2024 Gladiator Mojave X Models Now Arriving at Dealers

[ChrisNLA]

Those other trucks may have more stuff at a cheaper price....they are also invisible, when do really ever notice them on the road? Love it or hate it, the gladiator will not be ignored.

Just my take on this - I don't particularly see value in paying several thousand dollars more 'to be noticed' by other people (and to get the same features). There is a lot of great arguments for the Gladiator - this isn't one of them for me. In this area, A Gladiator gets more criticism than anything (its not a real truck, why does that Jeep have a 'bed', aw that's cute!, etc).

For a die hard offroad enthusiast, the Gladiator is super capable. I've wheeled all over the country and have seen them do wild things. For Joe Average driving to work and hitting the trail twice a year - it's not as great anymore. I'd take heated / vented / power / memory / leather seats, a bigger screen, a sun roof, factory LED front and rear lighting, integrated trailer brake controller, a ton more power (Colorado Z71) over a Sport with a plastic roof and a manual transmission, and literally nothing else (for the same cost).

Also, to be totally fair - I am probably an outlier on the Jeep - I don't care if the roof or doors come off a Gladiator. It wasn't even on the list of stuff I was worried about. I personally love that in my '15 Camaro SS I just touch a button and the sunroof is open, or its not.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Gladiator. It's my second Jeep. When I ordered it Rangers couldn't be gotten, and the updates to the GM twins and the Taco had only just been announced. I needed a truck right then and ordered what I could afford. I'm probably going to keep it a while.

But if it comes time to replace it? I'm not married to it.

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[Mx113]

Everyone keeps talking about these Gladiators MSRP like that’s what they are going to cost. I guess if you’re a sucker and have to have one right now, then so be it. I just bought a 23 that stickered for just under 60k for just over 40k. I feel like I got a lot of truck with the Rubicon for 40k. I don’t think you can buy a competing truck for that kind of money anywhere else. The days of paying MSRP for a Gladiator are long gone. They will be fire selling these 24s the same way come December and January of next year. Be patient and buy when the time is right. Everyone keeps throwing around that 70k like that’s what it will cost you if you want one. Don’t be that guy and pay that ridiculous price

 

[Saltymedic]

If it had a much more powerful engine, this may be a consideration. But for that money I can find a decent Cummins 2500.

 

[MPMB]

Power seats, a bigger screen, and a steel bumper for $8500?!

two things:
1) he didn't even hit it
2) that wasn't what I thought it was at first

 

[Phishs]

There's a market for everyone. I personally have no desire to own a full size truck so its only midsize for me and the Gladiator gas powertrain is competitive with everything else in the market. The one I own now has more power than the Tacoma that I traded in for it and I am happy with it. I dont need a V8 or to tow a house sized camper and definitely not interested in a hybrid.

 

[Phishs]

Power seats, a bigger screen, and a steel bumper for $8500?!

I am assuming that you know that there's a lot more to the package than that. It takes up a little more than an entire page on the order guide.

 

[DEEZEL805]

Was hoping for 2" mopar lift, 37s and ecodiesel. (Need to keep pace with competition, i.e. Bronco Raptor) I can dream right?

 

[Lunentucker]

I am assuming that you know that there's a lot more to the package than that. It takes up a little more than an entire page on the order guide.

I compared it my own build sheet and those are the major differences. Mine is a '21, so there's the inflation factor.

 

[MPMB]

Everyone keeps talking about these Gladiators MSRP like that’s what they are going to cost. I guess if you’re a sucker and have to have one right now, then so be it. I just bought a 23 that stickered for just under 60k for just over 40k. I feel like I got a lot of truck with the Rubicon for 40k.

You fell into their trap. It's the Kohl's pricing model. The MSRP is artificially high so consumers will feel good - that they got a deal - when they buy below MSRP.

The JT probably cost half that to build.

A MFG will put the MSRP at a certain level. They know in the auto world people will negotiate. They have built that negotiation into the MSRP. When they list the MSRP at $64k and you walk out of the dealer at $49k, you feel good because you got a "deal." Jeep still made money, they just didn't maximize their profit.

Jeep running the 15% off special is an enticing offer, but make no mistake, Jeep is still making a profit on it. At this price point, Jeep has dropped the price closer to their "break even" price - the profit needed to cover the cost of building the JT, administrative costs, dealer kick-backs, funding the pension, and 5% profit (or whatever Jeep's financial growth goals are). And because Jeep doesn't have successful products across the board, Wrangler, Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, and Wagoneer buyers are subsidizing the other products.

People would be amazed at the profit margins for things they buy. It's not even funny how little people think about it. I know something costs $2 to make and package is sold for $13. I know the company I work for has a profit margin on average of 60%.

And here's something else. When M-B bought Chrysler, the reason they bought it was Chrysler had inexpensive cars, and M-B wanted the technology and processes that enabled that low-cost production. They found out that it's marginally more to produce an M-B than Chrysler. Now, there's some fuzzy knowledge comparing American workforce to German workforce and the laws governing, but the point is the cost to build a Chrysler 200 is not far off from a M-B C class.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Everyone keeps talking about these Gladiators MSRP like that’s what they are going to cost. I guess if you’re a sucker and have to have one right now, then so be it. I just bought a 23 that stickered for just under 60k for just over 40k. I feel like I got a lot of truck with the Rubicon for 40k. I don’t think you can buy a competing truck for that kind of money anywhere else. The days of paying MSRP for a Gladiator are long gone. They will be fire selling these 24s the same way come December and January of next year. Be patient and buy when the time is right. Everyone keeps throwing around that 70k like that’s what it will cost you if you want one. Don’t be that guy and pay that ridiculous price

To your point - they aren't going to cost $70K - because they ain't worth $70K

The market will right itself. Once the other new midsize trucks settle down and loiter on the lot like a Gladiator does now - you'll probably see discounts on them too. We'll start to slide off this mountain we have been on.

Heck, The new C8 Corvette used to be impossible to get ahold of. The dealer down the road from me has around seven of them sitting around now, each marked down below MSRP.

 

[BourbonRunner]

You fell into their trap. It's the Kohl's pricing model. The MSRP is artificially high so consumers will feel good - that they got a deal - when they buy below MSRP.

The JT probably cost half that to build.

A MFG will put the MSRP at a certain level. They know in the auto world people will negotiate. They have built that negotiation into the MSRP. When they list the MSRP at $64k and you walk out of the dealer at $49k, you feel good because you got a "deal." Jeep still made money, they just didn't maximize their profit.

Jeep running the 15% off special is an enticing offer, but make no mistake, Jeep is still making a profit on it. At this price point, Jeep has dropped the price closer to their "break even" price - the profit needed to cover the cost of building the JT, administrative costs, dealer kick-backs, funding the pension, and 5% profit (or whatever Jeep's financial growth goals are). And because Jeep doesn't have successful products across the board, Wrangler, Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, and Wagoneer buyers are subsidizing the other products.

You're spot on. The production cost between a poverty spec Sport and a fully kitted out Mojave X is minimal compared to the delta between the sale price and the build price.

There is one cash cow and maybe a cash calf that isn't calculated into that:

The dealers take out a line of credit to obtain stock for the lots with terms that always favor the manufacturer. The dealer then has a specific term from delivery where no interest or payments are made for the vehicle that maximizes THEIR profits, which is why Gupton, Koons, and others do such aggressive order-only pricing. Ever look at Gupton's terms? You have a narrow window in which to pick it up once it comes in for a reason. Not throwing shade at Gupton BTW. It is a smart practice for a small dealer to get to high volume status and the other perks that come with it. (Halo cars, favorable inventory/lot/stock orders, etc)

The cash calf is the financing side. Dealers get paid for you using their "preferred" lender. IF you use Chrysler Financial, both Jeep and the Dealer are making even more money to offset the "loss."

And here's something else. When M-B bought Chrysler, the reason they bought it was Chrysler had inexpensive cars, and M-B wanted the technology and processes that enabled that low-cost production. They found out that it's marginally more to produce an M-B than Chrysler. Now, there's some fuzzy knowledge comparing American workforce to German workforce and the laws governing, but the point is the cost to build a Chrysler 200 is not far off from a M-B C class.

One of many reasons but a crucial one. Funny how the Germans didn't realize before that it wasn't any secret sauce- it was just cheaper components.

I mentioned it above earlier but MB really wanted Chrysler for the value (and customer loyalty to) of the Jeep brand. They also wanted access to Dodge's dealer network to sell the Sprinter van to consumers in addition to its commercial Freightliner network. Have to keep in mind that in the US MB is a luxury brand first where in the ROW it is far more. MB didn't expect its US Sprinter customers in the trades to feel comfortable in a showroom with $100K+ AMG rocket sleds. But once the Sprinter got its foothold that wouldn't be an issue.

I still think Chrysler made out over MB to a certain extent- the 300/Charger/Challenger is based on a tried and true MB E-class drivetrain and FCA finally got away from their glass transmissions and into ZF's.

 

[ChrisNLA]

There's a market for everyone. I personally have no desire to own a full size truck so its only midsize for me and the Gladiator gas powertrain is competitive with everything else in the market. The one I own now has more power than the Tacoma that I traded in for it and I am happy with it. I dont need a V8 or to tow a house sized camper and definitely not interested in a hybrid.

I feel this on the size of the truck. New full size trucks are HUGE. I'd prefer to stay in midsize territory going forward. However, I don't believe the 3.6L Pentastar is competitive. A few years ago it was 'on par'. Now, its simply behind. The lowest powered new generation midsize truck is the new body Tacoma with its base 2.4L I-Force (278HP, 317TQ). It's slightly lower on HP but considerably higher on torque. The Ranger and the GM Twins are significantly higher on both. That's non-hybrid offerings.

I'm not saying midsize trucks NEED that much power (its more than fullsizes had in the late 90s), but the other truck are pulling away (no pun intended).

I find my Gladiator performance to be 'adequate' on its own, but when they cost what they do, why not have more...

 

[Mx113]

You fell into their trap. It's the Kohl's pricing model. The MSRP is artificially high so consumers will feel good - that they got a deal - when they buy below MSRP.

The JT probably cost half that to build.

A MFG will put the MSRP at a certain level. They know in the auto world people will negotiate. They have built that negotiation into the MSRP. When they list the MSRP at $64k and you walk out of the dealer at $49k, you feel good because you got a "deal." Jeep still made money, they just didn't maximize their profit.

Jeep running the 15% off special is an enticing offer, but make no mistake, Jeep is still making a profit on it. At this price point, Jeep has dropped the price closer to their "break even" price - the profit needed to cover the cost of building the JT, administrative costs, dealer kick-backs, funding the pension, and 5% profit (or whatever Jeep's financial growth goals are). And because Jeep doesn't have successful products across the board, Wrangler, Gladiator, Grand Cherokee, and Wagoneer buyers are subsidizing the other products.

People would be amazed at the profit margins for things they buy. It's not even funny how little people think about it. I know something costs $2 to make and package is sold for $13. I know the company I work for has a profit margin on average of 60%.

And here's something else. When M-B bought Chrysler, the reason they bought it was Chrysler had inexpensive cars, and M-B wanted the technology and processes that enabled that low-cost production. They found out that it's marginally more to produce an M-B than Chrysler. Now, there's some fuzzy knowledge comparing American workforce to German workforce and the laws governing, but the point is the cost to build a Chrysler 200 is not far off from a M-B C class.

you say I fell into a trap. I’m just curious when in the life cycle of the Gladiator has there been a better deal? Would it have been smarter to by earlier in the cycle “1st year or 2” when msrps were lower, but discounts weren’t out there? I’m just curious on when was the best time to by a Gladiator. I say right now. 15% is not enough to make that pencil out, but 30% sure is imho. In my opinion, you get more truck per dollar right now on 23 Gladiators than ever before.

 

[Billkowski]

Just my take on this - I don't particularly see value in paying several thousand dollars more 'to be noticed' by other people (and to get the same features). There is a lot of great arguments for the Gladiator - this isn't one of them for me. In this area, A Gladiator gets more criticism than anything (its not a real truck, why does that Jeep have a 'bed', aw that's cute!, etc).

For a die hard offroad enthusiast, the Gladiator is super capable. I've wheeled all over the country and have seen them do wild things. For Joe Average driving to work and hitting the trail twice a year - it's not as great anymore. I'd take heated / vented / power / memory / leather seats, a bigger screen, a sun roof, factory LED front and rear lighting, integrated trailer brake controller, a ton more power (Colorado Z71) over a Sport with a plastic roof and a manual transmission, and literally nothing else (for the same cost).

Also, to be totally fair - I am probably an outlier on the Jeep - I don't care if the roof or doors come off a Gladiator. It wasn't even on the list of stuff I was worried about. I personally love that in my '15 Camaro SS I just touch a button and the sunroof is open, or its not.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Gladiator. It's my second Jeep. When I ordered it Rangers couldn't be gotten, and the updates to the GM twins and the Taco had only just been announced. I needed a truck right then and ordered what I could afford. I'm probably going to keep it a while.

But if it comes time to replace it? I'm not married to it.

Not so much about being noticed by others, but as a car enthusiast, actually finding a vehicle interesting months or years after purchase. Never had that with anything else, it just became another appliance within a few months. I was never on a forum discussing my GMC Canyon.

 

[MPMB]

Not so much about being noticed by others, but as a car enthusiast, actually finding a vehicle interesting months or years after purchase. Never had that with anything else, it just became another appliance within a few months. I was never on a forum discussing my GMC Canyon.

I'm a member of forums for VWs, Mazdas, Explorers, Expeditions, Bimmers, and Jeeps. I'm only active on this and VWVortex. My Vortex account is 22 years old.

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