Regret ordering if 2-Door Gladiator possible?

[lookitsadam]

I’ve a 2-door JLR that represents 20% of JL sales vs. JL wagons, so I hear ya, but not having a backseat is a non-starter for what the market is buying today.

Now, a pair of suicide doors opening to a jump seat, like the 2005 Gladiator show vehicle had, that would be a cool compromise.

https://www.allpar.com/model/jeep/gladiator.html

If they make a 2 door I imagine it will be almost identical to the J6 concept from this year. Jeep already admitted they were too lazy to redesign the back doors on the Gladiator, no way they completely design brand new doors for a 2 door that will only make up 20% of sales at best.

If they add a back seat to a 2 door, it'll be accessed the same as a 2 door Wrangler by sliding the front seats forward to climb over.

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[Karnaj]

Seems like there a lot of potential buyers out there that are clamoring for this. Unless they are all talk. The feedback is pretty well received thus far on the potential of a 2 door.....

I would argue there aren't really a lot of them they are just an extremely vocal group on a specialized forum. Once you broaden your polling group numbers of support should drop dramatically.

 

[eternus]

Anybody regret ordering the Gladiator with the “news” of the 2 door actually being a possibility now?

Is "the news" the Jeep Concept they showed? Technically a 2 door was always possible, but they've said repeatedly that the market isn't large enough to justify the cost.

 

[2015er]

I love this picture - after all this is the one that started it all. The 2005 - yes fourteen years ago - Gladiator - this is the 2 door truck Jeep should produce - love the rear cab, driver's side mounted spare tire too.

I hope Mark Allen reads all these posts, or even better - theyre' provided to Mike Manley - BUILD the J-6!!! BUILD the J-6!!! BUILD the J-6!!!

 

[2015er]

Is "the news" the Jeep Concept they showed? Technically a 2 door was always possible, but they've said repeatedly that the market isn't large enough to justify the cost.

That is the EXACT same justification they said stated time-after-time-after-time when they denied they would ever build another Jeep pickup truck. They said that for years after the '05 Gladiator concept rolled out and look where we are today - Gladiator trucks are rolling off the assembly line that they invested billions in. Nope I don't buy it - I think other cab configurations are on the way!

 

[Vegas_Sirk]

Seems like there a lot of potential buyers out there that are clamoring for this. Unless they are all talk. The feedback is pretty well received thus far on the potential of a 2 door. I fall into the category that doesn’t need/want the 4 door. All I need is 2 seats and a decent sized bed for my dog and other various Home Depot items I may buy. My fiancé has the 4 door vehicle. We don’t need 2 family wagons. That’s my take anyway.

They are all talk. Once it comes to buying it they wont, as while its a cool toy, its not practical and most (90%) can afford to buy it as a toy, so they will spend a little more and end up buying the 4 door that is more practical. Its like all the commenters on Jalopnik. They all ask for something to be built yet 95% of them will only buy used cars.

 

[giskard]

Just chiming in to say I am part of the minority here that would be all over a 2 door Gladiator. Assuming, of course, it did not take a big hit in the payload or towing capacities. I don't need rear seats and would get more use out of a longer bed. Though this isn't the primary one, it is one reason I'm not jumping into a Gladiator (yet).

 

[12BNNT]

Another plus to the J6 idea would be that they could do a base trim for fleet sales (I worked at two different places where they only bought compact/mid sized regular cab pickups for their fleet) and then a rubicon version for general public decked as simple or loaded as a customer wanted to be. The guy that wants a toy or work truck can get base rubicon where as the guys/gals that want all the comforts can add the heated leather and all the goodies.

I got rid of my RAM quad cab because the length became problematic anytime I had to park at Walmart parking lot not to mention shoe horning it into the garage. My first truck was a regular cab base ranger and I loved it!! I’m sure there are plenty of young (and old) kids out there that would love to have an inexpensive little pickup.

 

[12BNNT]

Another thought as far as design costs (standing in the garage looking at my 2dr JK)...
What about taking the same JLU frame as they did for the J6 concept using same front half as the JL including 2dr fold and tumble seat but end the cab 19” behind the front door w/same 5’ bed as gladiator?? Still ends up being same length with storage space behind the front seat for alpine sub and such and would then use same sound bar as JL and same bed that’s already been designed and constructed for the gladiator. Only difference would be body tub and have the sports bar turn 90 degrees down right behind the sound bar at the back of the cab. Removable hard top only (let Bestop and others develop a soft top). Only design cost and difference would be body tub, sport bar and hard top... all the other parts are already on the factory lines.

 

[Vegas_Sirk]

Just chiming in to say I am part of the minority here that would be all over a 2 door Gladiator. Assuming, of course, it did not take a big hit in the payload or towing capacities. I don't need rear seats and would get more use out of a longer bed. Though this isn't the primary one, it is one reason I'm not jumping into a Gladiator (yet).

Would you pay the same price for a 2 door as a 4 Door Wrangler? As thats about where pricing would be. Thats the part I think most people don't realize. Even if a 2 door is offered it would be roughly $2K less then the 4 door version. It will never be in the price range of a extended cab Frontier, Ranger or Tacoma.

 

[Vegas_Sirk]

Another plus to the J6 idea would be that they could do a base trim for fleet sales (I worked at two different places where they only bought compact/mid sized regular cab pickups for their fleet) and then a rubicon version for general public decked as simple or loaded as a customer wanted to be. The guy that wants a toy or work truck can get base rubicon where as the guys/gals that want all the comforts can add the heated leather and all the goodies.

I got rid of my RAM quad cab because the length became problematic anytime I had to park at Walmart parking lot not to mention shoe horning it into the garage. My first truck was a regular cab base ranger and I loved it!! I’m sure there are plenty of young (and old) kids out there that would love to have an inexpensive little pickup.

They will never sell this as a fleet vehicle as its a terrible fleet vehicle. Its handling is worst then all the IFS Rangers, Tacomas, and Frontiers on the market, it gets worst milage, and it will never be as cheap due to the removable top. Not to mention FCA is building a new Dakota in the next 2-3 years that will be offered in a cheap base for fleet sales. Its a big part of why the 2 door dosen't make sense for Jeep but it dose for Ford, Chevy, Toyota and Nissan.

 

[starrsRN]

Would you pay the same price for a 2 door as a 4 Door Wrangler? As thats about where pricing would be. Thats the part I think most people don't realize. Even if a 2 door is offered it would be roughly $2K less then the 4 door version. It will never be in the price range of a extended cab Frontier, Ranger or Tacoma.

Base 2 door JLR is 38k I think and base JLR is 43k. So we are at 5k difference

 

[starrsRN]

You have to look at society as a whole also the statistics don’t lie. Couples arnt popping out kids like they used to, and when they are they are having children later and later. Not everybody out there wants a long midsize 4 door truck. Retired individuals also are enamored about the possibility of a regular cab gladiator. Will it sell as well as the 4 door? Probably not, because the 2 door wrangler doesn’t sell as well as the 4 door. Will people want to buy the 2 door JT? Hell yes they will. They would be foolish to not do this after EJS. The lines to look at the concept will be eye popping for them. I honestly believe at this point the question isn’t how will they do it, but when is this going to happen.

 

[Fcmalie]

The hurdle to this actually going to production isn't how many people would buy the 2 door, or even how many would buy the 2 door instead of a 4 door if it was offered, but how many people that are saying no to a gladiator completely would they gain by offering a 2 door. In all honesty not many.

Half the people I see saying they would prefer a 2 door are still looking to buy a 1st year gladiator.

 

[Vegas_Sirk]

Base 2 door JLR is 38k I think and base JLR is 43k. So we are at 5k difference

Rubicon Base is $38,940 for the 2 door and $42,440 for the 4 door, a difference of $3,500 + add $2,000 premium for it being a Gladiator would give you an entry level price of $40,940 for a 2 door Gladiator Rubicon. Pretty damn expensive for a 2 door truck and I just dont see many people dishing out that kind of money for one that wouldn't be used as a daily driver.

The truth is Jeep pays a lot of money for data mining this kind of stuff so they know better then any of us. I have seen multiple people like Mike Manley state that the business case for the 2 door isnt there and thats why they didn't make it.

As far as people having kids later my wife and are in that boat. Im 40 she is 30 and we are not planning on having kids till next year. But I still picked a 4 door wrangler over the 2 door for my daily incase I wanted to take friends along, have my dogs in the back or take my parents to dinner with us. Its just more practical for people that don't own multiple vehicles. Hell I love the extended cab Raptor but wouldn't buy one for the same reasons.

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