Jeep teases with idea of re-entry into pickup market

[terrawombat]

Will they just do it already: http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/06/is ... arket.html

 

I feel like they say the same thing every year. Put up or shut up. Unfortunately, if they ever DO put out a mid-sized pickup, it won't look anything like the Gladiator.

[Burls]

If it ever happens, it will unfortunately be a re-badged dakota. I wish Jeep could/would produce a not quite midsized economically priced pickup.

 

 

Have a 4 cylinder diesel option, 4 & 6 cylinder gas options(preferably not current mopar engines).

Offer Reg cab short/long bed, Ex cab short bed, crew short bed(6ft not the 5ft and some change bed that can barely carry groceries)

6spd manual/5 or 6 auto

4wd gets a manual t-case 231 & 242 as options(no electronically shifted t-cases )

"next Gen" Dana 30 front & Dana 44 rear

Cloth or vinyl seat coverings(leather=dealer installed option) 40/20/40 or 40/40 buckets with console(short style like ranger or cj)

cruise & tilt standard

optional power locks/mirrors/windows

[jpnjim]

Wow, sales are down,

lets rehash an ancient picture of a Jeep we'll never build, and try to get the same suckers excited about a Jeep Pickup.... again.

 

Nope, I am not biting this time.

 

There has been absolutely no reason to NOT make an Unlimited based Jeep pickup,

other than the fact that they do not want Jeep pickup trucks.

 

 

Not negative towards you Terra :cheers:

 

 

 

I just can't believe they're throwing the same tired old bait out at us again.

 

I'll be the most excited guy on this board if they build one,

but I'm not gonna believe a word out of their mouths until I see one at my local dealer.

[terrawombat]

Not negative towards you Terra :cheers:

 

It's cool! I was sharing the same sentiments as you.

 

But, I do have that little glimmer of hope that maybe...just maybe...

 

I'd even consider selling off some of my vehicle fleet to get one.

[jpnjim]

Not negative towards you Terra :cheers:

 

It's cool! I was sharing the same sentiments as you.

 

:cheers:

 

sometimes when I :fs1:

it's like a shotgun blast, and gets everyone in sight. ;)

 

But, I do have that little glimmer of hope that maybe...just maybe...

 

I'd even consider selling off some of my vehicle fleet to get one.

 

 

I could see myself being very happy with even a 2wd JK Pickup.

But if I was going 2wd, I'd want it bare bones (= cheap),

I doubt they'd build them like that,

so my 2nd choice would be a Maroon Rubicon JK Pickup.

 

Back to dreaming about what we'll never get :doh:

[beepbeepmyredjeep]

There is an aftermarket conversion kit available for TJ Wranglers which will turn them into pickup trucks...

 

It's called the "Brute"

 

http://www.aev-conversions.com/products/brute/

 

It costs $8,995, plus $500 shipping.

 

If I ever win the lotto, I will be buying a used TJ and one of these kits, and building a Brute.

[dasbulliwagen]

I completely agree about them continuing to tease us over the years. I'm finally at point in my life where theres a possibility in the near future that I could buy a new pickup if needed, but there are very few that I would consider. A Jeep would be perfect in that regard. I just hope they have enough vision to finally do something about it for the US market. The US hasnt really had a new midsize pickup for a long time. The Dakota is too darned big (and ugly), the Ranger hasnt been redesigned since 1993, the yota has a strong following but has done nothing impressive in 20 years... same for Nissan, Isuzu (Chevy), Mitsubishi (Dodge). Design and engineering in that segment has been stagnant for too long.... no wonder no one wants to buy a new midsize, especially when they continue to offer us the same old crap. If that Nukizer showed up in my dealers showroom.... I would do everything in my power to get one....up to and including driving the wife absolutely crazy till I got one. Id probably have to change jobs to one with a more steady paycheck to do it too. but I think it would be worth it! PLEASE JEEP>>>>JUST BUILD IT!

[kro10000]

:agree:

 

Maybe after ChryCo changes hands a few more times, someone will decide it might be a good idea to actually build something that there is high demand for

 

 

I'm not holding my breath

[beepbeepmyredjeep]

:agree:

 

Maybe after ChryCo changes hands a few more times, someone will decide it might be a good idea to actually build something that there is high demand for

 

 

I'm not holding my breath

 

You mean like more Jeep SUVs?

http://wikicars.org/en/Jeep_Compass

http://wikicars.org/en/Jeep_Commander

 

*snicker*

[jpnjim]

:agree:

 

Maybe after ChryCo changes hands a few more times, someone will decide it might be a good idea to actually build something that there is high demand for

 

 

I'm not holding my breath

 

You mean like more Jeep SUVs?

http://wikicars.org/en/Jeep_Compass

http://wikicars.org/en/Jeep_Commander

 

*snicker*

 

I *like* that they made little cute-ute SUV-like-things,

tho I really don't like the ones they made (does that make sense? :nuts: ).

 

Jeep should have had some kind of an entry level crapbox ute from day one to compete with Suzuki & Subaru.

 

Kids get mom's hand-me-down Subi wagon, and fall in love with the durability, 4x4, etc,

 

Jeep should go after the 'mom' market,

and reap the benefits of a potential customer for life from the kid that gets her hand-me-down.

 

That said, I think the vehicles they chose to do this with (Compass & Patriot)

don't really deliver the goods.

 

'Jeep' is still the most recognized vehicle in the world:

ask any 3 year old what a Jeep is

then ask him Ford, Chevy, Chrysler, Toyota, etc,

 

it's a shame they're trying so hard to run it into the ground. :doh:

[88pioneer]

I still wish they would bring the J8 to the US, that 2.8 turbo diesel sounds pretty nice

Image Not Found

[Pete M]

the 2.8 would never pass emissions. shame too.

[87Warrior]

Bah! Don't waste any time/money on a TJ Brute. Besides the cool factor, it has absolutely nothing going for it. Checked on out in Moab when I lived in co. A really cramped cab with a unless bed. After seeing the brute, I bought an MJ 6 months later. Its a much better platform for form and function.

 

I think the old gladiator JK based pickup would sell like hot cakes in the morning.

 

I remember suffing forums around 2001 when the Rubicon concept was gaining publin ground. Granted a few enthusiasts had been trying to convince the designers at Chrysler to build a rubicon like package since the 80s. Everybody said it would never be made and that DC could not engineer it to work. Isn't the Rubicon the best selling Jeep theses days?

 

Hope they realize, that if done right, a Jeep pickup would sell like nothing else.

[terrawombat]

Isn't the Rubicon the best selling Jeep theses days?

 

I'm not sure how much truth there is in that statement (and I'm too lazy to search to find out), but I certainly wouldn't be surprised. I can probably count close to a dozen JK Rubicon's on my way to work in the morning (and it's only a 7 mile commute). I stopped by the Jeep dealership a couple months back and of all the JK's they had on the lot, 75% of them were Rubicon models. I'm not sure how well built the JK Rubi's are, but the TJ versions were pretty bada$$.

[Automan2164]

 

Sign me up.

Rob L. 8)

[jpnjim]

 

Sign me up.

Rob L. 8)

 

Make mine a V8/5spd with Rubi axles/T-case.

Roll up windows, A/C and under $25K please.

[Pete M]

:agree:

[DJM/78]

Under 25k ? :???: :ack: :dunno: :shake: :laughin: :teehee: :rotfl2: :rotf: :wall: :fool: :hateputers:

[jpnjim]

Under 25k ? :???: :ack: :dunno: :shake: :laughin: :teehee: :rotfl2: :rotf: :wall: :fool: :hateputers:

 

The thread is about Jeep building a production pickup truck.

 

If we're willing to suspend belief long enough for that topic,

the thought of selling them for $24,999 should be a walk in the park.

 

 

You should be glad I didn't mention that I want my to run on Unicorn Tears & Puppy Farts. ;)

 

 

:wavey: :D

[88pioneer]

Under 25k ? :???: :ack: :dunno: :shake: :laughin: :teehee: :rotfl2: :rotf: :wall: :fool: :hateputers:

 

The thread is about Jeep building a production pickup truck.

 

If we're willing to suspend belief long enough for that topic,

the thought of selling them for $24,999 should be a walk in the park.

 

 

You should be glad I didn't mention that I want my to run on Unicorn Tears & Puppy Farts. ;)

 

 

:wavey: :D

 

:doh: :rotf:

[dasbulliwagen]

 

Sign me up.

Rob L. 8)

 

I just found my new desktop picture!!!! And this is THE truck I speak of when I say I would drive the wife crazy to get one! I agree with the roll up windows and AC, but thats all it would need. A rubber floor, a split bench seat, radio.... Keep it simple! A REAL truck! Like when we were kids riding around with dad... it just doesnt get any better.

[DJM/78]

Under 25k ? :???: :ack: :dunno: :shake: :laughin: :teehee: :rotfl2: :rotf: :wall: :fool: :hateputers:

 

The thread is about Jeep building a production pickup truck.

 

If we're willing to suspend belief long enough for that topic,

the thought of selling them for $24,999 should be a walk in the park.

 

 

You should be glad I didn't mention that I want my to run on Unicorn Tears & Puppy Farts. ;)

 

 

:wavey: :D

 

:doh: :rotf:

 

:clapping:

That things just too bad@zz , if they actually come out with it I'd find a way to sell all my puppy farts to get one .

[jpnjim]

That things just too bad@zz , if they actually come out with it I'd find a way to sell all my puppy farts to get one .

 

 

:agree: :clapping:

[WahooSteeler]

i was waiting for someone to post a pic of that 715 concept. friggin off the chain!!

 

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/04/mi ... r-715.html

 

the Unlimited has the same wheelbase as the original Scrambler, and only 16 inches shorter overall which is all in the bed. there are a few outfits on the market that convert the unlimited to a 1/2 cab with the "bag of mulch" size "bed". i'm amazed that i haven't seen a true Scrambler conversion with the 16 inch bed extension. I know it would involve extending the frame and fabbing the 16" bed extension has challenges, but I'm still amazed I haven't seen ONE done. :dunno:

[dasbulliwagen]

New article on www.allpar.com today referencing this topic.

 

http://www.allpar.com/news/index.php/20 ... wirl-again

 

Rumors of a possible civilian Jeep pickup are making the rounds again. According to PickupTrucks.com, Jeep brand CEO Mike Manley is interested in the idea of a smaller pickup, not so much for the U.S., but for a wider global market where such a truck could compete with vehicles from Nissan and Toyota. Volkswagen is also getting onto the market with the four-door Amarok pickup.

 

The item posted by Mike Levine noted Jeep pickup concepts continue to spark consumer interest. Mopar’s Nukizer 715 concept received an enthusiastic reception at the Moab Jeep Safari last spring and there was excitement about the J8 Sarge concept that debuted in 2008.

 

Levine quotes Manley as saying compact pickups have had a tough time in the U.S. but do better globally. Using this as an excuse to dither about a Jeep pickup indicates Manley is either being disingenuous about a Jeep pickup being considered or he needs to take another look at the pickup market in the U.S.

 

There is only one true, American-badged compact pickup sold in the U.S.: the Ford Ranger and it is basically 27 years old, being largely unchanged since it took over from a rebadged Mazda in 1983. GM dropped its compact S10 and Sonoma compacts and introduced the mid-size Colorado and Canyon which, along with the Dodge Dakota, were close enough in size and price to a full-size pickup that there was no value in selecting the smaller model. That most definitely would not be true of a Jeep pickup – if it’s the right Jeep pickup.

 

The question in Mike Manley’s mind, and in the mind of Sergio Marchionne, should not be whether to make a Jeep pickup, but what kind of Jeep pickup to make. Should it be a more-or-less conventional pickup, along the lines of the original Kaiser/American Motors Gladiator, or a Wrangler-based truck, like the J8 or the 2005 Gladiator concept (shown above)? Considering that extended cab or crew cab pickups account for the majority of pickup sales, an extended-wheelbase JK might be the way to go: it certainly wouldn’t be confused with anything else! Plus, it would extend the Wrangler franchise and wouldn’t be as price-sensitive as a truck consumers perceive to be just another pickup, one of the problems encountered by the Gladiator and Honcho.

 

It’s time to drop the other shoe; make the rumors reality and green-light a Jeep pickup.