Jeep owners may find October to be a particularly good time to add a new Gladiator to their garage. According to a bulletin sent to dealers Monday, the brand is sending out $1,000 loyalty coupons to tempt owners to upgrade. While this appears to be the model's first loyalty discount, there are some important catches.
First, unlike a regular cash incentive, this is a direct mail campaign involving either a coupon sent electronically or via US mail. The program started this week, so those eligible for the incentive may not receive their coupon right away. Having said that, the offer ends January 2, so there's a fair amount of time left.
Unfortunately, not all Gladiators are eligible for the discount. Die-hard Jeep fans may lament the fact that the Rubicon model is excluded. Gladiator prices start at $35,040 with destination for the manual-equipped Sport model and $47,040 for the Rubicon variant before optional equipment.
That said, even though the model has a near-$35,000 base price on paper and touted in ads, finding one that affordable can be almost impossible. Our recent analysis of national listings found that most dealers tend to stock configurations that cost over $40,000.
Shoppers should also be aware that lease prices for the Gladiator have steadily increased in recent months. At one point, the model was actually cheaper to lease than the Wrangler because of better residual values. Now, advertised deals are over $90/month more expensive.