Tacoma. Gladiator. Colorado. Ranger. WHY Would You Buy ANY Of These When Full Size Trucks Have CHEAPER Street Prices?

Here in Southern California it's hard to go anywhere without seeing a dozen of so Toyota Tacoma's a day throughout the day. There are other mid size pickups but we all know they OWN the mid-size pickup market.

The Chevy/GMC midsize trucks are far behind here in second place yet more and more Ford Rangers are showing up.

But the funny thing? I have yet to see even ONE Jeep Gladiator on the road here. Not a good sign seeing all the car trends start here.

But lets forget the comparison of these smaller pickups.

And lets get to the meat of the issue.

Every time I've ever priced any of these in the mid-size WITHOUT QUESTION I could buy the full size competitor for the same price or less because the biggest incentives are on the real thing.

So our question is WHY would you buy MUCH LESS of a vehicle when you could have the real thing for the same or less?

Spies discuss...

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jeffgall - 7/2/2019 7:01:47 AM

+1 Boost

I get the point, but not everyone wants or needs a full size pickup. They drive large, are more painful to park, use more gas, etc... I could own a full size SUV (Suburban), but for the money, I rather have a luxury mid size one.

jeffgall - 7/2/2019 7:02:43 AM

+1 Boost

Not sure what is going on in Cali, but in New Jersey, I have seen 4 Gladiators on the road to date. All Rubicons.

TomM - 7/2/2019 7:14:32 AM

+2 Boost

This is the Question YOU are asking - Think about it

Why buy a BMW 3 M series premium car - WHen you can get some S class models on the street for the same price or lower?

Obviously you would have to be crazy!!!!

You are comparing apples to oranges - and when you really really want an orange - the apple just is not the same.

And indeed in NJ - I have seen several Gladiators on the Road as well

MDarringer - 7/2/2019 8:10:25 AM

+1 Boost

Ford botched the return of the Ranger. After initial interest and fly-off-the-lot sales, volume has tanked because of pricing. When people realize they can have an F150 for the same price, they go with the F150. The Ranger is price $5-7K too high. A lot a buyers want a V6 and NOT the turbo 4. I note that the Fusion is to die yet it is selling 5X the volume of the Ranger. So it Ford's "no cars" plan is so brilliant, why has the Ranger failed?

We'll see on the Gladiator, but I suspect it is quite a bit too expensive and therefore aimed wrong.

The Colorado does quite well though it's half the volume of the Tacoma. Yet a Silverado is similar in price.

As for the Tacoma, people are NOT flocking to the terrible Tundra.

Agent001 - 7/2/2019 1:55:56 PM

0 Boost

Because we ask the questions they don't. And we actually tell the truth and we're not in the tank with the manufacturers. Motor Trend car of the year. Best award money can buy. It's ALL FIXED in the national mags.

001

Deutschland - 7/2/2019 12:19:32 PM

+3 Boost

Does the Gladiator ride like the Wrangler? If so I have no idea why people would buy it.

TomM - 7/4/2019 9:41:39 AM

+2 Boost

Lots of people Buy Wranglers

I would suspect lots will buy Gladiators too

Remember all of the "bad" cars and trucks people have bought over the years
Even the YUGO had buyers in the beginning

trboaccord - 7/2/2019 12:54:32 PM

+1 Boost

If you are buying a truck based on price alone you buy a GM product if you want Quality/Longevity you buy a Toyota and if you want to truly waste your money you buy a Jeep!

MDarringer - 7/4/2019 9:59:03 AM

0 Boost

Funny how the Tundra is NOT especially known for quality or longevity.

skytop - 7/3/2019 1:57:28 AM

0 Boost

Good question. Perhaps there is a population of truck buyers who fail to investigate price vs. feature and fall into the myth that smaller is cheaper.