Gladiator Rubicon - buy now or wait?

[ExpoGuy]

Hello, this is my first post...

Jeep has extended the 2024 Gladiator Rubicon & Mojave 20% discount until March 3, 2025.

I'm very interested in the 2024 Rubicon. The problem is there are almost none available where I live (Los Angeles area).
I guess most have been sold. But I did find a Rubicon not too far from me. And it's the only one I can find.
On the plus side it has many upgrades, just about what is found on the X trim. And an exterior color I like.

So why don't I jump on it? Because I'm also considering other off-road vehicles...Bronco Badlands and 4Runner Trailhunter.
I need more time to test drive these vehicles and think about which one will be best for me. The price on these will be
around $67k - $70k.

But the 20% discount is very tempting! The price after discount is $52,600. There are no markups.

So my question...Soon all the 2024 Gladiator Rubicons will be sold. Do you expect Jeep to offer any significant discounts
on the 2025 Rubicon during this year?

Thanks, folks.

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[Catahoula7]

I will say that this sale is just a holdover of the year end sale that "ended" on the 3rd of this month. This sale will continue until enough are gone to send the rest to auction.

I just bought a 2024 Rubicon from Autonation. I got out for 43000ish before taxes, fees, and dealer markup BS. I walked out the door for 49,883 with the convenience group, heated leather seats, the tow and trailer package, and some tough bra and dent repair mark-ups, and Colorado taxes. I would not sit forever on it, but it is a buyer market for these. Stellantis waaaay overmarked them and they are backpedaling now. MSRP should have no bearing on your valuation, but I saw the 3-5k more for new being worth it to me.

 

[Hootbro]

There is no Magic 8 Ball here. March last year is about when they ended 2023 model year heavy MSRP discounts.

Supposedly Stellantis is looking to adjust MSRP way down on 2025 models but that has yet to materialize with an expected end of 1st quarter or beginning of 2nd quarter. No guarantees of that either.

I would not be dithering too much on this. If motivated, you could test drive all three in a day and make a decision if you wanted to.

 

[legacy_etu]

Looks like you’re retired. Like Hootbro said, seems you could test drive both pretty quickly to figure out which one you want. They don’t have to be your “ideal” spec. But should have the important options on it for you to try. Hell, you might not like any of them and then you’ll know there’s no need to worry about the Jeep sale.

edit: just realized the 4Runner is going to be the tough one as they are just rolling out and they are selling pretty much as soon as they hit the ground. I’d start with this one. Find a dealer who has one and tell them you just need a test drive and you’ll order if you like it. Tip: you can’t “order” a Toyota like you can with Jeep or Ford. You get what the dealer gets sent.

 

[ScottBeach]

Unless things change (they always do) you could wait till next year and grab a 25 model on end of year sale.

 

[DirkG]

I'm in Orange County and I parallel your experience that SoCal is thin with 24's. Like others have said, test drive them all and make the best decision for you and your family.

I will say that finding one in your desired color and options (plus saving a bundle of cash) would probably motivate me quite a bit.

I've owned a lot of makes and models (currently also have a Benz, Acura, and Honda), and honestly nothing comes close to the enjoyment of owning a Jeep. I'm on my second Gladiator as I had serious seller's remorse after the first one. My kids are probably even happier than I am.

 

[ExpoGuy]

Looks like you’re retired. Like Hootbro said, seems you could test drive both pretty quickly to figure out which one you want. They don’t have to be your “ideal” spec. But should have the important options on it for you to try. Hell, you might not like any of them and then you’ll know there’s no need to worry about the Jeep sale.

edit: just realized the 4Runner is going to be the tough one as they are just rolling out and they are selling pretty much as soon as they hit the ground. I’d start with this one. Find a dealer who has one and tell them you just need a test drive and you’ll order if you like it. Tip: you can’t “order” a Toyota like you can with Jeep or Ford. You get what the dealer gets sent.

You are right, I should go out and test drive the Bronco Badlands. I'll try tomorrow.
The dealer I bought my Rav4 hybrid from 3 months ago don't have any 4Runners
on their lot. And it could be a couple of months before they get the Trailhunter version.
I have experienced the buying process with Toyota, as you mentioned.

I consider myself a "Toyota Guy". I like the reliability of Toyota. But of the 3 off-road vehicles
I'm considering the 4Runner Trailhunter is at the bottom of the list. It has only 895 lbs of
payload capacity (the Glad has 1250 lbs). And its towing capacity is 1,000 lbs less.

One more nit-pik against the 4Runner...to me it doesn't look like an off-road vehicle.
Looks more like a large SUV that has some 4-wheeling features. Think soccer mom.

And from a practical point of view the Gladiator Rubicon is between $14k and $17k less
than my two other choices. That speaks volumes.

Tomorrow I'll visit the Gladiator and Bronco.

 

[ExpoGuy]

Unless things change (they always do) you could wait till next year and grab a 25 model on end of year sale.

Yes, I may do that if I don't buy this Gladiator. Good advice.

 

[professorkx]

Just went through this decision matrix. We are traveling 2000 miles from home and I noticed the sales for 30% off including 10% from a dealer. We have been considering a Gladiator since it will haul my dirt bike better, so the timing was right. Dallas prices were better than Phoenix, and no way this deal will be available the end of March when we get home, and even if it did, the good stuff would be gone.

So, I just found the Gladiator Rubicon with the most options I wanted, paid the dealer to install a factory trailer brake controller (the missing option) and gave them money.

Unfortunately, I need a bumper with D ring mounts to tow behind my motorhome…AND…I’m still towing my 4 door until we get home, so I had the new Gladiator shipped home at a cost of $1400. This way, I get to finish our winter trip AND get the sale price on a 2024 Gladiator Rubicon. Even with the $1400 shipping, I still saved money over a 2025.

these deals are not going to stay around, so if you decide you want one, just locate one with some internet research and pay to get it shipped. You are still saving a ton of money. The other alternative is to buy it, fly to the location and drive it home. That’s the way I purchased my corvette and it worked as well as shipping.

 

[ExpoGuy]

I'm in Orange County and I parallel your experience that SoCal is thin with 24's. Like others have said, test drive them all and make the best decision for you and your family.

I will say that finding one in your desired color and options (plus saving a bundle of cash) would probably motivate me quite a bit.

I've owned a lot of makes and models (currently also have a Benz, Acura, and Honda), and honestly nothing comes close to the enjoyment of owning a Jeep. I'm on my second Gladiator as I had serious seller's remorse after the first one. My kids are probably even happier than I am.

Good to know that you enjoyed your Gladiators.

Back in 1980 I bought a 1948 Jeep Willys CJ4A. It's the civilian version of the WWII jeep.
It was crude by today's standards, but sure was fun off-road. Now that I'm retired I'd
like to recapture some of that fun and back-road travel.

 

[Vetterestorer]

I sat on the sidelines when they had the steep discounts on the 2023 Rubicons and thought about a over 30% discount as a missed opportunity. Then, I started second guessing myself every time I saw a used Rubicon with 50K miles sell on CarMax for more than I was quoted for a new one.

However, the discounts returned for the leftover 2024's. I live in CA and bought one in Oregon last week for a discount just under 34% of the window sticker price with no dealer add-ons (that I paid for). The trick is to maximize the discount and get what you want. The more particular you are harder that is to do. The longer you wait, the more are sold and the desirable colors and options dwindle. Conversely, the discount may be steeper if you wait longer. It is a balancing act. Also, buying end of month may be helpful.

 

[bill61]

I just got a new 2024 Rubicon X in Irvine Friday for ~26% off MSRP.
I was looking as far away as Oklahoma for my perfect match but couldn’t find a deal so my color choice was sacrificed.
But I noticed 2025 Rubicons in Shawnee (IIRC) Oklahoma were listed in the low $50’s. I was surprised as they were fairly well appointed.

 

[trekkar]

I'm pretty sure if you look there are people who got around 30% off 24s last sept. Jeep already lowered the 2025 MSRP on the rubi/mojave almost 10% on the window sticker. So I'm sure you'll be able to get at least 20% more at some point on those.

I would not buy a 24 now for anything less than 30% off final price then add tax and registration. There is still 1000 rubicons for sale. Buy it out of state if needed ship it or go pick it up is my plan.

And you could probably test out a tacoma hybrid to see if you like the powertrain on the trailhunter or the landcruiser to give you an idea.

But I'd probably buy the bronco if I didn't want the bed. I think that 2.7tt v6 would be more fun.



https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/new/s...=MIX&trimNames=Rubicon&isDeliveryEnabled=true

 

[BlackRuby23]

I just bought a 2024 Rubicon from Autonation. I got out for 43000ish before taxes, fees, and dealer markup BS. I walked out the door for 49,883

That's a great deal, and even better than my 2023 I bought in Jan 2024. What was the msrp?

At a certain point, Stellantis will right size their inventory problem and also adjust their msrp to something less delusional, then the massive price cuts will be a thing of the past. The real question is what IS a sane msrp for these things?

 

[ScottBeach]

A mojave x or rubicon x should be msrp around 55k.
That is a premium price over other brand offerings when considering the power deficit compared to other brands.

70k should have big tq. Give us a Cummins small diesel or a hemi. For that price.

They are moving metal around 50k on left overs. 55k on current year model and deals working around 52-53 seems reasonable.

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