Is the Gladiator at risk for cancellation?

[ShadowsPapa]

What color Mojave? Pics or it’s not there.

Don’t mind the drool.

all this speculation makes me weary. I love my 22 JTO and have no real concerns over the future of the model.

Gotta be honest - no compelling reason to trade at this point.
Besides - moving over:
RSE power steps
Plow hardware and the massive amount of wiring involved
Winch, wiring, solenoid
backup lights and wiring to run them from the aux switch and while in reverse,
...........
Starting over with tonneau cover latches, 12v and USB outlets in the bed, tailgate ladder, springs, phone mount, all of the stuff I've added or changed. It would take pretty much a week every day all day to move stuff over or start over.
The snow plow itself took hours and hours - and the Mojave sits way too high for the plow mount. I'd have to buy other mount kit.
Mojave springs would be too soft to carry the weight so I'd have to do another spring swap - and first, figure out which springs I'd need (took two tries on my Overland)
OMG.
I really don't feel like dealing with all of that unless some really fantastic friends said "hey, I'll come move all that stuff over for you".

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[Hootbro]

Who knows - UAW contracts, supplier contracts? Other logistics?
It would be all speculation unless I can tag one of the AMC people to insert some first-hand knowledge into it. There's still some of them around.

They even kept producing Eagle through the 1988 model year.

I think it was funny seeing both AMC and Chrysler stickers and decals under the hood of mine.

Overall, I will defer to you on most things AMC as that seems to be your passion project more than mine.

I just remember shopping and ordering back then my 1988 Dodge Dakota. I test drove plenty of Comanches before deciding on my Dakota. The Dakota just seemed more truck like with frame on body design over the Comanche. The one feather in the Comanche cap was the 4.0 engine. The Dakota's at that time were pre Magnum era LA based V6's or the K 2.2L 4 cylinder.

When Chrysler bought AMC in 1987, even Stevie Wonder could see it was not going to bode well going forward with the aging legacy AMC factories and products and Chrysler was going to gut and only save what was going to make them money.

There is an obscure book by a former 12 year Chrysler Engineer named Evan Boberg that goes into some detail recalling the AMC engineers and factory managers that got promoted within Chrysler rapidly because Iacocca recognized their talent for do more with less from their AMC days. The book goes into some detail of the buffoonery at Chrysler but recognized the talent the AMC white collar staff brought to Chrysler.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1414040776

 

[Rocksalt]

Fair points…….but if you look at the sales numbers..

https://www.goodcarbadcar.net/jeep-gladiator-sales-figures/

slumping sales numbers are the true factor... followi the money hunny

 

[ecidiego]

Gotta be honest - no compelling reason to trade at this point.
Besides - moving over:
RSE power steps
Plow hardware and the massive amount of wiring involved
Winch, wiring, solenoid
backup lights and wiring to run them from the aux switch and while in reverse,
...........
Starting over with tonneau cover latches, 12v and USB outlets in the bed, tailgate ladder, springs, phone mount, all of the stuff I've added or changed. It would take pretty much a week every day all day to move stuff over or start over.
The snow plow itself took hours and hours - and the Mojave sits way too high for the plow mount. I'd have to buy other mount kit.
Mojave springs would be too soft to carry the weight so I'd have to do another spring swap - and first, figure out which springs I'd need (took two tries on my Overland)
OMG.
I really don't feel like dealing with all of that unless some really fantastic friends said "hey, I'll come move all that stuff over for you".

You might also get one that starts leaking at the rear glass within the first month

 

[bucolic]

Things are tough all over:

https://fordauthority.com/2024/01/ford-bronco-stairstep-program-initiated-amid-high-inventory/

 

[TinMan2020]

Like this?

 

[RubiAR]

I see a similar issue happening with the Gladiator that happened with the Commander. Ill-advised engine platforms, except the 5.7. But could many afford the 5.7 option? No way, especially in what ended up being a decently strong recession. My 5.7 Commander was almost 50K in 2006. That equates to around $77K back then. Not everybody is jumping for the fully-loaded diesel Rubicon priced Gladiator.

I think it was a perfect storm that's affected the Gladiator. Not long after it releases, Covid hits. Raw material shortages along with restricted travel, shutdowns, you name it all. Then production catches up, but prices have gone up. Now that prices and interest rates have been high, nobody's buying the surplus vehicles. I certainly see the Gladiator having a limited lifespan, at least in it's current form.

I'm also wondering if the release of the new Ram Dakota is going to affect their marketing decisions. Funny enough, the Commander got cancelled to bring the Durango back.

 

[Cburd61]

"Just something to listen to while you're wrenching in the shop".

Yeah, that's about all these video podcasts are good for. Great if you're bored and have nothing else to listen to.

I listen to heavy metal when I’m working on stuff. If that’s not available, I listen to the voices in my head……..

 

[RubiAR]

Like this?

I saw a similar one of these from SoFlo when I was in St Thomas.

 

[Cburd61]

Uh, Comanche doesn't fit at all - go check the real history books there. Iacocca wanted just certain things and was going to trash anything else - and he did. He lied during negotiations, he lied to the UAW workers, he lied over and over to get what he really wanted.

I've talked to some of the insiders - those involved with AMC/Jeep from back then. The Comanche would likely have lived on but for Mr. Rape and Pillage himself.
I've also talked with VAM historians - too bad others speculate as to causes instead of digging into facts.

Jeep would have gone totally under but for AMC - and things were looking up, but Renault killed all their cash (another company that moves in and rapes and pillages and leaves only bones behind - Renault). And then came along Chrysler - it was them who killed Comanche - I mean, it competed with existing lines in Chrysler and Iacocca wanted the Grand Cherokee and some engine designs and other stuff, told everyone scrap all the rest. His mark was on Comanche even as early as 1987. He signed the death certificate.

when I was at orientation, my first day at BMW, the speaker asked our group what was one big thing that affected Chryslers sales? I replied “Lee Iacocca”. He laughed, said “Yes, but what else?” I replied “Quality”, and he said “Exactly”. That was his point, quality can make or break a car company.

 

[Jglad15]

My work truck ( daily, provided by company ) is a '23 Tacoma TRD Offroad. I absolutely hate it. Drives like a boring Camry, sluggish AF transmission, it's literally a total bore.

I guess if I were 80 I'd appreciate the "comfort" provided by the mushy suspension, lazy trans, and couch seats that have 0 lateral support...

Haven't taken it offroad yet ( I do go offroad for work ) but there is no way it will out class my Mojave off road. I seriously hate the damn thing.

Do Toyota owners average sub 6 foot tall? I am 6'2", the steering wheel does not go up nearly enough. It's all the way up and out and it's in my lap. Power seat all the way down. Jeep is fine. The wheel is small too.

I sat in my uncles Tacoma before I bought my gladiator took it through his neighborhood and it was an instant no. Very uncomfortable seating position. I also tried taking his top and doors off too, but for some reason they wouldn’t come off. I like the looks of the interior more in my Gladiator. And I was able to fit 37s on mine with out a lift. I also can’t recall a time the long wheelbase has held me back yet in moderate to slightly difficult trails. Aoaa gets tight as hellll. Had to do 2.5in lift on my wife’s cousins Tacoma to fit 33’s. Plenty of reasons to get a Gladiator over a Tacoma. I commute 25 miles to work one way every day, been plenty comfy. To each their own just not his preference.

 

[Cburd61]

I hope my Gladiator will be the last new vehicle I have to buy. I plan on taking care of it, and it lasting me a long long time. If they do discontinue it, maybe I’ll have a future classic. Back in the day, I looked at an Eagle, (I’m jealous, shadowspapa!), a Scrambler, and a Bronco. Bought the Bronco, and kept it for 30 odd years.

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