Hard Top vs Soft Top

The hard top is worth the longer wait. That is all that needs to be said.

Blitzjb

Once you go soft, you never go hard again.

That sounds like a personal problem. 😬

wordyo24

The hard top is worth the longer wait. That is all that needs to be said.

I'm sorry, but the soft top is just plain ugly. I've owned several convertibles, including a couple Mustangs, and none of them looked as bad as the Bronco's. I understand why some switched to get their Broncos sooner, I just wasn't willing to compromise.

Maybe Im unlucky, but my hardtop is noisy as h#ll. Creaks, clicks, knocks. I know I didn't buy a posh sedan here, and have owned several JKU's, but it is annoying and passengers notice it.
Other than that, love it.

I can only really comment on my 2023 Hardtop. From a lot of posts on multiple forums about previous hard tops being very loud and having wind noise. I have none of that. My ride is super quiet and given the opportunity to redo my order I would 100 percent go with a hard top. I feel more secure in terms of someone breaking in, I’ll more than likely be driving with the top on 95 percent of the year, and the longevity of the hard top has to be a big factor. I see a lot of soft tops with wrinkles on the back windows already, tears and leaks. Hope this helps with your decision. Wait until 2024 and get the bronco you really wanted.

I switched to soft top to get my Badlands. I was a 7/23/20 reservation and just got it at the end of September. If I had not switched, I may have it by now, but who knows.

Two other items to add beyond what has been shared so far. The soft top does have another challenge when it is raining. In the front windows the top tapers toward the A pillar and it creates a spot for the water escape the diversion channel and run right down on the window and subsequently into the Bronco and onto the front passengers. I have added aftermarket channels that run the full length. This has corrected the problem.

The discussion has been raised on security with the soft top. That is true. I have added the Diabolical Inc. Security Enclosure to create a secure space. It is secure and still allows for full functionality of folding the seats down, etc. It also does not make the usable space in the back smaller either. It also provides a space to stack on top of the security lid if needed for other items. I think it would be great for either of the tops. Mine also has molle panels under the lid.

Best of luck getting the Bronco you want sooner than later.

Hobgoblin

The soft top does have another challenge when it is raining. In the front windows the top tapers toward the A pillar and it creates a spot for the water escape the diversion channel and run right down on the window and subsequently into the Bronco and onto the front passengers.

My JK soft-top use to Store water right above the door frame, So when you opened the doors and got in the water would run to the front and soak your leg

adcam

Good discussion- soft vs hard. I have the soft and as others mentioned, not much security. I'm sure the ST will eventually deteriorate. I ordered the ADV HT as back-up. Best of both worlds.

I'm thinking about the ADV hardtop. Which configuration did you order. Any word on when you'll get it? (I read about the supply chain issues with the rubber). Thanks.

I got the 1 piece with sound deadening. Last email I got in December- waiting on rubber seal.

We originally bought a soft top Bronco then purchased a hard top from another Bronco owner recently, so we now have both tops on the one Bronco we own. The one we have on order, that probably won’t get built, is a hard top.

Soft top all summer long I say. It’s fun as hell. Leave the window off and in the cargo. Come winter, the hard top is much better for bad or cold weather. The soft top is paper thin so you will feel and hear everything that hits it. Even intense rain can be a little unsettling at high speeds. Hard top feels more secure, handles the ice and snow much better, and has the rear wiper for really messy weather. Freezing rain will really make you wish you had a hard top.

If you can only choose one, I would take a hard top and then buy a Skyrider. But both OE tops would be ideal.

It’s easier to go from a soft top to a hard top, if you can find one. To go from a hard top to a soft top, you’ll need rear window channels and some brackets. You can find the factory soft tops a lot easier though.

If you can, get a hard top without sound deadening. It’s much easier to add it later than to remove it, and you might want to add Dynamat or Soundskin soundproofing to it.

AuerGang

I'm sorry, but the soft top is just plain ugly. I've owned several convertibles, including a couple Mustangs, and none of them looked as bad as the Bronco's. I understand why some switched to get their Broncos sooner, I just wasn't willing to compromise.

No need to apologize, LOL. You're right. The soft top looks so sloppy. I don't know why anyone would want it.

TheShark

I have a 2dr BL, HT obviously, I can't imagine the ST could be much louder. My issues with the HT is a crap build and quality, I'm starting to get the honeycomb pattern, the rear defroster has broken, one of the wires came loose. Lost the weatherstripping on the passenger side front panel above the side window. I'm not sure how that managed to come loose, one day I heard a lot of noise, got out of the Bronco and looked on the passenger side and saw a big gap where the weatherstripping use to be. Found some weather stripping I had laying around and jammed it up there for now. Have an appointment on Monday at the Ford dealer to hopefully get these repaired.

I have a 4dr WT on order, I changed my order to a ST and after reading this article I feel good about it.

How did it go with the dealership?

Blitzjb

Once you go soft, you never go hard again.

that’s scary 😳

Two issues for me on the soft top.
1. The roley poley rear quarter panel windows. They are awful! I cannot for the life of me understand why Ford and the manufacturer ever let that get past QA during design. These aren't soft tops that have had years to stretch out, they are brand new from the factory! It makes me cringe every time I see a soft top.
2. The Arizona sun absolutely eats soft tops alive

The pros/cons of ST vs HT have been very well summarized in this thread.

Despite my opinion of the ST, if I didn't have my Bronco already, I would probably switch to the ST. The fun I've had in my Bronco certainly exceeds my distaste for the ST.

People you only get one chance for a hardtop. Unless you want to buy one later at ten to fifteen times the price of the $650 factory option.
Get the bargain $650 Ford hardtop and buy a superior aftermarket soft top if you feel a need.
You will be 💰 money ahead. Big money.
Then think about resale. Who wants a old Ford rag top? Many don’t even want a new one…

MichaelH

In light of the unfortunate decision many of us are having to make now in order to increase the chances of our Bronco actually getting built, can those in the know please share the benefits, drawbacks, and differences between the hard top and soft top? Thanks

SOFT-TOP OR??? HARDTOP???
(WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!!!)

Regrettably, it really isn’t an either/or decision (Soft top or Hardtop). It is much more of a financial one….

The hardtop when ordering on the build and price is $1895.00…. However, currently (if they were available) a Ford OEM hard top costs $16,000.00. (This is the current order and wait price at my dealership in CA)

That is not cheap…an aftermarket preordered (as in currently unavailable) hardtop is estimated at around $5,250.00 plus shipping.

I spoke with the Ford guy at KOH and he said they don’t have any idea when the “after purchase” hardtops would be available… which also needs to be considered when ordering.

IMO, both tops would be my choice … summer soft-top and winter hardtop…. But that 16k figure kind of makes that out of reach for a current soft top owner….

Regardless… it is important that we are aware of the exorbitant 16k hidden cost of an “after the fact” OEM Hard top when ordering a 50-60 k Soft-top Bronco….

I realize my input here might not be popular in Ford circles… but the truth is the truth… I love my Bronco and support the BN/Ford community wholeheartedly.

Tahotrvlr

SOFT-TOP OR??? HARDTOP???
(WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!!!)

Regrettably, it really isn’t an either/or decision (Soft top or Hardtop). It is much more of a financial one….

The hardtop when ordering on the build and price is $1895.00…. However, currently (if they were available) a Ford OEM hard top costs $16,000.00. (This is the current order and wait price at my dealership in CA)

That is not cheap…an aftermarket preordered (as in currently unavailable) hardtop is estimated at around $5,250.00 plus shipping.

I spoke with the Ford guy at KOH and he said they don’t have any idea when the “after purchase” hardtops would be available… which also needs to be considered when ordering.

IMO, both tops would be my choice … summer soft-top and winter hardtop…. But that 16k figure kind of makes that out of reach for a current soft top owner….

Regardless… it is important that we are aware of the exorbitant 16k hidden cost of an “after the fact” OEM Hard top when ordering a 50-60 k Soft-top Bronco….

I realize my input here might not be popular in Ford circles… but the truth is the truth… I love my Bronco and support the BN/Ford community wholeheartedly.

Correct me if I'm wrong as I haven't followed the ADVFiberglass tops all that much. Weren't people paying closer to $7k with shipping?

There is also the Anderson Composites hard top for around the same price, and Rally tops for about $1k cheaper. So there are options (whether truly available right now or not) and I'd expect over the next couple of years to see even more.

It seems as though many of the posts so far have aesthetic concerns. I will keep it practical:

soft top: easy and fast position 1 for open air, no hail damage (unless it's really bad), "safari mode" so open air and shade.

hard top: maybe more insulation, maybe less wind noise, more roof rack/storage options, glass rear window

Here's my two-cents!

What you get with the soft top is soaked! Look at the pictures. These are from having the window open at an ATM for three minutes. The water runs down the rail above the drivers seat and right down the soft top and into the drivers compartment:

This is a '21 model and maybe they've gotten better, but how did they let this happen? Don't get me wrong, I love my Bronco, but they couldn't deliver the hard top so I took the soft as my F150 lease was up. I asked if they would swap this out because the problem has existed since day 1, and I still feel they should because it's a pain in the backside!

I've heard the water runs down the hard top in the corner as well, but I bet it runs onto the floor and not on the door handle, dash and especially your pants

@Tahotrvlr -and when does ADV ever plan to get this available. I waited for more than a year and decided to get refunded instead.