Agent001 submitted on 12/4/2018Auto Spies Photos Timestamp: 12:58:03 AM
12 user comments | Views : 6,840 | Category: Spy News | Source: www.autospies.com
If you were walking around the LA Auto Show with me last week and we started talking about favorite rides of our past my Black 1979 Jeep CJ-7 Renegade would dominate the conversation. I had always been a car guy but growing up in Buffalo teaches you no matter how much you love sports cars winter is coming and it ain't gonna be pretty. Then complicate things even further by starting a new job DJ'ing a little club called AliBaba's in East Aurora, NY (about 30 miles from my house and the home of Fisher-Price toys and a SH_TLOAD of snow) and you'll know why I gave up on my 1976 Mercury Capri in favor of the CJ. No 4am snowstorm or inclement weather could ever stop it. I LOVED it. Snow monster in winter, top off in summer loaded with girls wearing less than bikini's heading to the beaches of Canada.Los Angeles Auto ShowSo how do you make the CJ cooler? You bring out a new version with a pickup style bed and call it the SCRAMBLER. Made huge sense on paper. But you know what happened? IT FLOPPED MISERABLY.Fast forward to last week in LA and welcome to the new Jeep Gladiator.And just like the Scrambler, it seems to make all the sense in the world. So tell us WHY this time, a pickup based on the traditional Jeep won't FLOP like the last one?Spies, discuss... Los Angeles Auto Show
"They are being watched. We work in secret. They'll never find us."— Agent001 (View Profile)
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And it might be a flop! Because looking at production vehicle pictures: it looks very long (does it still fit in most garages?); very long wheelbase (breakover angle?); and overall daily drive abilities like turning radius? Because most people who buy these are not hardcore off-roaders (or they would have gotten the regular 2 door) nor are they buying it for towing capacity which seems to be most articles/specs i have read so far. The Unlimited has been extremely successful because it is a lot more practical for young families and a much better ride while giving up very little in off-road-abilities.— wilfred (View Profile)
And it might be a flop! Because looking at production vehicle pictures: it looks very long (does it still fit in most garages?); very long wheelbase (breakover angle?); and overall daily drive abilities like turning radius? Because most people who buy these are not hardcore off-roaders (or they would have gotten the regular 2 door) nor are they buying it for towing capacity which seems to be most articles/specs i have read so far. The Unlimited has been extremely successful because it is a lot more practical for young families and a much better ride while giving up very little in off-road-abilities.
— wilfred (View Profile)
Posted on 12/4/2018 1:36:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2
also because GM has decided to go out of truck business.— zlives (View Profile)
also because GM has decided to go out of truck business.
— zlives (View Profile)
Posted on 12/4/2018 6:15:15 PM | | Votes: 2
The current "in" vehicles are trucklike vehicles - which was not the case in the past - where a truck was used as a truck.Virtually ALL of these vehicles will end up being used as regular transportation - with occasional use bringing home that Antique Grandfather Clock you bought on your trip to the northeast. People who really really want OFF ROAD capability will determine just how good they are - and make decisions on that - but the fact is - most people buy 4x4 vehicles today for show - or to go in snow on legal pavement. Fact is - most Front WHeel Drive Vehicles go in snow almost as well - but they fell out of favor.So - I believe this will actually create a market for itself - and likely will sell quite well too.— TomM (View Profile)
The current "in" vehicles are trucklike vehicles - which was not the case in the past - where a truck was used as a truck.Virtually ALL of these vehicles will end up being used as regular transportation - with occasional use bringing home that Antique Grandfather Clock you bought on your trip to the northeast. People who really really want OFF ROAD capability will determine just how good they are - and make decisions on that - but the fact is - most people buy 4x4 vehicles today for show - or to go in snow on legal pavement. Fact is - most Front WHeel Drive Vehicles go in snow almost as well - but they fell out of favor.So - I believe this will actually create a market for itself - and likely will sell quite well too.
— TomM (View Profile)
Posted on 12/4/2018 3:09:53 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5
Completely agree. The Scrambler was a weak effort whereas this thing has an "i mean business" look all over it. That business is more attitude than necessarily hauling. Would I rather have this vs a Chevy Colorado thats an easy choice, no doubt. This has a ton more character and personality and Jeep has cache. — xjug1987a (View Profile)
Completely agree. The Scrambler was a weak effort whereas this thing has an "i mean business" look all over it. That business is more attitude than necessarily hauling. Would I rather have this vs a Chevy Colorado thats an easy choice, no doubt. This has a ton more character and personality and Jeep has cache.
— xjug1987a (View Profile)
Posted on 12/4/2018 10:14:59 AM | | Votes: 2
This Jeep pickup truck has "Ford Explorer Sport Trak" (i.e. Explorer pickup sold from 2006 to 2012 or so) written all over it. Sorry to disappoint but the Jeep Scrambler is going to be a dud - large in size but tiny cabin, tiny bed, likely poor quality. If you need a pickup, why would you choose this one? If you want a Jeep Wrangler, why would you choose one that does not have meaningful amounts of enclosed interior space. The Scrambler does not make any sense, even though it might be attention grabbing at the Auto Show.Just the latest example of FCA executives re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic before the inevitable. — mre30 (View Profile)
This Jeep pickup truck has "Ford Explorer Sport Trak" (i.e. Explorer pickup sold from 2006 to 2012 or so) written all over it. Sorry to disappoint but the Jeep Scrambler is going to be a dud - large in size but tiny cabin, tiny bed, likely poor quality. If you need a pickup, why would you choose this one? If you want a Jeep Wrangler, why would you choose one that does not have meaningful amounts of enclosed interior space. The Scrambler does not make any sense, even though it might be attention grabbing at the Auto Show.Just the latest example of FCA executives re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic before the inevitable.
— mre30 (View Profile)
Posted on 12/4/2018 7:03:13 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2
This is a real pickup whereas the Scrambler was not. SUVs and Jeep are very popular now. I believe it will sell well initially, but eventually people will want the comfort and practicality of traditional pickups.— Truthy (View Profile)
This is a real pickup whereas the Scrambler was not. SUVs and Jeep are very popular now. I believe it will sell well initially, but eventually people will want the comfort and practicality of traditional pickups.
— Truthy (View Profile)
Posted on 12/4/2018 7:28:33 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0
The Gladiator has a laughably small bed attached to a chopped off Wrangler cab with compromised interior space. The bed size is a deal breaker for people that actually need a truck. Just look at the photo showing a special rack to carry two mountain bikes! They would have been better off going for a regular two-seater cab/club cab with a bigger bed. — rlbdcky (View Profile)
The Gladiator has a laughably small bed attached to a chopped off Wrangler cab with compromised interior space. The bed size is a deal breaker for people that actually need a truck. Just look at the photo showing a special rack to carry two mountain bikes! They would have been better off going for a regular two-seater cab/club cab with a bigger bed.
— rlbdcky (View Profile)
Posted on 12/4/2018 7:51:08 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2
Different times + different culture + different customers = different results!— PUGPROUD (View Profile)
Different times + different culture + different customers = different results!
— PUGPROUD (View Profile)
Posted on 12/4/2018 8:21:31 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0
If I need a pick up I will buy a F150 with plenty of room for 5 adults and not some squished Jeep with a glued on small box ass. This is a fashion statement vehicle and nothing more and will sell well I'm sure for non truck people who don't need real truck utility. Good for Jeep capitalizing on a new niche though.— qwertyfla1 (View Profile)
If I need a pick up I will buy a F150 with plenty of room for 5 adults and not some squished Jeep with a glued on small box ass. This is a fashion statement vehicle and nothing more and will sell well I'm sure for non truck people who don't need real truck utility. Good for Jeep capitalizing on a new niche though.
— qwertyfla1 (View Profile)
Posted on 12/4/2018 11:28:33 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0
That's easy. It has 4 doors and 5 seats. The CJ-7 did not. — CANADIANCOMMENTS (View Profile)
That's easy. It has 4 doors and 5 seats. The CJ-7 did not.
— CANADIANCOMMENTS (View Profile)
Posted on 12/4/2018 12:45:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2
They should just stick with SUVs.— jtz7 (View Profile)
They should just stick with SUVs.
— jtz7 (View Profile)
Posted on 12/4/2018 3:12:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2
The Scrambler was a flop? What about Jeep/Mopar's JK-8 pickup conversion?[img]https://www.conceptcarz.com/images/Jeep/2011_Jeep-JK-8_Indepedence-Image-01-800.jpg[/img]— WaltA (View Profile)
The Scrambler was a flop? What about Jeep/Mopar's JK-8 pickup conversion?[img]https://www.conceptcarz.com/images/Jeep/2011_Jeep-JK-8_Indepedence-Image-01-800.jpg[/img]
— WaltA (View Profile)
Posted on 12/6/2018 3:16:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1
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