Bronco looks legit

[Garemlin]

Then where are they? I've not seen ONE in the wild. Not ever. Maybe I've just missed seeing them but I don't think so. I did see a baby Bronco the other day, craned my neck just to be sure it wasn't the big brother, and it wasn't.

Some dealers just started getting their demo models. Shipping to regular customers just started last week. You won't see one on a dealer lot for quite a while. With the exception of ordered units that get backed out on. And guaranteed those will have an astronomical ADM.

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[Hootbro]

It’s gonna fade just like the FJ. They made a mistake going with IFS instead of a solid front axle. Off road purists allready don’t want it. Granted it looks nice. Maybe a decent daily/weekend warrior but even built won’t hold a candle to built wrangler/gladiator

FJ Cruiser stayed around for 8 model years in the US and is still made and sold as a export model elsewhere. Toyota also knew it was a niche vehicle from the get go with no delusions of it being a high seller.

I think the Bronco has longer legs.

 

[sbach66]

Full disclosure...

I ended up with my Gladiator because of the tow capability of the Bronco; just wouldn't pull my boat comfortably. I'm happy with where I ended up (really happy, given I still wouldn't have it), but if it could have pulled the boat, I would have ended up there.

At some point. When they started shipping.

 

[LostWoods]

It’s gonna fade just like the FJ. They made a mistake going with IFS instead of a solid front axle. Off road purists allready don’t want it. Granted it looks nice. Maybe a decent daily/weekend warrior but even built won’t hold a candle to built wrangler/gladiator

You mean the FJ that sells now for more than it did new in 2014? The only thing Toyota missed with the FJ was the window. If it started production around 2016, it would be selling so fast right now that Toyota wouldn't be able to keep up.

This insufferable elitism about the axle is the one thing I cannot stand about the Jeep community. Purists can shove it for all I care - both designs have their place and there's a lot more to dirt than rock bashing. The FJ is an insanely capable vehicle that will do more than the vast majority of this board will ever do in their showroom pretty Rubicon.

 

[u-joint]

FJ Cruiser stayed around for 8 model years in the US and is still made and sold as a export model elsewhere. Toyota also knew it was a niche vehicle from the get go with no delusions of it being a high seller.

I think the Bronco has longer legs.

Agreed. The FJ Cruiser also aged pretty well. They've retained value pretty well, and owners are holding on to them.

The Bronco, if Ford sticks with it, is likely to do even better. The largest determent to the FJ is Toyota is too darn conservative for their own good. For economy cars this works to their advantage, to things like the Taco (and FJ) they literally cannot innovate to save themselves.

 

[lrtexasman]

I could give a half dozen reasons either way on why the Bronco is good or bad. The only one that matters to me is the 3500 lb max tow rating. I have no interest in owning any truck/suv that isn’t rated to tow more than a Honda Ridgeline. Once the tow rating was published I knew I wasn’t keeping my day 1 reservation

 

[bleda2002]

I think the bronco is gonna do great. It will probably handle and drive great and they will sell the shit out of them with the sasquatch package cause it looks rough.

Personally I can't get over that the interior is typical ford cheap. Even in the tfl video that 55k top of the line looked cost cuttingly cheap which I can't say the same about my JT. In my eyes it's mostly a budget defender that's probably more reliable but doesn't look as cool or have the same refinement and that's probably what they were shooting for just like the bronco sport is a discovery sport knock off.

 

[OldButStillJeeping]

You mean the FJ that sells now for more than it did new in 2014? The only thing Toyota missed with the FJ was the window. If it started production around 2016, it would be selling so fast right now that Toyota wouldn't be able to keep up.

This insufferable elitism about the axle is the one thing I cannot stand about the Jeep community. Purists can shove it for all I care - both designs have their place and there's a lot more to dirt than rock bashing. The FJ is an insanely capable vehicle that will do more than the vast majority of this board will ever do in their showroom pretty Rubicon.

"Ford, is that you?"

One doesn't normally go on a Jeep Forum and poo poo solid front axles. Like running into a biker bar and yelling 'Harleys suck!". See how that works out for you.

There's a reason that Toyota and other auto manufacturers still offer solid front axles on vehicles in other less developed countries with bad roads. It isn't elitism.

There's a reason I own a Ford F250 4wd and not a Chevy HD 2500 4wd. Hint... It's the solid front axle.

There's a reason I own a Gladiator and not a Tacoma, Ranger, or Chevy. It isn't elitism. It's off-road strength and capability. Solid front axle.

There's a reason Jeep is renown for off-road capability. Solid axles.

Go wheeling hard sometime. You'll figure it out eventually. It isn't elitism. It's strength and capability.

The Bronco seems very cool. The problem is the front end. So I guess I'm a solid axle purist. You said purists could 'shove it". Respectfully, I won't. But I'll still pull you out when you get your engine skid on your IFS hung up.

Ford could have made a solid axle. They could've had Jeep by the balls.

Here in America where I live, most folks don't care about drivetrain design. As long as it looks cool and starts when you turn the key. Ford will sell lots of them.

 

[brancky3]

It’s gonna fade just like the FJ. They made a mistake going with IFS instead of a solid front axle. Off road purists allready don’t want it. Granted it looks nice. Maybe a decent daily/weekend warrior but even built won’t hold a candle to built wrangler/gladiator

If you're comparing a built Jeep to a stock Bronco, your logic is flawed. I'm sure if someone REALLY wants to go solid front axle on a Bronco then they will be able to.

 

[Jglad15]

I think it’s very capable and Ford did a good job with it. Competition is good. But for my personal taste it looks to bulky to me. It looks like a fj cruiser and a Ford Flex had a drunken night together and that’s what popped out. Watching that first tfl video, I kept thinking the window was gonna snap whenever he opened and closed the door. Looked so damn flimsy. But in lite brites video it did a fantastic job offroad. I live in md and I passed one on 95 going to work the other day. Had manufacturer plates on it and in person it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I think it’ll look better with a lift and tires on it.

 

[Gadgetech]

I had a reservation deposit on one but ultimately decided to go with the Gladiator. I really prefer trucks vs. SUVs.

 

[Longleaf]

I'm just jealous that Ford mounted the mirrors to the A-pillars. How did the Jeep engineers miss that?

 

[sharpsicle]

It's a halfway stop between a Tacoma/Ranger and a Wrangler. It has elements of both but isn't either one, and based on what I'm seeing doesn't fully outperform either one. I feel like someone who has one might be caught in a bit of a personality crisis. As though they want a Wrangler without really having a Wrangler.

I do like how they managed to design the Bronco doors to not only be removable, but stowable in the rear so you can take them with you. That's always been the big gripe I've had with Jeep doors.

I'm just jealous that Ford mounted the mirrors to the A-pillars. How did the Jeep engineers miss that?

I wouldn't say Jeep missed it. They didn't do it on purpose to preserve the hood and windshield foldability.

 

[MOPAR Boy]

I have a Gladiator diesel, and really love it. But, the second Ford introduces a pick-up truck version of the Bronco, and equips it with a nice V6 Powerstroke diesel, my Jeep will get traded in immediately!

 

[db305]

You mean the FJ that sells now for more than it did new in 2014? The only thing Toyota missed with the FJ was the window. If it started production around 2016, it would be selling so fast right now that Toyota wouldn't be able to keep up.

This insufferable elitism about the axle is the one thing I cannot stand about the Jeep community. Purists can shove it for all I care - both designs have their place and there's a lot more to dirt than rock bashing. The FJ is an insanely capable vehicle that will do more than the vast majority of this board will ever do in their showroom pretty Rubicon.

what's hilarious is the "serious rock crawling" discussion on the gladiator forum. a dead serious rock crawler is a two door wrangler, not the longest mid-size truck available. breakover on the gladiator is absolute ass for hardcore crawling and purists. hell, even the unlimited gets crap for not being a purpose-built vehicle because it extends the wheelbase.

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