I'm not a Jeep or truck person but amazingly, and despite its wretched name, I find love Jeep's new "Gladiator". Particularly these top of the line Rubicon's. Do I like them enough to buy one? Oh, hell no. But I like them enough that I wouldn't dissuade you from buying one if you can afford it.
Speaking of which, one of these fully loaded runs more than $55,000. I kid you not. The base model, what they call "Gladiator Sport", stickers north of thirty three grand and most will go out the door at more than forty. That's. Insane. Then again, I haven't bought a new vehicle in going on twenty years so I am, honestly, disconnected as to what new cars and trucks cost these days. But still, that said, fifty thousand dollars is a ton of money. Especially for a depreciating asset. Many a reviewer of these also sight how expensive they are so I'm not completely off base. Crunching raw numbers, a thirty six month lease payment on one comes out to around $1,500 a month, probably more. A sixty month term on a purchase puts you at more than $900. A month. Holy shit bombs. From a purely financial perspective these make absolutely no sense what-so-ever.
What I find amazing about these things is how much adding a pickup truck bed improves the overall look of the Wrangler Unlimited. They're like a sexy jack hammer that doubles as salad tongs. How I wish the rode and drove and sweet as they look. I haven't driven one yet but having spent considerable wheel time with Wrangler's in the past, I don't have much hope they'd float down the road like my old Lexus.
If the "Gladiator" name plate seems vaguely familiar to you, it means you're either a Jeep nerd or you're of a certain vintage. To most people, I have to imagine, "Gladiator" means to them either Russel Crowe's 2000 epic or the never funny, sophomoric "knock-knock" joke.
Those old Gladiators were big, brutish oh-so-manly trucks built off the same chassis Jeep built the original (and lovely) Wagoneer on. This new Gladiator is obviously an off shoot of the Wrangler "Unlimited" and is, sadly, only available as a four door. Check out this amazing looking two door Gladiator concept here.
Jeep built the original Gladiator, technically, from 1963 through 1988 although they dropped the "Gladiator" name after 1971. Why? Probably because it's utterly ridiculous. From 1972-1988, Jeep just referred to them as the Jeep pickup or J-series. Their designs seem somewhat iconic now but they were really worn out by the time Jeep pulled the plug on them in 1988. Actually, Chrysler did shortly after they bought Jeep in 1987 from AMC; AMC having bought Jeep back in 1970. In retrospect, they were around for so long and blended into the landscape, like highly stylized anything tends to do, and they became as invisible as anything else on the road. Only in retrospect can we honestly appreciate them for the wonderful looking unique designs they were.
It wasn't the only pickup Jeep had ever built until the plucky Gladiator - they also built a small pickup they called "Comanche" from 1985-1992 based on the compact Cherokee - which is not to be confused with "Grand Cherokee". I guess they ran out of Indian names and were hesitant to plaster "Gladiator" on something until now. (He stifles a forced giggle. Don't ask why).
The Comanche was a (horrible looking) three box dork machine and Chrysler, whom, again, had bought out Jeep in 1987, mercifully killed it off after 1992 and they haven't built a Jeep pickup since. Some hypothesize that's because a Jeep pickup would compete directly with Dodge and Ram pickups. And when you think about it that makes sense. So, why'd they start now?
Well, no doubt because mid size pickups are molten hot right now; in particular the hot-rod, gussied up off road versions. What with the success of the GM's Chevrolet Colorado\GMC Canyon twins, the rebirth of the Ford Ranger and Toyota's Tacoma, amongst other new or newish offerings, Jeep wanted in on the fun. Chrysler, or should I say "FCA", amazingly, didn't have a mid size truck in their Ram lineup - "Dakota" ghosted from Dodge showrooms after 2011 and there's been nary a replacement since. FCA probably had this concept up their sleeve for years now waiting for the just right moment to launch.
Well, I guess that moment is now and this handsome devil is getting rave reviews despite, again, it's oh-my-god sticker price. And it's name. I'll blog again about a Gladiator if I ever get a chance to spend any serious wheel time with one rather than just copy and paste someone else's gobble dee gook notes and make it seem as though I drove one. Knock-knock. Who' there?
The Comanche was a (horrible looking) three box dork machine and Chrysler, whom, again, had bought out Jeep in 1987, mercifully killed it off after 1992 and they haven't built a Jeep pickup since. Some hypothesize that's because a Jeep pickup would compete directly with Dodge and Ram pickups. And when you think about it that makes sense. So, why'd they start now?
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