Couple of questions before I make a buying decision

[Pedalmasher]

A word of warning… accessorizing and upgradingcan become an addiction. ? Set budget.

Also, the tires will almost certainly start to feel small on whatever you buy. This is doubly true for the Sport S, though. I do like the Willy’s suggestion, though. Nice medium ground, but it’s mostly an appearance package so you not paying extra for all the fancy parts on the Rubicon and Mojave you’ll never see or use.

Thanks, I’ll look more closely at the Willys trim!

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[NachoRuby]

So you are essentially paying that extra money for a hood, decals, red dash and wheels.

Depending on exterior color, you might not even get the red dash! On my Nacho, the dash is gray like the other trims but matte instead of glossy. I think Punkn and Gecko are the same.

 

[Motoarch]

May I suggest splitting the difference between the Rubicon and Sport S? Get a Willys. It'll have some of the looks you're after, for less cost. You might be able to work in a tonneau cover, But I doubt they'll do a grille swap . Either build/find one with the black grille, or just buy a black grille yourself.

No matter which trim you get, you should offroad at least once. You might like it!

Get a Willys.

All the dashing good looks without the extra cost of stuff you don't need.

 

[rr11]

I have a Sport S, the tires and wheels were replaced with a Rubicon take off set. My highway ride is fine. A couple of times a month I do a 600 mile round trip and I am happy with the ride. I plain on replacing my shocks at some time, however I will run the stock ones until they need replacing.

 

[dcmdon]

It would be totally foolish of you to get the Rubicon.

If you want the luxury features, get an Overland and buy some take-off Rubicon wheels on craiglsist. Then sell your overland wheels. The whole upgrade will probably cost you a net of $500.

If you don't care about luxury, then get a sport S and do the same kind of swap for Rubicon wheels.

If you want the Gladiator that rides best on the street and dont' really care about money, then get the Mojave with the standard AT tires.

***Edit - I just saw you are a retired airline pilot. I'm a private pilot with several ATP firends. I guess your financial situation is highly dependent on how many ex-wives you are paying alimony to. Ha.

I have a friend who flew freight into and out of Bagram for years for Atlas. He made a small fortune with all the OT and hazard pay. But he has 2 ex-wives alimony's to service. Ha.

I have another friend who is like the number 1 A320 first officer. He gets whatever schedule he wants. Refuses to move up to the left seat. He's still on his first wife and doesn't need the money Ha.

One other thing. Since you are retired. You are probably not young and impulsive. There are several dealers on this site who offer 6% off invoice. You can order exactly what you want and get a good deal.

And since you can fly as a non-rev, it won't cost you anything to get to the dealer.

 

[dcmdon]

Get a Willys.

All the dashing good looks without the extra cost of stuff you don't need.

I agree with this. But for one problem. The Willys comes with mud tires that are terrible on the road. Very loud.

Does the Willys ride higher than the sport S?? Or is it just bigger tires.

For what its worth, I think the Willys wheels are the best looking ones jeep offers. Maybe the answer is to get a Willys and swap out the tires.

 

[Pedalmasher]

I have a Sport S, the tires and wheels were replaced with a Rubicon take off set. My highway ride is fine. A couple of times a month I do a 600 mile round trip and I am happy with the ride. I plain on replacing my shocks at some time, however I will run the stock ones until they need replacing.

 

[Pedalmasher]

Thanks for the reply!

 

[Pedalmasher]

It would be totally foolish of you to get the Rubicon.

If you want the luxury features, get an Overland and buy some take-off Rubicon wheels on craiglsist. Then sell your overland wheels. The whole upgrade will probably cost you a net of $500.

If you don't care about luxury, then get a sport S and do the same kind of swap for Rubicon wheels.

If you want the Gladiator that rides best on the street and dont' really care about money, then get the Mojave with the standard AT tires.

***Edit - I just saw you are a retired airline pilot. I'm a private pilot with several ATP firends. I guess your financial situation is highly dependent on how many ex-wives you are paying alimony to. Ha.

I have a friend who flew freight into and out of Bagram for years for Atlas. He made a small fortune with all the OT and hazard pay. But he has 2 ex-wives alimony's to service. Ha.

I have another friend who is like the number 1 A320 first officer. He gets whatever schedule he wants. Refuses to move up to the left seat. He's still on his first wife and doesn't need the money Ha.

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback.

 

[Pedalmasher]

I agree with this. But for one problem. The Willys comes with mud tires that are terrible on the road. Very loud.

Does the Willys ride higher than the sport S?? Or is it just bigger tires.

For what its worth, I think the Willys wheels are the best looking ones jeep offers. Maybe the answer is to get a Willys and swap out the tires.

THanks, there is almost too many variables to consider with this purchase!

 

[dcmdon]

THanks, there is almost too many variables to consider with this purchase!

Reread my post, I added a bunch of stuff. you might find it funny.

 

[dcmdon]

I noticed the 911 in your signature.

If you have the cash and want something that drives RIGHT. Get a mojave. I raced cars and motorcycles when I was younger. I chased the elusive "sorted" suspension combination of compression and rebound damping and spring rtes.

The Mojave has a properly sorted suspension for on road use.

They sell it as "desert racing". But think about what desert racing is. Its moving at speed over whops and bumps. I test drove a lot of Gladiators and the others felt like ox carts compared to the Mojave.

 

[Hootbro]

Having recently sold my 2020 Gladiator Rubicon and buying a 2021 Gladiator Willys, I can say in my opinion, the stock suspension and ride qualities of the two are way different.

From my perspective, the Willys is just a glorified appearance package of the Sport model with the same light suspension and spring rates of the Sport with just a set of MT tires, a hood decal and anti-spin rear diff.

Rubicon in factory form handles more planted and with a more firm suspension.

If you plan to install a new lift with replacement springs and new tire/wheel combo, then all that goes out the window and the Sport/Willys models become a better value over the Rubicon.

 

[htremper]

I love the looks of the Rubicon, but in that I have no plans to either tow or use it off-road, I'm trying to decide if it is worth it just for the looks. Three important questions: 1) I see a lot of comments in reviews about the loose steering at highway speeds. Does the various Gladiator packages handle the same on the highway? I would think that with a car more dedicated to off-road, the the handling might not be as good as the Sport S. 2) Is the ride of the Rubicon as good as that of the Sport S on the highway? And 3) I would assume that gas mileage in the city would be worse with the Rubicon versus the Sport - is that true?

Oh and yes, there is a white Sport S in transit to my local dealer, and probably the only thing I don't particularly like about it is that it has the white versus the black grill. Would it be a big deal to ask for a swap out? I know with the current conditions, it is pretty difficult to deal, something I am not used to having been an owner of over 40 cars in my driving life, but I wonder if a try might be something like asking for a Mopar fold up tonneau cover prior to committing to the truck?

I'm excited about the prospect of finally owning my first Jeep - I have always wanted one and the time has finally come!!

First...what everyone said so far is all true...I love my Rub, I dont take it as offroad as I should ...I drive it a bunch...I camp a bunch...but dont get to use the bells and whistles that it comes with...at the end of the day I would/will get another

Second, as an avid cyclist (road competing un DU's and now gravel races)...I struggled with how to carry my rig(s). I have a bed rack for a RTT that can also hold bikes on the side like saddlebags and they lock. At the same time I use KUAT hitch rack...which I love but sitting on the tailgate changing shoes sucks with those...AND gas mileage is less using that one. (I am sure someone here can tell me why). Anyway...best car for this stuff

 

[Pedalmasher]

I noticed the 911 in your signature.

If you have the cash and want something that drives RIGHT. Get a mojave. I raced cars and motorcycles when I was younger. I chased the elusive "sorted" suspension combination of compression and rebound damping and spring rtes.

The Mojave has a properly sorted suspension for on road use.

They sell it as "desert racing". But think about what desert racing is. Its moving at speed over whops and bumps. I test drove a lot of Gladiators and the others felt like ox carts compared to the Mojave.

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