Overpriced Jeeps

jmccracken1214

jmccracken1214

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2017
Messages
5,751
Location
Thomasville, North Carolina
Rating - 100%
152   0   0
We drove by to check out gladiators today, tossed the idea of trading in the 2020 Silverado trail boss to get a jeep and start back hitting trails and getting our children out with us, but good lord at the prices!!!
$60,000+ is crazy. That’s almost $20,000 more than we gave for this fairly loaded Silverado.

were they this high prior to covid?
 
The gladiators make me laugh every time I see one. Take an already under powered wrangler and add more weight to it with the same weak motor, trans & axles f&r and then over price it by $30k…

Used JKUR in the $-teens would be more fun with more $$ left over for upgrades and repairs.
 
Pogue said:
The gladiators make me laugh every time I see one. Take an already under powered wrangler and add more weight to it with the same weak motor, trans & axles f&r and then over price it by $30k…

Used JKUR in the $-teens would be more fun with more $$ left over for upgrades and repairs.
Click to expand...
We were eying the diesel, so power would be fine.
The smaller bed sucks, but it’s better than no bed. I do not like the stock gladiators but with a lift and tires, they look good to me.
 
I can't speak for your needs...... but your 4X4 Silverado is way more practical than a Jeep, and will pretty much go anywhere a factory Gladiator will go, more if the Gladiator has open differentials. The Gladiators are stupid expensive......... even before Covid, but not as bad your post.

I'm thinking the Trail Boss/Z71 both come with a rear E Locker and 31" tires from the factory. That is plenty enough for what most people do and you will have more space in the bed to carry stuff.
 
Last edited:
AH64 said:
We were eying the diesel, so power would be fine.
The smaller bed sucks, but it’s better than no bed. I do not like the stock gladiators but with a lift and tires, they look good to me.
Click to expand...

I’d forgotten they added the eco diesel option. Haven’t ran across one myself yet.
 
The gladiator is a 3rd vehicle, vehicle. You already have the car/suv and a full size truck that you can drive while your new gladiator is in for all the recalls and/or broken down. If you really want that design spend $25-30K on a rebuilt CJ-8 Scrambler and when you're done with it you will probably make money off of selling it.
 
Just for the record. IMO all cars/trucks are overpriced. My neighbor paid $66k for a Dodhe Rebel a few years ago, he was eye balling the new one with bigger engine. It was $106k. His Rebel is nice, but dayum prices are nuts.

I also think I paid too much for my Jeep but that’s the current reality.
 
The Gladiator was a heartbreaker for me. I watched them from concept through production, hoping to buy one. Time came to get a new truck beginning of this year. I sat in a Gladiator (coming from a Ram 1500) and instantly disliked it. Too small. No creature comforts. I have no shame in admitting it would be an asphalt queen. I like the style and the functionality in reserve.

The nail in the coffin was the price. At the time (December 2020) a “well equipped” Gladiator was upper $50’s. For that kind of cash I could get a loaded 1500 Laramie, complete with swamp ass prevention (cooled seats) and enough room for a full grown adult in the back seat.

Guess which one won out.
 
I owned 3 Gladiators. First was a Sport..$34,000. Second was an Overland...$45,000....third was a Mojave...$62,000.
Having had three I feel like I'm am qualified to speak about them at least from My perspective. Didn't put alot of miles on any of them. The first 2 regularly got 22 MPG. The Mojave was geared 4:10 with 35s, it got 18 MPG. These trucks are their class leader in towing and capacity. At least they were in 2020.
If I was staring over with them tomorrow I would get a Sport, raise it 2 inches and put on some 35s and drive it 10 years. As to creature comforts, I don't know what you could possibly want that the Mojave didn't have.
They do cost alot...I like that.....it keeps the riff raff in other stuff.
My current Jeep, after having 11 brand new ones in 10 years is a 2003. It is a 4 cylinder with no doors, back or sides on it. No back seat, no air, just a Jeep.....I love it....for what it IS...not for what it isn't.
 
Pogue said:
The gladiators make me laugh every time I see one. Take an already under powered wrangler and add more weight to it with the same weak motor, trans & axles f&r and then over price it by $30k…

Used JKUR in the $-teens would be more fun with more $$ left over for upgrades and repairs.
Click to expand...
I don’t think you’re gonna find a JKUR with a 3.6 in the teens in good shape. If you’re getting an older one with a 3.8, well then you’re back to being underpowered.

I dabbled in the Jeep world for a year, bought a 15 JKU and sold it earlier this year for a very small profit because of the craziness in the market. I sold it for $28k w 65k mi to a dealer who then listed it for $32k.
 
NCLivingBrit said:
I'm still waiting for them to make an off road capable 4wd minivan with removable seats so you can make a mini camper.
Click to expand...
If you‘re ever driving though Boone you will probably see the Toyota Sienna minivan in front of the Boone Realty office. It’s an AWD with oversized BFG AT tires. I’ve told my wife for years we need to get one similar.
I think now I’m getting closer with my youngest daughter as she is the adventurer of the kids. She is wanting to build a camper and travel around the country for awhile after graduating high school. I’m keeping my eye out for a Sienna AWD.
 
Carolinatlc said:
If you‘re ever driving though Boone you will probably see the Toyota Sienna minivan in front of the Boone Realty office. It’s an AWD with oversized BFG AT tires. I’ve told my wife for years we need to get one similar.
I think now I’m getting closer with my youngest daughter as she is the adventurer of the kids. She is wanting to build a camper and travel around the country for awhile after graduating high school. I’m keeping my eye out for a Sienna AWD.
Click to expand...
I drove a girlfriends beat up old Dodge caravan for a while and I loved that thing. The middle seats were out all the time and it had so much room for activities!
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
I don't know what you could possibly want that the Mojave didn't have.
Click to expand...
Too many sacrifices and not enough comforts for a reasonable price. If the Gladiator could fit my 6’2”-ish frame like a Ram does, I’d cut it some slack in not offering everything a Laramie does.
 
What's up with the tail lights on those gladiators. Look like huge ears hanging out.

I was behind one in traffic yesterday and bout fell out the truck laughing at the way it looked. I know they are similar to a real jeep of the 70s but......

And a real jeep has a 304 with a 4 speed, 2 doors and side pipes
 
9outof10mms said:
If the Gladiator could fit my 6’2”-ish frame like a Ram does
Click to expand...
I get this...just can't work well for you.....Cousin Jerry is 6'6"+ he can't even get under the steering wheel. Really though as to creature comforts actually too many. Heated and cooled seats and all that goes with them made me sell to California and get the 2003 I have now, I wanted a Jeep of my liking. I have trucks that do truck stuff...I wanted another Jeep like I remembered using them.
 
NCLivingBrit said:
I'm still waiting for them to make an off road capable 4wd minivan with removable seats so you can make a mini camper.
Click to expand...

Carolinatlc said:
If you‘re ever driving though Boone you will probably see the Toyota Sienna minivan in front of the Boone Realty office. It’s an AWD with oversized BFG AT tires. I’ve told my wife for years we need to get one similar.
I think now I’m getting closer with my youngest daughter as she is the adventurer of the kids. She is wanting to build a camper and travel around the country for awhile after graduating high school. I’m keeping my eye out for a Sienna AWD.
Click to expand...

Saw this in Raleigh the other day across from Snoopy's:
IMG_1956.jpg
 
LeeMajors said:
What's up with the tail lights on those gladiators. Look like huge ears hanging out.

I was behind one in traffic yesterday and bout fell out the truck laughing at the way it looked. I know they are similar to a real jeep of the 70s but......

And a real jeep has a 304 with a 4 speed, 2 doors and side pipes
Click to expand...
My '77 CJ-5 with a 304 and side pipes was a 3 speed.
 
SPST said:
My '77 CJ-5 with a 304 and side pipes was a 3 speed.
Click to expand...
My '77 CJ-5 (Levis Edition) was equipped the same way. You could hardly hear the pipes over the roar of the Desert Dog tires.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
I get this...just can't work well for you.....Cousin Jerry is 6'6"+ he can't even get under the steering wheel. Really though as to creature comforts actually too many. Heated and cooled seats and all that goes with them made me sell to California and get the 2003 I have now, I wanted a Jeep of my liking. I have trucks that do truck stuff...I wanted another Jeep like I remembered using them.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I bought the Jeep in part because I could get a truck with no power seats, adaptive cruise, mirror blinking thingies, buzzers and gizmo’s. It isn’t totally bare bones, but I wasn’t going to pay for a bunch of superfluous make believe safety crap. Hopefully when the youngest moves on her own I’ll be able to fund an older Jeep or truck without almost anything except a radio and leave it up at the mountain place.
 
Last edited:
BatteryOaksBilly said:
I owned 3 Gladiators. First was a Sport..$34,000. Second was an Overland...$45,000....third was a Mojave...$62,000.
Having had three I feel like I'm am qualified to speak about them at least from My perspective. Didn't put alot of miles on any of them. The first 2 regularly got 22 MPG. The Mojave was geared 4:10 with 35s, it got 18 MPG. These trucks are their class leader in towing and capacity. At least they were in 2020.
If I was staring over with them tomorrow I would get a Sport, raise it 2 inches and put on some 35s and drive it 10 years. As to creature comforts, I don't know what you could possibly want that the Mojave didn't have.
They do cost alot...I like that.....it keeps the riff raff in other stuff.
My current Jeep, after having 11 brand new ones in 10 years is a 2003. It is a 4 cylinder with no doors, back or sides on it. No back seat, no air, just a Jeep.....I love it....for what it IS...not for what it isn't.
Click to expand...
I just got a Gladiator Mojave in May and mine was $19,000 less than that. Options on vehicles these days are ludicrous. If you’re looking on the lot, dealers order them with every option to pad their margins. Factory order if you’re looking to save money and can give up some comforts.
You can double the price on many models just by ticking a few boxes.
Jeeps can get pretty basic if you don’t tick some boxes, but basic is what I was after.
 
Last edited:
LeeMajors said:
What's up with the tail lights on those gladiators. Look like huge ears hanging out.

I was behind one in traffic yesterday and bout fell out the truck laughing at the way it looked. I know they are similar to a real jeep of the 70s but......

And a real jeep has a 304 with a 4 speed, 2 doors and side pipes
Click to expand...


Those were Purple Hornies. Sold a ton of them.

.
 
Hadoken said:
I just got a Gladiator Mojave in May and mine was $19,000 less than that. Options on vehicles these days is ludicrous. If you’re looking on the lot, dealers order them with every option to pad their margins. Factory order if you’re looking to save money and can give up some comforts.
You can double the price on many models just by ticking a few boxes.
Jeeps can get pretty basic if you don’t tick some boxes, but basic is what I was after.
Click to expand...
After driving mine for 4 months it went to California for Sticker price of $62,000+ Not including shipping.
 
I have never understood the Jeep resale value. You see ads all the time like:

"1994 Jeep Wrangler, approximately 240K miles (odometer stopped working at 200K in 2009). 5 speed manual, no reverse and 3rd gear doesn't work sometimes but the clutch was replaced a few years ago. The body is in great shape and is rusted through in only 5 or 6 places that you can see. One rim is bent from hitting a boulder off road last year, but it only leaks air about halfway down per day. Frame cracked in 3 places, but probably easy fix if you know a guy that can weld. Only driven in salt water 2 weeks a year every summer since new. From the smell of the air when you turn on the vent, I am pretty sure a rat died in the heater box, but it can easily be removed with a phillips head screwdriver and a coat hanger. Salvage title from minor rollover accident after getting t-boned by a fully loaded rock truck. Large crack in windshield that does not affect drivers vision. No top included, but comes with a blue tarp for storage. Original interior ripped and cushions mildewed from rain, but has new camouflage seat covers. Engine knocks loudly at idle, but you can't hear it over the missing exhaust at speeds greater than 20mph. Looks really cool driving down the road at a 22 degree crab angle from some old frame damage, and only gets the severe death wobble if you drive it over 45 miles per hour. This was my daily driver until I had an engine fire last week due to a combination gas leak and electrical short somewhere, but it still turns over. Tires probably have 20% tread left and it will need a new wiring harness because most of the old one burned away in the fire. I paid $16k for this new. I am only asking $22,850, so I am practically giving it away. I was offered $28k before the fire, so no lowballers."

And there will be 6 people falling all over themselves with "I want this!!! I can be there tomorrow with cash, can you hold it?" or "I wish you were closer" or "If I didn't just get new hair plugs, I'd be all over this!" or "Somebody needs to snatch this up quick!" etc. And it'll sell in 3 days...
 
sportsmobile.com

Sportsmobile Classic 4x4 + Adventure Vans + 4WD (4 Wheel Drive, 4x4)

The Sportsmobile Classic is the latest iteration in the line of heavy-duty 4×4 Adventure Vans from Sportsmobile. The Sportsmobile 4WD Vehicle is for the most discerning of off-road enthusiasts. Contact us today to discuss your van options and needs with a Sportsmobile Designer.
sportsmobile.com sportsmobile.com
 
CZfool68 said:
Minor detail. Seems perfect for the single nomad that doesn’t wish to be bothered or found. Anything ever happens to Mrs Fool watch out. 😜
Click to expand...
Some of the older Quigley vans pop up every once in a while. They look very similar. I went and looked at one several years ago that was pretty nice in the $40k range. I think it was 15 years old or so.
 
I think my jeep was my midlife crisis vehicle. Always wanted one, hated the sob after I got it. HATED IT.
 
Burt Gummer said:
I think my jeep was my midlife crisis vehicle. Always wanted one, hated the sob after I got it. HATED IT.
Click to expand...

It’s funny. After driving my buddy’s all rigged up 4 door Wrangler the last few years I said I’d never buy a Jeep unless it was just to leave at our cabin. I was all set to buy a Tacoma because I’ve always had great luck with my Toyota trucks. But people kept saying and writing good things about the Gladiator so I went and drove one. If it goes to crap at least I’ve covered a couple mid -life crisis‘s. I think I’ll post my other one in the what have you purchased lately thread. 🤓
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom