Dawg said: ↑

Mt 15 and 16 Wranglers were problem free, but those solid front suspensions gave me a headache when I drove them for more than an hour. I felt safer in the rain on a Motorcycle than a Jeep, and they were just horrible on the highway. If they were cheap it might be a different story but my 15 Willy's 2 door stickered at 32K with an Auto, hardtop, AC, and hand crank windows. Yes, 32k for a 2 door with no power anything. And the price went up.
Click to expand...

Get a taste for the good ole death wobble? My ‘13 JK was reliable outside of that issue. Kept coming back. Finally I had enough and let it go.

OZ TRD · Aug 9, 2020

Harmon said: ↑

I will thanks.

The guys at All4Adventure https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChgwjJa5ul8UX8OK8ajnnfA
use a decked out 79 and haul some serious stuff into the bush. I watch these Aussies out in Cape York or the Simpson Desert in the middle of absolutely nowhere it's just amazing.

A 4 Wheeling adventure in the Aussie Bush is at the top of my bucket list.
Click to expand...

I was fortunate to do Sydney to the tip of Cape York and across to Darwin a while back - all off road... We had Series 80 and 100 Landcruisers. We lost the 80 -the owner (fortunately he did it!) rolled it close to Cape York in the process...

- Definitely bucket-list worthy. I'd like to complete the look one of these days...

DiscoYaker · Aug 9, 2020

Talk about a death trap.. heavily modified but fun in certain cases. Its my girlfriend's. mustang engine and such... last time we took it out the transfer case jumped into neutral on a steep downhill.. scared the crap out of both of us. Thank goodness brakes were good

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