Your sentiment is understandable as I hope for the best while expecting the worse.Not gonna happen … don’t get your hopes up
Totally agree with the sexy assessment.As impractical as it would be still having two small kids, that J6 is just flat out sexy. Wouldn’t stop me from trying to own one though if they made it to production.
Everything you say is correct and yet, heartbreaking at the same time.As cool as I think the J6 looks, I would be very surprised if they ever made it. The simple fact is a manufacturer has to weigh the costs of producing the vehicle versus the payback, and I doubt the numbers would line up on it. Putting a 2 door Gladiator on the market is not nearly as simple as most people probably think. Some executive doesn't simply say "hey, start making a 2 door version" but rather there are a lot of numbers that need crunched and other issues to consider. First of all, they would do a market study to estimate the number of vehicles they would sell. Unfortunately for the 2 door lovers there is simply a small market as compared to 4 doors. Just look on dealer lots and on the road and count how many 2 door versus 4 door Wranglers you see.
Bet it's at least 10 4-doors for every 2 door JK or JL. There are unique parts that need developed, tested, and possibly the current biggest issue is sourced. There is a lot of money required to develop and test these new parts, including all of the safety certifications (crash testing, braking, stability control) that are required when doing a change like this. On the logistics side you have to be able to catalog and store all of these different parts (different parts than a 4 door Gladiator, and the 2 and 4 door Wranglers).....have to have a place to store these different frames, bulkheads, body parts, etc.... The next thing is thinking about production scheduling. Obviously not going to build an entire plant just for these 2 doors, so you have to interrupt production of the other models to build the 2 doors....this causes downtime as you switch the production line over, get all the right parts staged, and of course training the workers on what to do.
Skip, your viewpoint rings true to my ears. The word practical fit perfectly to the mini pickups of the late 60s and early 70s, Chevy Luv, Ford Courier, and others. Volkswagen, Datsun, Nissan and various others had their comparable models to offer. Those rascals could sip gasoline if ya went easy on the skinny pedal. They were great commuter vehicles with the bonus of the utility bed, got a lot of chuckles seeing how some could overload em.I'm sure the J6 would sell on it looks alone.
It may not be practical for people with kids but would be extremely practical for young single adults, recent empty nester's, and retired folks who, in their younger days, owned a little regular cab comanche, ranger, S10, or Tacoma that are no longer made.
At one time "practical" meant small, simple, & affordable. None of which the 4 door Gladiator is. My regular cab short bed Chevy S10 was practical when I was in college. My wife's 2 door hatchback Ford Escort was also a very practical vehicle for her during college being affordable with good fuel economy.
Now a days "practical" seems to mean an overpriced, oversized, multi seat suv, crossover, or crew cab tiny bed pickup to pack all of your kids and stuff in that no one can live an hour without.