Some thoughts on the soft top and upgraded soft top

Garemlin

Feb 16, 2022

So it's obvious many people are not particularly happy with the factory soft top. Between the wavy rear windows (yes they are a necessary evil for function), the latching system, snow intrusion, etc. Ford does offer the Bestop twill top as an optional upgrade. But that upgrade is $2,480. That IMO is crazy for a factory upgrade. The upgraded twill soft top for a Wrangler is only $595.

Maybe Ford needs to re-evaluate the price structure on the upgraded top. Make it a more reasonable price. Especially with the fact that they are encouraging people to switch to the soft top to speed up the build process. Speaking for myself I would probably pay $750 or maybe even $1000 to upgrade to the better soft top. It looks so much better and I really don't have much of a need for the flip up feature. And you can buy it aftermarket for under $1500 anyway. Why not make it a more reasonably priced factory upgrade.

Thoughts???

And I did find out some information that I hadn't seen before. The factory Bronco soft top is made by a company called Harrtz

Bestop Trektop

Bschurr

Last edited by a moderator: Feb 16, 2022

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Feb 16, 2022

I like the look of the fastback, but I don't like the fact that, as far as I know, the fastback soft tops can only go back to the top of the back rollbar. I just don't like the look of it when it's opened to that position at all.

Feb 16, 2022

nrlucas
I like the look of the fastback, but I don't like the fact that, as far as I know, the fastback soft tops can only go back to the top of the back rollbar. I just don't like the look of it when it's opened to that position at all.

Good point. I didn't realize the Bestop doesn't fold all the way down. So to go open air you need to keep the manbun look and take the rear windows out. I could probably live with that.

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JoergH

Feb 16, 2022

Garemlin
Good point. I didn't realize the Bestop doesn't fold all the way down. So to go open air you need to keep the manbun look and take the rear windows out. I could probably live with that.

"man bun look" LOL

I suspect that has something to do with the glass windows as well. It's the price you pay for the "wavy windows"... :cool:

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4 Door BadSquatch | Soft-top | Velocity Blue | 2.7 Auto

Deano Bronc, Garemlin

Feb 16, 2022

JoergH
"man bun look" LOL

I suspect that has something to do with the glass windows as well. It's the price you pay for the "wavy windows"... :cool:

Yeah the manbun moniker comes from the Jeep Gladiator crowd. The way the soft top folds back it looks like you are driving around with a manbun.

JoergH, Deano Bronc

Feb 16, 2022

WOW!!! Bestop has Bronco soft tops for about half that, starting at $1,299. When I suggested the soft tops weren't made by Webasto, I got blasted pretty good. Do you think Haartz supplies the material, or makes the OE soft top?

2022 Jeep JLR, manual with even more extra guacamole
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Feb 16, 2022

AcesandEights
WOW!!! Bestop has Bronco soft tops for about half that, starting at $1,299. When I suggested the soft tops weren't made by Webasto, I got blasted pretty good. Do you think Haartz supplies the material, or makes the OE soft top?

That's what I was saying about the Bestop. Ford wants almost $2500 and you can buy it aftermarket for under $1500. I can't see it being two different tops.

And from what I found Haartz Corp just makes the material for the soft top as well as the roof panel bags and spare tire cover. They are strictly a materials manufacturer so they send the top to someone else to be assembled onto the frames. The frame manufacturer is the mystery part of the equation.

Feb 17, 2022

Still waiting for my soft top to give me any of these issues everyone keeps talking about. The best top doesn't fold back all the way so that's just silly.

21 Base BadLands 7MT

Feb 17, 2022

On beat too it’s 1400/1800 for the 4 door. Depending on material. So why does marking it up.

2022 Badlands / 4dr / Sasquatch / 2.7 / Soft Top / Velocity Blue / Lux / HD Bumper / Engine Block Heater / Keypad

Feb 17, 2022

Ford do the right thing? You guys crack me up!!! When Ford does the right thing , I’ll eat my shitty soft top!

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