Base w/ changing rims or big bend

[jay12]

I am looking to get a new bronco 4 door. The issue is that it must be manual, so in my area that drastically cuts down how many are available.

There seems to be a couple base ones and like one big bend sas available within 75 miles of me.

while I like the look of the sas, I’m really not taking it off road at all, or very lightly. I don’t think I need all the extra stuff it has in that package.

I’m thinking of getting the base and just changing the wheels and tires (or maybe keeping the stock steel wheels and getting 33s) to give it the look I like in the sas.

my question is- is the big bend Sasquatch worth all that extra money? It’s like 12 grand more and there’s less available. I see bunch of used sas rims with tires on Facebook for like 1000-1600 for all 5.

am I losing much in options also going with the base over the big bend? I don’t see any base with the sas package, so that’s out of the picture.

I don’t really care for the extra options. I have a f150 stx as well so that’s moderately bare bones. I’m fine with that on the bronco - don’t care about leather, heated seats, or any of that.

also- any comment on the manual trans? From what I read it seems to be enjoyable and no issues.

thoughts?

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[Brian_B]

7MT is a good transmission. The shift from second to third is my absolute favorite thing ever.

SAS does have a few upgrades, other than tires. You get front and rear lockers. You get the bigger Dana 44 front drive line and axles. You get the 4A transfer case. You get 4.70 gearing (vs 4.46 with the 7MT). You get the severe duty steering rack and tie rods. And you get the Bilstein suspension with mild lift. And with the Big Bend/SAS you'll get a rear sway bar - not sure Base model has one from the factory.

Some would say it's worth it for the 4A transfer case - particularly if you just want a "set it and forget it" option for bad weather. The sway bar is a nice addition. The rest of the stuff... more geared for off roading, but does help maintain resale value.

If you try to do all of that aftermarket, it will cost you much, much, much more than $12k. But I do understand a lot of that just may not add any value for what you are using it for.

If you ~just~ want the bigger tires though... Base is just fine and you can absolutely upgrade to offtakes pretty easily and cheaply, but I do not think Big Bend SAS is a bad deal either. You'll hold a lot better resale and, if you ever do decide to go offroad, you got everything you could ever need (besides 40" tires and portals).

 

[Lifeliberty]

I would just order what you want

 

[jay12]

7MT is a good transmission. The shift from second to third is my absolute favorite thing ever.

SAS does have a few upgrades, other than tires. You get front and rear lockers. You get the bigger Dana 44 front drive line and axles. You get the 4A transfer case. You get 4.70 gearing (vs 4.46 with the 7MT). You get the severe duty steering rack and tie rods. And you get the Bilstein suspension with mild lift. And with the Big Bend/SAS you'll get a rear sway bar - not sure Base model has one from the factory.

Some would say it's worth it for the 4A transfer case - particularly if you just want a "set it and forget it" option for bad weather. The sway bar is a nice addition. The rest of the stuff... more geared for off roading, but does help maintain resale value.

If you try to do all of that aftermarket, it will cost you much, much, much more than $12k. But I do understand a lot of that just may not add any value for what you are using it for.

If you ~just~ want the bigger tires though... Base is just fine and you can absolutely upgrade to offtakes pretty easily and cheaply, but I do not think Big Bend SAS is a bad deal either. You'll hold a lot better resale and, if you ever do decide to go offroad, you got everything you could ever need (besides 40" tires and portals).

Thanks for the input! Helps a lot. I’m not too concerned about resale, good chance it’ll be a lease through my business.

 

[Owl]

I thought there was a Diamond package for like $4500 on Big Bend, or is that upgrading to a Black Diamond.

Honestly, I got a 2Dr Base and added OBX rims/tires and new TPMS for like 700 for all and that included mounting/balancing.

If you're not stuck on SAS tires... there are deals out there under $1000, and would probably be better as you wouldn't be running such tall gearing with the 3.73 diff.

I'd go with the steelies and 33s. I thought about doing that and painting the rims white, but got lazy and got the OBX since I got them for $400 for tires+rims (but no TPMS).

 

[Oldhippie]

If ya aren’t going off road the Sasquatch package is completely unnecessary…just bolt on the wheel/tire combo ya like (up to 35”) and cruise around…party on!

 

[BudgetBronco]

I am biased but my advice is go with Base and then add on only the things that really matter to you and don't pay $12k extra for things you really don't want. Things that are easy to upgrade on Base and don't cost that much:
- wheels and tires
- seat covers
- sound system
- steering wheel wrap
- headlights
- grille etc etc

That said, agree with @Brian_B that there is one thing you don't yet realize you want but will be really nice to have, that is the 4A transfer case.

As it relates to the manual, when I built my Bronco 4.5 years ago that was the number one item on my must have list, and it has been great.

 

[Brian_B]

I’ve spent way more than $12k upgrading my Big Bend and still don’t quite tick all the same boxes as SAS does. If I were smart I would have traded it in, but I'm too emotionally invested in it

 

[jay12]

How difficult is it to
Remove the crash bars? I watched a couple of videos and most seem like it’s a few bolts and others have people cutting things and taking the bumper off.

 

[zuke]

How difficult is it to
Remove the crash bars? I watched a couple of videos and most seem like it’s a few bolts and others have people cutting things and taking the bumper off.

Removing the crash bars is a typical move and is required for 35s, It's the "Just a few bolts" stuff you're seeing, should be all you'll need to do, and is easily accomplished.

The other thing you're seeing is Cutting the Crash bar MOUNTS off, and is generally required for a lot of setups with 37" tires and non-stock offset rims, you don't need to do this for 35's.

 

[zuke]

Also, just from your description of what you want, a good choice for you might be a Badlands with nothing extra (No options), This is what I've gone with both the Broncos I bought. It's still a significant bump in cost from the base, But with the 7mt, it gets you everything the sasquatch has except the tires for a few thousand dollars less...

 

[jay12]

Also, just from your description of what you want, a good choice for you might be a Badlands with nothing extra (No options), This is what I've gone with both the Broncos I bought. It's still a significant bump in cost from the base, But with the 7mt, it gets you everything the sasquatch has except the tires for a few thousand dollars less...

Thanks for the input. The issue is that I just can’t find that trim in manual. From the last few months of occasionally looking, 75% are base trims and the other 25% of what I see are either big bends or heritage edition. The manuals are so limited. At any given time I’m lucky to find 3 within 75-100 miles of me. I think right now there is 800 total within 75 miles of me but 3 are manual lol

 

[zuke]

Yeah, Dealers don't spec Manuals for their stock... Despite the fact that many folks here (Me and you included) want a manual, dealers will end up sitting on them for months. I just bought a low mileage used 22 Badlands 2 Door off a dealership lot here in Northern Virginia in November, It had sat on their lot for 3 months, and the trucks car fax spoke to it sitting on Dealer lots for most of it's life..

The dealership still has my 2021 I traded in for sale and they're down to $28,500 for it now... But that one's been wheeled hard, you don't want it

If you really want a manual, you probably ought to order it to get exactly what you want.

 

[jay12]

Yeah, Dealers don't spec Manuals for their stock... Despite the fact that many folks here (Me and you included) want a manual, dealers will end up sitting on them for months. I just bought a low mileage used 22 Badlands 2 Door off a dealership lot here in Northern Virginia in November, It had sat on their lot for 3 months, and the trucks car fax spoke to it sitting on Dealer lots for most of it's life..

The dealership still has my 2021 I traded in for sale and they're down to $28,500 for it now... But that one's been wheeled hard, you don't want it

If you really want a manual, you probably ought to order it to get exactly what you want.

You’re probably right with ordering it, I just had a bad experience ordering in the past (Camaro). It does seem the manuals I find have been sitting for months. Hopefully that help with negotiations…

 

[zuke]

You’re probably right with ordering it, I just had a bad experience ordering in the past (Camaro). It does seem the manuals I find have been sitting for months. Hopefully that help with negotiations…

The sitting will definitely help with negotiations, But I'll bet if you look at the ones you did find, I'll bet they are abandoned special orders, Not dealer stock orders... Both of mine were .

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