Sport S vs Rubicon

[Zachanadandy]

The full size truck is cumbersome in a parking lot or big city and my JT will get into parking spots, even parking ramps, a large truck would struggle with. UofI hospital ramps p you won't see a full-size truck make it in there. Tow rating is perfect for my needs, power is fine for my needs, I can't say the JT is less comfortable - maybe in the narrow place for the driver's legs, but that's pretty much it. Comfort is fine.
Had a newer Ram as a loaner earlier this summer - big, huge, clunky, hard to maneuver, big in the garage. A lot of wasted sheet metal and wasted space making it just look big.
JT is nimble and quick and easy to maneuver, and great on the interstates. Ride comfort and handling really is no worse than other trucks I've had. Don't know where people get that it handles worse - mine haven't.

Driven slowly they handle the same sure. That's like saying a Nissan altima and a GTR handle the same. Double the speed and then tell me they handle the same. The turning radius is slightly larger, but a parking surface is a parking space. It's not like the JT fits in motorcycle spaces or is the length of a mini Cooper. As far as parking garages, height can be an issue, but my JT is lifted. I haven't encountered a single garage where the JT fits that the ram didn't. Sure if you go crew cab and 8' bed you could have maneuverability issues in tight spots.

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[Zachanadandy]

What about a Colorado or Ranger?


That's what made the early year Gladiators great, you could add the Max Tow to a base Sport with crank windows and manual locks.

I think mid size trucks are a compromise that's only worth making if you wheel it personally. It's not like a Colorado or ranger fit in parking spaces that a 1500 doesn't. It's like they are shrunken down just enough to make no real difference in road use aside from less comfort and less payload and towing.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Driven slowly they handle the same sure. That's like saying a Nissan altima and a GTR handle the same. Double the speed and then tell me they handle the same. The turning radius is slightly larger, but a parking surface is a parking space. It's not like the JT fits in motorcycle spaces or is the length of a mini Cooper. As far as parking garages, height can be an issue, but my JT is lifted. I haven't encountered a single garage where the JT fits that the ram didn't. Sure if you go crew cab and 8' bed you could have maneuverability issues in tight spots.

You forget - I've had mine at close to governed speed on the interstate.
I had no problem with handling. Sure, it's not a corvette, but it handled as well as any truck I've driven on the interstate at over 90 mph. It was never squirrely, or sloppy or "iffy".
Some of the turns in the ramps you would literally have to stop and back up and go again to make with a full-size truck. I can make the turns without trouble, although it's tight.
Getting in and out of that Ram was a problem in the parking spaces here - you couldn't open the doors fully and they are a lot more bulky. Jeep doors are small, thin and light - a lot easier to manage in tight spots.
Maybe you should come and drive the areas where I've been recently. You haven't experienced the same places I have.
Different experiences, different places.

 

[ChrisNLA]

Too big and bulky for me. I'll never go back to a full-size truck, never. I bet I have a better turning radius, and don't like the huge front ends most trucks have now. Too much bulk.

Having rode in many new modern fullsize trucks, and having owned Jeeps the last 8 or 9 years, I certainly see both sides of the coin.

I think it's a no contest on comfort in the fullsizes, and I think I'd rather have one for long commutes or if I was carrying passengers a LOT. My buddy is 6'3" and 325 pounds and he is cramped in my truck. My truck is fine for the occasional back seat passenger going to lunch now and then from the office, but that's about it.

 

[ChrisNLA]

I don't wheel my Gladiator. The doors didn't come off once this summer.

I have an F150 for my daily.

I've had the Gladiator 4.5 years and haven't thought about selling it. I like it for whatever reason.

Roof and doors haven't been off of mine since I bought it. Don't plan to, either.

But I did buy it with more offroading and camping in mind then what ended up happening in reality.

It splits daily time with my 2015 SS Camaro. If one had to go on the block, I'd keep the car and get a different truck.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Having rode in many new modern fullsize trucks, and having owned Jeeps the last 8 or 9 years, I certainly see both sides of the coin.

I think it's a no contest on comfort in the fullsizes, and I think I'd rather have one for long commutes or if I was carrying passengers a LOT. My buddy is 6'3" and 325 pounds and he is cramped in my truck. My truck is fine for the occasional back seat passenger going to lunch now and then from the office, but that's about it.

My son, about 6' 2", commented that my JT has a better back seat area than my silverado did.
I've driven an F250, Silverado 1500, and our Jeeps cross-country. I'd say the silverado was a bit more comfortable on a long drive, but my only complaint about the JT or JL is the driver leg room - narrow. You can move your legs around more in a larger truck. But then it's also wider and longer in the garage, too. Meaning it's wider and longer in parking spots. I had to make two tries to get my Chevy into many spots. Couldn't just turn into them. Had to start in, back up and go again, the JT I can usually just drive right into the parking spots.
Most spots here, if every car or truck is perfectly centered in the lines, you can't fully open a door.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

My son, about 6' 2", commented that my JT has a better back seat area than my silverado did.
I've driven an F250, Silverado 1500, and our Jeeps cross-country. I'd say the silverado was a bit more comfortable on a long drive, but my only complaint about the JT or JL is the driver leg room - narrow. You can move your legs around more in a larger truck. But then it's also wider and longer in the garage, too. Meaning it's wider and longer in parking spots. I had to make two tries to get my Chevy into many spots. Couldn't just turn into them. Had to start in, back up and go again, the JT I can usually just drive right into the parking spots.
Most spots here, if every car or truck is perfectly centered in the lines, you can't fully open a door.

Was it an extended or crew cab Silverado?

 

[ChrisNLA]

My son, about 6' 2", commented that my JT has a better back seat area than my silverado did.
I've driven an F250, Silverado 1500, and our Jeeps cross-country. I'd say the silverado was a bit more comfortable on a long drive, but my only complaint about the JT or JL is the driver leg room - narrow. You can move your legs around more in a larger truck. But then it's also wider and longer in the garage, too. Meaning it's wider and longer in parking spots. I had to make two tries to get my Chevy into many spots. Couldn't just turn into them. Had to start in, back up and go again, the JT I can usually just drive right into the parking spots.
Most spots here, if every car or truck is perfectly centered in the lines, you can't fully open a door.

You must have had an extended cab (not a full crew), which is pretty abysmal in back seat space. A Gladiator with real back doors is certainly better than that.

My Gladiator doesn't bother me in comfort. It's totally fine. Not as refined as a fullsize, but it's good.

I do agree with parking. Gladiator is a skinny gal, fits anywhere quickly.

I gotta tell you though, sometimes I do want another full size. My friends and I take one truck to go shooting sometimes, or run other errands. The kids aren't getting smaller.

You know what sucks about a Gladiator? Not enough space to put too much junk that I carry. I'd love to have a massive fullsize truck console lol.

 

[Zachanadandy]

You forget - I've had mine at close to governed speed on the interstate.
I had no problem with handling. Sure, it's not a corvette, but it handled as well as any truck I've driven on the interstate at over 90 mph. It was never squirrely, or sloppy or "iffy".
Some of the turns in the ramps you would literally have to stop and back up and go again to make with a full-size truck. I can make the turns without trouble, although it's tight.
Getting in and out of that Ram was a problem in the parking spaces here - you couldn't open the doors fully and they are a lot more bulky. Jeep doors are small, thin and light - a lot easier to manage in tight spots.
Maybe you should come and drive the areas where I've been recently. You haven't experienced the same places I have.
Different experiences, different places.

Everyone's preference is different, but interstate handling isn't really a comparison of handling either. Driven on windy 2 lanes the ram was much better. I don't do a lot of parking garage parking but even in Vegas or at sfo I never had any issues in the ram either. I tend to avoid crowded places as much as possible and don't mind parking at the end of the lot and walking so the parking was never an issue for me either. Everyone had their own uses and limitations. We drive Jeeps exclusively at this point, but I wouldn't own either one if they were just road vehicles. The off road bias is great off road and worth the compromise if used for the designed purpose. Otherwise there are better vehicles for the money in my opinion.

 

[Silverator]

Unless you want the lockers, lower range in the transfer case and the electric sway bar disconnect, a lot of it is simply bragging rights.

Well, those 3 things are constantly used here, and of extreme importance to ME. Maybe not so for the OP - I don't know. But here, the Rubicon made the most sense. Plus, resale will definitely be stronger with a Rubicon.

 

[jmdwifi]

Well y'all convinced me. I got my Rubicon X and was going to sell my 16 Rubicon hard rock, but I am keeping it. It's a 6 speed and with manuals being harder to find, I'll keep it instead of selling.

I agree that they are perfectly useable as daily drivers, but with where prices are now I still think the JT is a terrible choice if you aren't going to wheel it ever. They cost the same as a full size truck and generally get worse fuel economy, have lower tow ratings, have lower payload, handle worse, have worse power, and are less comfortable. It's your money to do as you please, but have you driven a modern ram 1500 with a 5.7L? The JT does literally nothing as well for your described use in my experience. My JT gets flogged off road, but if it didn't I would be in anther Ram. Better road truck in every way I can think of. I never said most Rubicon owners use or need Rubicons. But if that's your argument against buying one, every aspect of that argument applies to not buying a Jeep for the mall period.

Had a sport, bought a ram, now back in a gladiator. I got there rubicon x because all the comforts of my overland sport but rubicon shit as well. It was 6k more than I paid for my sport. I will be keeping this truck, so it was well worth it in my opinion.

 

[Stan H]

For me, unless something happens to my 2004 TJ Rubicon, I'll never purchase another Rubicon

Since I bought my '04 TJR (Oct '03), I've purchased a '07 JKU, and then a '13 JKU (both Sports, new), to be used as my everyday vehicles

In '23 I purchased my '23 JT Sport, and will likely own this for a good many years, again it being my everyday vehicle

So, for me, I have no need to spend additional money (lots of money, let's face facts) on a vehicle (another Rubicon) that has things I don't need, and won't use, on an everyday vehicle

I also have no need to drive around in a Rubicon "Hey look at me" Mall-Crawler, that will NEVER see more than a dirt road

I'll save that for all of the Rubicon "wanna be's" I see ridin' around, that will NEVER see real off-road use

As I said, FOR ME, I have NO need for another Rubicon, or spending the additional money (lots of money) they cost, while I have my TJR available to handle that small amount of use I have

Also, to be honest, I rarely recommend a Rubicon package to folks that ask me, unless I know they would likely use them in a manner that would justify the cost, which the VAST majority of people will not

For those that have money to blow/waste, and want that "Hey, LOOK at me" (wanna be) Mall-Crawler, which are the VAST majority in my area, please feel free to waste your money

I'm sure many here will disagree with me, and that's fine, I'm just being honest to the question asked

Me disagree, now there are mall crawlers posers , I for one use my 4wd almost daily and have had my lockers in 100's of times this year . We all have our

The full size truck is cumbersome in a parking lot or big city and my JT will get into parking spots, even parking ramps, a large truck would struggle with. UofI hospital ramps p you won't see a full-size truck make it in there. Tow rating is perfect for my needs, power is fine for my needs, I can't say the JT is less comfortable - maybe in the narrow place for the driver's legs, but that's pretty much it. Comfort is fine.
Had a newer Ram as a loaner earlier this summer - big, huge, clunky, hard to maneuver, big in the garage. A lot of wasted sheet metal and wasted space making it just look big.
JT is nimble and quick and easy to maneuver, and great on the interstates. Ride comfort and handling really is no worse than other trucks I've had. Don't know where people get that it handles worse - mine haven't.

Correct the bad handling is just a bunch of non-drivers. I been told mine corners like a sports car. Some people I just dont get. No offense to any one who said theirs sucked

 

[Zachanadandy]

Me disagree, now there are mall crawlers posers , I for one use my 4wd almost daily and have had my lockers in 100's of times this year . We all have our

Correct the bad handling is just a bunch of non-drivers. I been told mine corners like a sports car. Some people I just dont get. No offense to any one who said theirs sucked

I never said the Jeep handling was bad, but if I was racing through the mountains the gladiator could not keep up with the Hemi ram period. At the limit cornering isn't close. Sure most will never drive there, but that's the reality. The extra 100hp and only a few hundred pounds heavier, better aerodynamics, and lower center of gravity all matter at that point too. Like I said, there are compromises in the off road 1st design. If I didn't off road why would I accept them? Even as a Jeep fan, the JLU doesn't hold a candle to the grand cherokee on road. If the cost is the same, everything else I can think of on road is worse, and I never take the top and doors off, why would I not have a GC and a ram rebel in the driveway instead?

 

[Hootbro]

Fella I work with just bought a brand new 2026 GMC Sierra Pro 4x4 (small crew). It has the X31 package so it's really sharp looking despite being a base model. LED headlights, everything you need inside, nothing you don't. Even has the full safety package (lane keep, steering assist, collision avoid, blind spot). It even has the 5.3L V8 instead of the 4 pot.

$45K after all current discounts.

For that money hell of a lot better than a Jeep unless you plan to wheel twice a month or live with the doors off...

Comes down to what one values more, a lifestyle vehicle or doing truck things? I would never recommend a Gladiator to anybody that leans heavily into doing truck things or values ride comfort.

What about a Colorado or Ranger?

Had a new 2024 Ranger 6G as my daily for about 6 months. Drove and rode create with smooth pulling power the 2.3L Ecoboost it had. Just was soulless after a while.

 

[vicsvx]

Bought my 21 spot s eco out the door for 55k (sticker was 49k) in 21 and it is pretty loaded as options go.... There was a similar rubicon in Phoenix for 10k more and willys in vegas for 5k more (Vegas actually was going to pay me to drive my trade there to buy the willys but I didn't want to drive)

I opted for the sport s as I didn't "need" the rubicon and my mindset was I can build for cheaper. Yes I don't hold the resale value but I have no intention to sell my jeep.

1. Bought rubicon diesel axles for 3500 with 22k miles never engaged

2. Front and rear steel bumpers for 700

3. Winch for 450

4. Chase rack 200

5. Three sets of Aux lights 650

6. Bed cover 450

7. Lasfit switch panel 250

8. External oil cooler 300

9. Euro spec rubion hood and paint 800

10. Rims and tires ~3k

11. Lift 1000

12. Bed molle panels 450

13. Sliders 1000

Total of $12,750 for most of my upgrades

-selling factory rims 400
-selling factor tires 350
-selling factory bumpers 100
-selling facory hood 300
-selling take off axles 2500
-selling factor suspension 100

So now I spent $9000 on upgrades

For me, cost effective buying sport and upgrading. I don't need 4:1 and would more than likely upgrade the oem undercarriage armor anyway.

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