2019 Jeep Gladiator

NickD said:

I wonder if/when a company will come out with a kit to put a retro original Gladiator styled front end on one

Extended cab like the original concept. Id sell a kidney. 

They could even go with a J20 front end.

Also read that a completely optioned-up Rubicon will touch 60k. Not that I care. 33k seems like a pretty good starting point for a modern pickup of any kind that isn't a fleet special.

If I was a buyer I think the 10k price spread between base and rubicon would be to high to justify. Does it really add that much more utility?

So I checked, My truck stickered for $26,500 in 2007. Crew cab Silverado with a few options, but it's a double bench truck, so not many, and it's 2wd. Throwing that into an inflation converter says that's $32k in todays money. Would I rather have a manual/manual 4wd Gladiator than my truck? Yes, yes I would. 

Doug's claiming pricing similar to similarly equipped Tacomas.  Rubicon starting around $45K, similar to a 4 door TRD Pro Taco.  Hard top diesel Sport, would be right up my alley, though I doubt FCA is going to allow the Eco Diesel to be available in the plebeian Sport trim.

A writing buddy of mine was in attendance at the big testing session for these last week. This guy daily drives a 70's K5 Blazer and usually doesn't do modern stuff for his personal fleet. That said, he is absolutely enamored with these things and might buy one. He said the hot ticket is getting the Sport "S" package which will give you a few options you would want, but will keep the cost down in the mid-30's. All of them have Dana 44's at both ends, which is what you get on the more expensive Rubicons on the Wranglers, and he says they drive great both on and off road. I'm seriously considering one for my next daily driver myself.

Do we think they will offer a 2WD version? Possibly short cab, long bed? I just wanna tow with the top down...

mazdeuce - Seth said:

So I checked, My truck stickered for $26,500 in 2007. Crew cab Silverado with a few options, but it's a double bench truck, so not many, and it's 2wd. Throwing that into an inflation converter says that's $32k in todays money. Would I rather have a manual/manual 4wd Gladiator than my truck? Yes, yes I would. 

And, I bet that this will have near-Defender level depreciation. 

In reply to mtn :

I don't know about that. I bet the depreciation rate is somewhere between Wrangler and 1500 crew cab. Which is so slow you might as well buy new.

maschinenbau said:

In reply to mtn :

I don't know about that. I bet the depreciation rate is somewhere between Wrangler and 1500 crew cab. Which is so slow you might as well buy new.

You may be agreeing, but that was kind of his point. Operational Defenders are going up in value in the US. Though, as more of them become eligible for import, I suspect it may slow down a bit.

maschinenbau said:

Do we think they will offer a 2WD version? Possibly short cab, long bed? I just wanna tow with the top down...

Very unlikely on both fronts, at least for now. Doug DeMuro did a video recently and he mentioned how Jeep purposely went with crew cab short bed because of segment sales statistics. Outside of fleet sales, single cab long beds just don't sell well. 2WD version? Maybe, but it is essentially a Wrangler with some Ram parts. I don't see them going for such a small niche market.

I just wonder how well these will hold their value compared to all the other wrangler based jeeps... I'm always shocked at how well they hold value when I'm looking at them... even the cheapest ones are a lot compared to anything else in that age range... trucks around here (houston) really drop in value quickly... the SUV variants even moreso... 

that being said... I'd be perfectly happy with a clean jeep comanche... I'm loving my 2wd cherokee xj... but in reality if I NEEDED a truck... i'd prob snag one of the many many fords or chebbys that are local

The online build and price tool is live:

2020 Gladiator Build and Price

I really like the Gator color.

My 5 year old daughter chastises me often for selling my JK 4 door....  she knows I want a new truck with 4 doors too (bought a 2 door RAM fast....  but space and adventures).  She knows I want a truck we can take on adventures too.  If I buy a blue gladiator I will be a super hero dad in her eyes.

stanger_missle said:

The online build and price tool is live:

2020 Gladiator Build and Price

I really like the Gator color.

I like the Gator too. 

I don’t like the $44k price on the Sport S I built. Yeah I threw most of the options at it, but hopefully they’ll be available with good discounts at Dave Smith in Idaho eventually.

I like this size of truck, and while 6” more rear legroom is nice, I don’t know if I can convince myself it’s “$12k better than my Tacoma cost new” nicer. Or if I like it more than a 1/2 ton that costs nearly the same. 

In reply to skierd :

Yeah, the base Sport starts at $33k (plus destination) but start adding options and the price skyrockets.

One other thing; to get the best towing capacity, you must get the 8 speed auto. This is the only way to get the Max Tow package.

So that's another $2000 if you want to actually tow. I'd also want the LSD which comes with the better tires for $595.

The options I added were the 8 speed auto, Max Tow package, LSD and the aux switches. The total came to $38,925.

Just watched the whole Doug video and I must say I'm impressed. I've been a Toyota guy for a long time but could see myself selling the GX 460 for a Sport version of this. Wonder how long these will be flying off lots for over MSRP.

In reply to stanger_missle :

I spec’d one out yesterday and busted 40k so fast it made my head spin.  It looks like I will wait until Dec 2020 and see if prices soften by then.  

By the time I was done specin', my Punk'n Metallic Rubicon was way over $56K.    But man, I really want it.

I saw one "in the wild" a couple of weeks ago.  I think it was before they were officially available so it may have been a manufacturer "mule".  The best I can give it is a solid "meh" as far as the looks go.  It just looked bland and sort of cobbled together.  If you had no idea Jeep was working on this, you might believe some hobbyist cut up his 4 door Jeep and welded a VW Rabbit pickup bed on it.  It's not horrible, just uninspiring. 

Disclaimer: It was black, and only Mercedes G Wagons can pull off that many straight lines in black and still look decent. 

Wait wait what now? The manual can only tow 4500lbs max? That can't be right, can it? 

Well the market is about to be flooded with lightly used Wrangler Unlimiteds lol, wonder if it will actually dent the insane used prices those go for.

Played with the configurator a bit. A modestly optioned Sport S Automatic with the Max Tow package (and not much else) topped out at $42k. Ouch. And that's with a cloth roof!