Think I’m taking myself out of the Gladiator game

[since41]

DT frame?

The new 2019 Ram 1500 which is body-on-frame, this has yet to be "confirmed ".

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[Bobs85Reny]

i see white pixels between those bars! lol

I render these at a lower resolution to make the files display friendly. At some point when I do get my Gladiator ( probably a year or two when used ones with better pricing are available ) I will build a top like this if one is not commercially available.

 

[WXman]

I love Jeeps and I'm on my 4th Wrangler, though I could actually use a pickup truck over a SUV. A pickup is just more useful to my lifestyle.

So the problem I'm running into is that dealers around here are doing five-figure discounts on 2019 Ram Rebel. I've seen fully loaded Rebels with leather, panoramic sunroof, heated steering wheel, air suspension, 33" Duratracs, spray in bedliner, Class IV hitch, Hemi V8, etc. for $45,000. The interior space, comfort, luxury added to the locker and aggressive tires added to the 1,800 lb. payload and 11,300 lb. towing.....for the same money as a low-end Gladiator.

As bad as I want to try and order a Gladiator, my brain keeps trying to over-ride my heart. It keeps saying "either keep the Wrangler, or buy more truck for the money." It's like those old cartoons with the little angel and devil whispering into each ear. Ugh........

So after looking at trucks, considering everything, and running numbers the Ram trucks just don't hold the same value in leasing residuals. So even though Gladiator is less truck for the money, it holds value better long term and ends up costing less. So I went with the Gladiator. It's the better overall value. They're telling me 8 weeks to delivery.

 

[Oilburner]

..blah.. residual...blah ... blah... So I went with the Gladiator... blah...value...blah....They're telling me 8 weeks to delivery.

Glad you talked yourself into it

 

[megamucho]

So after looking at trucks, considering everything, and running numbers the Ram trucks just don't hold the same value in leasing residuals. So even though Gladiator is less truck for the money, it holds value better long term and ends up costing less. So I went with the Gladiator. It's the better overall value. They're telling me 8 weeks to delivery.

Agreed with this - I looked hard at the RAM Rebel instead of Gladiator, but size, real-world towing needs for me personally, and resale value made the Gladiator the clear choice for me. If it’s my ~$50k, I’m getting the vehicle best suited for *me*, not just going after the best on-paper capability numbers per $ spent.

 

[BlckJT]

I decided to move to the Ram 1500. It was my original interest last year until the Gladiator would show up, which it did earlier than I thought (thought it was going to debut this year for 2020/21). I put the Ram on hold and did my thorough research on the Gladiator. Drove all trim levels, got pricing from 4-6 dealers, and finally sat with the wife and reviewed my research. In the end, I needed a larger interior, full bed, and it to hit my budget with options I wanted.

Needless to say I will return to Jeep in about 3-4 years. By then maybe they will have a full size truck, just like they are bringing back the full size SUV (Wagoneer) to compete with Tahoe, Navigator....

I'll be lurking this forum though!! Just to watch how all of you will enjoy your beautiful Gladiator and what you do with it over the years.

 

[Aljeeper]

So after looking at trucks, considering everything, and running numbers the Ram trucks just don't hold the same value in leasing residuals. So even though Gladiator is less truck for the money, it holds value better long term and ends up costing less. So I went with the Gladiator. It's the better overall value. They're telling me 8 weeks to delivery.

I mean, this is pure speculation since this is a completely new vehicle (not even remotely close to old gladiator). You're assuming the gladiator will hold value like a Wrangler does. We won't know if that's true until a few years down the road after the demand levels out and all the common manufacturer issues surface.


In my opinion the gladiators not going to be a great offroad vehicle compare to the JL for most people. Without some serious mods at least to make up for ridiculous length and departure angle. Even then you'll struggle in tight spots. So you might not have as many of the offroad enthusiasts willing to pay the high prices to keep the used value up. Ride quality and pickup exclusive capabilities.. this thing suffers from short bed and solid front axle.


A two door With longer bed would maintain a better value since it would both be more versatile offroad stock and be a superior pickup. But two door doesn't sell as well as well brand new because it excludes families, so that's not what they made.


My line of speculation at least, will see what happens. I'm not buying a 4dr Gladiator for a few years at least.

 

[Tommy]

i just went down to a dealer to check out a Gladiator Rubicon. I actually went to with intentions to buy it. Billet Silver Rubicon. Problem 1 - they said no test drives. I said alright well have a good day, I can’t buy a car without a test drive. Some hemming and hawing and said well if you are serious we can take a brief ride. When he comes back he says we’ve added a $3500 market adjustment to the price. I said no thanks I’ll just move on with my day and start to walk off. He quickly backtracks and says hold on, goes off to the “sales manager” and comes back saying we’ll wave the adjustment if you are serious. So off we go on the 2 mile test drive.. everything was fine.

Come back and start a walkaround. He wants to start the deal. The problem was I wasn’t sold by the test ride as much as I wanted to be. I didn’t fall in love and feel like it gave me something that revolutionary. It just didn’t feel like it was enough truck for me. I need to tow my boat, the ride was too compliant and the motor has no guts. It was a fantastic Jeep , just not enough truck DNA for what we use. I’m disappointed as I was looking forward to getting back in a Jeep but it just didn’t make sense. Going to take a step back , let the market settle out and let more owner opinions roll in.

Don't give up.....!!! It is the right vehicle, just not the right dealer. I went to two dealerships; drove both the Overland and the Rubicon... and not just 2 miles.. Thats total BS that they won't let you drive it!!!! I ended up the with Rubicon. I have had is for over two weeks now... Great vehicle.. Go find the right dealer..

 

[propkillr]

Ok, all you blue moonrons need to stop thinking about getting a Dodge Rum toy! How dare you sissyfi the Jeep Brand! Don’t you know by getting a Rum toy you will put hundreds if not thousands of forest chopping men and women out of work. Good gracious not even think about those fine Americans that build plywood to put in our Gladiators! How dare you! Go on, say you ever saw plywood in the bed of a Dodge.

 

[WXman]

I mean, this is pure speculation since this is a completely new vehicle (not even remotely close to old gladiator). You're assuming the gladiator will hold value like a Wrangler does. We won't know if that's true until a few years down the road after the demand levels out and all the common manufacturer issues surface.


In my opinion the gladiators not going to be a great offroad vehicle compare to the JL for most people. Without some serious mods at least to make up for ridiculous length and departure angle. Even then you'll struggle in tight spots. So you might not have as many of the offroad enthusiasts willing to pay the high prices to keep the used value up. Ride quality and pickup exclusive capabilities.. this thing suffers from short bed and solid front axle.


A two door With longer bed would maintain a better value since it would both be more versatile offroad stock and be a superior pickup. But two door doesn't sell as well as well brand new because it excludes families, so that's not what they made.


My line of speculation at least, will see what happens. I'm not buying a 4dr Gladiator for a few years at least.

Yeah that's the great thing about a lease, the assumed amazing resale value is locked into the contract so even if the Gladiator ended up being a total bust 2 years from now, the payments I'll be making will still be super low and then I can make a decision at the end.

 

[steffen707]

Ok, all you blue moonrons need to stop thinking about getting a Dodge Rum toy! How dare you sissyfi the Jeep Brand! Don’t you know by getting a Rum toy you will put hundreds if not thousands of forest chopping men and women out of work. Good gracious not even think about those fine Americans that build plywood to put in our Gladiators! How dare you! Go on, say you ever saw plywood in the bed of a Dodge.

YES! tug at their heart strings with PLYWOOD talk. Love it.

 

[steffen707]

Yeah that's the great thing about a lease, the assumed amazing resale value is locked into the contract so even if the Gladiator ended up being a total bust 2 years from now, the payments I'll be making will still be super low and then I can make a decision at the end.

did you reach out to your dealer about the residual changing between now and when its delivered?

 

[WXman]

did you reach out to your dealer about the residual changing between now and when its delivered?

Yes I had that discussion with them at time of order. My deal will be same or better at time of delivery. We both made that very clear.

 

[mike921921]

Wow, my dealership didn't even ask my name before or after the test drive. Even had to ask the salesman for his biz card. When it came time to buy, they were my only choice.

 

[JDB81]

Its such a different experience here in Australia with the dealerships. While they are car sales people and can be a pain to deal with. When I test drive the gladiator here they threw me the keys and told me to have it back before they closed, about 2.5 hours, with the only caveat not to take it off road. Which was great to be able to see how well it fit in the garage and different driving such as highway and streets etc. Similarly warranty I had a good sensor break and with the keep due for a service in about 2000 miles called them they just asked for a photo and pic of the rego ans mileage and the had the part there waiting at the next service. They are trying hard here they copped a lot of bad PR here years ago and have been working on rebuilding. But just seems crazy the difference in experience

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