Buy lower trim and modify to upper trim?

[MNBigfoot]

By performance I certainly do not mean drag racing on asphalt. I'm not an expert on all of the individual components across all years and models of Bronco's but nonetheless, I would be willing to bet, that when push comes to shove on a wide variety of difficult off-road terrain, the Wildtrack would eat your lunch and it would do so because it has a wide diversity of components, all well integrated, that are superior to the base model.

LOL, name one component that is different in the drive-train, that would cause that to happen? The gloss wheel trim or the hood sticker?

Sponsored

 

[Brian_B]

Early MY22, what was the difference performance wise between my Base 2.7/Sas and the highest trim (Wildtrak)?

More doors, since you can't get a 2D Wildtrak?

Another good case where the trim package/value wasn't quite there at the time. HOSS 3 steering and Fox shocks didn't come until a bit later, and those became the signature item on the Wildtrak.

Apart from that, yeah, it was all in optional amenity upgrades

 

[ejpaul1]

I still think the base heritage is a real value, that would be real compelling if I had to re-buy it. Hard top, sas,,,,, add the auto and v6 and your only at 55k, I say only like im rich.

That big bend with the black diamond is still what id get for the least money and realistic off road capability. Seeing that for 48k here in the treasure valley

 

[Fastmc25]

I say Do it your way and make it yours.

I’m retired military and on a fixed income. So money is tighter.

Purchased my 2024 Big Bend 4dr new off the lot @$43k. Couldn’t afford the Badlands edition i really wanted. Which was over $50k

Mine is 2.3l and came with locker rear axle and up-fitter switches.

My upgrades to make it what i want so far is $2000. I do all my own wrenching. Using new take offs.

i have installed a 2” lift , trailer hitch and Badlands wheels w/K02 tires. Installing ditch lights next week when they arrive. Front bumper will come eventually.

While i know it’s not a Badlands model but it’s fully capable of doing what i need and enjoy.

 

[MNBigfoot]

I still think the base heritage is a real value, that would be real compelling if I had to re-buy it. Hard top, sas,,,,, add the auto and v6 and your only at 55k, I say only like im rich.

That big bend with the black diamond is still what id get for the least money and realistic off road capability. Seeing that for 48k here in the treasure valley

Add the 2.7 to the HE your at $60k. (msrp)

 

[VirginiaHeritage]

I would regret it. I don't like wasting money on functionalities that are hardly if ever used, when it comes to vehicles or most other material items.

I get that, but in my case I often don’t know what I might end up using until I have it available.

I never would have ordered the slide out tailgate. Why would I need that? But mine came pre-optioned and now I understand how useful it is. Wanna grab something out of that suitcase crammed in back with everything else? Slide out the tailgate and now you have a luggage table to open that suitcase on. Need something handy to stand on to access the roof? Bingo. Grandbaby needs a diaper change in the middle of nowhere? Now I have a changing table. Etc, etc.

Don’t know if I will ever need my locking diffs, but I can foresee being really glad that I have them if the time comes.

And so on…

 

[swamp2]

LOL, name one component that is different in the drive-train, that would cause that to happen? The gloss wheel trim or the hood sticker?

I must really not understand the model differences, I was under the impression that they have different wheels, suspension, Tcase and perhaps more. My prior comments were based on that assumption. I know such variations exists across non Raptor models and also know that a Wildtrack is pretty high in the range and finally that you mentioned "base".

 

[ThunderFlash]

I have WTs with Lux...guilty as charged going to higher fluffy trim, though one WT was used and the other was a leftover with steep discounts.

I can very much understand not wanting a feature when trying to hit a price point. I know the packages are particularly irritating when something you want is bundled with a bunch of crap you don't adding $ or your customization plans will call for removal of features you just had to pay for.

What I don't understand is not wanting a feature purely out of a general disdain for technology OR fear of some risk of failure. Today it's unavoidable that you are buying a very complex computer controlled vehicle with a zillion points of potential electrical or mechanical failure, many of which could be debilitating or even catastrophic. Heated seats, zone lighting, ACC, 360 cameras, etc generally aren't increasing those major failure risks much. And if one system does fail 8 or 10 years down the road and you chose not to repair it, as long as it runs and drives its getting closer to that desirable stripper model. In the meantime, they have their uses/perks or they wouldn't offer/force them on people. Bundling something like a post hole digger with the automatic transmission would not add value for the vast majority of buyers, even if it would be handy to have a PTO. Hum...now that I think about it, maybe I NEED that.

 

[ThunderFlash]

@swamp2, adding the V6 and Sasquatch to a lower model used to get you all the hard core bits of a WT pre '22.5 or so, sans the bad ass vynl hood sticker and black wheel trim rings that look like hell after you hit your 3rd rock.

 

[VirginiaHeritage]

Add the 2.7 to the HE your at $60k. (msrp)

Is that 2026 pricing? My 2025 2.7 HE bought in April would have been $55,505 MSRP (including delivery) without the roof rack, slide-out tailgate, tow package and FITS package. That includes a $495 charge for REB. Not sure if there is a “free” standard color. Mid package and SAS are standard.

With all that added it was $57,455 MSRP including destination. Employee pricing promo knocked it down from there.

 

[SierraBronco]

I have WTs with Lux...guilty as charged going to higher fluffy trim, though one WT was used and the other was a leftover with steep discounts.

I can very much understand not wanting a feature when trying to hit a price point. I know the packages are particularly irritating when something you want is bundled with a bunch of crap you don't adding $ or your customization plans will call for removal of features you just had to pay for.

What I don't understand is not wanting a feature purely out of a general disdain for technology OR fear of some risk of failure. Today it's unavoidable that you are buying a very complex computer controlled vehicle with a zillion points of potential electrical or mechanical failure, many of which could be debilitating or even catastrophic. Heated seats, zone lighting, ACC, 360 cameras, etc generally aren't increasing those major failure risks much. And if one system does fail 8 or 10 years down the road and you chose not to repair it, as long as it runs and drives its getting closer to that desirable stripper model. In the meantime, they have their uses/perks or they wouldn't offer/force them on people. Bundling something like a post hole digger with the automatic transmission would not add value for the vast majority of buyers, even if it would be handy to have a PTO. Hum...now that I think about it, maybe I NEED that.

Also running a couple of Wildtraks with Lux. Had to go aftermarket for cooled seats, but I'm a big fan of the ping-pong lane control and absolutely enjoy adaptive cruise control. Especially after modifying it via forscan so that it will work down to zero mph. Yes, more stuff to break. But there are probably people still out there resistant to tires being filled with air compared to solid rubber units that will never go flat. To each their own-I enjoy being fluffed.

 

[Wyld2dr]

I don’t have a real Bronco, but it’s incredibly disappointing that you can only get the V6 with a two door if you go with atrocity package. Not cool Ford. Not cool.

2026 it's a 4 door.

 

[ThunderFlash]

@SierraBronco, I worked with a damn fine machinist circa 1995 that had to switch to radial tires on his sixty-something Ford pick up because he couldn't find bias plies that would fit anymore. He was suspicious of this radial tire technology.

 

[SierraBronco]

2026 it's a 4 door.

Quite unfortunate

 

[23OBX2.7]

At current new prices I'd get a used one and

I say Do it your way and make it yours.

I’m retired military and on a fixed income. So money is tighter.

Purchased my 2024 Big Bend 4dr new off the lot @$43k. Couldn’t afford the Badlands edition i really wanted. Which was over $50k

Mine is 2.3l and came with locker rear axle and up-fitter switches.

My upgrades to make it what i want so far is $2000. I do all my own wrenching. Using new take offs.

i have installed a 2” lift , trailer hitch and Badlands wheels w/K02 tires. Installing ditch lights next week when they arrive. Front bumper will come eventually.

While i know it’s not a Badlands model but it’s fully capable of doing what i need and enjoy.

This is the wise and reliable approach because take offs are exceptional value, you know they fit and operate correctly, and can achieve stance and most functionality desired.

After Mustang journey Im done with aftermarket unless it's tier 1 in brand and practice. FRPP and take offs will get my money first.

Sponsored