How Much Did You Pay For Your Gladiator

[Zachattack50]

Awesome deal! I've seen low mileage Pentastars for under $1,000, so not the end of the world if you have to eat one. But I think the odds are very low for that. And the transmission is bulletproof.

Nice work! I'd love to see before/after pics.

I paid $38,000 in October of 2023 for mine. It is a Ruby with every option except proximity key and bed liner. It had 35k miles and appeared to have never been off-road. It had a little sun fading on the upper inner door plastic and the previous owner was a smoker and his dogs roughed up the leather in the back a little. I just threw Diver Down covers in it. I also had the hood insulation and batteries replaced under warranty. It also had a new windshield.

The dealership neglected to do the cleanup, so I had to do it. That pissed me off a little, but saved me a 2nd 2.5 hour drive to Illinois. So a couple of nights with an ozone machine and a few jars of Ozium odor-neutralizer from Walmart and the smoker smell was gone. I since have installed an AEV Dual sport 2.5 lift, Rugged Ridge Arcus bumper, a 10.5k winch, stronger FAD skid plate, some lighting, CB, and Bed Rug. It came with a Rugged Ridge hard aluminum roll-up tonneau, which I love.

It was a good deal at the time, at a rural Illinois dealership. Similar JT's were going for $42 to $45k. So not bad. The truck has been perfect for me. No issues once the batteries were replaced.

It gets its big test in October, in Moab, wheeling with my brother's ZR2 Bison. Should be a fun comparo. You can bet I will do a full write up on that!

Trans may be bullet proof but the clutch sure isnt.....

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[Hootbro]

Got it from an insurance auction with a salvage title. Only 10K miles. Previous owner rolled it on the drivers side. Slow rollover offroad - just sheetmetal and glass damage. Amazing what insurance companies will "total" these days. Only put about $5K (and a s-load of sweat equity) into making her look good as new again.

Only negative so far to the salvage title is Jeep uses it as an excuse to disavow any warranty claims. So I'm rolling the bones that I don't get that dreaded "Tick Of Death" in my motor.

But I figure, even if I do and have to sink a few more grand into a new motor someday....I'm still golden. And if I don't - well then I'm double platinum so far as price paid.

There was a lot of vehicles in the early COVID years that were totaled out due to time and unavailability of parts that would not have normally.

 

[Stan H]

transmission is bulletproof

@arosen1997 and myself just replaced our transmissions . They aren't bulletproof. Several others have replaced transmissions @Maximus Gladius has had 3 or 4 transmissions,@JTGuy Is having same trouble me and @arosen1997 had . I would say they are not as common but NOT bullet proof.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Amazing what insurance companies will "total" these days

Some of that is state laws, etc. of course the labor costs of such repairs are crazy, so that means the repair bill plus salvage value is likely to go over FMV, or whatever percentage the state prescribes, and it's totaled..

 

[Maximus Gladius]

@arosen1997 and myself just replaced our transmissions . They aren't bulletproof. Several others have replaced transmissions @Maximus Gladius has had 3 or 4 transmissions,@JTGuy Is having same trouble me and @arosen1997 had . I would say they are not as common but NOT bullet proof.

My first 3, not bullet proof. My 4th one,..oh ya

 

[Stan H]

Some of that is state laws, etc. of course the labor costs of such repairs are crazy, so that means the repair bill plus salvage value is likely to go over FMV, or whatever percentage the state prescribes, and it's totaled..

I seen a Wrangler the other day with obvious front end damage likely passenger side frame with 386miles totaled

 

[ShadowsPapa]

@Maximus Gladius has had 3 or 4 transmissions

Yeah, but his name is Kevin and he lives in a location abbreviated CA
It's a curse of that combination......

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Yeah, but his name is Kevin and he lives in a location abbreviated CA
It's a curse of that combination......

Time to reverse the curse! I’m driving the last jeep I’ll ever own.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Time to reverse to curse! I’m driving the last jeep I’ll ever own.

Hope you know it's all in fun - never wish you anything but great luck with Jeeps and life.

Stock up on certain parts it might just be - or, you'll have a great start to an epic thread!

 

[Maximus Gladius]

Hope you know it's all in fun - never wish you anything but great luck with Jeeps and life.

Stock up on certain parts it might just be - or, you'll have a great start to an epic thread!

I know it’s in fun! I get laughed at a lot and it doesn’t hurt….much.
Stock up, I have! 2 extra high amp Z fuse arrays and one extra can bus connector in the glove box, a set of still good oxygen sensors and other parts and pieces scattered throughout the bedroom, (second bedroom).

 

[JTGuy]

It depends on the level of off road you want to do. Most off road can be done with a well appointed suv like a Lexus GX 550. But the JT makes a statement the others don't.

 

[Stan H]

much

Bwahahaha now that made me laugh

 

[DanW]

Trans may be bullet proof but the clutch sure isnt.....

I was talking about the auto...didn't know the salvage truck had the manual.

That said, the manual's clutch has been fine on my JL. 105k with no issues. Lots of towing, off-roading, and "spirited" driving. The original clutch was replaced under the recall right about 100k and it came out looking good and appearing to have little wear and it felt same as new. I know others have not had such luck. The new clutch felt maybe a little more grabby at first, but it's settled in after break-in and feels no different, at all, which is fine because I've always liked it.

 

[Zachattack50]

I was talking about the auto...didn't know the salvage truck had the manual.

That said, the manual's clutch has been fine on my JL. 105k with no issues. Lots of towing, off-roading, and "spirited" driving. The original clutch was replaced under the recall right about 100k and it came out looking good and appearing to have little wear and it felt same as new. I know others have not had such luck. The new clutch felt maybe a little more grabby at first, but it's settled in after break-in and feels no different, at all, which is fine because I've always liked it.

We must have wildly different definitions of "spirited driving" and "off road" if you think the factory clutched and shift feel is acceptable. Glad its worked out for you though, and that you have a dealer competent enough to actually trust with replacing a clutch.....

 

[ShadowsPapa]

and that you have a dealer competent enough to actually trust with replacing a clutch.....

Ironically, I trust mine with oil changes, transmission swaps, but NOT sunrider installs!

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