Pulled a camper with my BadSas 2.3

[Vynull]

Nothing like sitting back and watching folks mark their territory over which disposable motor is better. The “ real” factor used by most to decide which motor to opt for is “ testosterone “. It was the main factor back in the day when we had those fantastic V8 options. The vast majority of owners sitting in the passenger seat with an head set on playing music couldn’t tell which motor was which in the Bronco anyway. All these turbo sewing machines will be melted down in some Chinese smelting plant and turned into lawn ornaments sooner than later. Just a disposable mirage to make the EPA happy. Enjoy those Broncos regardless of what power you own.

Odd take. How many of those fantastic V8s made it to 150K before needing a rebuild? 300K? I'd argue the golden era of internal combustion is now. You get the power of those old monsters of yore with 3 or 4 times the fuel efficiency. Don't get me wrong - my first car was a 78 corvette with a built 355. Nothing replaces that sound. But it also leaked oil from day one even after the rebuild (I'm sure user error) and was gutless below 2700ish RPM. Just because a motor meets or exceeds an EPA target doesn't make it better or worse. Like anything, painting with a broad brush smears the picture. You might miss the wonderful details. There are some truly exceptional powerplants in the modern turbo era.

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[Tonka Bronka]

100% disagree. The 2.7 is absolutely a base engine and should have been the starting point for the Bronco. The 3.0 (after Ford added port and direct injection) should have been the top available engine, with the Raptor getting the 3.5. They could have also made the 3.0 the base engine, the 3.5 as the top available engine with the Raptor getting the 3.5 High Output.

The 2.3 only works because it’s operating at its max most of the time to move the Bronco. And people with 2024 and older will soon need a good walnut blasting to remove carbon.

And a quick google search shows the 2.7 tows less than a Ram 5.7L Hemi V8. (9,000 vs 11,320 pounds).

Never once had my foot to the floor with the 2.3, even when towing. Usually just cruising right along at around 3K RPM on the highway.

 

[Tonka Bronka]

Honest question...what else do you drive? The 2.3 is an absolute dog. Not even a good dog. It's a freaking mutt, especially with the Sas package or any other lift and big tires. It rolls at a snail's pace and feels underpowered for the weight and size of the Bronco.

I guess if you're comparing it to a 70s or 80s Bronco, it might feel fine. But compared to basically any vehicle made after 2005, it's an underpowered dog. Slower and than any small, mid-sized or large car or SUV. Slower than many/most mid-sized or half-ton pickup. To me, that's the definition of a dog. It feels like many of you guys have vastly different definitions of what a dog is. Heck, even the 2.7 barely provides enough juice to make the Bronco "fun" to drive.

I know what you mean. When I was climbing Engineer Mountain Road in CO, all those small, mid-sized, and large cars and SUV's were just sailing right past me! I was so disappointed.

 

[Fordified1]

Honest question...what else do you drive? The 2.3 is an absolute dog. Not even a good dog. It's a freaking mutt, especially with the Sas package or any other lift and big tires. It rolls at a snail's pace and feels underpowered for the weight and size of the Bronco.

I guess if you're comparing it to a 70s or 80s Bronco, it might feel fine. But compared to basically any vehicle made after 2005, it's an underpowered dog. Slower and than any small, mid-sized or large car or SUV. Slower than many/most mid-sized or half-ton pickup. To me, that's the definition of a dog. It feels like many of you guys have vastly different definitions of what a dog is. Heck, even the 2.7 barely provides enough juice to make the Bronco "fun" to drive.

V8 AWD Explorer, V10 4WD Excursion, V6 Gladiator. My 2.3 Bronco will smoke any of them in a drag race. I’m not sure what 2.3 bronco you drove, but it obviously wasn’t running on 93 fuel or in sport mode which both completely wake up the engine..308 hp is nothing to sneeze at.
Yes, I’ve driven things faster, I have a big block 4-speed Mach1: and had a 351 Mach1 on nitrous. I’ve seen 2.3 Broncos with a tune outrun V6 Broncos..

 

[not on the rug]

V8 AWD Explorer, V10 4WD Excursion, V6 Gladiator. My 2.3 Bronco will smoke any of them in a drag race. I’m not sure what 2.3 bronco you drove, but it obviously wasn’t running on 93 fuel or in sport mode which both completely wake up the engine..308 hp is nothing to sneeze at.
Yes, I’ve driven things faster, I have a big block 4-speed Mach1: and had a 351 Mach1 on nitrous. I’ve seen 2.3 Broncos with a tune outrun V6 Broncos..

The bronco being quicker than that list of snails doesn't mean the bronco is not a dog. It's also faster than my bicycle, my nephew's skateboard and my kid's gecko.

 

[Fordified1]

The bronco being quicker than that list of snails doesn't mean the bronco is not a dog. It's also faster than my bicycle, my nephew's skateboard and my kid's gecko.

The point is, it has plenty of power for what it is designed for. I off-road with mine and rock crawl with it and it does not need more power than what it has and it is fun to drive both on and off road. Even with 37’s. And still gets 18mpg.
do I wish I had a V8 instead? sure! A normally aspirated V8 would be perfect for off-road because you don’t have to get it into boost and can creep up on rocks a lot smoother. But the fact is they don’t make a V-8 bronco.

 

[Notmattwong]

Nothing like sitting back and watching folks mark their territory over which disposable motor is better. The “ real” factor used by most to decide which motor to opt for is “ testosterone “. It was the main factor back in the day when we had those fantastic V8 options. The vast majority of owners sitting in the passenger seat with an head set on playing music couldn’t tell which motor was which in the Bronco anyway. All these turbo sewing machines will be melted down in some Chinese smelting plant and turned into lawn ornaments sooner than later. Just a disposable mirage to make the EPA happy. Enjoy those Broncos regardless of what power you own.

Are we really surprised at the toxic masculinity here measuring “engine sizes” considering a post about a pink bronco made half the forum lose their minds. The new 2.3 is more powerful than my last three vehicles (fj cruiser, jeep compass, bmw 4 series) and it gets 20mpg pushing Sasquatch tires. I’ve got nothing to complain about. Sure I was cross shopping used 2.7s but I’d rather trade off the engine sizes for the 2026 updates.

 

[Fordified1]

Someone please name one circumstance where the 300+ hp 2.3 in a bronco is not plenty of power for anything anyone would want to do? One of our members here even entered Baja 1000 last year and finished 1st in class He chose a 2.3 for a reason, he didn’t need the V6.. 2.3 is lighter uses less fuel and is more reliable.

 

[Vynull]

What?! That's awesome!! Link please?

 

[userdude]

Someone please name one circumstance where the 300+ hp 2.3 in a bronco is not plenty of power for anything anyone would want to do? One of our members here even entered Baja 1000 last year and finished 1st in class He chose a 2.3 for a reason, he didn’t need the V6.. 2.3 is lighter uses less fuel and is more reliable.

Didn't Brad Lovell "dominate King of the Hammers" this year with a 2.3? Y'know, the one where almost nobody else finished, in the widdle biddy baby "Bronco Raptor" 2dr with the brittle fo'banger he's won with before?? I guess we can't all be Brad Lovell and drive like bull, but something's gotta explain all the BS regardless...

 

[Brian_B]

and my kid's gecko.

Geckos are a known sloth of a lizard. If you want real speed you need a baslisk lizard. They can freakin' walk (err.. run) on water. Especially pre-nanny package electronics, those lizards have a fierce exhaust growl and are a blast to drive. Don't try to manually stick shift one though, it probably won't end well.

 

[Thor_1]

2.3 is lighter uses less fuel and is more reliable

It’s not more reliable.

 

[Boostedblues]

I swear people will argue about any thing. between engines, top and how many doors the bronco has. people always have an opinion and cant be nice.

anyways. Im glad you had a good experience towing with the 2.3. its a tough little engine. I love the one in my focus RS. So much power and torque and hangs with the V8s And is super fun on the back roads.

 

[Brian_B]

It’s not more reliable.

Sure, sure.

 

[Thor_1]

Sure, sure.

According to everything I can find they are both reliable with the edge to the 2.7.

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