Jeep Gladiator

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy6YoEjA2r0

Some nice concept details & loving that paint color...

 

Exactly my feeling. I finally saw one parked on my street that I could look over more than if I saw one driving by. Generally looks ungainly. The Jeep style works so well in the 2-door Wrangler, but the Gladiator looks cobbled together to me. The style doesn't work for me in the pickup version.

 

If Jeep/Chrysler-Fiat gets a good response to selling pickups, maybe they will return the Comanche as a not-so-extreme off-road truck, but one that is more 'normal size-wise? Mating a four-door Wrangler with a pickup bed isn't fitting well for everyone. Perhaps a 2-door version will be better received?

When Chrysler bought Jeep (1986?), they had to kill the Comanche truck so their small Dodge/Ram truck sales had less competition. Not sure if it was called the Dakota back then?

 

The one big problem with the Gladiator is that its owned/made by Fiat.

No thanks.

 

FIAT=
Fix
It
Again
Tony

 

I know this wont be the last time someone mentions the Gladiators size, but its not as big as everyone thinks. It's 218" in length whereas the DCSB Taco is 212.3 and the DCLB is 225.5, so 4.7" longer than the DCSB and 7.5" shorter than the DCLB. Its also .6" narrower than the Tacoma.

I would consider that normal size, I seen a couple now at the dealer, the Rubicon is clearly taller but the Tacoma looks much bulkier in the body, due to the fact that the Jeep body is more boxy and doesn't taper to the fenders. If it weren't for measurements I wouldn't be able to tell the Gladiator was longer, it looked to be the same length as my Tacoma.

 

Yeah I always get a chuckle because my DCLB be over half a foot longer! People just aren't used to Jeeps that length but truck owners are.

 

In stock form they look terrible, but 35's and a lift...

 

Mopar 2" lifts, white on 37s and black on 38s

 

I like. And the mopar lift is Fox. I love my moms JLU rubi.

 

I built a Rubicon for $45,385 MSRP on Jeep.com. Not bad for front/rear lockers standard, etc. Added in the tow package ($250), block heater ($95).

Manual trans, base soft top. Base Rubicon isn't too pricey.

 

True but to get a lot of what is standard features these days they nickel and dime you optioning it out. LEDs, optional package. Proximity keyless entry, option. Alpine system with sound glass, optional package. Leather, option. Cold weather package, option. Hard top, option. Price balloons to $50k plus. My moms was $56k msrp, $51k purchase price, this was back when they first came out last August.

 

Call me old fashioned but when I'm in a Jeep I couldn't care less about options. If I bought one it would be a base sport model. Its going to get built any way and I easily forgive trim options like manual windows for that nostalgic feel. Nothing really matters though once the top comes off. Nothing else on the market like it. I'd understand though if you're not a convertible person. I've owned a few over the years, so I'm likely biased. Cant not smile with the top off, nothing seems to matter then. I remember losing all my daily stress on the drive home everyday in my S2000.

 

The new Freedom Hardtop can be removed in 10 mins, super easy to get the same convertible feel as the soft top and in my opinion a must in colder climates and if you're doing any type of freeway driving. I agree with the old school no frills, the first truck I bought new was a 2003 Ranger XLT Reg Cab, had manual door locks and windows, loved that thing. I often wish I had just bought the SR and gone from there.

 

Forgot about the hard top, yeah I'd get that option for sure.

 

Sometimes no matter what you "build" online, you have a hard time actually finding/buying one.
Makers build what they want to sell, many times that means half or fully loaded up. Sometimes it's a regional problem, when, if you're not in "farm country" some urban dealers are still reluctant to stock many trucks.
In any given model year SRs are historically and notoriously few in my NJ/NYC region. A lot of times it takes perseverance and also need a dealer willing to travel and do a swap for you.

 

I was only commenting on the Rubicon base, no options except $250 tow pkg (good price), and $95 block heater (good price). $45,385 is not bad at all for standard features like front/rear lockers, front swaybar disconnect, 33's, Fox 2.5's.

Yeah, the packages are an expensive pain, for example the nice winch-capable front bumper is only $695, but adds in the LED lighting package for $1195 on top of it. F that. Same goes with the top options.

 

Oh agreed, from a bare bones off road standpoint it’s a good deal but content wise they nickel and dime you for stuff that is standard for instance on our TRDs.

 

Actually, a base Sport seems alright for simplicity if you'll build it as you please. Built a base Sport on Jeep.com for $35,385. Manual door locks, manual windows, 6spd MT, only options the $250 tow pkg and $95 block heater.

Not bad. I guess the Sport has Dana 44 axles front and rear, no lockers. So if you wanted to make it a Rubicon, add in lockers, upgrade the suspension and tires, that's maybe $5000???

Not bad . . . . . you're at maybe $41k.

 

I'm pretty confident that Toyota will be leaning that way with the 2020 model. Looking at the Tundra and 4runner progression over the last 2 years it seems like Toyota is offering more packages. Power seats for instance, will likely be part of the premium package with leather and such, but adding in the new items should increase that package cost. So you'll probably still be able to get a Tacoma 4x4 variant for the low 30s but if you want the niceties I could see those passing the low 40 mark on the 2020.

Not disagreeing with you, just my observation that Toyota is doing something similar.

I will be potentially shopping for one once the dealer mark ups come down in my region. I have confirmed with some dealers though that my affiliate discounts are usable and with that I could get a sport with the MT, bed liner, hard top and floor mats for around 34k. I've had lockers on 3 of my trucks in the past and I have actually never needed them. I cant argue that the Gladiator doesn't get expensive fast, because it does, but if you're a minimalist like I am then it might be a reasonable way to get a convertible truck that you can take out for fun.