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Gladiators priced beyond market?

14K views 83 replies 42 participants last post by  Daven59 
#1 ·
I have an 18 JKU, traded in my Dodge Ram 1500 Rebel when I bought it. I've been watching the release of the Gladiator closely, thinking I could get the best of both worlds with a Gladiator at some point. I just did a build sheet for an Overland, with the options I would want it came to an MSRP of $65,000 Canadian (about $50,000 US). Given this is considered a mid-size truck, even with the off-road capability it is priced way higher than other mid-size 4 wheel drive pick-ups. It's going to be interesting to see what sales look like over the next couple of years.
 
#3 ·
Many people getting Gladiators for well under MSRP...and well under invoice...including me.
 
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#5 ·
I looked at the 2019 Ram Rebel. SUPER nice truck. Would have preferred it actually. But, the resale values on full size trucks are horrendous. Banks are pegging them at 55% at the end of a 36-48 month lease. That's.... awful. By contrast, the Gladiator is currently shown at 70% retained value over the same time frame. It makes the Gladiator a far better way to spend the money.

Sure, I have 8% less payload but the more maneuverable size and the 40 billion aftermarket parts for this truck and the removeable top and doors and the resale value all make up for that little tiny bit of capability that I gave up.
 
#22 ·
I may have to try this with my 16' HR
Mine has 25k on it. How many miles did yours have on it?
 
#8 ·
I don't think all the people claiming the JT is more expensive than its competitors have actually looked at the pricing of the other options. The JT is right in line with everything else in the same category. And probably with a much better resale residual.
 
#9 ·
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#13 ·
Local dealer right off the bat tried to tell me that other dealerships were charging over msrp but they sell for msrp. And then they tried to tell me that dealerships can't get JT's and they only have one and don't know when they will get another one - so even though the one they have isn't the color I like and doesn't have Max Tow (which is the only way I'd buy a sport) I should buy it. What an absolute joke of a dealership.
 
#15 ·
Yeah, but, the ZR2 diesel is a dog. I test drove one before ordering my Gladiator. Sticker was $51,000 or so. I had two of the 2.8L engines in Jeep Liberty CRDs about a decade ago and they were amazing, especially tuned. So I expected the ZR2 diesel to drive similarly. Nope. Was an absolute dog. Felt like I had to mash the throttle to get any response out of it at all. Terrible. And that old 6-speed clunky transmission wasn't so great either. And it's a GM product, so the reliability on it long term is going to be low. And it didn't have removeable doors or top. And it's payload was only 990 lbs., compared to 1,511 lbs. on my Gladiator.

So...when you look at the big picture the Gladiator costs more money because you're getting more truck.
 
#28 ·
Speaking from experience, even when compared to Fiat, when it comes to GM... run. Run far away. They ARE dogs, and will only become limping dogs begging for a bullet to the head by the time you're nearing end of warranty mileage. Resale value is an absolute joke on nearly everything they sell, parts wear out far quicker (in my experience) than on their competition, etc.

Some of their vehicles are attractive.

That's what they got, and not much else.
 
#19 ·
They are pricey, even for 3K under MSRP. That said, you are getting a tacoma sized truck (slightly bigger) that can go topless and naked... and looks way better.

My local jeep dealer has 2 left, but they are heavily modified and have a good 10K plus over MSRP. Sales guy told me he has ordered more, but said they are spoken for. Thus, I guess people are buying them.
 
#21 ·
Gladiators around here are selling at MSRP or with $2-10k tacked on as additional dealer markup. I knew going in that I was either going to pay MSRP, or drive several hundred miles and spend a few days in the process. Only dealership within a few hundred miles selling under MSRP wasn't by enough for me to make the drive, and spend 2 days in the process. Even at MSRP, I think it's a reasonable deal when compared to the Chevy, or the Tacoma.

Buying something "different" the first year on the market is always going to be a premium price. I knew that going in, and accepted it as the price I had to pay to buy one the first model year. Next year they'll be willing to deal a little bit, I'm sure.
 
#26 ·
IMO some purchases (even large ones) are more complex than value proposition...certainly someone likely to buy a Jeep falls into this category.

If somebody wants a Jeep and can afford it they aren't "shopping" best deals in a broad category as in Mid-Size pick-ups.
Yes, they may shop the deal but it's the deal on the Jeep they want.

In the price range of a loaded JT Rubicon there are Raptors too - I don't see the choice as one of equivalency.
 
#32 ·
Bashing other manufacturers, justified or not, is common and often laughable on any vehicle forum. I traded my GMC Canyon in on the Gladiator. It was a great truck. I never had a single problem with it in nearly 4 years and 45,000 miles. The dealer gave me a very good price on the Gladiator and a very good offer on my trade, nearly 70% of what I originally paid when I bought the Canyon new.
 
#38 ·
Looks like Ranger and Gladiator are taking a big bite out of Colorado, Frontier, and Tacoma sales. All three of those trucks sold less in September than they did September 2018.

Gladiator moved up into 4th place on the list. Keep in mind it's the newest truck on the list and hasn't even been on sale the entire year. Q4 sales will be interesting...

https://www.tfltruck.com/2019/10/ba...gladiator-are-gaining-ground-q3-sales-report/
 
#41 ·
I looked at a Gladiator S. I wanted to like it, but found it too long and cumbersome. Sort of gutless too. Cue the reminders of all the troubles my JKs gave me. Plus still over $40K after incentives, for a base model with steel wheels. Meh.

I moved on, '19 F-150 XLT. Mid-$30K after incentives, V8, got the 2-door I really wanted. Hope it's as good as the '04 I had, which was an anvil for the near nine years I had it - this one has a lot to live up to.
 

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