Overpriced Jeeps

East of Here said:
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...
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This is soo true! I am unfortunately in the market for a wrangler and am shocked at what they are selling for.
 
AH64 said:
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?
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To answer your question, they were not. When we bought the 4-door Wrangler Rubicon, we looked at the Gladiator as well - both 2019 models. Both outfitted similarly and both in the mid-$40k range. Went with the Wrangler only because it seemed to have a bit more rear seat leg room and, when on trips and so-forth, much easier to keep bags, luggage, etc. dry. Love it! There are some irritating quirks but I'll either decide to go one more round with a 2022 or keep it forever. I think its the only new vehicle I've purchased that hasn't plummeted in value and expect I'll do A-OK if I decide to trade it on a new one.
 
Burt Gummer said:
I think my jeep was my midlife crisis vehicle. Always wanted one, hated the sob after I got it. HATED IT.
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I drove one once, about 300 yards and that was plenty for me. Felt like being stuffed into a small toolbox with a lot of loose wrenches.
 
NCLivingBrit said:
I drove one once, about 300 yards and that was plenty for me. Felt like being stuffed into a small toolbox with a lot of loose wrenches.
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I borrow my brother jeep back in '74/75 to drive to Boone to go skiing with a friend.
Bro's jeep was the cheapest thing he could find, when he brought it home there was no top.
He did have a soft top on it when I drove it to Boone.

Do you know how cold it is on top of a mountain in winter?
Do you also know how piss poor the heater is in a '70s jeep?

I've never wanted one since.

Now I do have a '62 Marine version of a M38A1, but that is just to ride hills with friends after trailering it up to Stuart, Va.
 
CZfool68 said:
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. 🤓
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All Jeeps (wrangler/gladiator, not the cars) aren’t sophisticated driving or riding, but the 2018 and up JL and now Gladiator are a huge improvement over the JK. I owned both and it’s night and day. The Gladiator with the long wheelbase is even better than the JLU.
That’s factory to factory comparison - most “upgrades” make them horrible to drive on the road. I shake my head when I see someone spend way too much money on a abused JKU with 37” tires, iffy lift and factory gearing. If that’s your first experience you’ll hate Jeeps once the honeymoon is over.
 
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Hadoken said:
All Jeeps (wrangler/gladiator, not the cars) aren’t sophisticated driving or riding, but the 2018 and up JL and now Gladiator are a huge improvement over the JK. I owned both and it’s night and day. The Gladiator with the long wheelbase is even better than the JLU.
That’s factory to factory comparison - most “upgrades” make them horrible to drive on the road. I shake my head when I see someone spend way too much money on a abused JKU with 37” tires, iffy lift and factory gearing. If that’s your first experience you’ll hate Jeeps once the honeymoon is over.
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A buddy of mine said keep it as close to stock as you can and you‘ll be fine. When you start adding all that extra weight is when things start to go haywire.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
Larger tires are The craziest thing you can do....it changes everything.
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Bought my JL 4-door Rubi new and the only thing had done - by the dealership prior to driving off as part of the sales price was to have them add the running boards. Though I do get some wind noise, the thing is very, very comfortable to drive and sit in. I've had it on some long day-trippers 5hrs up 5 back and was never uncomfortable.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
Yep...had a Blue Levi and a Brown Golden Eagle...both LOUD! 😁 👍🙋‍♀️
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1974 renegade bought new, renegade yellow, hd springs, hd cooling, posi rear 373's, soft top, side exit headers with purple hornies.... dang thing was a blast, fast, loud.... and the 10-15 desert dogs were loud too! traded for 1976 jeep honcho pickup.
 
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llaht said:
1974 renegade, renegade yellow, soft top, side exit headers with purple hornies.... dang thing was a blast, fast, loud.... and the 10-15 desert dogs were loud too!
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Our first Jeep - I was probably 6 or 7 was a little red CJ5 with a white soft top. Was devastated when we traded it for an AMC Matador wagon. Long story short: There is NO comparing early '70s Jeeps with the JKs and JLs today! My JL Rubicon is being just enough of a pain in the ass for me to take a swing at a 2022! Honestly, it is just like a dang woman! Big PITA, but would be hard to live without it and worth trading before its out of warrantee!!!
 
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.
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I loved my TJ but if was a northern jeep and had some issues, bit there was something about it.... No AC or power anything other than steering. That thing was awesome.

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Get a Comanche and build this, for about a third of a new Gladiator. Lotta interchangeability with old XJ stuff, too.

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