Gladiator Q4 2019 sales numbers out - thoughts?

[PyrPatriot]

Since the JT is based on the Wrangler and the Wrangler is designed around the basic size of a V6, "additional engineering" won't be enough. What people are talking about with a V8 is a whole different platform altogether.

Well they got a Hellcat into a Grand Cherokee. Maybe they will come out with a truck based on that? Or combine the JT with a GC to make things work?

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[ALVagabond]

Well they got a Hellcat into a Grand Cherokee. Maybe they will come out with a truck based on that? Or combine the JT with a GC to make things work?

Grand Cherokee is designed to accept a V8. It's an option on a number of trim levels, unlike the JT (or JL, for that matter).

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Grand Cherokee is designed to accept a V8. It's an option on a number of trim levels, unlike the JT (or JL, for that matter).

V8 has been a GC option for years. About time for a refresh on that platform, though - I hated it when Chrysler made the GC look FAT like a Pacifica. I missed the sleek classy look of the WJ platform. My wife likes her Grand Cherokee but to me it looks bulky and fat - so I don't argue - it's HER Jeep.

 

[JRobes]

V8 has been a GC option for years. About time for a refresh on that platform, though - I hated it when Chrysler made the GC look FAT like a Pacifica. I missed the sleek classy look of the WJ platform. My wife likes her Grand Cherokee but to me it looks bulky and fat - so I don't argue - it's HER Jeep.

I might be a little biased since I own an '04 V8 HO WJ, but I agree. Pic from this summer

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I might be a little biased since I own an '04 V8 HO WJ, but I agree. Pic from this summer

SWEET!

This was my father's 04 WJ - I bought from the estate after he was killed. Wheels are a MESS and the rear wiper doesn't work, needs a bit of stuff done here and there but runs like a champ, reliable, smooth. It's the 4.0. It has 125,000 miles and I put new rocker panels on it since it was just starting to show signs of rust-through in the rockers.

My wife jokes that we now have two Jeeps with the 3.6 and two vehicles with the 4.0 since I have this WJ with a 4.0 and my SX4 has a 1994 ZJ 4.0
Four vehicles with Jeep engines, 3 are Jeeps, one is the father of the unibody Cherokee in a way, the Eagle SX4.

Man I love the look of your little WJ there. Nice

 

[Capt. B]

So here’s a couple of things I’ve heard from non-Jeep folks:
1) It’s an ugly truck, unless...
2) Lifted it looks really sharp
3) Rubicons are insanely priced but look good (see #2)
4) Why would I pay in the $30s and low $40s for a non-lifted ugly truck

Jeep people (me included) love it. But if you want huge sale numbers you have to attract non-Jeepers.

Final thought: I love my Gladiator.

 

[5JeepsAz]

SWEET!

This was my father's 04 WJ - I bought from the estate after he was killed. Wheels are a MESS and the rear wiper doesn't work, needs a bit of stuff done here and there but runs like a champ, reliable, smooth. It's the 4.0. It has 125,000 miles and I put new rocker panels on it since it was just starting to show signs of rust-through in the rockers.

My wife jokes that we now have two Jeeps with the 3.6 and two vehicles with the 4.0 since I have this WJ with a 4.0 and my SX4 has a 1994 ZJ 4.0
Four vehicles with Jeep engines, 3 are Jeeps, one is the father of the unibody Cherokee in a way, the Eagle SX4.

Man I love the look of your little WJ there. Nice

Very sorry to learn about the sudden loss of your father. Glad to see you are keeping on. I remember the 90's when Grand Cherokee was unparalleled and it got better with your vintage.

 

[khokhonutt]

So here’s a couple of things I’ve heard from non-Jeep folks:
1) It’s an ugly truck, unless...
2) Lifted it looks really sharp
3) Rubicons are insanely priced but look good (see #2)
4) Why would I pay in the $30s and low $40s for a non-lifted ugly truck

Jeep people (me included) love it. But if you want huge sale numbers you have to attract non-Jeepers.

Final thought: I love my Gladiator.

IMHO most Wranglers look goofy unless lifted and yet they sell like hot cakes. Rubicon Wranglers are also insanely priced, yet they sell like hot cakes. If you're looking for cheap, you're probably not going to buy any Wrangler or Gladiator. I think the price argument is a bit overrated. The markup for a Gladiator versus a comparable Wrangler is like $3000. I'm not saying that's nothing, but the Wranglers sell like hot cakes despite similar pricing.

I do agree that the Gladiator is a specialized buy. I've heard or seen many current Jeep owners who poo poo it over cost and length and break over angle and rear departure angle. Many of the same things were said about the 4 door Jeeps when they first came out. Then people built them and liked the extra room and now you see more of them than anything. I know the limitations of even a built Gladiator, but I've wanted a Jeep truck because I love Wranglers and I need/want a truck. It's the perfect solution for me, but not necessarily others.

I'm not sure that's ever going to change. The old J-10s and J-20s are awesome to me, but it's not like they ever dominated the market. I've always wanted an MJ. I thought they were cool, but again, they never ruled the market. I do hope Jeep continues to make and improve the Gladiator, but for now, I'm glad I've got mine. The biggest thing I'm hopeful for, after Sema, is that we'll start to see the aftermarket options mature. A more mature aftermarket will make build options more plentiful. More built JTs will help people see the potential, rather than seeing an ugly, unlifted truck (not my opinion).

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Very sorry to learn about the sudden loss of your father. Glad to see you are keeping on. I remember the 90's when Grand Cherokee was unparalleled and it got better with your vintage.

Thanks - there's a hell of a back-story I won't get into here.......... still a struggle based on some things.
My wife says that since I rarely drive the WJ - think about selling it. Can't do that yet - still thinking of fixing it up further, having the wheels remachined and refinished, and if I did sell, it would have to go to family. This was his pride and joy - he even made special effort to make sure I saw it and showed it off to me.
I liked the Grand Cherokee when they first came out but agree, they kept getting better and IMO, the WJ series was the best looking of them all. Like many things - it's a matter of personal taste, but it looks sleek, quick, nimble - and nimble lines count for me. (why I like the simple lines of the first Javelins)

So here’s a couple of things I’ve heard from non-Jeep folks:
1) It’s an ugly truck, unless...
2) Lifted it looks really sharp
3) Rubicons are insanely priced but look good (see #2)
4) Why would I pay in the $30s and low $40s for a non-lifted ugly truck

Jeep people (me included) love it. But if you want huge sale numbers you have to attract non-Jeepers.

It's in part due to that's what is EXPECTED. People see them lifted and modified later and that's what they expect.
They EXPECT to see one lifted. If no one had ever seen any of them lifted, then they'd have a different frame of reference on which to based their opinion of appearance.
And of course you are getting that from non-Jeep people. Jeep people in general will like the looks. Sure the tough guys, bigger wheels = bigger man, will tell you any non-lifted Jeep is butt-ugly.
To me, the Ford F150 was among the most ugly trucks made- looked like a weak toy. The rounded lines, wimpy looking box, it didn't look truck, looked like a toy sold to the women for running to the store. Capable, possibly, but based on looks alone, I never even bothered looking at the Ford trucks when I was shopping in 2011 - couldn't stand the looks. And I came from a 95 F250 so I was not against Ford trucks in any way.

Funny thing, in the forum I operate I have posted pics of mine - got thumbs-up on looks. Some are surprised I'm thinking of mods.
So I guess, it's all perception. Appearance is an individual taste. Some non-Jeep people will really like or appreciate it.
I doubt FCA wants "huge" sales numbers, not yet. Get foot in door, got it released before some of the competition came out with updates. In some markets, first out the door wins.

 

[Trippin01]

I didn't base my decision on how popular I needed the Gladiator to be, quite the opposite. The more I hear from the all the other brand owners about how ugly it is or, lack of this or that, the more I wanted to learn about it and the more I embraced its differences from the "bland" competitors. Besides Grilles, Chevy, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, and the god awefull Honda look almost the same......BORING. The less Gladiators I see out there, the happier I am to own one. If I'm not mistaken, Jeep doesn't out sell anyone in any particular category, except maybe Wranglers, and thats because there are no other straight axles in their category. so, big deal. I wish they would limit production to 20,000 a year so mine will appreciate in value.

I'll admit, I don't have any Jeep stock (FCA stock) so I really don't care as long as my warranty is honored for the promised duration.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I didn't base my decision on how popular I needed the Gladiator to be, quite the opposite. The more I hear from the all the other brand owners about how ugly it is or, lack of this or that, the more I wanted to learn about it and the more I embraced its differences from the "bland" competitors. Besides Grilles, Chevy, Ford, Toyota, Nissan, and the god awefull Honda look almost the same......BORING. The less Gladiators I see out there, the happier I am to own one. If I'm not mistaken, Jeep doesn't out sell anyone in any particular category, except maybe Wranglers, and thats because there are no other straight axles in their category. so, big deal. I wish they would limit production to 20,000 a year so mine will appreciate in value.

I'll admit, I don't have any Jeep stock (FCA stock) so I really don't care as long as my warranty is honored for the promised duration.

It may be regional, but the GC around here is far more common than any other "SUV" out there (those that call themselves SUVs but sit closer to the ground than my Eagle? LOL. They'd get hung up on bird crap on the road)
Seriously, you see more Jeep Grand Cherokee around here than anything else. I see more of the 90s GCs than I see Toyota SUVs.
Likely regional, and I don't really care, as long as they make a product I like, enjoy, have great luck with, and honor the warranty.
We used to call Jeep the official vehicle of central Iowa.

 

[PyrPatriot]

I didn't base my decision on how popular I needed the Gladiator to be, quite the opposite. The more I hear from the all the other brand owners about how ugly it is or, lack of this or that, the more I wanted to learn about it and the more I embraced its differences from the "bland" competitors.

Same with me and my Honda Element. They only sold 325k of them stateside, hoping the JT is kind of like that, not too many on the road.

 

[futzin']

Same with me and my Honda Element. They only sold 325k of them stateside, hoping the JT is kind of like that, not too many on the road.

Nothing wrong with boxy cars and trucks!

 

[PyrPatriot]

Nothing wrong with boxy cars and trucks!

Except the volume:payload ratio. I was shocked that after 15 years of hauling 1000lbs in the E, it only had a 675lb capacity

 

[5JeepsAz]

In case you go vintage

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