I'm Admittedly Underwhelmed by the Gladiator (for an Extremely Petty Reason)

"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke) 11/28/2018 at 15:48 • Filed to: None

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Well, finally after so many years of pleading, begging, and crying for it, Jeep has finally given all the Jeep bros what they wanted: a Jeep truck. The new Gladiator is essentially a JL Wrangler with the addition of a decently-sized pickup bed, and will surely be an instant smash hit. But, while the reveal is being surrounded by endless pomp and circumstance by Jeep’s greatest fans, I find myself looking at it with a more “meh” type ordeal.

The general public has been clamoring for a Jeep truck for years now, and I have to admit, I was part of the crowd for a minute or two. Models like the Comanche and Gladiator gave us fond memories of Jeep trucks and since the new Wrangler still remains one of the most capable off-roaders around, we all wanted to see the concept become reality. But because Jeep failed to deliver for so long, we had to turn to less-conventional and less-factory means of getting our Jeep truck fix.

Even our friend Doug made a video on one:

And therein lies my problem with the Gladiator. While it is great to see Jeep finally deliver on a long awaited promise, I find myself not exactly feeling the excitement that I expected. Perhaps if Jeep had gotten on the ball long before now and long before the aftermarket crowd got ahold of the idea, I would feel a lot more enticed by the idea. But as it sits, the new Gladiator is a big fat, “That’s cool, but whatever,” in my eyes.

And also I don’t really like Wranglers as a whole, but that’s another story for another day.

Milky > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/28/2018 at 15:53

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Truck with stick axles, optional lockers, removable roof and doors.

Y u no happy?

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > Milky 11/28/2018 at 15:57

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I mean I could do all that with an old squarebody C10, a sawzall, and a couple of beers.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Milky 11/28/2018 at 16:02

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The proportions really are kind of ridiculous. 

slipperysallylikespenguins > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/28/2018 at 16:03

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I was let down in that it is so damn big, was really hoping for a single cab.

Maybe they should make this as well:

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/28/2018 at 16:06

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FCA WHY YOU NO GIVE US TWO DOOR PICKUP? 

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 11/28/2018 at 16:07

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Big rear doors for your fat Xbox loving kids 

jasmits > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/28/2018 at 16:08

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The hell do you want then. It’s exactly the same as an unlimited Wrangler. Except it’s a pickup. 

Milky > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/28/2018 at 16:08

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I mean yea, but thats not the same as getting a new car from a dealer. Which can also be said for those expensive truck kits for the JK.

One you and your buddy Jim Bob can do, the other sells over 100,000 a year.

benjrblant > Milky 11/28/2018 at 16:09

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On paper, those things sound fantastic. It’s like all the midsize truck features everyone has mourned the loss of, but in one vehicle. In the photos, I’m not so sold.

vondon302 > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/28/2018 at 16:11

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Still want a 2 door with a bigger bed but yeah I agree.

Censored > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 11/28/2018 at 16:11

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“Kind Of” is the understatement of the century.

Milky > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 11/28/2018 at 16:13

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W hen choosing between H2 SUT and H3T proportions , you’re gonna go 3. T he cost of having a useable bed.

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > slipperysallylikespenguins 11/28/2018 at 16:13

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Now this, this is the truck I would love to see.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > benjrblant 11/28/2018 at 16:15

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I think it needs an alloy flatbed to really accentuate the minimalism in that particular view...

Gerry McGovern might like it too. No roof racks!!

Milky > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/28/2018 at 16:15

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T hey haven’t even SHOWN a new 2 door ram yet.

benjrblant > SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media 11/28/2018 at 16:19

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I think every American truck could benefit from an alloy flatbed.

HammerheadFistpunch > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/28/2018 at 16:20

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Supra syndrome ?

HammerheadFistpunch > slipperysallylikespenguins 11/28/2018 at 16:21

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I really love that concept.  

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/28/2018 at 16:26

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It's gonna kill all those little companies that exist solely on doing these conversions. AEV does enough other stuff to get by but many others may just fold completely.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > slipperysallylikespenguins 11/28/2018 at 16:26

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They definitely need a single cab.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 11/28/2018 at 16:28

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The rear wheel needs to go back a few inches

Ash78, voting early and often > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/28/2018 at 16:34

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My past 20 years have been:

1. Love the Wrangler, but it’s only 2 doors and too unstable on the highway

2. It’s getting better. The Unlimited is more stable, better legroom.

3. Whoa, a 4-door!?

4. Shit, have you seen what a 4-door costs?

5. Maybe I’ll consider a small pickup...

6. Shit, have you seen what a small pickup costs?

Long story short, through some sort of sadistic Venn diagram, I’m back in the market for a Jeep. Between ripping around an autocross and doing some light crawling/mudding, the latter is more fun for the kids. So I may well be a “Jeep dad” in the next couple years.

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > HammerheadFistpunch 11/28/2018 at 16:35

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Yeah you could call it that, I’m not hugely anticipating the new Supra either. Cool to see it come back though.

For Sweden > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/28/2018 at 16:35

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It’s just a Wrangler with a box on the back, but that’s exactly what Jeep Bros want.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Milky 11/28/2018 at 16:36

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Oh..... oh 

My bird IS the word > Milky 11/28/2018 at 16:37

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Ehh, just get a late model humvee off govplanet

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Milky 11/28/2018 at 16:38

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Those two are also ridiculous. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/28/2018 at 16:39

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10" more wheelbase than a DCSB Tacoma. 

The last stock SC 5speed > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/28/2018 at 16:41

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I’m glad it exists. A Tacoma with deathwobble and electrical problems for people that live and play in places with convertible weather.

I hope they sell a million, and I hope it keeps Toyota execs up at night knowing that bros and cool-dadbros  have options if they ever let the Taco and 4Runner go soft.  

Sovande > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/28/2018 at 16:46

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It’s lame as shit. You are right to be underwhelmed. Jeep will sell a bazillion of these heaps. 

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/28/2018 at 16:53

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Sure it’s not a case of “I can’t afford it, so let’s shit on it” – not blaming you, all us jalops did it.

I thought the E9# M3 was a pig not worthy of the name when it was new…now I’m just drooling over prices getting to numbers I can perhaps afford in the near future and maybe get to  enjoy that sweet sweet high revving V8.

vicali > HammerheadFistpunch 11/28/2018 at 16:55

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Do you mean everyone and their dog’s favourite car that no one ever bought?

ps. I’m scared of 70 series in North America because of the same, once you and Zoidberg and I each buy one their sales are going to be horrible..

HammerheadFistpunch > vicali 11/28/2018 at 16:57

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Yup, they don’t have mass appeal and the cost of selling vehicles here means you HAVE to have mass appeal.  

Matt Nichelson > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/28/2018 at 17:03

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Flaming hot take: It’s ugly as fuck. 

DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 11/28/2018 at 17:22

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Nah, I don’t even really know the price to begin with.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Milky 11/28/2018 at 17:45

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But that b ed actually looks centered over the rear axel. The Gladiator is more off than any T100 extended cab.

Milky > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 11/28/2018 at 17:53

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Lol, damn.

I’m not saying the Jeep is perfect, but I like it and like that it exists.  

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Milky 11/28/2018 at 17:57

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I agree. I don't hate it, or root against it. To say I wouldn't buy it has no meaning, as I will never buy any $50k vehicle, ever. Though I pray to be wrong one day...

slipperysallylikespenguins > HammerheadFistpunch 11/28/2018 at 17:59

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Mopar did a really good job of turning the Renegade into a Comanche, and I can’t stand the R enegade. Only thing that would make it better to me is a manual.  

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 11/28/2018 at 19:18

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Non US pickups would like a word with you

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 11/28/2018 at 19:23

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I don’t live in the non-US tho

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 11/28/2018 at 19:32

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Neither does you mom 

camarov6rs > Milky 11/28/2018 at 19:45

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I think Jeep should follow the Porsche method of pricing. That hood in the picture 700 option and factory door/roof removal option 1250. Want the ability to buy the doors and roof back as dealer accessories? That will be 250 for each door and can go up to 500 each if you want hardshell doors and power windows. Then 350 for each roof panel, if  your going basic again. $700 dealer installed bed cover and finally $1200 for dealer installed wheel set. All in the pictured model will be about $65,000. All sarcasm but probably what will happen.

Josh - the lost soldier > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/28/2018 at 20:28

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But... why is it so big? The proportions seem off.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/28/2018 at 20:32

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I like it. Mainly because I'm sending positive energy so they'll sell well. Which will hopefully make Tacomas cheaper. 

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Ash78, voting early and often 11/28/2018 at 21:53

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I’m seriously considering buying one of these. I live right next to a national forest and exploring the miles and miles of dirt roads here with the roof off with my wife and two kids sounds like more fun than a Miata. Plus it can hold all of our bikes and camping gear which JLU is a little too small to do. It costs a lot but I expect the resale to be very good too. So if it ends up not making sense or I just want to trade it after 5 years the net cost  won’t be any worse than buying another Subaru for $15k less.

FLmanisback > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 11/29/2018 at 01:19

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Reading through the comments, lots of self-righteous hate. Some people buy BMWs faithfully, despite mediocre objective reviews on value and reliability. People love Tacomas and 4runners and I don’t. So, I guess that’s why more than one vehicle exists. If we all chose the empirically ‘best’ vehicle, only some weird Frankenstein of a Honda Accord with suv/van proportions would be sold. Call the Jeep faithful like myself fanboys if you want, but that whole argument is ligma to me.

The answer is more like FCA fills a niche. You’ll find out that it’s a much larger niche than you realized in a couple of years. These will sell like mad, regardless of price point.

I have a wife, a kid, and a dog. I have a valid need for a vehicle with 4wd. I like convertibles. Therefore, when the 4 door wrangler came out, it suited me perfectly. I hoped the wife would want a 4 door pickup when her time for a new vehicle came up. She noped that idea.

So, the only thing my four door wrangler was missing that I wanted is a bigger bed. Problem solved. As it will solve that problem for many family folks with active lifestyles.

The price point will no doubt feel high. But, it keeps me from having a pair of vehicles. I don’t need to buy, insure, and maintain both a fun convertible and a 4wd family vehicle. I’ll sell my 2016 wrangler to buy one of these and the resale will be unbelievable high.

Point I will concede is the proportions. The four door wrangler is just right in my eyes. The bed on these does look kind of tacked on, but I guess that’s the product of reusing the whole wrangler cab. I’ll be curious to see how it looks in person. Regardless, it won’t keep me from buying one. Also need to see how the added weight impacts the performance. The pentastar in my wrangler is no slouch, but it’s a six speed manual. I’ve never driven an automatic wrangler , but I could see a fully loaded automatic being a bit doggy.

Ford should take a cue. If the new Bronco can be bought in a soft top, Jeep may have a market share issue. If not, the wrangler will continue to be the only 4wd convertible.

What do you all think about the Raptor? To me, they are a more objectively silly vehicle. Why does the average person need a desert prerunner? But they sell well  at a $70k price point. I think they’re cool.