If you build it we will buy it!
Wow who would have known or thought that a 4-door Wrangler would sell?
According to the Toledo-Blade the new Wrangler, both the 2-door and the 4-door Unlimited have found success in the market place. Here are some numbers:
The North Toledo plant, which produces the Wrangler, has 59,000 pending orders from customers and dealers. Most of the orders are for the 4-door version. Last year the Wrangler (which was found only in a 2-door version) sold roughly 75,000 units. Therefore these orders represent close to three quarters of the total sales of last years Wrangler. I think it is safe to say that the Chrysler Group has another hot hit on their hands. And due to the high demand for the Unlimiteds customers who have yet ordered theirs already have to wait, according to the article, until next year to buy a new Unlimited.
Dave Doster who is a manger at a dealership, who was quoted by the Toledo-Blade stated “They definitely have a high demand…They’ve done such a great job with it.”
To help meet the demand workers are scheduled to build Wranglers on an added Sunday shifts that are uncommon to the plant.
According to the Toledo-Blade last month, Toledo Jeep built 6,194 Wrangler Unlimiteds and 4,124 traditional 2-door Wranglers. That is is total of 10,318 units. This is an increase of 14% relative to the same month last year when the plant built 9,082 Wranglers.
So this should be a nice sign to the Chrysler Group, if you build it they will come. How many years have I waited for a 4-door Wrangler? Well, since I grew out of my YJ and I knew that my family would not be fitting (or be okay with it) in a traditional 2-door.
The Chrysler Group should have also struck while the iron was hot with a production version of their sweet Gladiator concept. However the high demand for the Unlimited should be a sign that the perfect vehicle, whether that is a 4-door Wrangler or a production Gladiator, is well worth the wait.
The Chrysler Group should listen to their base! This should show them that if they build it we will buy it!
I test drove one of the four doors. It is impressive. Solid, powerful, and believe it or not is actually comfortablde, able to be a daily driver. The demand for such a vehicle has alwasy been there.’Bout time!
We’ve sold every one we could get our hands on and have about 10 customer orders waiting. I like the way they drive. It does take some getting used to seeing rear head rests in the rear view mirror. I also think they missed a good opportunity with Gladiator. We were told the reason they decided against building it was that it was on an exclusive body. I guess they didn’t want to devote one entire production line to it.
The Dodge Nitro panel with interior trim to fill in where the quarter and rear door glass once resided.
Let’s also ask for the right engine: a 285HP/295 FP 4.0 liter V6 (don’t forget the availablity of the
HEMI) and mated with a six-speed manual and don’t forget at least 3.73 rear gears. Maybe some fold flat buckets seats behind the front seats. The rest of the body mods can stay “body kit accentuates its shape
by lowering the sills and fascia. The beefy flares are one inch wider per side to cover the one-off
Alcoa forged 20 x 9 wheels wrapped in sticky BF Goodrich g-Force 265/50VR20s. The suspension was lowered
2 inches to lower the center of gravity and improve the handling.”
Let us also have the sound system and other options available in the Nitro - rather than the austere
range of options available to the Caravan Cargo Van vs the passenger van.
I’m thinking this is an update to the Cruise Vans of the 60’s & 70’s or a classic replacement for the Ramcharger/Trail Blazer. I can just see myself cruising in one of these Nitro Panels - a great replacement for my Minivan (make sure there’s headroom). Expecially with the lowered suspension, I asked my dealership to
lower that of my Minivan to improve my handling and was advised that I’d void my warranty.
Sounds just great, especially that SEMA Color scheme!
So build it - we will buy it… now out here was where it should have been first posted.
Are you willing to pay the extra $12,000 for the Hemi option? That would include the extra engineering and tooling for the bigger hood.
I Agree with Dave, first we where no talking about the NITRO, wich is a greate refinement to the Liberty Platform, and second in that body in don´t beleave it would be factory posible to fit a Hemi, or any other V8, a 4.0 with the stock 255 hp its fine with me.
About the Gladiator, it is a Shame that a car looking so close to production was trapped in the calendar photo, the Unlimited Platform could be used for a production Gladiator just like the new 2008 Liberty platform for a Comanche Remake, now that as a larger wheel base.
The Unlimited it has a greate ride and handling, some folks dislike the fact that the engine comes directliy from a Minivan (MomyVan) but the engine is quite Durable even for Jeep Standars.
Well done Jeep, Keep it Up, Make a Gladiator or Comanche, Us dirt road guys are begging for a Jeep Pickup Truck
“Are you willing to pay the extra $12,000 for the Hemi option? That would include the extra engineering and tooling for the bigger hood. Comment by Dave — December 1, 2006 @ 9:18 pm”
So we forget the idea of the Hemi, everything else is a good idea.
Yes that 4-door Wrangler looks great. Just to test drive it and maybe buy one.
The unlimited has a 116″ wheelbase while the Gladiator concept was 138.4″ (a bigger difference than 2door->4door) so they would be different platforms.
I want a Gladiator.
If they don’t fix that leaking Freedom top they are going to have a lot of unhappy customers
DCX is missing the forest for the Tree. Yeah, the 4 door Wrangler is selling like hot cakes. Didn’t the “experts” say it would be “niche” take a chance and build the Gladiator. You won’t be disappointed in sales. I’ll bet you wont’ be able to keep up with the demand.
I’m glad it’s doing well, but D.C.X. will just suck that teat till it’s dry also. (I’m such an optimist…)