Donut - We Drove EVERY Bronco

Foxtrot Bravo

Speaking of the fugly mache if ford was serious about making profits they wouldn't waste money on EVs, how many billions have the lost? It's 5 so far this year?

The head long rush toward generic fits all cars is offensive, it's like the move toward no identity generic genders nonsense.
Ford can take their ugly SUVs and stick em.

I agree these Cars and Trucks that look like they were designed on an Etch-A-Sketch are horrible but they seem to be selling a ton of those Cyber trucks at least around here. That's the market for you.

and something tells me the EV market will come around. I don't think it would be a good idea to replace ICE vehicles altogether but for a city commuter car, they have their place. and no I do not have an EV even my Golf Cart is gas. although I do have a few electric RC vehicles...

Early adopters of the Cybertruck will likely skew numbers high for the first year of availability… The 6th Gen Bronco enjoyed the same kind of early adopter spike, although it was exacerbated by COVIS restraints…

As with anything, regulations and the desire to get more performance with less fuel use is driving designs to the more “jellybean” like bodies we see today… The 6th Gen bronco was a nice retraction from that trend, and yet with technology and engine advances fuel economy of 20+ is not uncommon on the vehicle…

Although we are a long way from EV’s making profits for most manufacturers, most manufacturers ARE developing and/or selling EV’s, even in Europe and away from American regulations and incentives…. It will be interesting to see what the new administration does in terms of EV’s, but I agree the EV game is far from over… I predict Ford will offer at least a hybrid Bronco Sport in 26, and possibly a PHEV Sport… I do believe the big Bronco will be slower to adopt Electric propulsion, but Jeep IS showing its a popular option…

The video with all generations being driven in a single day was informative. I would agree with most everything in the video, though it would have been better (IMO) had they driven a non-raptor 6th generation for this comparison feature…

Jakob1972

I agree these Cars and Trucks that look like they were designed on an Etch-A-Sketch are horrible but they seem to be selling a ton of those Cyber trucks at least around here. That's the market for you.

and something tells me the EV market will come around. I don't think it would be a good idea to replace ICE vehicles altogether but for a city commuter car, they have their place. and no I do not have an EV even my Golf Cart is gas. although I do have a few electric RC vehicles...

My concern is that cars are losing their identity.
They started with the Tbird personal luxury car, went to the retro bird and then dropped it, lack of sales.they threw the market away.
Then the mach e, it is not even remotely like a real Mustang.Ugly as sin and not selling.
The Bronco diverged with a 4 door, a 4 door does not have the heritage or identity of the original.Broncos used to be special, unique and different, 4 door SUVs are all over the place, they have become generic.

A former great name, Capri is now an electric pos, it used to be a sporty fun to drive car that got decent mileage and had a huge cargo area.

Its ironic with all of Fords wokeness that they are discriminating against those who don't need 4 doors.
With the ev mandate virtually gone, there is some hope that car manufacturers can get back to building cars instead of appliances.

As for the litter bugs, you should be careful in VT, if you see a No Trespassing sign it would be wise to heed its warning. Technology is a wonderful thing, trail cameras send pictures to my phone I can watch my property remotely. I have pics of the litter bugs and their vehicles.

Irishdore

You liked the 2nd Generation so much it came in 2nd and 4th for you, Ragnar? 😉 So, is it really 1st place?

Wooops.

Admittedly I was fighting auto-correct. It was basically "WHAT?! You want to make a numbered list with numbers?!?!? WTF IS THIS?"

I thought the bring back the bronco podcast explained the bronco evolution pretty well. The gen 5 giving way to the expedition largely do to 4 doors. And the 4 door is what more people want/need.
Look at the evolution of pickup trucks.

I think it was Edsel Ford that was asked, why did you stop making the V12 Lincoln .
We didn't stop making them, people quit buying them.

Jakob1972

Yep that is the thing. we have been saving up to build a 1972 from scratch Kencer chassis, Dennis Carpenter body, coyote crate motor. just this stuff brings you to almost the cost of a new Bronco and that is none of the finishing bits paint and interior. so a Stroppe Bronco would be a good starting point. or i might just build a 65 daytona coupe instead. maybe after i build my Goblin. too many projects.....

Me too (for both the Bronco and Daytona*). I looked into building a Gen1 from all new parts. My spreadsheet got to north of $56K. Had I'd been smart, I should have started on that project in 2020 when I reserved. I'm sure I could have built it in the time I waited for my '22 Black Diamond. Even now I've thought I should build one and finance it with sale of my Black Diamond. But now that Ford killed the BD model and mine's steel-wheeled with the Advanced transfercase and manual, I'm going to keep it. I really am starting to like the 2.3L Ecoboost's powerband once I've learned how to use the turbo lag. It's akin to a '70's 2-stroke motocrosser when it gets "on cam".

* a friend of mine back in 2003 built a Factory Five Cobra (from my sister's 5.0 Mustang LX - LOL). What a beast that car was.

Jakob1972

Also please know I am not saying 4-doors are better than 2-doors or vice versa I am just saying that a 4-door Bronco is every bit a Bronco, just a tad more comfortable for Families or big dogs.

I had my first rear-seat passenger in my 2-door Bronco this past Saturday 😂 . My 63-year-old sister. I said, "Are you sure you want to climb in the back?" She said, "Absolutely, I want to ride in your Bronco"! Her husband's brother has a 4-door soft top, so I know mine is not the 1st Bronco she's ridden in. She liked the back seat; said it was quite roomy. It wasn't as difficult to get in as I expected; her husband assisted. They had a Gen4 Bronco back in the day, so they have an affinity for the Bronc.

Bronco V-8

Thats bullshit, Ford would sell every 2 door they could make.All the moredoor did was attract the wrong demographic.Ford should have been funneling the moredoor sales into the Explorer, thats what that demographic wanted but went for the Bronco because of FOMO, now they are dumping them and not buying another one. The Bronco is getting a bad reputation among SMT crowd, because they bought the wrong vehicle for their needs.

Its not a win for us.Ford invited a bunch of people out into the outdoors that other wise wouldn't be there, over crowding trails,camp grounds and bringing their trash along leaving it behind for me to clean up.I've seen a major increase in trespassing and trash on my property in Vermont in the last 5 years.

Had to Google "SMT" 😂

Eninty

Me too (for both the Bronco and Daytona*). I looked into building a Gen1 from all new parts. My spreadsheet got to north of $56K. Had I'd been smart, I should have started on that project in 2020 when I reserved. I'm sure I could have built it in the time I waited for my '22 Black Diamond. Even now I've thought I should build one and finance it with sale of my Black Diamond. But now that Ford killed the BD model and mine's steel-wheeled with the Advanced transfercase and manual, I'm going to keep it. I really am starting to like the 2.3L Ecoboost's powerband once I've learned how to use the turbo lag. It's akin to a '70's 2-stroke motocrosser when it gets "on cam".

* a friend of mine back in 2003 built a Factory Five Cobra (from my sister's 5.0 Mustang LX - LOL). What a beast that car was.

I've had the opportunity to drive a suprformance Dayton coupe. Felt similar to my roadster but with air-conditioning.
One of the guys in the cobra club has a factory 5 Daytona too. Nice build.

Bronco V-8

My concern is that cars are losing their identity.
They started with the Tbird personal luxury car, went to the retro bird and then dropped it, lack of sales.they threw the market away.
Then the mach e, it is not even remotely like a real Mustang.Ugly as sin and not selling.
The Bronco diverged with a 4 door, a 4 door does not have the heritage or identity of the original.Broncos used to be special, unique and different, 4 door SUVs are all over the place, they have become generic.

A former great name, Capri is now an electric pos, it used to be a sporty fun to drive car that got decent mileage and had a huge cargo area.

Its ironic with all of Fords wokeness that they are discriminating against those who don't need 4 doors.
With the ev mandate virtually gone, there is some hope that car manufacturers can get back to building cars instead of appliances.

As for the litter bugs, you should be careful in VT, if you see a No Trespassing sign it would be wise to heed its warning. Technology is a wonderful thing, trail cameras send pictures to my phone I can watch my property remotely. I have pics of the litter bugs and their vehicles.

Not trying to be offensive, but the "special, unique, and different" model diversification you desire left the barn a long time ago. Worldwide Government regulations started killing off diversity in the automotive sector 40 years ago. The very (imbedded-state) people who preach diversity, do not really understand the word. Manufacturers are so tied to meeting safety, environmental, and sustainability regulations, to be profitable at the individual model level requires consolidation of design. Worse, VW smartly or stupidly, went full bore with their MQB modular platform concept, which killed chassis diversification but greatly increased profitability by reducing manufacturing costs. Every other manufacturer now has to follow that concept. All driven by over-regulation (IMO).

The OG Bronco was its own un-shared chassis design, which in the 1960's was financially viable. By the time 1977 rolled around the EPA was well on its way to controlling automotive design. Ford HAD to build the Gen2 Bronco off the F-series chassis. It's a miracle the Gen6 Bronco even exists considering it has removeable doors and a removable top. Ford had to bring back the Ranger to make it happen and build a 4-door Bronco on top of that to make the Bronco line financially viable. Ford simply needed the sales volume of both the Ranger AND the 4-door Bronco. The Gen6 Bronco is the best model diversification we're going to get in the modern era.

Jakob1972

I am a fan of all the generations. I owned a 3rd Gen missed buying a 5th Gen by a few minutes (an OJ Bronco) and now own a 6th. I don’t know how I feel… I get how they say the 6th Gen is nothing like the others but it is also 25 years newer, so yeah it better not be the same. As for the 4-doors I get it but the truth is if there were no 4-door Broncos there wouldn’t be a 6th Gen so it had to evolve. Just like trucks used to be only single cabs now seeing a single cab or even an extended Cab is a rare thing. Having options is a good thing. But nice to see them driving the oldies and having fun that is what these things are all about. 2-door or 4-door Sasquatched or Base if you are out enjoying your rig that’s a win for us all.

Completely agree. I have always loved Broncos from each generation. Still do. However, I would not own a two-door vehicle of any type. Just like many sports cars, and classic pickups, I was a fan but would never buy one for more than a few reasons. If they had stuck to only two-door, the new gen would be popular to a select group, but a much smaller market. Any truck platform that refuses to go beyond two-doors is a very short term venture. Car companies can no longer survive in a niche market. If you don’t like it, don’t buy one.

Lots O Fords

I've had the opportunity to drive a suprformance Dayton coupe. Felt similar to my roadster but with air-conditioning.
One of the guys in the cobra club has a factory 5 Daytona too. Nice build.

Air conditioning and a roof that is why I am switching from wanting a roadster to the Daytona Coupe.
I remember back when Factory five was kind of the red headed step child of the Cobra world. Now they build pretty nice cars that’s the kit I am looking at. But first I’ll transform my half million mile cobalt into a Goblin.

BlueRidgeBronco

Completely agree. I have always loved Broncos from each generation. Still do. However, I would not own a two-door vehicle of any type. Just like many sports cars, and classic pickups, I was a fan but would never buy one for more than a few reasons. If they had stuck to only two-door, the new gen would be popular to a select group, but a much smaller market. Any truck platform that refuses to go beyond two-doors is a very short term venture. Car companies can no longer survive in a niche market. If you don’t like it, don’t buy one.

I'm pretty sure Mustangs and challengers do just fine and NO a mach E is NOT a Mustang. Let's be real a Bronco is a niche vehicle, exponentially so for anyone using its capabilities and if you need 4 doors for a family you're already far less inclined to buy a niche vehicle. I'm glad the Bronco fans have options but it is the niche vehicles that have personality and incite passion. There are camrys for basic transportation. All that said I really wish the 4 door looked better. The 4 door is far more useful but doesn't look right to me. Ofcourse we all have opinions amd preferences.

OrangecrushBronco

I'm pretty sure Mustangs and challengers do just fine and NO a mach E is NOT a Mustang. Let's be real a Bronco is a niche vehicle, exponentially so for anyone using its capabilities and if you need 4 doors for a family you're already far less inclined to buy a niche vehicle. I'm glad the Bronco fans have options but it is the niche vehicles that have personality and incite passion. There are camrys for basic transportation. All that said I really wish the 4 door looked better. The 4 door is far more useful but doesn't look right to me. Ofcourse we all have opinions amd preferences.

Its not a niche vehicle anymore.

Bronco V-8

Its not a niche vehicle anymore.

The very fact that there are Bronco clubs such as this one proves that it is a niche vehicle.

Eninty

Had to Google "SMT" 😂

SMT = Soccer Mom Transport people didn't like mall crawler so I came up with that.

Jakob1972

Air conditioning and a roof that is why I am switching from wanting a roadster to the Daytona Coupe.
I remember back when Factory five was kind of the red headed step child of the Cobra world. Now they build pretty nice cars that’s the kit I am looking at. But first I’ll transform my half million mile cobalt into a Goblin.

The Factory Five has the nicest body out of all the kit cobras, Its the old Contemporary Classic ( Mount Vernon NY) body. Dave Smith bought the molds from Contemporary.
Contemporary Classic was in the top 3 kit builders way back along with ERA.

OrangecrushBronco

I'm pretty sure Mustangs and challengers do just fine and NO a mach E is NOT a Mustang. Let's be real a Bronco is a niche vehicle, exponentially so for anyone using its capabilities and if you need 4 doors for a family you're already far less inclined to buy a niche vehicle. I'm glad the Bronco fans have options but it is the niche vehicles that have personality and incite passion. There are camrys for basic transportation. All that said I really wish the 4 door looked better. The 4 door is far more useful but doesn't look right to me. Ofcourse we all have opinions amd preferences.

Well, Mustang and Challengers sure are not truck platforms. Jeep people used to think that way too. If they had not came out with the four-door Wrangler, they would be in even more trouble. To me, the four-door was not only more useful, but a lot better looking. Options are indeed important.

OrangecrushBronco

The very fact that there are Bronco clubs such as this one proves that it is a niche vehicle.

BN is not a club, its a forum.

Nostalgia can be a funny thing. We usually remember the good and not the bad. It’s part of the resilience of the human spirit. We tend to do that with all things (maybe not spouses). I have known people that have owned every generation of Bronco. They did not all ride trails, but some did. Some were used on the beach. Some camped, but most didn’t. Most were on road a lot more than off road. The top down feature was incredibly popular and it was different than the Jeeps and the Lancruisers - FJs. People did not buy them to be part of a club or fit inside a box. It fit their lifestyle. I remember once thinking that extra cab pickups did not look right. A few years ago I looked at buying a restored F100. I got inside and wondered how the heck I did that all those years. I guess I forgot how cramped it was for me and all my stuff was always getting wet.

A "club" is a group of people who share a common interest and typically engage in activities together, often with a structured membership, while a "forum" is an online platform where people can discuss topics and exchange ideas through written posts, primarily focused on conversation and information sharing rather than organized activities…

The reality is there are those here who treat BN as a club, including in person activities, and also those who simple use it as a place to share information and opinions online, with no physical interaction…

So in reality, BN IS BOTH…