What do you all think of the new Bronco Article posted on Hotcars today

disagree - it's stripped down with none of the good stuff - won't be nearly as capable as one of the higher trim models, and unless you dump a ton of money into it (which then takes away from the 'collectability' factor), it looks anemic and again, can't perform as well as other trims. That is, in my opinion - the least desirable model Bronco to own.

Calgecko

disagree - it's stripped down with none of the good stuff - won't be nearly as capable as one of the higher trim models, and unless you dump a ton of money into it (which then takes away from the 'collectability' factor), it looks anemic and again, can't perform as well as other trims. That is, in my opinion - the least desirable model Bronco to own.

....and I just realized you're the author, and this is your first post here, so you come here to post your article hoping to get clicks.

Not entirely wrong, not entirely correct. Sounds like a salesmen trying to sell you want they HAVE on their lot or an unconvinced owner trying to sell themselves.

The base is a great vehicle in its own right

Rarity only works to a point. It has to be rare and what people WANT. Otherwise I'd be a able to collect all the 60s muscle cars I love and everyone would be clammering to get the 1 of 2 existing 40s or 50s gems that go to auction. The big $ money goes to Detroit Muscle and now 80s/90s JDM cars that aren't the rarest but resonate with the largest crowds.

Those waiting 3 years would argue that Ford did anything but knock it out of the park, beyond design

Not for me but the Sports are very capable and you can enjoy a highly optioned unit

The base does NOT contain "everything an enthusist wants" or there wouldn't be massive delays with people waiting, and hear me out, on what they WANT.

I'm am enthusiast and as fun as manuals are they lose their luster in daily driving in traffic. My sole reason for getting a new vehicle was for an auto in traffic. If I need a manual I will pull out the Mustang. Additionally most drivers these days don't even know what to do with a manual. Also as a new (Bronco prompted) off roader/overlander I prefer to focus on my approach and obstacles then shifting.

2 door Looks and wheelbase, ✔️ that's why I sacrificed storage space

In 25 years, LOL. In 25 years almost nobody will be able to spell manual let alone know what it is nor how to use it. You buy what you want for now. Buying vehicles for "future value" is reminnial. Older cars are worth money because they were wrecked, abused, disposed of and raced into the ground so there are fewer of them left. Too many people buying cars and wrapping them in plastic now. Future generations will have a flooded market of New old stock vehicles.
Furthermore buying something on future theorized value vs the use you will get out of it and true realized value is irresponsible (see real estate crash of 2008 caused by this very practice)

Steel wheels are not timeless they look like you're driving on spare doughnuts and as the article states they may be trendy like mom and dad jeans but in all 3 cases it doesn't matter who nor what is wearing them they are NOT a good look as "trendy" as they might be. Besides who wants to be trendy.

That's my opinion and in my defense you DID ask.

Calgecko

disagree - it's stripped down with none of the good stuff - won't be nearly as capable as one of the higher trim models, and unless you dump a ton of money into it (which then takes away from the 'collectability' factor), it looks anemic and again, can't perform as well as other trims. That is, in my opinion - the least desirable model Bronco to own.

Spot on. If you are buying outright you can go base and build exactly what you want aftermarket but it will NOT ever be as collectible and you won't get your moneys worth out of it. Additionally if your financing you can get everything you want getting a higher trim without the upfront costs of going aftermarket.

Victroia21

I would love to hear your feedback on the base model Bronco article published on Hotcars today.

https://www.hotcars.com/base-ford-bronco-most-desirable-model-own/

To each his own.

Nothing wrong with a base base. But it is not the vehicle that enthusiasts desire...

OrangecrushBronco

Spot on. If you are buying outright you can go base and build exactly what you want aftermarket but it will NOT ever be as collectible and you won't get your moneys worth out of it. Additionally if your financing you can get everything you want getting a higher trim without the upfront costs of going aftermarket.

I bought mine to enjoy the hell out of it - not as an investment for the future, that's what my 401k is for. I bought it exactly the way I wanted it, and wanted to use it for the next 5-7 years until it falls apart. 4 door, badlands sasquatch, lux, 2.7 - in 3.5 months, I've got 6500 miles on it and have done probably a dozen trail drives with it - I'd say that qualifies me as an 'enthusiast'. those itty bitty wheels and tires on the base are useless for offroading, no locker is gonna be a detriment for an 'enthusiast'... the base bronco is hardly what an enthusiast is going to be after.

I really like the base model. I don't think economics needs to be capitalized though.

OrangecrushBronco

Spot on. If you are buying outright you can go base and build exactly what you want aftermarket but it will NOT ever be as collectible and you won't get your moneys worth out of it. Additionally if your financing you can get everything you want getting a higher trim without the upfront costs of going aftermarket.

Agree, and don't forget the warrantee you don't get with after market.

Victroia21

I would love to hear your feedback on the base model Bronco article published on Hotcars today.

https://www.hotcars.com/base-ford-bronco-most-desirable-model-own/

I think that your idea of an "enthusiast" and my idea of an "enthusiast" in regards to Broncos are two different things. In my mind, an "enthusiast" is someone who want's to use their Bronco and have fun in it. Mostly this means taking it off-road. I don't consider mall crawler owners "enthusiasts" nor do I consider someone who is just buying it as an investment an "enthusiast". Nothing WRONG with it, but they aren't "enthusiasts" in my book.

So, if you look at it from that perspective, the base base Bronco really isn't desirable from the perspective of an "enthusiast" at all. Here's why. You talk about how capable it its off-road, with just a tire swap, and I would suggest you spend a little more time off-road since for those of us with some experience off-road that's just not the case. In order to make it "capable" from an "enthusiast" perspective you would need to lift it, add those larger tires, as well as different wheels (those steelies aren't just ugly, they are heavy), besides the lift I would also want to re-gear, and add lockers at least to the rear. To do all that after-market would cost more than buying a package from Ford. The other advantage to getting it from Ford is that it would come with a warrantee.

So, in the end, I think that you basic premise is flawed (i.e. "enthusiasts want a base"), but don't feel bad, I think that Ford made the same assumption back in 2020 and learned pretty quick that what people REALLY wanted was the higher trim levels. A lot of the problems they have currently stem from that base assumption back then.

I used to have a jeep C J 5 in 1983, stick, locking front hubs, cloth top and doors, 6 cylinder, very basic. nothing special, except it was an absolute blast to own and drive it. This base bronco is alot like that...dont knock it till youve owned one, self promoting slug..

Like I said before. I have always been a Chevy guy. Also, I had a few Toyota Supra Turbos in my younger days. I have always loved the look of the old Broncos and the Blazers. The Broncos went away and the Blazers just turned into the same shaped SUV's on the market. The Blazers look like my wife's Equinox on steroids. I love both Broncos. I thought about the full size, but I haven't been off road since the Army, so I chose the Sport. But, in case I want to try it, I got the Badlands. I have been loving it since I got it last week. My wife says to me the other day, "you had to fill up already?" I said, "Yeah, I've been taking the long way home!"😂

This is an interesting and thought provoking thread and while I don’t agree fully with all the perspectives/ opinions, but i do respect them and the right to express them. Above all I think people desire and buy Broncos for a lot of different reasons and uses, for now and in the future. I also think the vast majority of people who have been able to get a Bronco, love their Bronco and are an enthusiast in their own way.
These are super awesome vehicles and even the base model is more capable than the vast majority of stuff on the road, including most 4x4’s. Ford has made so many variations and combinations it is dizzying and near mouthwatering. Unfortunately many have not had the opportunity or ability to get exactly what they want.
I guess what I am saying is whether you are 2 door or 4 door, manual or auto, base, bb, bd, ob, bdlnd, wldtrk, heritage, raptor, Sasquatch or whatever, it does not matter. In my opinion whatyou do with it and how you modify it add onto it or whatever, is your choice and privilege. Ford designed and made it possible to aftermarket the heck out of any model. You have an awesome unit that is versatile, capable and unquestionably cool. It is the envy of many, whether you are tackling MOAB or navigating the grocery store. The Bronco legacy lives, from vintage to 6G.
For the record, I have a 22 Big Bend 2dr, manual and I love it. I am in month 4 and could not be happier every time I get behind the wheel. I was not in a position to order when ordering was possible and after months of hunting got super lucky. While it is not exactly what I would have ordered if I could, I love driving it daily and will make changes and additions overtime, using it on and off road hopefully for many many many years. And 25 years from now, God willing, I hope I am still driving her, shifting my way past envious masses and I could not care less if most people have no idea what to do with the 3rd pedal. Yes I am a Bronco enthusiast.

Sorry but Broncos don’t look right without Sasquatch. That’s why most everyone that buys a lesser model tries to make a mock-squatch out of theirs. Lifts, wheels, tires, suspensions, and ⚙️ gears to make it right.
They end up shooting a giant hole in their warranty.
Do it right from the factory.
Sasquatch is the most desired, now and forever.

Calgecko

....and I just realized you're the author, and this is your first post here, so you come here to post your article hoping

And not only is it the first post, but they just joined the forums today, to self promote. 🤔

Trying to put this as nicely as possible, I don’t think the author of this piece knows anything about Bronco and probably not much about off-roading.

Victroia21

I would love to hear your feedback on the base model Bronco article published on Hotcars today.

https://www.hotcars.com/base-ford-bronco-most-desirable-model-own/

“WOW”
I didn’t realize that asking for some feedback will get you stomped on….
My opinion on the Base Bronco, I would have to disagree with this being an investment unless you plan on never driving it, and then in about 20 years pull it out of the cob webs in the barn and sell it with little to no mileage on it, then maybe there’s a chance.
Never liked not having the rear tinted windows, however some people do, I guess to each of their own.
If you plan on changing anything, I agree with several posts before mine, warranty issues, and depreciation value every time you add aftermarket parts.
Just like the article states, if the wheels are left alone it looks like a body builder that didn’t work on their legs, I would need them changed out to larger tires, that’s the only way to make this a little more of a capable vehicle.
Now we’ve created a new problem, when going to larger tires the M190 Dana Diff could give you problems, not so much for going down a road if you plan on being an enthusiast Mall Crawler, but if you plan on being an enthusiast in off roading, it’s just not designed for larger tires and it will/could give you problems and break some day.
If this is all about keeping it for an investment, there are much better directions to go to turn a profit down the road than buying a Base Bronco.

Good luck in whatever direction you decide to turn in hopes of getting a good return in the future on your investment, hope it works out for you.

extra toasty

Sorry but Broncos don’t look right without Sasquatch. That’s why most everyone that buys a lesser model tries to make a mock-squatch out of theirs. Lifts, wheels, tires, suspensions, and ⚙️ gears to make it right.
They end up shooting a giant hole in their warranty.
Do it right from the factory.
Sasquatch is the most desired, now and forever.

I would disagree on your viewpoint. Some folks think that a squatched Bronco looks Iike a lunar vehicle from a science fiction movie 🤪. There is a trim and look for everybody.

TitsLaRue

I would disagree on your viewpoint. Some folks think that a squatched Bronco looks Iike a lunar vehicle from a science fiction movie 🤪. There is a trim and look for everybody.

Yup, it all depends on what you use your Bronco for. Mall Crawlers, for example, might be better if they were lowered. 😎


Definitely not my cup of tea, but then I think that Broncos are made to go off-road and don't belong in a mall parking lot. Well, unless they are shopping at REI or something. 😆 But to each his/her own.