How much more do we see Ford limiting the 2 door? Is there a chance it goes away entirely ?

[MayhemMike]

That's actually not true, there is a LOT of cost involved in offering a 2-door version. It's a different frame, different body, different rear driveshaft, different top, different roll cage weldment, different rear seats, different storage area components, different molded plastics inside for the rear...there is a LOT of cost in tooling just to build the thing. Because of lower sales, that means the cost of that tooling can't be spread out over as many parts, which means a higher piece price for everything that gets made. That means that the profit margin on lower-sales units is MUCH lower than higher-volume ones.

So really, 2-door Broncos are costing Ford a LOT more per vehicle than a 4-door model. Sure, there's less actual material there, and likely less labor, but there's a LOT of up-front tooling costs that still need to be covered by the program.

In all honesty, I think IF the Bronco lives past this generation, you may not see another 2-door version of it. The ONLY way you will is if Jeep is still offering a 2-door. Which is questionable.

Ford makes a two door. It matters not if they offer the two door in every trim model. All the parts are already available. The doors, windows, frame drive shafts etc are on the Base, Bad Lands and Stroppe. They paint the sheet metal a different color and slap on some “ already available “ options. They dont create one off two doours.

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[MayhemMike]

The 2 Door definitely incurs more cost for Ford vs just building 4 doors. Different exterior/interior parts carry with them more overhead as does the different tooling and assembly line requirements. Less build options always reduces cost and simplifies manufacturing.

Ford already builds a two door. The same exterior parts and interior parts that they already make go on every two door. The base, Bad lands, and Stroppe use the same frame ,doors ,roof, motors, transmissions etc. They paint the sheet metal different colors, option different shocks and either use the marine grade or cloth interiors. None of these parts stray from what is already available. .they are not one offs..

 

[Bob 07064]

Let's remember that the ranger shares the same frame as the 2dr. Also the 2dr was the first to be designed and then the sport and moredoor...

 

[Ducati1098]

Let's remember that the ranger shares the same frame as the 2dr.

I have no idea where you read or got this from, but it’s definitely not accurate

 

[Timo]

You mean it costs more to have the 4dr production line but they make more profit off it?

However you choose to look at it. Nostalgia is great, profit makes things happen.

 

[Timo]

It doesn’t cost extra. Ford already makes the components you listed. They produce a two door.The frame, windows , doors etc which they already produce can be made available on every trim .

You missed the point, there is added costs in making both versions. Could they have the 2 dr option on more trims is a different question. But they know what trims, options and versions sell more and faster better than the public. At the end of the day they aren’t car guys, they are corporate business people. They are selling to as many people as possible not just the people that want things to be the way they were 40 years ago.

 

[RNC]

From my point of view, they only down side of owning a 2 door is the limited production of 2 door specific accessories.

 

[OCNORB1974]

Let’s be honest, accept for actually building the Bronco, has Ford done anything that makes sense? Even the Bronco reservation/ order system turned into an all time fiasco. IMO the driving factor for every decision Ford makes today is an attempt to get out from under the massive EV investment. As for the two door Bronco, it takes no additional cost to build a two door. True they ell at a lower percentage, but that should have zero reason for limiting that model to certain trims. Another blunder by their current CEO. Henry is rolling in his grave.

You mean the same Henry that said "you can have it in any color you want as long as it is black." That Henry?

 

[MadMan4BamaNATL]

Good points although car makers have and will make questionable and sometimes bone headed decisions when it comes to making money. Ford say hello to Edsel. If Ford drops the 2-door it will be because the people they pay to add things up and predict the future think it will be a money making move. Whether it would or not time will tell.

They do indeed make bad decisions, thus my Sugar to Sh!t comment. Take the EVs for example. We didn’t ask for that, so why did you go all in on it? Stupid.

We asked for a V8.

It’s a blue moon for a homer and when they hit one, they get arrogant and greedy, fast.

Farley on Instagram last week even asked for thoughts on the Cliffhanger. Comments were positive, but still doesn’t mean it’ll get built.

Auto industry in the 80s were a total mess just like now with decision making. Stick to what you’re good at, make it well, then sell the hell out of the image and lifestyle. Why do you think F-150s sell so much to guys who work at desks?

I know you know this, just saying.

 

[5GENIDN]

Wow!... just wow... reading this stuff....

I am a two door advocate. But I also understand marketing (to a small degree).

Anybody heard of quantity discounts? It is because they want you to buy more but it is also a lot more cost effective to make many of the same thing.

Talk to MOST 4 door owners they tend to love the 2 door but NEED the 4 door because of family friends they think they have etc.... They have to have the 4 door but would love to have the 2 door if circumstances were different.... Yada yada.... What ever. BUT why do they buy the Bronco in the first place? Image. It is what I want to project to the world.... See who I am.... I am just like those guys.... (The ones I want to be). Who are those people for the masses that purchase a Bronco? 2 door or 4 door? It is the people that actually go out and use it.... Traditionally those people have been 2 door people but we are seeing a lot of people with the 4 door actually get out and use them.

People want to project "I am one of those people"... even though the most off roading they will ever do is take the family on a graded forest service road.... I still appreciate those people.... Because of quantity discounts.... The more they buy the less mine costs to manufacture. Hell without them Ford would not even offer the Bronco... BUT Ford needs to remember (and a lot of manufactures lose sight of this) They are not buying unless there is the enthusiast that they want to associate with.... Just a fact. If the enthusiast is not interested then the vehicle just becomes another transportation option and is measured by fuel economy, comfort, and utility.... things the Bronco does not score well at, even though Ford has really tried to infuse those..... They do not measure up to the other options.... It is all about the Image. Image sells... Ford needs to keep that in mind when making production decisions.... We will see if they do.

 

[BroncoChallenger]

Ford makes a two door. It matters not if they offer the two door in every trim model. All the parts are already available. The doors, windows, frame drive shafts etc are on the Base, Bad Lands and Stroppe. They paint the sheet metal a different color and slap on some “ already available “ options. They dont create one off two doours.

You're right, they don't create one-offs very often, and yes, the tooling currently exists to make the 2 door version. HOWEVER, it costs more PER PART to build the 2 door, meaning the profit margin is much smaller if it doesn't sell at a high enough volume. And let's face it, 2 doors just don't sell at the volume 4 door models do.

Why are we seeing the 2 door model restricted now? Because the tooling is finally paid off, and they don't want to make another set, so they're restricting how many they build. It took them 4 years to do it, when the 4 door model's tooling was likely paid off in 2 years or less. For a company that likes to do at least small refreshes every couple years, that's far too long of a payoff time. THAT is why I think if and when they do a refresh on the Bronco (presuming it doesn't just die off completely), you may not see a 2 door version, and if you do it will be SOLELY because Jeep still has one, and Ford is taking a major hit on the tooling to produce one.

It's pretty simple from a business perspective. If you have to have expensive tooling to make something, it needs to sell at a certain volume to make it profitable. If it doesn't, and you lose money on it, you won't do it again for a long time.

Frankly, I think it's a blessing that we even GOT a 2 door Bronco in production. If it only lasts this generation, then that's awesome. If it continues past that, well, so much the better.

 

[Timo]

I still think it's funny that people believe you can only be an enthusiast if you have a 2dr and go rock climbing or serious off roading. I've had 2 and 4 door off roaders throughout my life but have never been rock climbing or mudding because it's not my thing. I prefer going fast, camping and other leisure activities in mine. I don't care too what strangers think of my purchases because I'm the one working and paying for them. And news flash, most 2dr owners don't really go offroad in their broncos either. To think you are a purists, special, smarter, better or more important just because you bought a 2dr truck is pure falicy. You just bought a car that you like. The need to put down people for their choices is a you issue.

 

[Montana Bronco]

^^ a Ford Flex drivers attempt to put us Pure Bronco drivers in our place.

 

[Andrew Bynum]

Timo stepped into this conversation carrying a whole bunch of baggage.

 

[userdude]

However you choose to look at it. Nostalgia is great, profit makes things happen.

You can be smug in your belief that the 4dr is so profitable, but it's likely it's only marginally less likely to be cut in favor of increased (fill-in-the-box) model sales. Say Explorer, again? It was 4dr's that were littering lots after 2023 and 2024, after all, unsold and looking at markdowns. Axing the 2dr might give the 4dr one or two more years of viability, but again, making it out like it's lining Ford's pockets and the 2dr is losing money is asinine.

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