Thinking About Buying A Jeep Gladiator

[Bandit’s Lair]

My advice to OP is to go drive a few of different trims to see what fits. I just went through the process of test driving 4 different trims. The Mojave has great road manners. The Rubi felt more “planted”, if that makes sense, Sahara felt too fancy for me with all the shiney gadgets and gizmos, the sports felt a bit more dated but stable. In the end I went with an already built Sport S that I just couldn’t pass up. It has the decent gadgets that will keep SWMBO happy but it’s also simple enough I won’t feel odd about changing it up to make it mine. As long as you’re not towing full time on a daily basis for work or something I think you’ll be fine as long as you stay within the weight rating.
Driving my Gladiator does make me happy. I haven’t had a car payment for 5 years until I got this rig and I really don’t even mind. Once again I can enjoy my drive. It’s not just a vehicle that gets the job done. It’s my Jeep.

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[ShadowsPapa]

I dont like anything that involved as I dont have that kinda time on my hands . The only thing I will allow that kind of involved time in is mechanical repairs.
Its looks like some kinds indoor outdoor carpet installation. Probably works well.

I don't want the extra weight, either...........

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Sahara felt too fancy for me with all the shiney gadgets and gizmos,

Sahara is Wrangler only. Not Gladiator.
And if you want to know about a Gladiator, do NOT test drive Wranglers!
Night and day differences.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Sahara is Wrangler only. Not Gladiator.
And if you want to know about a Gladiator, do NOT test drive Wranglers!
Night and day differences.

I stand corrected. I guess it was the Overland? Whichever one has the fancier interior with all the bells and whistles. There are so many trim options out these days.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I stand corrected. I guess it was the Overland? Whichever one has the fancier interior with all the bells and whistles. There are so many trim options out these days.

The Overland was the more "highway oriented" and "daily driver oriented" version - but hasn't been available for 3 years now. It was dropped a while back.
I had two of the Overland versions - a 2020 and a 2022 and really liked both. The interior appealed to my wife' sense of design and like of the leather. For me it was comfortable as heck, good mpg and just a good all-around vehicle to drive anywhere for anything.
I might have gone back to Overland but it is no more and I really wanted the power seats only available in the X packages of Rubicon or Mojave.
I drove both - much preferred the Mojave ride and handling, good control in tight curves and iffy roads and streets and just as heck didn't need both front and rear lockers or sway bar disconnect.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I dont like anything that involved as I dont have that kinda time on my hands . The only thing I will allow that kind of involved time in is mechanical repairs.
Its looks like some kinds indoor outdoor carpet installation. Probably works well.

I’d like it if someone else did it for me.

 

[Gvsukids]

The 2 year old vehicle has had less problems than the 5 year old one? Shocking.

The Gladiator had more issues in the first two years than the Bronco Sport has.

I dont like anything that involved as I dont have that kinda time on my hands . The only thing I will allow that kind of involved time in is mechanical repairs.
Its looks like some kinds indoor outdoor carpet installation. Probably works well.

Installing Armorlite flooring is an afternoon task.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

The Overland was the more "highway oriented" and "daily driver oriented" version - but hasn't been available for 3 years now. It was dropped a while back.
I had two of the Overland versions - a 2020 and a 2022 and really liked both. The interior appealed to my wife' sense of design and like of the leather. For me it was comfortable as heck, good mpg and just a good all-around vehicle to drive anywhere for anything.
I might have gone back to Overland but it is no more and I really wanted the power seats only available in the X packages of Rubicon or Mojave.
I drove both - much preferred the Mojave ride and handling, good control in tight curves and iffy roads and streets and just as heck didn't need both front and rear lockers or sway bar disconnect.

Yes the Overland felt way too “fancy” for me for my intended purposes. The milage was great the price was good but not my style. Maybe in 15-20 years when I can’t jump into the beast I ended up buying.

 

[Zachanadandy]

The Gladiator had more issues in the first two years than the Bronco Sport has.


Installing Armorlite flooring is an afternoon task.

1 of 1 sample size is statistically meaningless. Comparing how reliable a car with a taller body is for trips to Starbucks vs a Jeep is even more meaningless. Our 3 Jeeps have a combined 160k miles of very hard use with 0 issues. A Bronco sport wouldn't survive a single weekend being worked like our Jeeps are. Each of them has thousands of trail miles, everything from being jumped to freeway speeds in the dirt to trails like Pritchett Canyon and the Rubicon. Are there more reliable vehicles for soccer practice and commuting? Obviously. Are there other vehicles that could even survive what the Jeeps do? Very few and the Bronco sport isn't one of them. My kids Honda civic si handles way better, gets 4x the fuel economy, is faster by a whole lot, and will probably last longer... unless he makes the foolish mistake of trying to compare it to the Jeep doing Jeep things. If I only cared about reliability and never went off road I wouldn't own Jeeps. I think we all know there are better cars. Having owned 2 modern Fords, both of which were incredibly problematic, it wouldn't be a Ford for sure. Since 2017 we've bought 4 new vehicles. My 2017 ram, which also got blasted across the desert regularly and was trouble free aside from the weak ride height sensors for the front air bags. 123k miles on it when I sold it. Even the broken sensors get a bit of a pass from me as they generally only broke when I jumped the truck or hit a wash at freeway speeds. Similar story for the Jeeps. I'll be the 1st to admit I beat the hell out of my rigs... and the FCA/ Stellantis ones are the only ones I'd trust out wheeling solo. The rental f150 I had for 3 months last year while working out of town didn't fair near as well and needed a new turbo. Add that to the fact that I felt like I had shaken baby syndrome and couldn't see straight after just a few miles of washboards in the desert and it just reminded me why I'll never buy another Ford.

 

[DirkG]

15 pages. I think we've chased away the OP from buying a Gladiator

 

[Bigcatfish]

15 pages. I think we've chased away the OP from buying a Gladiator

Actually have been reading and keeping up. I have learned a lot.

 

[Bandit’s Lair]

Actually have been reading and keeping up. I have learned a lot.

You should buy a Gladiator.

 

[Tim. Y.]

Just coming up on three years of ownership, and just under 30k miles. Love it so much I got the extended warranty, and hope to be driving it for a very long time.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

1 of 1 sample size is statistically meaningless. Comparing how reliable a car with a taller body is for trips to Starbucks vs a Jeep is even more meaningless. Our 3 Jeeps have a combined 160k miles of very hard use with 0 issues. A Bronco sport wouldn't survive a single weekend being worked like our Jeeps are. Each of them has thousands of trail miles, everything from being jumped to freeway speeds in the dirt to trails like Pritchett Canyon and the Rubicon. Are there more reliable vehicles for soccer practice and commuting? Obviously. Are there other vehicles that could even survive what the Jeeps do? Very few and the Bronco sport isn't one of them. My kids Honda civic si handles way better, gets 4x the fuel economy, is faster by a whole lot, and will probably last longer... unless he makes the foolish mistake of trying to compare it to the Jeep doing Jeep things. If I only cared about reliability and never went off road I wouldn't own Jeeps. I think we all know there are better cars. Having owned 2 modern Fords, both of which were incredibly problematic, it wouldn't be a Ford for sure. Since 2017 we've bought 4 new vehicles. My 2017 ram, which also got blasted across the desert regularly and was trouble free aside from the weak ride height sensors for the front air bags. 123k miles on it when I sold it. Even the broken sensors get a bit of a pass from me as they generally only broke when I jumped the truck or hit a wash at freeway speeds. Similar story for the Jeeps. I'll be the 1st to admit I beat the hell out of my rigs... and the FCA/ Stellantis ones are the only ones I'd trust out wheeling solo. The rental f150 I had for 3 months last year while working out of town didn't fair near as well and needed a new turbo. Add that to the fact that I felt like I had shaken baby syndrome and couldn't see straight after just a few miles of washboards in the desert and it just reminded me why I'll never buy another Ford.

Your personal experience is also meaningless if GVSUkids's is.

 

[#jeepstyle]

Just coming up on three years of ownership, and just under 30k miles. Love it so much I got the extended warranty, and hope to be driving it for a very long time.

Tim,
Glad you love your JT. What extended warranty did you get? from Jeep/Stellantis directly ?
I've had so many issues that if I keep mine, I will have to have an extended warranty --I haven't researched the options yet -- seeking info from those who have.
I'm at 1 1/2 years and 17k miles, so have some time to decide.
Thanks !

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