From Wrangler to Bronco

[AtomicKoalaJelly]

2024 Wrangler is in the shop again within 4k miles for more Misfire issues.

I work for Ford, my dealer doesn't see many high mileage Broncos (all sub 45/50k), the ones I do see in the shop and have had in my bay haven't had major issues outside of the occasional waterpump (wtf ford, why cant you cant these right? Looking at you Bronco Sport...). So, as a tech, I am asking you owners: How are the high mileage 2.3 7 speed Broncos holding up?

The Wrangler is my first car owned from new with 11 miles, currently at 19k. Its looking like I can trade it in for more than what I have left on the loan on top the of Ford Employee Discount and Dealer Employee discounts. Not to mention, when it does need warranty work, I'll be getting paid to fix my own vehicle... A Base with the Sasquatch package is looking pretty attractive and I have the wife nudging me to do it.

Opinions?

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[WheresMyBronco]

I think everyone here will agree that you should keep the Jeep as it's the much better vehicle

 

[raqball]

I've owned numerous Jeeps dating all the way back to the mid 80's and while I do still love them, nothing would pry my Bronco away. Mine is a 2023 Badlands 2dr with the 2.3L automatic and it is taken off-road every few weeks.

I do not have the high milage that you are asking about but I've had ZERO issues with mine so far. Well, other than the crappy sync 4 APIM module that is, those suck!

 

[AtomicKoalaJelly]

I've owned numerous Jeeps dating all the way back to the mid 80's and while I do still love them, nothing would pry my Bronco away. Mine is a 2023 Badlands 2dr with the 2.3L automatic and it is taken off-road every few weeks.

I do not have the high milage that you are asking about but I've had ZERO issues with mine so far. Well, other than the crappy sync 4 APIM module that is, those suck!

APIMs... dude. They need to find a different manufacturer or come up with a better design. They're a problem in every vehicle. Someone in the shop is always diaging or replacing one. Theyre common enough that I even got em before I got my electrical cert that I'm currently at training for.

 

[cmtaz]

Do it!!! I had a 24 Rubicon X and now drive a 23 Wildtrack (thinking of going to a Raptor). My jeep was reliable; I'd still say the bronco is a better vehicle. One the road the Bronco outperforms the Rubi in every way. Off road there are somethings it's better at and some that it's not. I'd give it a draw. Comfort wise Bronco hands down.

The only exception to this would be if you rock crawl on the baddest of trails all the time, the jeep might be a better fit. Other than that, the Bronco will probably exceed your expectations and capabilities.

 

[AtomicKoalaJelly]

Do it!!! I had a 24 Rubicon X and now drive a 23 Wildtrack (thinking of going to a Raptor). My jeep was reliable; I'd still say the bronco is a better vehicle. One the road the Bronco outperforms the Rubi in every way. Off road there are somethings it's better at and some that it's not. I'd give it a draw. Comfort wise Bronco hands down.

The only exception to this would be if you rock crawl on the baddest of trails all the time, the jeep might be a better fit. Other than that, the Bronco will probably exceed your expectations and capabilities.

Yeah, no intentions of rock crawling. Never intended it for the Jeep either. The ride and clutch are better from what I've seen of driving the PDIs and customer cars

 

[AtomicKoalaJelly]

I think everyone here will agree that you should keep the Jeep as it's the much better vehicle

Wonder what the Jeep sub would say outside of the few outliers there.

 

[Kevin Scarbel]

The last Jeeps that I liked were the CJ-5, Cherokee Chief and J-10/J-20.
My Broncos exceed my expectations in every way.

The return of the Bronco was a big deal, stoking a frenzy because it offers an alternative to the Jeep Wrangler while looking like a modern interpretation of the classic original Bronco. Ford did it right and resisted slapping the venerated nameplate on some characterless, blob-shaped crossover.

 

[JBlanco]

I had a 2012 Wrangler that was basically flawless for 11 years. Had to change the battery once because I aired back my tires after off-roading with the engine off, and the thermostat was stuck open, a common issue. I heard that modern versions of the 3.6L are less reliable. Replaced with the Bronco because we got tired of the manual transmission. Our Bronco is too new to gauge reliability.

 

[cmtaz]

Wonder what the Jeep sub would say outside of the few outliers there.

I may be able answer some of that. The Jeep guys will tell you that they love their Jeeps. It has an iconic look, the manual transfer case, less electronics (G.O.A.T. modes), not as much "driver's aids" etc. THIS IS JUST MY OPINION: a winch looks natural on the front of a Jeep, it looks out of place on the front of a Bronco. The Bronco has a modern chiseled front, the Jeep more of a traditional look.

Bronco suspension is probably more complexly engineered BUT MAYBE easier to work on. The SFA of the Jeep is probably simpler in design BUT really easy to screw up if it's not modified "correctly". Personally, (and this is just me), I've never heard of a person complain of Death Wobble that did not have extensive mods to the front end and suspension. I'm also not saying it can't occur, I am saying those that I heard complain of death wobble had changed: tires / control arms / springs / shocks / trackbar / etc. Sort of like buying a pair of Klipsch home speakers, replacing all the drivers and then saying it sounds like crap.

Both are incredibly capable vehicles. If someone was going to buy one ONLY for weekend 4 wheeling (serious wheeling) and not use it as a daily driver, I'd say get the Jeep. If someone wanted to take their commuting vehicle off road on the weekends - I'd say bronco. The reality is the answer is in the middle with most of both camps making tradeoffs that favor their choice.


If you do your due diligence, you really can't go wrong either way.

 

[Oldhippie]

ford is pretty low in most reliability rankings but Jeep is usually ranked lower…so there is that…if you are not doing serious crawling the Bronco is far superior on all counts…jeep is still the serious crawling king but for less serious, high speed stuff, highway miles and comfort the Bronco is the hands down winner…I am happier with my bronco than I thought I would be…go for it!

 

[timhood]

Both are incredibly capable vehicles. If someone was going to buy one ONLY for weekend 4 wheeling (serious wheeling) and not use it as a daily driver, I'd say get the Jeep. If someone wanted to take their commuting vehicle off road on the weekends - I'd say bronco. The reality is the answer is in the middle with most of both camps making tradeoffs that favor their choice.

That's probably the most realistic assessment. However, I feel like the Wrangler is compromised more on-road than the Bronco is off-road. And no matter how much we off-road, on-road driving will always be the bulk of the miles and seat time.

For my use case, I can do all the rock crawling I want to do with the Bronco, so I don't even have off-road compromises.

 

[cmtaz]

That's probably the most realistic assessment. However, I feel like the Wrangler is compromised more on-road than the Bronco is off-road.....

That is an excellent assessment. We just drove my wife's GV70 from Phoenix to Vegas for the bronco off rodeo. The Genesis is a dream to drive. The bronco while not as smooth or quiet as the GV70 is close. The Bronco is the perfect vacation / road trip vehicle if you're going to an area where you can use it. With the Jeep, you will feel the drive to your destination.

 

[AtomicKoalaJelly]

That is an excellent assessment. We just drove my wife's GV70 from Phoenix to Vegas for the bronco off rodeo. The Genesis is a dream to drive. The bronco while not as smooth or quiet as the GV70 is close. The Bronco is the perfect vacation / road trip vehicle if you're going to an area where you can use it. With the Jeep, you will feel the drive to your destination.

That there is my hang up. As odd as it is to some, I like how the Wrangler drives. Its has an early 90's truck ride with a Go Kart feel. Its the same with the power accessories, it has none and I like that. But that not to say the more modern characteristics of the Bronco is a bad thing, there times where power windows or lock would be nice.

All said and done, in the year I've had the Wrangler, I haven't off roaded it. I only two weeks ago looked up trails and was gonna hit em this weekend, but thats been side lined obviously.

 

[wildtrak whitey]

I have both. Prefer the bronco. My wrangler is 21 rubi ecodiesel. 23 wildtrak is fantastic. Only thing I prefer the jeep for is crawling. And my bronco does everything I crawl just fine.

If you go with the bronco, I'd recommend the 2.7 with the ford performance tune. Super fun to drive day to day, especially compared to a Jeep. Much more comfortable as well.

2 awesome vehicles, can't really make a wrong choice.

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