Would you buy a Bestop soft top if available?

[Challenger85]

Bump. @Bestop please?

Sponsored

 

[Mflowers11]

We were discussing this in another thread. This isn’t a debate, it’s not hard top vs soft top vs sun rider. Simply, if @Bestop made a top that was cheaper than the Mopar one but functioned the same, would you be in? I’m curious if their aversion to offering one is their preconceived lack of demand.

I’d love to see a quality slimmed down option. I’m not a fan of how high in the rear it is and how steep the drop is on the OEM option. Something with more style and some masculinity built into it and I’d be a buyer for sure. When the OEM soft top is up I just don’t think it fits the Gladiators “attitude” if that makes sense.

 

[bleda2002]

I’d love to see a quality slimmed down option. I’m not a fan of how high in the rear it is and how steep the drop is on the OEM option. Something with more style and some masculinity built into it and I’d be a buyer for sure. When the OEM soft top is up I just don’t think it fits the Gladiators “attitude” if that makes sense.

100% agree. The upward slant just ruins the lines for me, and the man bun open is blech. If they would make one like their fastback for the jl with the look of the rugged ridge one, I'd be in.

 

[Challenger85]

I’d love to see a quality slimmed down option. I’m not a fan of how high in the rear it is and how steep the drop is on the OEM option. Something with more style and some masculinity built into it and I’d be a buyer for sure. When the OEM soft top is up I just don’t think it fits the Gladiators “attitude” if that makes sense.

Unfortunately, it’s pretty obvious @Bestop doesn’t care about supporting the gladiator and what people really want. That’s fine, I’ll remember this in the future when I need anything for my Wrangler or Gladiator.

 

[Mflowers11]

Unfortunately, it’s pretty obvious @Bestop doesn’t care about supporting the gladiator and what people really want. That’s fine, I’ll remember this in the future when I need anything for my Wrangler or Gladiator.

Part of me wonders if they created a practical solution for Mopar that probably has very tight or shared profit margins that leaves the door open a better looking aftermarket option with much higher margins. They’d be selling them for years even if they wait 3-4 years. Maybe I’m overthinking but it makes sense to me….

They most likely have a contract not to come out with a competing option for a given number of years. Wishful thinking? Maybe!

 

[sharpsicle]

I think you're asking for them to dump a lot of money on development cost for relatively little payout here. What incentive does Bestop have to do this? A few people in a thread? Let's be honest, they'd need a ton more marketability to start to think they could recoup the R&D cost of completely redeveloping the soft top. More than a niche enthusiast forum would provide. But with the ease of use and functionality of the current soft top, there's not a huge reason to change course. It's a great top already that functions well and is easily removable in the space of less than 5min. And it sells.

I can't blame them for sticking to what they know will continue to recoup costs in the current OEM top. It's a sound business decision. Not to mention I'm sure they have contractual obligations of some sort to Jeep. If all that means you think they're a terrible company that you'll no longer do business with, well okay then, but damn that's an over-reaction.

Also, other companies are sticking their necks out and trying to design soft top alternatives already. Why not pressure them to design exactly what you want instead, since they already are trying to reach the market? You'll probably have better luck getting movement from a smaller outfit like that than from a large-scale OEM supplier like Bestop.

Maybe one day Bestop will release a different version. That would be great. But to vilify them for not doing it right now is a bit overboard.

 

[Mflowers11]

Don’t disagree with that @sharpsicle

I wasn’t trying to vilifying them at all. I get the business decision and functionality. The Gladiator is a smaller market and it would take longer to recoup the initial investment.

Not my preference and I know @Bestop has good quality. Hoping to see a sportier rugged looking option in the future. Personal preference.

 

[Rocksalt]

would and will get one in a heartbeat to replace my OEM twill soft top when it is time. No leaks. works great.

 

[Challenger85]

I think you're asking for them to dump a lot of money on development cost for relatively little payout here. What incentive does Bestop have to do this? A few people in a thread? Let's be honest, they'd need a ton more marketability to start to think they could recoup the R&D cost of completely redeveloping the soft top. More than a niche enthusiast forum would provide. But with the ease of use and functionality of the current soft top, there's not a huge reason to change course. It's a great top already that functions well and is easily removable in the space of less than 5min. And it sells.

I can't blame them for sticking to what they know will continue to recoup costs in the current OEM top. It's a sound business decision. Not to mention I'm sure they have contractual obligations of some sort to Jeep. If all that means you think they're a terrible company that you'll no longer do business with, well okay then, but damn that's an over-reaction.

Also, other companies are sticking their necks out and trying to design soft top alternatives already. Why not pressure them to design exactly what you want instead, since they already are trying to reach the market? You'll probably have better luck getting movement from a smaller outfit like that than from a large-scale OEM supplier like Bestop.

Maybe one day Bestop will release a different version. That would be great. But to vilify them for not doing it right now is a bit overboard.

K. Well, agree to disagree, the current soft top is a stupid design and over priced. As to everything else you said, who cares? Am I on their board? R&D? Marketability? Development cost? Are they a start up that’s never made a soft top before?

I’m a consumer, those aren’t things im concerned with. All I see is a company that offers multiple options for the Wrangler and can’t be bothered to even answer why they refuse to support the gladiator. So it’s my right to feel how ever I want and if that includes choosing to not buy a soft from them for our new Wrangler, that’s my prerogative.

Sponsored