Trading in Frontier for a Gladiator. Good idea?

[WILDHOBO]

Thank you very much everyone, this is great information. I will definitely use this in my negotiations
The spring bowing was something I noticed, and was not sure if it's normal, I guess my gut was correct here

Are any of these issues need addressing immediately? Ie, would they make it unsafe or prone to failure soon? Both in on road and off road situations?
For me, this truck would only be used in trips, off road excursions, and maybe the occasional Ikea run lol

Unsafe is not really possible to diagnose from our couches. Anything can be with parts failing, or loose fasteners. But aside from those options, it’ll just maybe not ride that well until it’s resolved.

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[ShadowsPapa]

and maybe the occasional Ikea run lol

Ikea - that there tells me you can put things together from parts and sometimes iffy instructions.

 

[nasiraod]

Hello everyone
Thank you very much for all your insights. This has been very helpful
I've been a bit under the weather, so I couldn't make it to the dealership, I'm planning to go tomorrow. However, I had another dealership contact me with another 2020, but with lower mileage with added advanced safety package and steel bumper.
Essentially the following two choices

1. 90k kms 2020 White Jeep gladiator, with aftermarket JKS lift kit and performance series fox shocks (I believe this kit is used) and 37in tyres(tyres at 50%). Window sticker, Listing link
2. 67k kms 2020 Black Jeep Gladiator with stock fox shocks and added advanced safety package and OEM steel bumper, almost new tyres, original size. Window sticker, Listing link

The key question is, price being a tad cheaper on the black one (1k cheaper)
Should I go with a lower mileage more optioned stock gladiator, or higher mileage lifted with 37in gladiator? 23k less kilometres on the black one
I do like the look of the white a tad more, but I am more concerned about drivetrain longevity
I also did a bit back of the napkin math, and the aftermarket parts on the white one are as follows(all in Canadian dollars)

1. Fuel Wheels 5*450=2250
2. Nitto Ridge Grappler tyres 5*600=2400
3. Jks lift kit, with performance series shocks 4500

Total around $9750
Is that worth 23k kms? Since resale value is a bit important to me

 

[Gvsukids]

Is that worth 23k kms? Since resale value is a bit important to me

That's your call.
Problem with the lift is you don't know how many miles are on it and when it's going to start failing. Lot of people like to put their own equipment on so they know it was properly installed and it fits their needs. Mods don't really add to resale value.

The key question is, price being a tad cheaper on the black one (1k cheaper)

I like the dial top option on the black one as I run the hard top in the winter and the soft top in the summertime with the doors off.

 

[Hootbro]

Hello everyone
Thank you very much for all your insights. This has been very helpful
I've been a bit under the weather, so I couldn't make it to the dealership, I'm planning to go tomorrow. However, I had another dealership contact me with another 2020, but with lower mileage with added advanced safety package and steel bumper.
Essentially the following two choices

1. 90k kms 2020 White Jeep gladiator, with aftermarket JKS lift kit and performance series fox shocks (I believe this kit is used) and 37in tyres(tyres at 50%). Window sticker, Listing link
2. 67k kms 2020 Black Jeep Gladiator with stock fox shocks and added advanced safety package and OEM steel bumper, almost new tyres, original size. Window sticker, Listing link

The key question is, price being a tad cheaper on the black one (1k cheaper)
Should I go with a lower mileage more optioned stock gladiator, or higher mileage lifted with 37in gladiator? 23k less kilometres on the black one
I do like the look of the white a tad more, but I am more concerned about drivetrain longevity
I also did a bit back of the napkin math, and the aftermarket parts on the white one are as follows(all in Canadian dollars)

1. Fuel Wheels 5*450=2250
2. Nitto Ridge Grappler tyres 5*600=2400
3. Jks lift kit, with performance series shocks 4500

Total around $9750
Is that worth 23k kms? Since resale value is a bit important to me

Did you look at the Carfax on either one of those? Both have collision events recorded on them with the first one having two collision events.

Would be a hard pass on both if me.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Hello everyone
Thank you very much for all your insights. This has been very helpful
I've been a bit under the weather, so I couldn't make it to the dealership, I'm planning to go tomorrow. However, I had another dealership contact me with another 2020, but with lower mileage with added advanced safety package and steel bumper.
Essentially the following two choices

1. 90k kms 2020 White Jeep gladiator, with aftermarket JKS lift kit and performance series fox shocks (I believe this kit is used) and 37in tyres(tyres at 50%). Window sticker, Listing link
2. 67k kms 2020 Black Jeep Gladiator with stock fox shocks and added advanced safety package and OEM steel bumper, almost new tyres, original size. Window sticker, Listing link

The key question is, price being a tad cheaper on the black one (1k cheaper)
Should I go with a lower mileage more optioned stock gladiator, or higher mileage lifted with 37in gladiator? 23k less kilometres on the black one
I do like the look of the white a tad more, but I am more concerned about drivetrain longevity
I also did a bit back of the napkin math, and the aftermarket parts on the white one are as follows(all in Canadian dollars)

1. Fuel Wheels 5*450=2250
2. Nitto Ridge Grappler tyres 5*600=2400
3. Jks lift kit, with performance series shocks 4500

Total around $9750
Is that worth 23k kms? Since resale value is a bit important to me

Absolutely the one with advanced safety and lower miles. That rusty JKS crap doesn’t add value, it removes it.

 

[WILDHOBO]

Did you look at the Carfax on either one of those? Both have collision events recorded on them with the first one having two collision events.

Would be a hard pass on both if me.

Yeah. If they have accidents either pass on both, or insist on 10k reduction because of the accident. Or walk. It sounds like a lot, but I’ve done it.

 

[Stan H]

Hello everyone
Thank you very much for all your insights. This has been very helpful
I've been a bit under the weather, so I couldn't make it to the dealership, I'm planning to go tomorrow. However, I had another dealership contact me with another 2020, but with lower mileage with added advanced safety package and steel bumper.
Essentially the following two choices

1. 90k kms 2020 White Jeep gladiator, with aftermarket JKS lift kit and performance series fox shocks (I believe this kit is used) and 37in tyres(tyres at 50%). Window sticker, Listing link
2. 67k kms 2020 Black Jeep Gladiator with stock fox shocks and added advanced safety package and OEM steel bumper, almost new tyres, original size. Window sticker, Listing link

The key question is, price being a tad cheaper on the black one (1k cheaper)
Should I go with a lower mileage more optioned stock gladiator, or higher mileage lifted with 37in gladiator? 23k less kilometres on the black one
I do like the look of the white a tad more, but I am more concerned about drivetrain longevity
I also did a bit back of the napkin math, and the aftermarket parts on the white one are as follows(all in Canadian dollars)

1. Fuel Wheels 5*450=2250
2. Nitto Ridge Grappler tyres 5*600=2400
3. Jks lift kit, with performance series shocks 4500

Total around $9750
Is that worth 23k kms? Since resale value is a bit important to me

Black will draw in more heat for those cold Canadian days .
Honestly 23k isn't that big a difference at all.
Technically if you can get some warranty on either then it will simply come down to the color you kike best.

Me personally I would go with Black and Build that sucker the right way the first time.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Did you look at the Carfax on either one of those? Both have collision events recorded on them with the first one having two collision events.

Would be a hard pass on both if me.

But as has been demonstrated, what exactly is a collision event? If you get a parking lot ding, or even hit your own vehicle in your own garage and take it to a shop, it's been shown that it can often be shown as a collision. It's up to the person who writes it up and submits it.
I'd check OTHER tracking agencies and see how they have things. You can run too close to a tree, need to have a fender repaired, and it's a collision event - even thought the repairs could end up better than factory.
Thus - I do my own inspecting. People these days........... you should see how some repair orders get written up - and that's what gets recorded. I laugh at the dealer receipts I get.

So is my wife's JLU repair written up as collision damage? Hmmmm, may need to look that up.
But I refuse to pay the fees.

 

[SaiintNick]

Hello everyone
Thank you very much for all your insights. This has been very helpful
I've been a bit under the weather, so I couldn't make it to the dealership, I'm planning to go tomorrow. However, I had another dealership contact me with another 2020, but with lower mileage with added advanced safety package and steel bumper.
Essentially the following two choices

1. 90k kms 2020 White Jeep gladiator, with aftermarket JKS lift kit and performance series fox shocks (I believe this kit is used) and 37in tyres(tyres at 50%). Window sticker, Listing link
2. 67k kms 2020 Black Jeep Gladiator with stock fox shocks and added advanced safety package and OEM steel bumper, almost new tyres, original size. Window sticker, Listing link

The key question is, price being a tad cheaper on the black one (1k cheaper)
Should I go with a lower mileage more optioned stock gladiator, or higher mileage lifted with 37in gladiator? 23k less kilometres on the black one
I do like the look of the white a tad more, but I am more concerned about drivetrain longevity
I also did a bit back of the napkin math, and the aftermarket parts on the white one are as follows(all in Canadian dollars)

1. Fuel Wheels 5*450=2250
2. Nitto Ridge Grappler tyres 5*600=2400
3. Jks lift kit, with performance series shocks 4500

Total around $9750
Is that worth 23k kms? Since resale value is a bit important to me

Both of those prices are insane to me, but its Canada.

 

[DirkG]

I personally would keep looking, but between the two, you can never buy negative mileage, so I'd go with the black one and build it the way you want.

 

[Hootbro]

But as has been demonstrated, what exactly is a collision event?

That is great if one wants to drill down on that. This guy is not when shopping.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

That is great if one wants to drill down on that. This guy is not when shopping.

One reason I dislike carfax - it can be horribly misleading, or even not report things at all. (as I've shown quoting a couple of consumer group studies in the past)

One might pass up a heck of a bargain because some idiot in a shop wrote it up as a collision, or one might get a real lemon because nothing at all was reported about a major accident.

To pass on a vehicle because it had a bumper replaced due to "collision damage"................

Use those reports with care - and compare with other agencies. (that's the advice of consumer groups)

The shop I used to have large panels replaced on a WJ I owned didn't report anything to anyone.

 

[Hootbro]

One reason I dislike carfax - it can be horribly misleading, or even not report things at all. (as I've shown quoting a couple of consumer group studies in the past)

One might pass up a heck of a bargain because some idiot in a shop wrote it up as a collision, or one might get a real lemon because nothing at all was reported about a major accident.

To pass on a vehicle because it had a bumper replaced due to "collision damage"................

Use those reports with care - and compare with other agencies. (that's the advice of consumer groups)

The shop I used to have large panels replaced on a WJ I owned didn't report anything to anyone.

Trust me, I do not disagree with anything you have said so far and all are good points.

The problem I have with it regardless how accurate the Carfax is, that one has to figure out was it a minor scuff fender bender or a serious collision damage.

If one determines it is minor, then you are in the position you have to now negotiate and make sure the pricing reflects that because you will eventually be trading or selling that same vehicle on further down the line and those same hits on the Carfax are now in play again when selling or trading. So you need to make sure you are not paying that extra depreciation again.

Used Gladiators are not unicorns on the used market anymore. So given the choice between a tainted Carfax with reported Collision damage that you have to spend extra effort to sort actual damage and true value vs. a used Gladiator with a clean Carfax, most to include me would pick the latter.

I think the OP is fixated on buying a used one that is already "built" or modded out and is letting that narrow his choices.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I think the OP is fixated on buying a used one that is already "built" or modded out and is letting that narrow his choices.

I, PERSONALLY,, am not a fan of buying an already modified vehicle (even cars - my 73 will forever give me fits and expensive pains because the idiot prior owner did mods - mostly HACKED into place). I prefer a clean slate, built the way I want, with the parts I want.
I also - me again - don't generally trust the work of others, and with a Jeep, you have no clue if the person was experienced and knew what they were doing, or just ordered parts and tossed them on with no plan, because it looked cool or whatever.
Are the parts good parts? Were they installed correctly (torque and all) or is it a hodge-podge of stuff that doesn't always work well together.

Since the mods don't really add to the value - especially when selling - I'd be careful and more likely to want to investigate the mods made over much else!

If there's anything on the carfax - like you said - make sure that is discounted at time of purchase otherwise if a trade or selling time comes in the future - someone may or may not see that report (private sales around here - no one bothers).
But I'm the sort that crawls all over a vehicle before buying anything used anyway - and used to do that for others who were looking from out of state.

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