Episode 390 – Do NOT buy the Gladiator – Yet.
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This Week In Jeep:
Supply and Demand Set High Prices For Gladiator
We’ve been reporting on the Gladiator clear back when it was just a rumor, and over the years one thing has become abundantly clear. EVERYONE wants the new Jeep Wrangler based pickup. Demand right now is at an all time high for the first Jeep pickup in decades. The launch was amazing, the commercials have been beautiful, entertaining and noteworthy. The truck has several trims and there was even a special “launch” edition that was sold for $60K. Needless to say, there’s been a fair amount of buzz surrounding this Jeep for quite a while now. But most people saw that $60k price tag as pretty damn high, even though the launch edition was reportedly set up even better than the current top of the line rubicon model is. Well the age old principles of supply and demand are alive and well, and have made that sticker shock virtually disappear. The 2020 model year gladiator, is currently selling for between $38K and $62K. So how can that be if the top top of the line limited launch edition was capped out at 60 grand? The answer is a single word. Profits. Some dealers are marking up the Gladiator by thousands and even tens of thousands of dollars right now, just because they can. And it’s up to you the customer to choose whether or not to overpay at your local dealership, and allow this price gouging to continue. Right now some dealers around the nation are making an absolute killing with the 2020 Gladiator, and the people who keep track of this sort of stuff have taken notice. Cox Automotive is the world’s leader in vehicle remarketing services and digital marketing and software solutions for automotive dealers and consumers. So it’s safe to say, they have their proverbial fingers on the pulse of the automotive market and their data can be trusted. According to them, the average transaction prices hovered around $56,400 in May for a vehicle that starts at 39K and when fully loaded sells for just over $62,000. The Cox Automotive transaction average is based on 2584 Gladiator sales in May. Since deliveries began trickling in March, Jeep has sold 3021 Gladiator pickups through May. As of Wednesday, of the roughly 3600 Gladiator pickups in U.S. dealer inventory that are currently listed on Cars.com, 60 percent of them are the top two Rubicon and Overland trims that max out with MSRPs of roughly $57,000 and $62,000, respectively.
Ok, that makes sense I guess taking into consideration the whole supply and demand strategies. But then there are dealers piling on Mopar lift kits and custom wheel and tire combos and then grossly marking up the price. Alongside the fair sticker prices are heaps of absurd Gladiator listings. You’ll find Rubicons listed above $80,000, bare-bones Sport S trims on skimpy tires for $70,000, and base model Sport trims in the $50,000s—many of which have no apparent mods at all. Right now, markups of a few thousand dollars, $10,000, and even upward of $20,000 are common. This, on a 2020-model-year vehicle with visible hinges, no curtain airbags, and an assembly quality dating back to the American Motors era. Jeep fans however, clearly don’t care. As we heard in the Cox Automotive report, the majority of Gladiators in the market right now are the top of the line models. This is what the people want. The Gladiator is the gnarliest boss of all short-bed pickups and an unyielding symbol of anti-commuter freedom, even if its sway bars never disconnect during the majority of its on-road miles.
Still…. there is no question this truck is bound to stay hot and in demand through the rest of this year. Just don’t let the hype victimize your wallet. As with any Wrangler, high customer demand and even higher resale values mean there is little to no price negotiation right now. Why would the dealer mark something down for you, when the next guy on the lot and the three behind him are willing to pay top dollar to get the rig they want. We all want instant gratification, and there’s nothing like keeping up with the Joneses. But here’s my advice for anyone within the sound of my voice who is looking to buy a Gladiator right now. Like a wise man once said… Check yo-self, before you wreck yo-self. Don’t fall for the marketing and the salesperson’s pressure to buy one immediately, and avoid the thick nest of dealer fees on the bill of sale that are piling up currently. It might even be a good idea to wait until the end of the year, or better yet, January of next year, when the dealers will start clearing out all the old 2020 stock to make room for the new 2021’s, and be more apt to make a deal. So once again, my advice for now is to be patient before committing to a new Gladiator. Don’t worry… The fine folks in Toledo are happy to make more for you. A lot more, i’m sure.
National Award Recognition For Toledo Jeep Fest
Over the years we’ve told you about countless events happening all around the nation and sometimes even abroad. Sometimes those events go from innogural to annual, and we hear about them year after year gaining more and more popularity. That couldn’t be more true for Toledo Ohio’s beloved Jeep Fest who has just earned national recognition.
The 2018 Toledo Jeep Fest received the Silver Anvil award from the Public Relations Society of America. The PRSA recognized the marketing communications campaign for the three-day celebration with its highest honor in the category of events and observances for associations/governments/nonprofit organizations. The Thread Marketing Group and the Lucas County Economic Development Corporation submitted the entry and were presented with the award in early June. During a news conference Tuesday, Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken said ((QUOTE)) “Jeep enthusiasts now nationally recognize the Toledo Jeep Fest as the singular most important event in the summer when it comes to Jeep.”
Two years ago, the Toledo Jeep Fest generated $4.5 million dollars in revenue, Tina Skeldon Wozniak, president of the Lucas County Commission, said. That figure has grown each year, and Ms. Wozniak predicted that trend will continue in 2019 and beyond. Time will tell, and we wish the event nothing but the greatest success and congratulate everyone involved on receiving this award.
The event is scheduled for Aug. 9th – 11th, and you can be sure we’ll be talking more about it as we get closer to the date.
Wrangler Talk:
Lux Lighting Systems LED Rock Light Install
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Interview with:
Jessica with Trendsetters
“What started off as a simple unreachable fishing hole, lead to a custom fabrication shop that has been building unstoppable off-road Jeeps since 2013. Trend Setter Customs is going to be with us to tell their amazing story.”
https://www.trendsetterscustoms.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Trendsetterscustoms/
QUICK TIP (“quicky/just the tip”)
If you’re trying to drive your Jeep or car onto some of those plastic or steel portable shop ramps and the ramps keep sliding away from the front wheels on the smooth floor of your garage, tie some rope or nylon strapping to the lowest holes in the ramps and situate the other ends so that your back wheels roll over them before the front tires hit the ramps. The weight of the vehicle and the traction of the tire will prevent the strap from moving, and with the other ends tied to the ramps, they ain’t going nowhere… And up the ramp you go.
Must Have Stuff for your Jeep:
Designed to be used in the backseat of just about any vehicle. Easily converts between hammock or standard rear seat coverage. Bottom section of the seat cover is designed with 7″ SIDE-FLAP extensions for extra coverage to the side of your seat cushions. Made with high quality heavy-duty waterproof polyester for durability and comfortability. Includes Built-in Velcro Openings for your seatbelts and Seat Anchors to prevent the seat cover from sliding around.
Protects the BackSeat From Dirt, Spills, Scratches, Hair & Fur, And Other Messes. Two Pockets included for easy storing of personal items such as toys, leashes, grooming supplies, water bottle. etc.
Designed with Color-Fast material to prevent color bleeding and premium components FREE OF AZO Dyes and HEAVY Metals such as arsenic, lead, mercury, etc. Also tested to withstand EXTREME temperatures so you will never have to worry about damage to your vehicle. Very Easy To Install – Just Snap the Buckle Straps Around Your Headrests and Tuck In The Seat Anchors. Very Easy to Install and Clean – Machine Washable
BarksBar Luxury Pet Car Seat Cover – $24.99 https://amzn.to/2FnhVwa
Nicky G:
Brought to you by Brake Cleaner
Wheeling Where:
Twin City Off Road and H.T.R. 4×4 Club – Crawl 4 The Cure
July 18th – 21st
Gilbert, Minnesota
https://crawl4cure.org/
A charitable event where off-road vehicle enthusiasts raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upper Midwest Chapter. We welcome all makes and models of off-highway vehicles and encourage family and friends to join in.
Badlands Off-Road Adventures – Starting Rock Crawling
July 13th
Lucerne Valley, California
https://www.4x4training.com/w/product-category/recreational-clinics/advanced-clinics/starting-rock-crawling/
The objective of the Rock Driving Clinic is to increase your comfort in dealing with rocks, rocks and more rocks. This is a day with the coaching of an experienced guide and the help of fellow travelers.
Links Mentioned in Episode 390:
LUX Lighting Systems 15% off Discount Code: {listen}
https://luxlightingsystems.com/collections/rock-lights
Extreme Terrain / Rugged Ridge $4k giveaway – https://www.extremeterrain.com/rugged-ridge-jeep.html