Well, I got a Gladiator

"ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy" (bakeshake)
06/15/2020 at 14:10 • Filed to: None

I lurk more than post here, but I reckon the Gladiator is a significant enough vehicle (due to its looks and it being “The Jeep Truck”) that it’s worth letting y’all know I got one two Saturdays ago on the 6th.

On the dealer lot next to my WJ I traded in

It is a 2020 Sport S automatic. Options are the 7-inch radio, trailer-tow (not max tow), limited slip rear, remote start, and the premium soft top.

Backstory (skip to next pic if you don’t care): My (former) WJ has the 4.7L HO V8 that is known for not lasting a long time, mainly due to dropping valves. But I was at 160k miles and doing fine. It had always had a small a gurgle in the heater core and the occasional rough idle on startup (especially if it had sat a few days), so I knew I had slight head gasket issues but not severe. But just recently, the issues got worse—more, rougher idles at startup and bubbling in the coolant reservoir. I figure this is because it’s getting hot and I tow a boat. I just got the boat in October, so this is the first time I’ve towed it in heat. The boat is small (~1600lbs boat + trailer) and well within the WJ’s towing capacity (6500lbs), but it’s not nothing, either.

I told my wife what was going on and that I’d probably call her from the side of the road someday. It’d be a bit of an inconvenience and then I’d go get another vehicle. She suggested, though, why wait until I’m forced to find a vehicle? Why not go ahead and find something I like?

So the search was on, and I was hunting Wrangler Unlimiteds. Long story short, there weren’t many deals to be had on any in my area. In the process, I got a quote on this Gladiator that was far better than anything I got on any Wrangler. But the looks (specifically the proportioning of the bed) were still a hangup for me (and my wife). Now obviously this is confirmation bias, but it looks far better in person than in photos to me (and my wife). So I made an offer on the truck with trading in my WJ, stupidly saying, “If you’ll do [this much] more off the price and [this much] on my trade to get the out-the-door to [here] and the payment to [here], I’ll do it.” I thought I was reaching, but in like 90 seconds they said ok, so I wonder if I left money on the table. Oh well, I’ve never had a vehicle newer than 8 years old before, so I was excited!

Doors were off within 24 hours of purchase

Initially I didn’t think a truck bed would do much for me, but I carry yard-mowing stuff to my mom’s once a week, and we just got a pair of kayaks, so it has been immediately useful. Also, with a bed cover, the bed is a huge doors-off top-off secure storage area the Wrangler can’t do. As a side note, I also don’t really consider myself a “pickup man,” especially here in Alabama, but it is still 50% Wrangler after all.

And speaking of being 50% Wrangler, while this is my third Jeep, my first two were a Cherokee and Grand Cherokee, so doors-off and top-off is new to me. And I gotta say, it is pretty darn cool. The pic above is really enjoyable: doors off, back window removed, but main top left on as a sun bonnet. The top flips open over both rows of seats and stays accordion-ed up at the top. It can be totally removed, of course.

Cab fully enclosed, wind noise with the soft top is no louder at 75 mph than at 45 mph. The only buffeting I’ve experienced was when doing 70-75 mph with a 25 mph crosswind in the remnants of Tropical Storm Cristobal last week. Conversely, though wind noise isn’t bad, noise from other vehicles is very noticeable.

Now y’all know steering performance has been an issue with the new JL Wranglers and the Gladiator. Main symptoms are wandering at speed and death wobble. Several folks on the forums attribute it to tires being overinflated at the lot. I checked before my first test drive, and the dealer had my pressures spot-on to what the door sticker recommends. Like I said above, I’ve had a Cherokee and Grand Cherokee; other than a three-year stint in a Corolla, front and rear solid axles is all I’ve ever known, so I knew what to expect. And I experience nothing weird or wrong with the steering in my Gladiator. It tracks straight and can be kept in the lane at highway speeds with as little grip as it takes to hold a fork. It handles bumps, ruts, and potholes as well as a solid-axle vehicle can. No death wobble or weird darting when those things are encountered.

The Pentastar V6 is plenty powerful. In regards to my boat, I’ve only pulled it once and it was a short drive, but part of it is at 60 mph and that was no problem at all. The hp/torque stats on the Pentastar V6 (285/260) are similar to the 4.7L HO V8 in the WJ (265/325), but since the Pentastar gets 17 mpg city on regular gas and the V8 got 13 mpg city on the recommended premium, I’ll save $30/month in gas just on my commute.

I loved my WJ Grand Cherokee. I got the Utility out of the SUV, hauling and towing all sorts of things, and it never let me down. As long as the Gladiator can do the same, I’ll be totally satisfied.

DISCUSSION (32)

For Sweden > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 14:14

So are you entertained or no

Just Jeepin' > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 14:20

That’s awesome. Welcome to the doors-off club!

Have you tried lowering the windshield yet?

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/the-jeep-experience-part-4-full-frontal-1828181066

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 14:20

How much was your out the door with and without your trade in value? The Gladiator actually very much appeals to me because it isn’t as bloated looking as many of the other pickups on the market (Tundra and Silverado mainly). I can’t see myself buying one, but other than reusing the Wrangler rear door, there’s not much I would do different myself.

Was this the combo you were after? On the website, they come in some pretty cool colors but I haven’t seen many on dealer lots. Are these early arrivals mostly really optione d out while demand is so high?

HoustonRunner > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 14:20

I feel like every time I see one I see I go from:

-Man, really like the front 3/4 view

to:

-Ugh, the profile isn’t great

to:

-Well, maybe I was wrong (when I get to the rear 3/4 view)

In the end I really like the look, and could see buying one a few years down the road when I don’t have 4 kids I need to haul around all the time.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
06/15/2020 at 14:32

I don’t remember offhand. MSRP was mid $43k, and my purchase price was either high $40k or low $41k before incentives and trade-in . It was just a fuzz (1 or 2 percent) below invoice. Gladiator has employee pricing through June (Wranglers lost it May 31) on purchase and $2k rebate on lease. Again, this was a far better deal than what anyone was offering on Wranglers.

This is the exact option combo I was after in the Wrangler Unlimited. Black is not my first, second, or third choice of color, but it’s what they had and what they were dealing on. They had a Sport S in that excellent blue color, but it was already lifted with big wheels and gnarly tires. Asking price was $53k.

In my area, optioning on the lots was weird. For instance, my nearest dealer has three Sport S, but they have like zero options except for hard top and the max tow package. Plenty of Rubicons can be had, though.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > Just Jeepin'
06/15/2020 at 14:34

No, not yet. According to owners manual, s oft top has to be totally removed so that front and rear door surrounds can be removed in order for windshield to be folded.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > For Sweden
06/15/2020 at 14:34

Very much yes so far!

Gladiator was on either TBS or TNT this weekend. Watched it just out of princi ple.

Just Jeepin' > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 14:38

Interesting. I’m surprised that the rear surrounds are relevant to the windshield, and I wouldn’t expect the front surrounds to be important once the top is folded back.

For Sweden > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 14:41

So you did honor him

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 14:57

Usually dealers option the crap out of the early builds because people have no choice but to buy what’s on the lots while demand is high. Strange.

The first 5 or so Gladiators I saw were lifted on massive rims . Was it dealer installed?

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 14:59

Also, with a bed cover, the bed is a huge doors-off top-off secure storage area the Wrangler can’t do.

This is a new perspective that I hadn’t heard from anyone else. But I’m not researching these, so maybe it’s out there already. I t makes a better case for the Gladiator for those who do mostly go around without doors or hardtop. Thanks!

jminer > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 15:03

That’s awesome! It’s my favorite pickup made today. I would love it in a single or extended cab with a slightly longer bed but I’m in the minority.

Send us regular dispatches on it! We need more off-road content around here.

Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan' > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 15:07

Congrats, very cool.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
06/15/2020 at 15:10

Dealer-installed, from what I’ve seen.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
06/15/2020 at 15:13

In all I’ve read about it, I can’t remember anyone explicitly saying it . Maybe it just goes without saying for the truck crowd, but it was a big factor for me since I had had a Wrangler in mind.

The tailgate handle locks when the doors lock with the keyfob, by the way.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 15:14

Well done. I’m not REALLY a Jeep kinda guy but I kinda like those and I have to admit any time I see someone driving one doors and roof off it looks extremely appealing.

Just Jeepin' > MiniGTI - now with XJ6
06/15/2020 at 16:31

So. Much. Fun.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 16:35

They do look better in person, I agree, I also am amazed how long they are in person.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 16:52

Congrats and enjoy in health and safety. Looking forward to your real-world reviews.

HammerheadFistpunch > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 16:52

Very cool, I think the Sport S is the sweetspot in the lineup if you ask me, and you got all the right options...well, I would have also gotten max tow, but thats just me.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > HammerheadFistpunch
06/15/2020 at 16:58

If it had had the max that would’ve been fine, but I wasn’t specifically searching for it.

Forgot to mention in the post it has a spray-in bedliner, too.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 17:18

Congrats! I hope that it lasts you for a long time!

It’s not a vehicle I would buy for myself, but I much prefer these over the oversized behemoth trucks other people buy.

“Oh well, I’ve never had a vehicle newer than 8 years old before, so I was excited!”

I myself have never had a vehicle newer than 6 years old. Was test driving new cars recently (my GF is in the market for a new car). I toyed with the idea of getting a new car, but every time I run the numbers in my head or on a spreadsheet, I come to the same conclusion... I’d rather save my money and keep driving beaters.

Verdog ~ manual Bro, Bro - HellHawk Equipped > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 18:05

Nice!

haveacarortwoorthree2 > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 18:06

WJalopy, do you like movies about gladiators?

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
06/15/2020 at 18:20

Oh absolutely, the money doesn’t make sense at all from a purely financial standpoint. But that’s not why we’re into cars!

CRider > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
06/15/2020 at 18:38

Try running the numbers on a Jeep. Six years old is about when they start to depreciate.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > CRider
06/15/2020 at 19:31

Yeah, I heard about that. And it’s the same deal with Tacomas and Landcruisers.

For me, I buy Fits, Vibes, Matrices, Prii, Focii, Mazdas, etc... all cars that depreciate nicely.

One car I would consider buying new due to low/slow depreciation would be a Tesla.

CRider > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
06/15/2020 at 23:10

Teslas have good resale? I thought EV resale tanked faster than any other type of car.

fhrblig > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/15/2020 at 23:24

Congratulations! I hope you enjoy it!

I keep seeing how cheap the low-mileage leases are on these. I’ve actually thought about it, but there’s no point as long as I still owe on my truck. I drive my personal vehicle well below the mileage limits, so a lease wouldn’t be completely insane, except that it would be leasing from FCA and I’ve heard...stories .

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
06/16/2020 at 07:10

congrats!
I’ve been looking at them too, I might get one if the cowards ever release it in a 2-door

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > CRider
06/16/2020 at 07:47

Check out the prices of used Teslas... they hold their value quite well.

Other BEVs with much crappier range depreciate much faster. And in the case of the Nissan Leaf, it’s the combo of crappy range and crappy battery management

New and used Teslas are also the cause for other BEVs to depreciate faster.

Nos4a2 > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
06/16/2020 at 11:21

Hello,congrats me and my wife were the first people to register our 2020 gladiator in Illinois..we got a sport special..we got ours with the rubicon drive train and axles and gears..without the rubicon visual effects i.e. bumpers and hood..we did the hardtop on 33 in hankook tires can't go any bigger without a lift