Jeep Gladiator Nighthawk - Best Bang for Your Buck?

[rjley]

I've been looking at getting a 2024 Jeep Gladiator. I've been looking at getting a Willys but stumbled upon the Nighthawk. It seems like you can get the NH in Auto Trans for cheaper than you can get the Sport S, and it comes with the 3 piece colored hardtop. Not crazy about the 20 inch wheels, but I'd probably end up getting aftermarket wheels anyway. Between the Sport S and Nighthawk I wouldn't get any of the other packages (besides the max tow on the Sport S but it requires you to add a bunch of packages so it ends up being ~4-5k extra).

It seems like this is the base price you can get is 45,085 MSRP on the Nighthawk (including delivery). This seems like the best option considering you get all the features of the sport, but with color matching hardtop and auto transmission. Is there anything I'm missing?

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[FloridaMan655321]

Mojave is always the answer to any question related to this. Lots of great deals out there too.

 

[BourbonRunner]

Mojave is always the answer to any question related to this. Lots of great deals out there too.

I know a couple here remember The Car Lounge back in the day. Every answer was similar:

Need a race car? Miata/e36 M3/Forester Turbo
Need a commuter car? Miata/e36 M3/Forester Turbo
Need a Home Depot run vehicle? Miata/e36 M3/Forester Turbo
Need an auto-x dog? Miata/e36 M3/Forester Turbo
Need an ITR car? Miata/e36 M3/Forester Turbo
Need to haul that ITR car to the track? Miata/e36 M3/Forester Turbo
Need to haul your landscape company trailer full of mulch around? Miata/e36 M3/Forester Turbo
Need a rock crawler? Miata/e36 M3/Forester Turbo

 

[Free2roam]

The least they could have done is supercharged or turbo charge it add some horsepower. Ohhh big deal it's got some black accents.....boring just a 3.6 dressed up and nowhere to go

 

[JerseyMark]

I've been looking at getting a 2024 Jeep Gladiator. I've been looking at getting a Willys but stumbled upon the Nighthawk. It seems like you can get the NH in Auto Trans for cheaper than you can get the Sport S, and it comes with the 3 piece colored hardtop. Not crazy about the 20 inch wheels, but I'd probably end up getting aftermarket wheels anyway. Between the Sport S and Nighthawk I wouldn't get any of the other packages (besides the max tow on the Sport S but it requires you to add a bunch of packages so it ends up being ~4-5k extra).

It seems like this is the base price you can get is 45,085 MSRP on the Nighthawk (including delivery). This seems like the best option considering you get all the features of the sport, but with color matching hardtop and auto transmission. Is there anything I'm missing?

It seems like it is the best bang for the buck out of the different option packages. It gives you a ton of stuff for about $5k over a base sport:

-Auto Trans
-Power Locks/Windows/Mirrors
-Painted Hard top
-Painted Fender Flares
-Rock Rails
-Limited Slip Rear Diff
-Wide HD Axles - This is a cool part of the package which only comes on Max Tow sport models.
-20" wheels with 32" All Terrain Tires *the wheels are a bit too big IMO, but all of the above is easily worth the price of the package.

If you want an Auto Trans anyway, I would say it is a no-brainer over a Sport model.

 

[rjley]

It seems like it is the best bang for the buck out of the different option packages. It gives you a ton of stuff for about $5k over a base sport:

-Auto Trans
-Power Locks/Windows/Mirrors
-Painted Hard top
-Painted Fender Flares
-Rock Rails
-Limited Slip Rear Diff
-Wide HD Axles - This is a cool part of the package which only comes on Max Tow sport models.
-20" wheels with 32" All Terrain Tires *the wheels are a bit too big IMO, but all of the above is easily worth the price of the package.

If you want an Auto Trans anyway, I would say it is a no-brainer over a Sport model.

Thanks for answering my question! I didn’t even realize it had the rock rails or wide axles. What is the Limited Slip Rear Diff, and what benefits does it have?

 

[JerseyMark]

A limited slip differential allows for some added traction in slippery terrain. It is kind of in between an open diff and a locked diff. In the Jeep it uses clutches to transfer some power away from a wheel that is slipping.
So, it is nice to have for situations like icy roads and offroading. The Willys edition used to have it.

 

[rjley]

A limited slip differential allows for some added traction in slippery terrain. It is kind of in between an open diff and a locked diff. In the Jeep it uses clutches to transfer some power away from a wheel that is slipping.
So, it is nice to have for situations like icy roads and offroading. The Willys edition used to have it.

Thanks! I've seen some things listed as limited spin differentials, is this the same as limited slip?

 

[PuddleJumper]

honestly this is the smartest trim change I've seen Jeep do. A High Altitude/Overland trim thats is properly priced but still has the street look that a lot of customers may be after if they aren't looking for a utilitarian Sport S or Off-roader Willys/Rubicon/Mojave. Really cleans up the docket and nice to see they gave it the widetrack axles so great for modifications down the road.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

I wasn't positive they have the wide axles, but they sure do.

 

[rjley]

Is there any benefit of going with the Sport S over the Nighthawk?

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Is there any benefit of going with the Sport S over the Nighthawk?

I don't believe you can get the max tow package on the Nighthawk. Jeep.com does not show it as available on the Nighthawk.

 

[Redleg37]

Which gear ratio does the Nighthawk come with? Since it has the wider axles I was wondering if it comes with 4.10s? Doesn't every other wide axel gladiator have 4.10s?

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Which gear ratio does the Nighthawk come with? Since it has the wider axles I was wondering if it comes with 4.10s? Doesn't every other wide axel gladiator have 4.10s?

3.73 in the Nighthawk.

The High Altitude models they used to make came with wide axles and 3.73.

Also the Rubi diesels, those are wide axles and 3.73.

 

[rjley]

I'm not planning on running more than 33s so I think 3.73 should be fine, and if I decide to go up that price is considered in the price as the NH is cheaper than other packages besides the Sport. From what I could tell, I don't think you get adaptive cruise control with the Nighthawk. I've never had it so I can't tell if it's worth it or not.

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