Basequatch or Black Diamond?

[LazygonInfinity]

My current order (which has not even been confirmed, just a purchase agreement at this point) is a four-door, 2.7L, hardtop Basequatch; MSRP $43,325.00.

However, I was able to snag a non-squatched four-door Big Bend at sticker price (I should buy a lottery ticket) as our second car while we play hurry up and wait on the order. Driving the Big Bend around town and hauling kids has made me reconsider priorities for the Bronco. I'm starting to think that the Squatch might be overkill for my daily driver needs with a family. However, I want advanced 4x4 and a rear locking diff, but that requires at least a Black Diamond without having to add the Sasquatch package.

So now I am thinking of swapping to a non-squatched Black Diamond: four-door, 2.7L, hardtop, advanced 4x4, and rear locking diffs. This would also get an upgraded 4.46 final drive ratio, not quite Basequatch level but still more than capable enough for anything I will be doing. As a bonus, I would get MGV seats over the cloth seats on the Basequatch. MSRP on this build is $45,270.00.

So a fairly negligible $2k difference between the builds. I'm in no hurry, so I don't care about constraints/delays on the order. I also don't care about creature comforts and frills: I'm not adding the mid package so that doesn't incentivize me to lean toward Black Diamond. I'll be using this as a daily driver and regularly have kids in the back, but I want it to be capable for some off-road adventures as well. In your opinion, what's the better option here?

Sponsored

 

[cmcbronco]

Basesquatch all the way

 

[grayshadow]

You do realize with the base you won’t get cupholders in the rear, that’s a must for some people.

I would go with the Black Diamond, rubber floors and MGV make easy clean up after the kids drop their fast food. It will do all you will need and get slightly better fuel economy, better ride and lower maintenance cost. Personally, you could drop the price down with a 2.3l, that has plenty of power.

Good luck and hope you enjoy whatever you decide.

 

[Tricky Dick]

You do realize with the base you won’t get cupholders in the rear, that’s a must for some people.

I would go with the Black Diamond, rubber floors and MGV make easy clean up after the kids drop their fast food. It will do all you will need and get slightly better fuel economy, better ride and lower maintenance cost. Personally, you could drop the price down with a 2.3l, that has plenty of power.

Good luck and hope you enjoy whatever you decide.

You don't get rear cupholders with MGV either on the moar door.

 

[First BaseMan]

I have gone back and forth between those two builds for a year now. Originally was a black diamond, then switched to a basemansquatch when I reordered for MY22. Sasquatch has more offroad capability than I will probably need, and black diamond has more creature comforts than I need/care about.
This is a Granger order though, so I'll have plenty of time to decide.

 

[LazygonInfinity]

Personally, you could drop the price down with a 2.3l, that has plenty of power.

The Big Bend that I currently own has the 2.3L engine, and I agree... it's great. It's just knowing that I could have more that is irresistible to me, especially considering the upgrade to the 2.7L isn't that expensive. I have to buy an automatic anyway since my wife will drive this sometimes and she has zero interest in a manual.

 

[Rednek]

I bought a BD as it gives me everything needed for "adventure" camping right off the showroom floor,and will upgrade what usage deems nessesary. I've found the 2.3 to have plenty of get up and go

 

[utbronco]

We have a Black Diamond with 2.7 and mid package. It’s worth getting the mid package to heat the cold vinyl seats. The 2.7 is fun. We like being able to wipe down the vinyl seats and have the washout/wipe out floor. I do miss having higher clearance for some off road situations but it’s also still capable of most off roading we will do.

 

[dingle87]

I've crunched these numbers on a spreadsheet over and over and over.

For me at Granger, I have time to crunch numbers. LOL. Anyhow, the way I figure it I'll get SAS on the Base (if I go Base). After building several versions of a BD with and without SAS, it comes down to how much I want SAS on the Bronco? I can get SAS on the BD with the 2.3L, it's $3k (without Mid) or $4k (with Mid) more than 2.7L BaseSas.

I'm a penny pinching frugal pain in the ass of a husband... so it's really a strange situation I find myself in. Buying exactly what I want for around $4k or saving that money. The hangup is also tow package for us. We need 7 pin for trailer brakes. If that work around happens for BaseSas, then it becomes even more intriguing.

I've solved nothing... good luck to you all in this same situation. hahahaha

 

[Compta38]

BD all the way...it's probably the best value of the entire line. I would toss a levelling kit and some good wheels/tires on it later and call it good.

 

[Moto26]

OP, for your needs (similar to mine), a daily driver with kids, and a reasonable amount of offroad capability, the BD is excellent. You can always put some 33’s on it, too. I wouldn’t even hesitate. Mid package and 2.7 is nice, but the price starts getting up there. Your build would be plenty good…

 

[MNBigfoot]

If your kids are knee high, I can see the BD making sense. But generally speaking, the more capable/less expensive Base Sasquatch is hands down the way to go, if you don't need the frills. Just don't be that guy a year out, trying to figure out how to get 35s under there.

 

[PartyMarty]

At least according to the EPA mpg estimates, the difference between a sas bronco and a BD w advanced 4x4 is pretty neglibible at 17 vs 18 mpg. Engine choice has almost no impact as it has to produce the same power to overcome the aerodynamics and weight either way. That extra mpg equates to a savings of $572 over the course of 50k miles assuming $3.50 a gallon. That's basically the same cost difference as the cost of 35" sas tires vs the 32" bd tires ($200 vs ~$330 per tire assuming about 50k mile life of the tire). All in all, about $250 extra a year or per 10k miles (or an extra 2.5c/mile) to drive a base sas vs a stock bd.

 

[dingle87]

If your kids are knee high, I can see the BD making sense. But generally speaking, the more capable/less expensive Base Sasquatch is hands down the way to go, if you don't need the frills. Just don't be that guy a year out, trying to figure out how to get 35s under there.

Yep. It's why I'm leaning towards spending a bit more to SAS the Black Diamond. Figuring what's $3k-$4k at this point.

Sponsored