Spicy Pumpkin
Member
- Thread starter
- #1
Hey y'all! New poster here, been eyeing and researching Gladiators for several months and just joined the forum after creeping around for a while. Mods, if I've posted this in the wrong area please accept my apologies!
I'm almost ready to pull the trigger on a '22 Gladiator but have come to what seems to be a pretty tough crossroads. Initially I wanted and found a couple High Altitudes with the features I like, the most important of which are the Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Mirrors. My thought process was that as I would do 90% highway and in-town driving with only occasional forays into overloading and off-roading I could just purchase a different set of all-terrain tires (and if compatible wheels if necessary) to get what I perceive as about 75-80% of what a stock Rubicon or Mojave could do. I wouldn't mind getting into more serious off-road stuff but I don't foresee doing any rock crawling or desert running for at least a couple years as I have zero off-road experience.
...but...
I've starting to really consider just going with a stock Mojave or Rubicon instead as they're typically easier to find in Texas. Thinking about my current driving habits I get along fine with "regular" cruise control in my VW, and while I've enjoyed Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Mirrors in several rental cars I've driven around the country I'm wondering it's really worth missing out on the extra 20-25% capability of a Rubicon or Mojave just to have those safety features in a High Altitude with aftermarket all-terrain wheels and tires.
*As a quick aside, I have searched and the only Gladiator I found locally with ACC and other "premium safety features" in a Mojave or Rubicon trim was a '22 Rubicon with all the options that was used as the loaner car for a dealership. Has all the bells and whistles but is being advertised at $60k with almost 8,000 miles on it and they say would still be honored as a new vehicle (so the Jeep Cares and warranty would start from the date of purchase with 8000 miles). This would not be my favorite option as I have no idea how to trust the dealership or how to check over a 8000 mile vehicle for signs of abuse.*
I know a lot of this will come down to personal choice and how I intend to use it, but I'm typically a believer in the "buy once, cry once" philosophy of major purchases and am definitely not educated enough to think about lift and leveling kits on a HA or adding ACC and such safety options to a stock Mojave/Rubicon. Also, while I'm currently living in Texas I don't foresee staying here forever and am considering a move to Tennessee in the next 1-5 years (so my environment and terrain may likely change from a relatively flat area to a more hill and mountainous one).
In a nutshell for those who are willing to share their thoughts...
1. Is it worth considering a High Altitude and adding new wheels/all-terrain tires to have only 80% of the capabilities of a stock Mojave/Rubicon just to have the ACC, Blind Spot Monitoring, etc?
2. For those who were considering a Gladiator with modern safety conveniences such as ACC but still want to go off-road, how much of a factor were said safety conveniences in your final decision (and how do you feel about that decision now)?
Thanks y'all!!!
I'm almost ready to pull the trigger on a '22 Gladiator but have come to what seems to be a pretty tough crossroads. Initially I wanted and found a couple High Altitudes with the features I like, the most important of which are the Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Mirrors. My thought process was that as I would do 90% highway and in-town driving with only occasional forays into overloading and off-roading I could just purchase a different set of all-terrain tires (and if compatible wheels if necessary) to get what I perceive as about 75-80% of what a stock Rubicon or Mojave could do. I wouldn't mind getting into more serious off-road stuff but I don't foresee doing any rock crawling or desert running for at least a couple years as I have zero off-road experience.
...but...
I've starting to really consider just going with a stock Mojave or Rubicon instead as they're typically easier to find in Texas. Thinking about my current driving habits I get along fine with "regular" cruise control in my VW, and while I've enjoyed Adaptive Cruise Control and Blind Spot Mirrors in several rental cars I've driven around the country I'm wondering it's really worth missing out on the extra 20-25% capability of a Rubicon or Mojave just to have those safety features in a High Altitude with aftermarket all-terrain wheels and tires.
*As a quick aside, I have searched and the only Gladiator I found locally with ACC and other "premium safety features" in a Mojave or Rubicon trim was a '22 Rubicon with all the options that was used as the loaner car for a dealership. Has all the bells and whistles but is being advertised at $60k with almost 8,000 miles on it and they say would still be honored as a new vehicle (so the Jeep Cares and warranty would start from the date of purchase with 8000 miles). This would not be my favorite option as I have no idea how to trust the dealership or how to check over a 8000 mile vehicle for signs of abuse.*
I know a lot of this will come down to personal choice and how I intend to use it, but I'm typically a believer in the "buy once, cry once" philosophy of major purchases and am definitely not educated enough to think about lift and leveling kits on a HA or adding ACC and such safety options to a stock Mojave/Rubicon. Also, while I'm currently living in Texas I don't foresee staying here forever and am considering a move to Tennessee in the next 1-5 years (so my environment and terrain may likely change from a relatively flat area to a more hill and mountainous one).
In a nutshell for those who are willing to share their thoughts...
1. Is it worth considering a High Altitude and adding new wheels/all-terrain tires to have only 80% of the capabilities of a stock Mojave/Rubicon just to have the ACC, Blind Spot Monitoring, etc?
2. For those who were considering a Gladiator with modern safety conveniences such as ACC but still want to go off-road, how much of a factor were said safety conveniences in your final decision (and how do you feel about that decision now)?
Thanks y'all!!!
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