Bought my diesel Rubicon last night and sales rep confided that morale is shyte..lol.

[KevinC]

No offense to the OP, saying this in general, but getting really tired of reading the threads of "I just bought a jeep and then a multiple paragraph rant about how they hate it"

Sometimes I think people come on here and post just to get everyone riled up.
It's not like they did something all of us have or haven't already done, some more than once.

I usually read the first couple sentences and can see where it's going and stop and hit the back button. But...here I am.

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[SargeDiesel]

Sometimes I think people come on here and post just to get everyone riled up.
It's not like they did something all of us have or haven't already done, some more than once.

I usually read the first couple sentences and can see where it's going and stop and hit the back button. But...here I am.

??? yeah I get it. I'm here to. Sometimes I just need some humor and to validate just how much I love my Jeep. Basically, it's just a sanity check ?

 

[Sweetums]

People forget that Stellantis is also Chrysler - when you see a Chrysler 200 or 300 on the road, that number is the credit score of the owner. Stellantis is aimed down-market across most their brands, resulting in deals with banks that don't favor the up-market offerings.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

It's still a mid size truck and there are tons of better offerings out there with better reliability/resale value.

So you even looked at something you say has poor reliability?
On the other hand, a lot of people would argue about the reliability, including some companies that track such things. It's been high on reliability and initial quality - at least good for an off-road, Lego build it as you want type vehicle.

It's not really sold to compete against mid-size trucks in general.
And then you have the - can you find me a T-top truck, or a truck where the roof and doors all come off in a matter of minutes, or that you can take through and over sand dunes and beaches, or through some of the toughest rock trails that exist?

On my second Gladiator Overland and I'd do it again in a heart beat, no regrets, none at all.
Reliable, comfortable (ok, it's got wind noise problems but gee, it's a Jeep, not a Mercedes or BMW, and the ride is harsher now because I put on Eibach shocks - mistake of mine, not Jeep's)
We've taken our Jeeps all over the place - here to FL and back, twice so far, CO and back, IN and back and have a lot more planned - in a JEEP.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Stellantis is aimed down-market across most their brands, resulting in deals with banks that don't favor the up-market offerings.

Not sure how that connects to anything because Jeep doesn't own the banks or control interest rates. Around here - they don't ask "is it a BMW or a Ford or, gasp, a Jeep?"
They ask if it's new, then the model year and say ok, here's the rate. Could be a Jeep, could be a Kia Soul.
So I wonder - where does the thing where Jeep is associated with banks or rates come from? They are totally disconnected - unless you lease. New car loans have nothing to do with Jeep - Jeep doesn't determine your loan rate. You choosing the bank determines that.

 

[Scott L]

Chrysler ( Stelantis) has always had the weakest lease available. Salesman is sad because the dealership he works in either doesn’t advertise effectively or who ever does the ordering is a dumbass and orders stuff nobody wants.

 

[Jefe1018]

I have a gasser, but I think the diesel rubicon is the best version of this Jeep/truck.

As a J-Turd owner, I agree whole heartedly. Too bad this thing has the audacity to depreciate like every other vehicle on the road. /gasp

 

[AmishMike]

@johnchabin I kind of agree, it may be the best version of the truck; probably not the Jeep side. Yes, the torque etc. is awesome but they seem to require a lot of suspension work for crawling off road. That oil burner is HEAVY. For fire roads and things that sane people do, they are okay off road.

 

[AmishMike]

Maybe this will be the last Jeep he ever finances.

 

[Sweetums]

Not sure how that connects to anything because Jeep doesn't own the banks or control interest rates. Around here - they don't ask "is it a BMW or a Ford or, gasp, a Jeep?"
They ask if it's new, then the model year and say ok, here's the rate. Could be a Jeep, could be a Kia Soul.
So I wonder - where does the thing where Jeep is associated with banks or rates come from? They are totally disconnected - unless you lease. New car loans have nothing to do with Jeep - Jeep doesn't determine your loan rate. You choosing the bank determines that.

Dealerships and marquees work out deals with "Favored lenders" and those banks are looking at a bunch of factors, your credit is only part of it. The dealership often gets a kickback from the bank for getting deals closed with them, sometimes they will use a small part of that kickback to help sweeten the deal by buying down a tenth of of a point for you. The logic is that if I spend 40% of my kickback making sure this deal is 0.1% sweeter, you will go with this deal instead of your credit union and I get my remaining 60%. If you go with your own lender or one that doesn't have a kickback deal, I get zero kickback incentive.

 

[Fungi3]

Jeep currently has high money factor for leases and they work with crap banks which results in high APR. I was lucky enough to finance it thru my own bank and after trading my Ranger, used my own bank for the reminder of the loan. Jeep currently does 6.5% APR for Tier 1 credit in my area!! Ford dealer wanted my truck as well and said they could do 1.7% APR if I wanted to put the deposit towards new Ranger. Even Toyota has both better money factor for leases and APR for next gen Tacoma.

I leased my BMW IX in Nov last year with a really low money factor and residual ($799/month with $4k down). Jeep is REALLY REALLY overpriced and they are simply milking their customers. I worked with a veteren salesman and upon closing, he said the whole store was unmotivated..not just for Jeep but Dodge as well. They can barely sell any Dodge vehicles due to virtually zero incentives. APR and money factor is so high people are buying other brands. When I was there last night signing paperwork, I was, literally the 2nd customer and the whole store was empty and salesmen sitting in their booth starring at their phones! I've been in Ford/Toyota dealers test driving new gen last week and they are full..even on a week night.

I'm glad Stellantis dropped the '23 prices otherwise I would NEVER pay $50k+ for a diesel Gladiator. It's still a mid size truck and there are tons of better offerings out there with better reliability/resale value. I've owned a BMW diesel in the past and had very good luck with it but I don't expect the same with the Jeep (even though I TOTALLY love my new truck!). Time will tell.

But I'm surprised that Jeep, as a company, is too thick-headed to be competitive in the truck segment and simply expect that their customer base will continue to buy their vehicles with high money factor and crap APR (and a high marked up sticker price!). Toyota is going in with all guns blazing this year (new Land Cruiser, redesigned 4Runner, Tacoma, etc) while also accommodating their customers with better money factor and APR. Ford is also going the same route.

I just hope that at some point, Stellantis group wakes up and decides to see the market from a consumer perspective instead of being greedy like Apple is currently.

ok..Rant out and puts on flac jacket!

I think we need to add a file folder on here titled, "JUNK!", where WE get to scrap and dump all these ridiculous illogical rants, plus the Jeep-trashing rants. Especially this one, since it makes no sense and it smells like baloney all around. They add no value to JT owners and they just provide themselves attention and waste our valuable time. It's time we can be spending in our JTs!! The Jeep Gladiator DOES NOT compete with other vehicles. It's a niche vehicle within its own niche market that provides features and capabilities not offered in any other vehicle in the world. The price is NOT that high, since a JT is not really much higher than a loaded mid size pickup. JTs come with a lot up front, plus heavier duty axles/frame/etc. Same with the Bronco, with its flimsy minivan suspension. And don't even get me started on Fords.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Dealerships and marquees work out deals with "Favored lenders" and those banks are looking at a bunch of factors, your credit is only part of it. The dealership often gets a kickback from the bank for getting deals closed with them, sometimes they will use a small part of that kickback to help sweeten the deal by buying down a tenth of of a point for you. The logic is that if I spend 40% of my kickback making sure this deal is 0.1% sweeter, you will go with this deal instead of your credit union and I get my remaining 60%. If you go with your own lender or one that doesn't have a kickback deal, I get zero kickback incentive.

Never had that happen here. Make the deal, then they ask how we'll pay for it after all numbers are determined. Never had a dealer do anything else.
I'm sure it's a thing and happens - even regularly, but it's never mattered with us.
All numbers are hammered out and agreed to before anything is said about "will you be financing" or who it would be through.
of course, in pretty much all cases, you can wait 30 days and pay off the loan or even transfer it for a better rate.
I recall for my 2020, there was a big incentive if financed through Chrysler Credit - a couple grand or something like that.
The sales guy did ask that we wait until we receive the "coupon book" before paying it off.
So we saved 2 grand by financing, then paid it off before any real interest came into play.
We've also taken advantage of specials our credit union offers for "transfer to us and save" - finance at the dealership, then transfer, or I've made a complete deal, and walked in with a check from our credit union to pay for it.
Never mattered on the numbers.

Still I go back to this - it's not JEEP determining any of this like the OP claims. Jeep has zip to do with financing or rates. It's not Jeep or Ford. It's BANKS - and you have a choice and you don't have to disclose the choice up front. Say you plan on financing if you wish - then pop in your own bank or credit union. Numbers are done, they can't walk it back.

(Dunno, maybe an 820 number matters??)

 

[HooliganActual]

On the other hand, a lot of people would argue about the reliability, including some companies that track such things. It's been high on reliability and initial quality - at least good for an off-road, Lego build it as you want type vehicle.

You know...I wholeheartedly endorse this sentiment. As I've said many times on this forum, I currently own 3 Jeeps (2016 JKUR, 2018 JKUR, 2020 JTR) and I wheel them all, the JKUR's a bit more and more aggressively. Across all 3 vehicles, I have had one significant warranty repair done in the combined 15 years I have owned the 3 and it was on the 2016 and happened within the first 3 days of possession (a wire in one of the harnesses to the ECU shorted and had to be replaced). Otherwise, any other failure that I have experienced on the 3 was self-induced...from wheeling.

Are they the most reliable on the market? Maybe not
Have I just been lucky? Maybe...but three times?

I personally get tired of hearing about the lack of reliability. Sure there are some components that have had issues such as steering boxes, diesel fuel pumps; but as far as I can tell Stellantis has made a good faith effort to make things right (or are trying to). But to make it seem like Jeeps are SOOOOOO UNRELIABLE and imply that they break down at every turn is a bit aggrandizing of the real circumstances.

Sorry for the rant, and Bill, it certainly isn't directed at you but you called it out before I got the chance to.

Cheers

 

[HooliganActual]

Never had that happen here. Make the deal, then they ask how we'll pay for it after all numbers are determined. Never had a dealer do anything else.
I'm sure it's a thing and happens - even regularly, but it's never mattered with us.
All numbers are hammered out and agreed to before anything is said about "will you be financing" or who it would be through.
of course, in pretty much all cases, you can wait 30 days and pay off the loan or even transfer it for a better rate.
I recall for my 2020, there was a big incentive if financed through Chrysler Credit - a couple grand or something like that.
The sales guy did ask that we wait until we receive the "coupon book" before paying it off.
So we saved 2 grand by financing, then paid it off before any real interest came into play.
We've also taken advantage of specials our credit union offers for "transfer to us and save" - finance at the dealership, then transfer, or I've made a complete deal, and walked in with a check from our credit union to pay for it.
Never mattered on the numbers.

Still I got back to - it's not JEEP determining any of this like the OP claims. Jeep has zip to do with financing or rates. It's not Jeep or Ford. It's BANKS - and you have a choice and you don't have to disclose the choice up front. Say you plan on financing if you wish - then pop in your own bank or credit union. Numbers are done, they can't walk it back.

(Dunno, maybe an 820 number matters??)

You know, all 3 of my Jeeps I bought through my insurance company...LOL

Actually, for several years, State Farm had a Finance arm and would do car loans. Each time I checked dealer financing, my bank, and State Farm. My bank and State Farm were effectively identical but State Farm put automatic, no-cost-to-me gap insurance on the vehicle which tipped the scales in their favor from my perspective. Sadly, I don't think they do auto loans anymore but it was fun while it lasted...

 

[ShadowsPapa]

If I were to stretch the budget and go crazy on ANOTHER trade, these are the interest rates I'd be looking at for a purchase. I have no clue how bad or good that is (in this current environment, I mean) or how it compares to the rest of the country out there.............
With my trade value being as low as it is thanks to the crazy deals on 23s and other factors (although there's almost no 23s to be had around here and there really aren't any used to speak of to choose from - not really) I'd be looking at a payment double my current.

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