BabblingBafoon
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Tim
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2020
- Threads
- 1
- Messages
- 47
- Reaction score
- 35
- Location
- Downingtown, PA
- Vehicle(s)
- 2020 Jeep Gladiator Sport S
- Occupation
- Sales Management
- Thread starter
- #1
Brand new to the forum and literally just bought my Gladiator on Friday, July 31st, 2020. My wife has owned a 2019 Wrangler Unlimited Moab for about 1.5 years that both she and I love. She really wants to modify her Jeep, but hasn't pulled the trigger yet. Now that I have my OWN Jeep, and love to mod, she is feeling the pressure to mod hers before me! LOL She wants to lift hers and put bigger wheels/tires on it, and I wouldn't mind getting her stock wheels/tires... so could be a win/win!
I don't even know where to start with this thread, because there is so much I already want to do with it, but my first purchase will most likely be a tonneau cover for the bed to enhance storage options. I would have bought one Saturday morning (August 1st, 2020), but Quadtratec in West Chester, PA is closed on Saturday's and Sunday's right now due to COVID.
I have been dealing with neuromuscular issues for a few years now, and recently (FINALLY) was diagnosed with PLS (Primary Lateral Sclerosis). I mention this because I had an awesomely fun 2019 VW Golf R that I modded to make my dream car... but with my neuromuscular issues, I was losing the ability to drive quickly and trust myself to do so safely (reaction times, reflexes, and all that). So, I decided it would be better for me to have something that didn't make me want to drive fast, and the Jeep is like a complete 180 from my Golf R. In fact, I often find myself driving below the speed limit in the Jeep just because it's so relaxing and fun to me. If you are interested in my Golf R build thread, you can find it here: https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/index.php?threads/babblingbafoon’s-2019-us-golf-r-mk7-5-build.363727/
Not sure if a hot-hatch build would interest many people on a Jeep forum, but thought I would share. It was a fun build-out and awesome car. I'm sad to no longer have it, but it's for the best. My wife says she feels much more at peace now that I have the Gladiator.
I have to say, Jeep's models and available options between those models are SUPER strange. In reality, there isn't a way to order the exact Gladiator with the exact options I would want. That just seems silly. The max towing models don't have access, from the factory, to some of the higher-end features (good thing there is a great after-market). Also, I'm extremely impatient and don't want to place an order and then have to wait for weeks to get what I ordered. So, the fact that I got the vehicle I got makes me happy but would have been better if I could have bought it the way I wanted from the start.
A few things that I am happy about:
I don't even know where to start with this thread, because there is so much I already want to do with it, but my first purchase will most likely be a tonneau cover for the bed to enhance storage options. I would have bought one Saturday morning (August 1st, 2020), but Quadtratec in West Chester, PA is closed on Saturday's and Sunday's right now due to COVID.
I have been dealing with neuromuscular issues for a few years now, and recently (FINALLY) was diagnosed with PLS (Primary Lateral Sclerosis). I mention this because I had an awesomely fun 2019 VW Golf R that I modded to make my dream car... but with my neuromuscular issues, I was losing the ability to drive quickly and trust myself to do so safely (reaction times, reflexes, and all that). So, I decided it would be better for me to have something that didn't make me want to drive fast, and the Jeep is like a complete 180 from my Golf R. In fact, I often find myself driving below the speed limit in the Jeep just because it's so relaxing and fun to me. If you are interested in my Golf R build thread, you can find it here: https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/index.php?threads/babblingbafoon’s-2019-us-golf-r-mk7-5-build.363727/
Not sure if a hot-hatch build would interest many people on a Jeep forum, but thought I would share. It was a fun build-out and awesome car. I'm sad to no longer have it, but it's for the best. My wife says she feels much more at peace now that I have the Gladiator.
I have to say, Jeep's models and available options between those models are SUPER strange. In reality, there isn't a way to order the exact Gladiator with the exact options I would want. That just seems silly. The max towing models don't have access, from the factory, to some of the higher-end features (good thing there is a great after-market). Also, I'm extremely impatient and don't want to place an order and then have to wait for weeks to get what I ordered. So, the fact that I got the vehicle I got makes me happy but would have been better if I could have bought it the way I wanted from the start.
A few things that I am happy about:
- Buying the max-towing capacity model, Sport S - I didn't realize until I got home and compared the models online for available options (because the available options seem crazy to me) how big of a difference it was between the models. In some cases, it is a difference of over 3,700 lbs (4,000 versus 7,650)!!
- The BEST color (IMO) for this vehicle - The dealer had it in Sting-Gray, which I absolutely LOVE (they only had this one unit in this color, so thank goodness it matched my major needs)
- Having cloth seats! - My wife's Moab has black leather seats and they are burning hot with the top open when it's sunny. She wishes she had cloth.
- Getting a model with adaptive cruise as a priority over the upgraded stereo with Apple CarPlay... both together would have been nice, but the stereo is easy to upgrade later... adaptive cruise, not so much. They didn't have any Sport S models with both... one or the other.
- Factory LED headlights not even an option on Sport S -- I love the new Jeep LED headlights, DRLs, and fog lights. The last 3 vehicles I have owned had LED headlights and going back is difficult. I know there are aftermarket options, but this is silly to me. I'm honestly not even sure if I can add the Mopar LED headlights to my vehicle after the fact, but I will look into that option. I know my next beef has been a struggle to add for many.
- Passive Proximity Keyless Entry - My last 4 vehicles have had this, where you never have to remove the key-fob from your pocket, and it matters more than you would think. I knew this would bug me, but figured I should be able to add it after purchase. Well, there are several LONG threads of what a pain this has been for many, and it seems to all come down to whether or not (today anyway) you can find a dealer that will get the coding done for you. This thread seems to be the latest where people are getting it done successfully, so there is hope at least. I am hoping my dealer will do it because I don't want to live without this.
- No Automatic Temp Control or Dual-Zone - The lack of dual-zone is livable... the completely manual controls is BS! Maybe it seems petty, but I haven't had to mess with climate controls, other than temp, for like 8 years! It was kind of funny because I couldn't even figure out how to make it work for a few seconds... it's all coming back to me now.
- No Apple CarPlay - I already mentioned above that this was a lower priority and there are many options available aftermarket, but it would have been great if this exact vehicle also had the premium sound system with the subwoofer. My wife's Moab has the 8.4" premium system with the subwoofer and it sounds great. I will probably go with the Alpine system designed for Jeeps that integrates with the factory systems. I may simply go with just the head unit or a less expensive model because I hardly listen to music while driving in the past year, but CarPlay is nice to have for calls and GPS. Also looking at possible wireless charging phone holders and play the audio through Bluetooth. There are lots of options.
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