Latest on the Bronco

I think it's awesome. So glad to see the Wrangler finally get some competition. Having said that, I'm not an off-road guy, so I won't be buying one. But the fact that it exists is fantastic.

I really like this option.

I watched it live and felt the same as many here.  I'm not in the market for one, I have no need for a 4x4 ute... yet, I want one!  

Very cool.  ...and with a stick?  steelies as an option?  even if they don't sell many in that configuration it's a brilliant move from an enthusiast cred standpoint.  

What crazy times where a company like Ford can launch this, sell over 5 million vehicles globally, and have a market cap that last month was surpassed by Nikola... which has never built or delivered a product, and doesn't even have a factory.  

Makes me really want to root for Detroit. 

I did however question aloud if they weren't selling to the wrong crowd with a lot of the voiceover on the video launch with lots of mechanical bragging about lockers and (not using) straight axles, etc.  Felt kind of 1970's stat bragging, and a little too old school Detroit.  On the other hand it pitches it as legit and hardcore, but those guys will weed out the stats regardless.  I'm not a marketing engineer, I hope it helps move the needle for Ford.    

This is gonna sound weird, but I kinda want to see a Bronco Sport made into a rally car.

Other than that, the 2-door is great but I wish the manual was available with the V6. Oh well, can't afford one anyway. Can't even afford a used one any time in the next ten years, and won't want to deal with all that fancy electronic tech that will surely be broken by the time these things reach that age.

I want the Sasquatch package on everything I own!

$49K Wildtrak is the cheapest 4 door hard top option? Yikes!

bigdaddylee82 said:

I want the Sasquatch package on everything I own!

 

$49K Wildtrak is the cheapest 4 door hard top option? Yikes!

 

You can't get the 4 door base, with a HT for $35-$37k? 

In reply to mr2s2000elise :

Unless it's an optional add-on, not according to the .PDF of packages on Ford's website.

Oh boy. As a guy with an S197 Mustang, VW wagon, and a Jeep TJ in the driveway; I really like this. The styling is great. The hardware seems to be very well designed. I wish they had one with the Coyote, but I probably wouldn't be able to afford one, anyway.  
 

Of course, my choice of vehicles could just mean that I am a glutton for punishment ;-/

I'm really impressed by some of the accessory details like the accessory rail mount above. The power disconnect sway bar is cool, specifically the ability to do it under load. I was surprised to see the rear "locker" on the sport, which is cool. If the sport can run a small lift and slightly bigger tires I think they've got a competitor to the 4Runner in the overland market with it and not just with the 4dr.  Some of the stuff like the slide out tables and trail doors were neat. That's got to be the first time for limb lines as a factory option too
 

everybody is bagging on it for not having a V8, but the 2.7 puts out more power and a LOT more torque than the V8 in my S197, so besides nostalgia I don't get it. 
 

if I hadn't bought the pickup a couple years back I'd have a deposit down already.  My wife loves it so we may still look at a 2dr as her daily when the time comes. I can't wait to spend some time on a configuration website for it. 
 

overall it's living up to and above the hype in my opinion. We'll see what the drive experience is like. 
 

I don't hate them as much as I thought I would. More towing would be nice, as someone mentioned, maybe just up to 5000. The big screen deal is an eye sore, I like the knobs that they did put in but that much electronics just screams maintenance nightmare to me. Pairing the 2.7 exclusively with the auto is a kick in the shins. All in all, it looks like the brodozer crowd is gonna be giving Ford a LOT of money for a new driveway princess in the coming months, some hardcore folks are gonna love these, and I'll continue to feel meh on them. 

I think they're going to steal more Toyota sales than Jeep sales. 

I fully admit that I want to plop down my money on a base manual with the big tires and rubber flooring because I think it would be awesome and Ford is awesome for building it. I really want to sit in one first though. I LOVE how the Ranger feels as a truck as far as seating and sight lines and I don't want to feel disappointed if that is gone. 

I actually like it a lot but there is one big thing that would keep me from buying it, Ecoboost given the problem I can't figure out with mine and the number of people I know now that have had problems with them.

Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) said:

I think it's awesome. So glad to see the Wrangler finally get some competition. Having said that, I'm not an off-road guy, so I won't be buying one. But the fact that it exists is fantastic.

Most Wrangler guys aren't off-road guys either. 

Black Diamond trim level with off road chops, hose out floor and bigger tires mounted on steelies is just about right:

In reply to Error404 :

I have to admit, the 3500 lb towing cap being quoted does bum me out. But you have to choose rock crawling flex or towing stability I guess. 
 

btw, the 2.7 is a six cylinder but the stick only comes with the 2.3 4cyl. 

Mndsm said:

Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) said:

I think it's awesome. So glad to see the Wrangler finally get some competition. Having said that, I'm not an off-road guy, so I won't be buying one. But the fact that it exists is fantastic.

Most Wrangler guys aren't off-road guys either. 

but they sure like to spend $$$$$ to make you think they are.

In reply to ultraclyde (Forum Supporter) :

I saw that and corrected it about the time you were posting, thanks for the catch. The towing cap would be nice for towing a future track trailer. 

If the base model came without all the electronic flexing I would keep this in mind down the road for a used option. I like the idea behind it, I like that it still offers 2 doors for those of us that like that and a manual option. 8" touchscreens, infotainment, electronic everything, and the V6 only with a 10-spd are a bummer for me. And yes, I know that this is simple now and it's only going to get worse. 

i can't wait. 

ultraclyde (Forum Supporter) said:

In reply to Error404 :

I have to admit, the 3500 lb towing cap being quoted does bum me out. But you have to choose rock crawling flex or towing stability I guess. 

I've read similar complaints about the Ram Power Wagon off road package and its low tow rating for being a 2500 series truck.  Different engineering goals. 

One thing about the manual transmission is if nobody orders them during the first year or so, don't be surprised (and then complain) when that option goes away.

In reply to Mndsm :

Missing the brush deflection cables... 

I might be interested in a 2 door base with the upgraded 4x4, auto in velocity blue. depends on price.

I don't get the "need a V8" guys in 2020.  This is a Wrangler competitor.  The Wrangler hasn't had a V8 since 1981.  4 decades ago!   and that 1981 CJ 5.0 V8?  it made a whopping 125hp/225ft.lbs.  It hasn't stopped them from selling some quarter million Wranglers every year (and a million crossovers peddled off the cred provided by the Wrangler).  

The BASE 4-banger in the new Bronco, the 2.3T comes out of the box with 270hp/310ft.lbs.  with a curb weight starting around 4,000lbs.  

Even if we're comparing this against the "OJ Bronco" (which this truck is not trying to emulate), that 1993 5.0 V8 made 185hp/270ft.lbs  ...and had a curb weight over 4500lbs.  

...against it's competitor Wrangler, if you want a manual, you have to take the 3.6 V6, which makes slightly more horsepower at 285hp, but considerably less torque at 260ft.lbs. and it doesn't weigh any less in manual configuration.  

I also imagine there's plenty of options left on the table to add spice as the platform ages with a 3.5 ecoboost hot rod Raptorized version should the arms race prove worthwhile, but bottom line this thing is plenty adequate even with "only" the base engine.    

In reply to xflowgolf (Forum Supporter) :

Does anyone really think they wont be releasing a Raptor-esq version?

I foresee the 2-door holding value like crazy. Especially the manual. Just a guess, and no, I'm not putting money down on that statement. 

In reply to MrChaos :

I'm sure they will. Probably only the 4-door variant and it will fit so many Kohl's bags in the back seat. The MSRP alone will ensure that they make them and market them to the Gladiator crowd. 

In reply to Ian F :

​​​​​​I totally get the different engineering goals, the low rating is just a minor bummer. I'm more put off by the rest of the features. As for manual stuff, I'm a millenial so I'm not a new car buyer who gets the fiscal voting power to determine manual optioning. If it was up to me they could strip a boatload of features out of it, drop the price accordingly, and sell them without all the needless fluff. (And a 5.0 option) Gimme a V6 option that isn't so tightly wound, a manual without nannies, and room to build it my way. That would be appealing to me, if I had new car money. 

MrChaos said:

In reply to xflowgolf (Forum Supporter) :

Does anyone really think they wont be releasing a Raptor-esq version?

Right now, that's the "Wildtrak" trim that comes with the "sasquatch package" and 2.7 ecoboost standard and "desert" driving mode: