My Gladiator is the most polarizing vehicle I’ve ever owned.

[Alabama Mud Machine]

When I test drove the Gladiator, I came to a stop light. There was a guy behind me in a jacked up diesel with no shirt on laughing and pointing me out to his buddy behind him also in a jacked up diesel. He started to get out of his truck and walk up to me before the light turned green. He proceeded to show off and blow smoke. Thank God he and his buddy turned off somewhere. I was getting nervous.

Yeah, those are the douchebags that made the diesel community into a redneck/white trash joke... That shit really pissed me off when people started doing that with diesels. The whole black-smoke thing is retarded. Mine is tuned to where it uses nearly every bit of fuel it dumps, and only hazes gray for a few seconds, then it dissipates. Black smoke is unburnt fuel, which = unused horsepower (potential) from poor tuning, or idiots not knowing how to properly build/mod a diesel engine.

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[TrainMan]

Yeah, those are the douchebags that made the diesel community into a redneck/white trash joke... That shit really pissed me off when people started doing that with diesels. The whole black-smoke thing is retarded. Mine is tuned to where it uses nearly every bit of fuel it dumps, and only hazes gray for a few seconds, then it dissipates. Black smoke is unburnt fuel, which = unused horsepower (potential) from poor tuning, or idiots not knowing how to properly build/mod a diesel engine.

Yep. I've got a few friends who have their lifted diesels who thankfully are not jerks lol. But there's plenty out here in "Pennsyltucky".

 

[DirkG]

The negative feedback I get is always based around "why didn't you get ______ truck instead for that price?"

I honestly don't think any of these type of people have priced midsize trucks recently. When I was shopping for a truck, I compared apples to apples and spec'd each truck the same (offroad packages, interior, tonneau covers, etc.). They're all around $50K. Those not shopping in this market see midsize strippers going for $25K and have no clue how little that buys these days.

I just spec'd a Tacoma TRD Pro and it came in at $49,860. I did a Chevy Colorado ZR2 and it totalled $55K, then down to $52K with a discount. I did a screen-shot...

 

[Mark Doiron]

... the 07-11 had horrid interiors ...

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Criticism of the quality of materials chosen for that early interior is fair, but the interior for the later models is too car like--and it wasn't until the JL that they fixed that.

 

[BLK HOLE]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Criticism of the quality of materials chosen for that early interior is fair, but the interior for the later models is too car like--and it wasn't until the JL that they fixed that.

I think 1s of people agree.

 

[Racer_X]

The only people I've had not like it are my daughter and 2 middle-aged lesbian cops - one of whom happened to be a jeep snob.

Daughter didn't like the Jeep look in the front, but it's a jeep. That's the point. Fortunately, she neither A) drives it nor B) has any say in purposing decisions.

The cop conversation was a blast. We were covid-19ing at the vet. Vets would come out and pick up the dogs (or cat in their case). I had the front doors and freedom panels off. The couple cops were talking about how it needed longer bed options, and a shorter wheelbase for trails, and didn't have enough locking storage.

Afterwards, they asked me how I liked it. I told them that it does everything I need it to, They spoke about the lack of locking storage due to not having the trunkette. I introduced them to the concept of a locking Diamondback tonneau cover that opens on gas pistons to hold them open and both from the cab side and tail side (and they were driving a silverado with an empty bed). They spoke about the short bed, and I showed them plywood mode. They talked about the need to haul stuff. I agreed that a silverado has more storage yet cannot go to the nearby offroad park. At which point they told me they had a JL because JKs didn't come in the appropriate color. At which point I mentioned that everything they want the Gladiator to do they have in two separate cars while staring at the empty bed. I then further mentioned I have 1 car that does almost all those same things, including towing 7000 lbs.

Then the vet came out with their cat, which they loaded into the back of their crew cab, and rolled out. Entirely friendly the whole time, except for the one cop shaking her head behind the wheel of her silverado and the other one keeping sedately quiet.

 

[Alabama Mud Machine]

The only people I've had not like it are my daughter and 2 middle-aged lesbian cops - one of whom happened to be a jeep snob.

Daughter didn't like the Jeep look in the front, but it's a jeep. That's the point. Fortunately, she neither A) drives it nor B) has any say in purposing decisions.

The cop conversation was a blast. We were covid-19ing at the vet. Vets would come out and pick up the dogs (or cat in their case). I had the front doors and freedom panels off. The couple cops were talking about how it needed longer bed options, and a shorter wheelbase for trails, and didn't have enough locking storage.

Afterwards, they asked me how I liked it. I told them that it does everything I need it to, They spoke about the lack of locking storage due to not having the trunkette. I introduced them to the concept of a locking Diamondback tonneau cover that opens on gas pistons to hold them open and both from the cab side and tail side (and they were driving a silverado with an empty bed). They spoke about the short bed, and I showed them plywood mode. They talked about the need to haul stuff. I agreed that a silverado has more storage yet cannot go to the nearby offroad park. At which point they told me they had a JL because JKs didn't come in the appropriate color. At which point I mentioned that everything they want the Gladiator to do they have in two cars while staring at the empty bed.

Then the vet came out with their cat, which they loaded into the back of their crew cab, and rolled out. Entirely friendly the whole time, except for the one cop shaking her head behind the wheel of her silverado.

Overcompensating lesbians that refuse to listen to what a man says and intentionally feel the need to say you're wrong simply because you're a man... Sounds about right.

 

[Jason C]

While shuttling on a kayak trip as we approached the put in a couple guys in the car said "Look at that Jeep! That thing is built just right!" When I went up to it they said "Wow! I'm glad we didn't talk bad about it!"

 

[Gvsukids]

The first time I saw the Gladiator on tv I wasn’t sold on it, but after seeing it and letting it sink in how many things it’s good at,...a lego kit ...

I'd love to find a Gladiator Lego kit.

 

[Racer_X]

I'd love to find a Gladiator Lego kit

https://lego-digital-designer.en.softonic.com/

Go for it!

 

[1337bwr]

I thought they were UGLY until I saw one on a lift. Went to the dealer while waiting on my GF next door, sat in a rubicon and now I own it. I think the biggest thing for people who don't like them is the low profile on stock suspension and tires. It took a while for people to get the lifts on them and for aftermarket parts to come out.

I've had lots of compliments and jeep owners wave every time I take it out. Seems like I can't stop for gas without someone asking about it. Several people have approached me in the parking lot "my kid wanted to see it." "Do the doors come off?" "Is that a jeep or a truck?"

My favorite: "Is that a Chrysler? I hate Chryslers... But I like that."

 

[BAT]

I thought they were UGLY until I saw one on a lift. Went to the dealer while waiting on my GF next door, sat in a rubicon and now I own it. I think the biggest thing for people who don't like them is the low profile on stock suspension and tires. It took a while for people to get the lifts on them and for aftermarket parts to come out.

I've had lots of compliments and jeep owners wave every time I take it out. Seems like I can't stop for gas without someone asking about it. Several people have approached me in the parking lot "my kid wanted to see it." "Do the doors come off?" "Is that a jeep or a truck?"

My favorite: "Is that a Chrysler? I hate Chryslers... But I like that."

Yep I was out and about yesterday and I saw a brand new red JT on the road. Looked to be pretty much just a basic sport or sport s. I was riding behind it and thought you know when you look at the stock models they do look pretty goofy and off in ways. Very box like and squared off. Then you see one with some mods, better rims, tires, etc and it doesn't really take much. Then boom its almost like a completely different truck. Just the difference in the say Rubicon tires and rims on a Sport give it a different appearance

 

[WXman]

Yeah, those are the douchebags that made the diesel community into a redneck/white trash joke... That shit really pissed me off when people started doing that with diesels. The whole black-smoke thing is retarded. Mine is tuned to where it uses nearly every bit of fuel it dumps, and only hazes gray for a few seconds, then it dissipates. Black smoke is unburnt fuel, which = unused horsepower (potential) from poor tuning, or idiots not knowing how to properly build/mod a diesel engine.

Wow. Something we agree on.

They also are the idiots who got the EPA to start harassing diesel performance shops.

 

[Alabama Mud Machine]

Wow. Something we agree on.

They also are the idiots who got the EPA to start harassing diesel performance shops.

Yep, thus eventually ruining diesels for everyone.

 

[P.Lo]

Im 57 and i've never owned a vehicle in my life that has spontaneously generated so many conversations from total strangers, than this one. Seemed like early on, everytime I got gas, here came a curious onlooker. My friends are like 80 / 20..... it's either badass / ugly. Personally, I love it, and that's all that matters.

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