We are Suckers

[Minty JL]

Rather than Jeep investing in a modern Gladiator, we get "Special Editions" and the promise of an antiquated V-8 all for an overpriced mid-sized truck. As badly as I would like to replace my Glad with a future Glad in a few years, I suspect I will struggle paying Jeep prices for an old truck. What a shame!! By the time we get an updated Gladiator, the just released, all new 4 Runner will have a mid-life refresh. How about that perspective?!?

Smells like first world problems.

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[BearFootSam]

I’ll take an antiquated naturally aspirated v8 over a twin turbo any day. Just for less complexity and maintenance.

I won’t make friends with the cool kids saying this - the 3.6l is a reliable if antiquated PFI/NA engine. It’s basically what the V8 boyz say they want without the excess power and fuel economy penalty. I’ve never been held back because the Gladiator lacked power, that’s what gearing is for and the Rubicon is well geared.

 

[Zachanadandy]

I won’t make friends with the cool kids saying this - the 3.6l is a reliable if antiquated PFI/NA engine. It’s basically what the V8 boyz say they want without the excess power and fuel economy penalty. I’ve never been held back because the Gladiator lacked power, that’s what gearing is for and the Rubicon is well geared.

I've never driven anything with excess power, and 400hp in a 5k+ pound truck isn't even remotely approaching that. What if I told you the fuel economy penalty is non-existent when you go from under powered to appropriate power? My 2017 ram rebel with the 5.7L actually got slightly better fuel economy than my buddies v6 powered ram with similar weight/ wheels and tires, and lift any time we'd go anywhere together. That's because he had to ring out that v6 to keep up, teasing the throttle like an on off switch and pushing 6k rpms pulling grades in the mountains. Meanwhile the 5.7L was cruising along at well under 2k rpm in 8th gear and not breaking a sweat.

 

[Rusty PW]

I'm waiting until they come out with the flux capacitor with the turbo encabulator final drive.

 

[BearFootSam]

For the extremely short time that I sold cars (4 months JDR/Subaru dealer), once had a guy try to order a Subaru Crosstrek that was "BARE BONES". Sure, we've got some that have nothing....
Nope, he basically wanted a little SUV with the creature comforts of a UPS truck LOL It couldn't even be ordered.

I have to disagree here. Wranglers and the Jeep Brand itself, only survive because of the Wrangler fanbase.
Nobody buys a Jeep for It's cost, reliability or safety.

If Jeep loses the loyalists, the purists, the brand is done. There is nothing else that is keeping the Jeep relevant. Go IFS on the Wrangler and the loyalists and purists are suddenly looking at a vehicle that is completely the same as everything else, except they are ugly, boxy, less sexy than the Bronco and Scout and Toyotas.
Average people buy Jeeps because of the outdoor/adventure mystique. Average Jeep owners are not loyal, they don't even understand solid axles or the history, they only know Jeeps are "cool".
The solid axles, windshield, doors and roof, keep purists happy and enthusiastic about the brand. That enthusiasm keeps Jeep in the outdoor adventure conversation. If the enthusiasm dies so does the brand. Loyalists are what keep them cool. Bronco (and soon the Scout) eats into that. The removable roof, the doors... Bronco has that, Scouts might have it too. The Tacos and 4Runners are cool and "off-roady" and they don't have removable doors and roof. Toyota has the aftermarket support Jeep does and they are doing very well. Jeep already has the smallest portion of the market and Stelantis would take any excuse to divest it. We were (and still are) worried about the Gladiator getting killed off, the Grand Cherokee and Wagoneer would never be able to carry the brand. We saw GM kill Pontiac for less. Jeep is a niche brand with a niche model and their entire existence hang in the balance of it's popularity. No "real" Wranglers? No Jeep brand. Thankfully, I think Stelantis and Jeep leadership understand that. For now...

Jeep will forever be on the edge of extinction, it's niche. Jeep's blessing and it's curse is that it gets to not change doesn't have to keep on top of trends. The curse is that ANY change has to be very carefully thought out. It can't change TOO much. Its niche, It has to be or it's done. It can't go IFS if it does, it dies and the Jeep brand with it. Toyota and Ford and others have the luxury and freedom of being a cool alternative, but they have to be careful not to copy Wranglers too closely or they will look and feel like knock-offs (looking at you Mahindra)
The new Scout has a similar problem but it's only saving grace is that it's been gone so long. All electric is risky but they retain enough of the last version of the scout to take advantage of nostalgia.
100% Wrangler and it's solid axles are the foundation that keeps Jeep alive. They may shrink the production numbers over time but they will have to keep the solid axle and the Wrangler.

Jeep/Stellantis understand that the minority of hardcore Jeepers are essential to the brands cachet. There is no better advertisement than seeing real jeeps in the wild doing jeep stuff. The no-shit authenticity of a Rubicon is why sells every other jeep in the lineup. The new Cherokee isn't a true off-roader but it feels like by association.

I agree, Jeep knows they need to have that authentic model to maintain brand integrity. It’s central to the appeal, that we have a genuinely authentic design that does what it says on the box. Water that down and then what’s a jeep anymore?

 

[WambliSka]

Jeep/Stellantis understand that the minority of hardcore Jeepers are essential to the brands cachet. There is no better advertisement than seeing real jeeps in the wild doing jeep stuff. The no-shit authenticity of a Rubicon is why sells every other jeep in the lineup. The new Cherokee isn't a true off-roader but it feels like by association.

I agree, Jeep knows they need to have that authentic model to maintain brand integrity. It’s central to the appeal, that we have a genuinely authentic design that does what it says on the box. Water that down and then what’s a jeep anymore?

EXACTLY!!!!!!

And my experience has been that even non-Jeep people admire the Jeep and everyone wants a ride. Every time there is a place to go as a group and we decide to consolidate people and cars, there’s a dead run to my Gladiator. My granddaughter refuses to ride with her parents if grandpa and the Gladiator are in town.

I don’t hate technology, as a matter of fact I LOVE auto tech. We just got a brand new absolutely top of the line Mazda CX-70 for my wife. And I LOVE her car!!! This thing has every option tech/engine wise you can throw in it including paddle shifters which are a hoot.

It just EATS highway and cruising at over 100mph feels natural. I was just in Germany on business and on the Autobahn we were doing over 100 in a Mercedes and I had more than a few new Mazdas pass us like we were parked. Take the traction control off and the inline 6 with the twin turbos will spin and smoke tires when you punch it from a stop. Jumping from 50-90mph is faster than a thought process. And, it is light years ahead in comfort to any Jeep I’ve owned.

And YET, every time wife and I go out and I ask which car we’re taking the immediate answer is let’s take your Jeep…. Imagine that…

 

[Aj58]

Can you believe…..they didn’t put the heated steering wheel button on the steering wheel!

I’m done with jeeps

 

[Stan H]

I'm waiting until they come out with the flux capacitor with the turbo encabulator final drive.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/flux-capacitor?q=flux-capacitor

 

[WILDHOBO]

I won’t make friends with the cool kids saying this - the 3.6l is a reliable if antiquated PFI/NA engine. It’s basically what the V8 boyz say they want without the excess power and fuel economy penalty. I’ve never been held back because the Gladiator lacked power, that’s what gearing is for and the Rubicon is well geared.

I’m assuming you live at a relatively low altitude. Mine comes back to life after I drop about 5,000’. It goes from a moderate v6 to a lawn mower engine with 100hp. I’m regeared to 5.13s. Great for torque, but not helping with power.

 

[Great Offender]

Well.................just look at your handle..........Great Offender...............just pointing that out.

And I own it but I would rather, and most of the time do, say it to your face. Something about hiding behind a keyboard really takes the bite out of it.
I didn't give myself that name, it was given to me because I have a habit of saying what's on my mind rather than lying and telling you want you want to hear.

 

[Stan H]

And I own it but I would rather, and most of the time do, say it to your face. Something about hiding behind a keyboard really takes the bite out of it.
I didn't give myself that name, it was given to me because I have a habit of saying what's on my mind rather than lying and telling you want you want to hear.

Reminds me of ..Ask me no Questions and I will tell you No Lies

 

[SCJ Zach]

Rather than Jeep investing in a modern Gladiator, we get "Special Editions" and the promise of an antiquated V-8 all for an overpriced mid-sized truck. As badly as I would like to replace my Glad with a future Glad in a few years, I suspect I will struggle paying Jeep prices for an old truck. What a shame!! By the time we get an updated Gladiator, the just released, all new 4 Runner will have a mid-life refresh. How about that perspective?!?

SO the 5th gen 4 runner went from 2010 to 2024. The Tacoma from 16-24. Why concern yourself with a model that is only 6 years old keeping up with models that last 8-10 years? Also, prior to the newest Toyota lineup, their tech and features were antiquated compared to anything else. The current word on the street is a new model of Wrangler/Gladiator for 2028. That's about par for the course. 97-06 TJ, 07-18ish JK, 18-2X....

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I've never driven anything with excess power, and 400hp in a 5k+ pound truck isn't even remotely approaching that. What if I told you the fuel economy penalty is non-existent when you go from under powered to appropriate power? My 2017 ram rebel with the 5.7L actually got slightly better fuel economy than my buddies v6 powered ram with similar weight/ wheels and tires, and lift any time we'd go anywhere together. That's because he had to ring out that v6 to keep up, teasing the throttle like an on off switch and pushing 6k rpms pulling grades in the mountains. Meanwhile the 5.7L was cruising along at well under 2k rpm in 8th gear and not breaking a sweat.

He's not talking that sort of extreme driving but what the vast majority experience daily. And in a jeep, it's a big fuel hit.
You keep bringing in extremes instead of normal.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Can you believe…..they didn’t put the heated steering wheel button on the steering wheel!

I’m done with jeeps

Then it would be too cold to touch and turn on the heat

 

[Stan H]

Then it would be too cold to touch and turn on the heat

@ShadowsPapa it seems to me that we are entering into the twilight zone
He pushed the button and then He was no more . Gone never to be heard from again .

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