Car and Driver has posted a 10,000 mile update to their long term Gladiator review. Pretty negative

[Geoarch]

Really? Besides the well-known manual transmission recall issue all they talked complained about was aerodynamics, wind noise, and fuel economy. All noise.

..."aerodynamics, wind noise, and fuel economy..." They say that about Tacoma too, and probably all the 4X4 trucks. What a surprise. Why doesn't Car and Driver, Consumer Reports just stick to sedans, since that is the measure that they use to evaluate trucks (i.e. Honda Ridgeline is always number one). The Honda is not a truck, but a car with a truck body, and yes I've driven them.

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[Geoarch]

Just eclipsed 12k coming into work last night. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Gladiator!! Yes it's a brick on wheels, cross winds push it, mileage, knew that going in as well. If I wanted quiet, I would have gotten a GC, not a on and off road capable vehicle that I can remove top, doors and lower the windshield (for local, low speed trips). I'd hate to spoil it for car and driver but, once all doors and top comes off, its gonna be noisy and they will notice the wind alot more. I have loved all my jeeps over the years (CJ, YJ, LJ, LJR, & now JT)even with the noise, repairs, issues, they are still the coolest vehicles. Maybe C&D should talk to actual owners, not wanna be's. Of course this is only my opinion. Btw, manual owner here too.

Man, you should have heard my old 53 M38A1 with the fiberglass top, or the 73 CJ-5. We really didn't have conversations in those vehicles. The Gladiator is silent compared to them. All my trucks have been manuals.

 

[Geoarch]

The only thing I agree with in the review is the steering issues. It didn’t bother me at first, but after 10K miles it’s starting to wear on my patience. I had a 2-door JK and it didn’t wander or have as much play in the steering as the JT. It was horrific on our last 8hr trip to FL. I could barely keep the MF in my lane when a stout crosswind would blow or another larger vehicle would pass us. I was getting passed all the time too. I don’t get in a hurry and run about 70. There were assholes in pickups and large SUVs running 90 past me that nearly pushed me out of my lane when they would go by. Shit was a nightmare.

Nothing else bothers me about the Gladiator.

There is a video by a Gladiator owner about tightening the gears in the steering box, but I couldn't find it again. It was a pretty simple fix.

 

[Geoarch]

Some of the problem with their reviews is that they are "car guys", and are holding the Gladiator to a higher standard.

Its not fair, but its also somewhat reasonable. First time buyers need to know that the $55k vehicle they are considering has worse road manners than a base $19k Hyundai. Its a compromise for the off road ability. And its important that buyers understand that.

Unacceptable is the issue with the transmission. As someone who keeps his cars for 10+ years and 150k, this is a worry for me as I go round and round with buying a Gladiator.

Re the need to floor the throttle, this is partly a result in their choice of a manual trans. I love sticks. I had one in my VW years ago, then in my Acura, and I had one in my Subaru STI.

But in a daily driven truck, a manual transmission is just a chore. Especially with the Pentastar. It makes reasonable power but needs RPMs to make that power. If you have a stick, that means dropping 2 gears to merge. Something many drivers won't bother with. They'll just stand on it and accept the glacial acceleration. With an automatic, you just put your foot down and away you go.

The manual transmission actually goes better with the turbo 4, since that engine makes decent power at low RPM and wouldn't need to be downshifted as much. But you can't get a MT in the turbo 4

I wondered why you couldn't get a manual with the diesel. I guess there is an engineering reason, but it could be great.

 

[NachoRuby]

I wondered why you couldn't get a manual with the diesel. I guess there is an engineering reason, but it could be great.

If 5% of gladiators are manual, and 10% are diesel, the take rate is just too small to make a manual Diesel gladiator. You're talking .5%. Not worth the engineering and epa certification, unfortunately. It'd be fun though. But less than 500 vehicles a year.

Still loving daily driving my mt gladiator though.

 

[Geoarch]

If 5% of gladiators are manual, and 10% are diesel, the take rate is just too small to make a manual Diesel gladiator. You're talking .5%. Not worth the engineering and epa certification, unfortunately. It'd be fun though. But less than 500 vehicles a year.

Still loving daily driving my mt gladiator though.

Is that what it is Chad, 5%. I think we talked about it before. I just put it down to "I'm old".

 

[NachoRuby]

Is that what it is Chad, 5%. I think we talked about it before. I just put it down to "I'm old".

4.48% manual on 2021's, according to @u-joint's data. And 9.36% diesel.

 

[Iamstubb]

I wondered why you couldn't get a manual with the diesel. I guess there is an engineering reason, but it could be great.

That would have been perfect for me. Manual Diesel Rubicon. I opted for the manual because I missed rowing the gears. Compromise on towing though. I don't regret it yet because I am still in the market for a travel trailer and there seems to be pretty good options still available for a decent one within the 3.6 Rubi's specs.

 

[CerOf]

If the gasser with a manual can’t handle towing much, imagine a diesel with manual with 150+lbs ft torque trying to tow.

 

[NachoRuby]

If the gasser with a manual can’t handle towing much, imagine the manual with 150+lbs ft torque trying to tow.

There are other manual transmissions, same way the auto doesn't have the exact same manual transmission in diesel form... There are plenty that can handle the torque of the diesel. But it's just not worth it to sell 500 jeeps a year. Those other transmissions and clutches probably cost more too. Diminishing returns. But a nice Tremec TR6060 should do the trick very well

 

[bakobobby]

Kinda hard to read but I get it at the same time. They cater to a normie crowd. They have to sell magazines. They probably enjoy all the luxuries they experience a little too much to be giving the Gladiator high marks not to mention they did have a spate of issues which is on Stellatis.

 

[seven30]

That would have been perfect for me. Manual Diesel Rubicon. I opted for the manual because I missed rowing the gears. Compromise on towing though. I don't regret it yet because I am still in the market for a travel trailer and there seems to be pretty good options still available for a decent one within the 3.6 Rubi's specs.

I tow with mine. The clutch is not the issue so much as the dualmass flywheel with its enhanced stall feature To avoid stalling requires more slipping = more heat. I think Id like a transfer case with separate Hi-Lo and 2wd-4wd levers. Id have 2wd-Lo for backing.

 

[bailer]

There is a video by a Gladiator owner about tightening the gears in the steering box, but I couldn't find it again. It was a pretty simple fix.

 

[4xjeepr]

Man, you should have heard my old 53 M38A1 with the fiberglass top, or the 73 CJ-5. We really didn't have conversations in those vehicles. The Gladiator is silent compared to them. All my trucks have been manuals.

I definitely know what you mean. My first Jeep was a 1977 CJ7 with an 8in lift and 39" Gumbo Monster Mudders. Just to hear the radio I installed 10" speakers right behind the seats. Conversations were not to be had.

 

[JKJ]

I think we are in need of a protest meetup at their offices in Ann Arbor.
We can drive circles around their building blocking them in until we all break down.
Should be done by lunchtime based on their reliability findings. Also, closest dealership is only 8 miles away. Maybe get a group deal there for repairs.

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