The Jeep Gladiator is Struggling
- Thread starter Chris
- Start date
I agree, it seems like it’s an opinion piece and not based on fact.
However, if you look around, FCA is giving some seriously deep discounts on Gladiators, which suggests they are having trouble moving them.
However, if you look around, FCA is giving some seriously deep discounts on Gladiators, which suggests they are having trouble moving them.
Apparently Ford had some great rebates towards end of year on Ranger so it had to hurt but, I’m starting to see quite a few gladiators on the roads.
This doesn't surprise me at all. Jeep came in price heavy, figuring they'd sell. $46K buys me a non-Rubicon Gladiator that can tow to a max of 7,650 Lbs. Or, I can spend the same money on a quad cab full size bed 6.2L SIlverado with a 12K+ lb towing capacity. To each his own, but they're not for me!
Anecdotally, I know that it's very rare that I see one on the roads, but this isn't exactly pickup country like many other parts of the U.S.
I can definitely see how the price would be restrictive though, compared to other options. Then again, a lot of modern cars nowadays still give me sticker shock.
I can definitely see how the price would be restrictive though, compared to other options. Then again, a lot of modern cars nowadays still give me sticker shock.
My thoughts exactly, the people buying them must be buying them for the newness/cool factor. The price on them is equivalent to the half ton pickups on the market. If I'm gonna spend that kind of money it better have a v8 with 400hp.
It's a niche vehicle, not a real truck and not a real Jeep either. It's like a Honda Ridgeline except harder to park. I'm in a rural area with 4 out of 5 vehicles around here being pickups and virtually none are Gladiators. I have an f350 XLT crew, long bed, 6.2, lots of bells and whistles. Pulls the fifth wheel, cost $42.000 new. I would never consider a Gladiator.
It’s definitely not a work truck geared towards rural areas. Where I see them is pulling out of apartment buildings and suburban housing developments.
last week I saw one on 37’s being followed by a stocker, it’s amazing seeing what a set of tires does to them.
It is a niche vehicle with nothing in common with the other pickups. It has solid axles and the roughest ride of any truck. It has a removable roof and way more wind noise than any other truck. It has great towing ratings but it is the most under powered of its towing competition. The JKU moved the Wrangler main stream. The Gladiator will always be a niche vehicle for those who love it. There is nothing else like it..... for good and bad.
Oh I didn't mean "niche vehicle" as a bad thing. Just not a truck in the "hell I don't care, it's just a truck" way. If I was a younger man, maybe living in a suburban or urban area, young family, and had the money it would make a great summer vacation beach vehicle. That's why the discussion on here a few days ago about Jeep making a two-door version was so interesting. They should, and maybe a soft top too. May as well accept it for what it is and market it as a Wrangler with a bed.
I don't think it's just the gladiator, Auto sales are slowing in general. People are buried in consumer debt. Many vehicles are marked down. Eventually a large portion of the population will be somewhere between their first and ninety sixth month of payments and new vehicle sales will tank. I would speculate that the things are going to be tough in the auto sector.
I keep wondering at what point does it collapse? I get inflation, regulation, new features, etc., which drive up the prices. However, I've watched new vehicle prices go from $2K to $50K. And payments go from 24 - 36 months to 60 - 72 months (or more). As you've said, sooner or later cars, along with homes, will become increasingly unaffordable.
I think the Gladiator will go the way of the Jeep Scrambler did back in the 80s. Not very popular and not many sold. Now that the Jeep Scrambler is rare, they want a lot of money for them.
I've seen quite a few on the roads here in Houston. I'm actually having to drive a lot further to work and back everyday on 2 major highways but i'll see one or two different ones daily in my commute.
I live in the south so you know it’s pick up country here. I see Gladiators driving everyday. I see Wranglers twice as much. What I rarely see are Ford Rangers and Chevy Colorado’s, even more rare here are ZR2s and TRD Pros. However Full size over populate the roads, see many new AT4s. I’d say Gladiator and Jeep brand are selling quite well.
A slowdown of the auto industry could be pretty scary, particularly since there's already a glut of steel that's been produced, which has already hit prices in that sector hard. Some in that industry have been calling this the "steelmageddon".
Hopefully it's just a bump in the road to normalizing everything after the trade war, but the Coronavirus on top of this is going to make 2020 a potentially very rough year.
https://agmetalminer.com/2019/11/11/amid-plunging-u-s-steel-prices-has-steelmageddon-arrived/
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