Test Drive Causing Me to Re-evaluate

[SnowBronco]

Ha…fake wood grain shiny stuff FTW!!!

(@Yamahamer FTW = for the win)

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[Bronco Pilot]

I found this really interesting, because I was worried I would be disappointed in the BRONCO when I signed up for the Off-Rodeo. After several hours offroad though I wanted one even worse than before. I wish you had the same off road test drive experience I did. I wonder if it would change your feelings.

 

[Bituman]

Hmmm. The kind of cargo capacity you are talking about (equiv to or better than a Tundra) would put you solidly in the Expedition/Excursion line, if we are only talking blue oval products, anyway. Have you checked out the 2022 Excursion? It is a monster…. So was the old one.

https://fordusacars.com/2022-ford-excursion/

Ha, the Excursion. That’s too big even for me. I like the Expedition and have given it some thought. One thing I have yet to work out is whether my vehicle absolutely has to fit in the garage. Obviously that was a concern with the Bronco. The Tundra fits (barely) so a pickup technically will work, but man it’s tight. I might have to get rid of some bicycles, yikes! We’re thinking about adding a bigger workshop to the garage, at which time it could be enlarged. Our house is about 45 years old and it originally had a carport, which is common in AZ. But somewhere along the line all the carports in our neighborhood got converted to garages and some of them are big enough to hold an Excursion. But whoever did our house must have been planning on smaller cars.

 

[Bituman]

I found this really interesting, because I was worried I would be disappointed in the BRONCO when I signed up for the Off-Rodeo. After several hours offroad though I wanted one even worse than before. I wish you had the same off road test drive experience I did. I wonder if it would change your feelings.

Yeah, I’m planning on one of the Off-Rodeo’s in the fall. I’m originally from Austin, so I thought about going to that one. But I can drive to Vegas so it’ll probably be that. Your idea is a good one. That would give me more time in the Bronco than I had this morning.

 

[tnaftzger]

I keep people saying the automatic cars don't come off the line quickly and I am wondering if Ford limited boost in lower gears like they did in the RS. The V6 is pretty close to the tourqe limit of the auto trans so maybe to protect it

I am wondering if the "Sport" GOAT mode really plays a role in the acceleration. I have seen reviews where the bronco is 10 seconds 0-60 but when I test drove a BD SAS 2.7, there's no way it is that slow. When I put it in "Sport" mode it made a tremendous difference IMO. I am coming from my 5 speed 05 mustang GT so I am used to some speed/acceleration and the bronco was no slouch when I got on it.

 

[Bulletbill]

There is an opening of a quarter inch...before it goes back up..but it happens so quick,you have look for it...to see it..

It works differently in the Bronco, doesn’t drop at all before the door opens. Just hooks the weather stripping above the window line and then shakes the window as it opens.

 

[Lazerus]

But for me I would give up a bit of the fancy off road stuff for a quieter, better fit and finish interior vehicle more like the 4Runner or some of the high end trucks on the market.

Which is exactly why a bronco - and to an even greater extent a wrangler - probably isn't for you. That's not meant as a criticism. There's a plethora of lux SUV's that can handle fire roads and light trails and would seem to be more what you're looking for.
But if you want to push further into the wild, those 'trade offs' are part of the bargain. Just look how far the Defender went in the TFL comparison test.
And, in all honesty, I love how my 2 door JL drives on the road. It has character without being 'squirrely' or overly floaty. I like to feel the road and everything a vehicle is doing. My wife's discovery, while luxurious, feels bland and soulless to drive. I'm betting the 2 door Bronco, as a short wheelbase vehicle, will feel more lively than most people are used to even with the IFS. But, again, I love vehicles you drive, as opposed to just riding in.

 

[Bifftws]

This morning I test drove a WT at the dealer that I have a reservation at. Had an order but 99ed it to get a MY22. After this ~12 mile test drive, mostly freeway and city streets, I’m questioning whether I want to continue with a Bronco purchase. This coming from someone that owned Broncos from 1989 through 2017. There is nothing particularly wrong with the new Bronco. But driving it caused me to understand more clearly that Ford’s target was a better execution of a Jeep Wrangler. With the Bronco, they succeeded brilliantly at that. Maybe I’ll end up with a Bronco in 22 or 23, I’m just not as enthusiastic as I had been. Here are some test drive observations.

One thing I wanted to do was make sure a WT would fit in my garage. I had done all kinds of measurements using data from this site and for sure, the WT fit. That was not a surprise, but great to validate my research. My wife‘s car is missing, but it would easily fit too. No clearance problems either. Easily another 5.5-6 inches of overhead clearance.

When I first sat in the driver’s seat I was amazed at how much looking out the windshield reminded me of an EB. The raised edges of the hood are very reminiscent of an EB. Very thoughtful design feature from Ford.

One bad thing is the window fit. As everyone knows, without a frame the window must come down just a little to open and close the door. So long as you open the door slowly, all is well. But if you open the door quickly, the window hangs up a little on the molding and sort of vibrates back and forth. I seem to recall others here mention that. I’m not sure this hurts anything, it’s just not something I had thought much about.

Of course, this was a soft top. I was surprised at how noisy the Bronco is. I have seen posts claiming that the soft top was fairly quiet. I suppose this is subjective, but I thought the noise was excessive. Maybe the more aggressive tires were at fault. I have had two soft tops (see my avatar for one and an old P911-C4 for another) so I am used to a soft top. I honestly think my 74 EB with a BC Broncos safari top was slightly quieter. I mentioned this to the dealer sales manager and he said he was surprised because his soft top OB was really quiet. He claimed that the OB had sound deadening within the body. I had never heard that. Obviously I think a MIC top, particularly with the headliner, would quiet things down a little. I had planned on a color matching modular top which would also probably be quieter. By the way, the sales manager confirmed to me that the color matching top would be MY23, even though as recently as March it was listed at a MY22 option. Crap…

As has been opined by others on this site, the dash was a somewhat underwhelming. The plastic just seemed cheap. By the way, this was a Mid trim level, yet I don’t think Lux (which is what I ordered) would be any different. My personal car is a 2017 4Runner Limited and my work vehicle that gets most miles is a 2015 Tundra SR5. I would say the Tundra’s interior is pretty pedestrian, but the quality of the plastic and overall quality is noticeably better than the Bronco. The 4Runner interior is way superior. This is when I reminded myself that Ford wasn‘t trying to create something fancy, but just something overall better than a Wrangler. Again, I think they have done that in spades.

The engine was adequate. I have to admit that I drive with a bit of a heavy foot, but the Bronco seemed a bit slow off the line. From about 20 mph up, it performed very good. The transmission was smooth. I couldn’t feel the shifts. I was hoping the engine performance would be noticeably better than the 4Runner. I think it was better, but not by as much as I had hoped. Actually, I have to admit that I forgot to try the sport mode. That may have improved the engine performance a bit and I’m kicking myself for forgetting that.

I really did like the handling of the Bronco. It’s turning radius is superb. The SAS on the WT really smooths out rough pavements. I drove over a pavement that had been trenched and patched for a water line and it was smooth sailing over that bumpy pavement. I think this was the most favorable thing about the Bronco. The brakes were great, although there was an audible squeak at times.

In summary, I think the Bronco is a great execution of an off road vehicle for the masses. For sure it will take a big bite out of Wrangler sales. But for me I would give up a bit of the fancy off road stuff for a quieter, better fit and finish interior vehicle more like the 4Runner or some of the high end trucks on the market. My off roading needs are mostly rough forest service roads and snowy roads in AZ higher elevations. I guess I’m re-evaluating what I really need. This vehicle is my present to myself as I head into retirement. I still may end up with a Bronco. But I’m beginning to think I might need to give a nice F-150 or F-250 a look and build myself another EB to satisfy my almost life long Bronco addiction.

I finally got to drive a 2 door outerbanks 2.3 auto today. Truck more than met my expectations as I previously owned a 2 door JK for 5 years. For those complaining about the noise and quality of ride compared to other SUVs I think you are in the wrong market. If you want a quiet lux SUV there are plenty of those on the market. The Bronco was never made to be a direct market competitor with those vehicles just like the wrangler doesn't compete in that market. If you want a off road Jeep killer with Lexus or Mercedes interior and refinement, the Bronco was never going to be that. It was designed first as an off road vehicle not a soccer mom SUV.

As far as my drive today the Bronco was exactly was I expected it was going to be. On road it is a vastly better driving experience than a Wrangler. Front end is pretty soft and weight transfer is what I expected given the suspension set up for the vehicle. Still miles ahead of Wrangler on the street. I got a chance to take it over a washboard gravel road and was extremely impressed with how it soaked up the bumps at over 60 mph (dealer let me take it out by myself so I pushed it pretty hard). This drive so much better on road and off road than my Ranger. There was wind noise with the hard top but the dealer didn't put the top back on correctly after they had if off the day before. Noise was what I was expecting with a removable top vehicle. This is never going to as quiet as a standard SUV. IT HAS A PLASTIC TOP!!!!!

Was getting pretty frustrated waiting for my build but now I am glad I have stuck this out. I wanted a vehicle that drove more like a truck/off roader than a grocery getter and this is exactly what Ford made. If you want high end materials and quiet ride the Land Rover Defender is out and sitting on lots to buy. There are 2 in the Omaha area for sale. One at around $70k and the other at $100k. I sure these will meet the needs of those with more discerning tastes.

 

[RedHotFuzz]

I’ll never understand why the Americans can’t figure out interior plastics like the Japanese and Germans have. It’s just embarrassing.

 

[Roll Sound]

One point I haven't heard expressed here is that a lot of people are comparing it to an old Bronco, or one they have had. I had a new '90 and a '92 Bronco, both Eddie Bauer trim level, and the interior was cheap and crappy. Plastic switches in rectangular plastic rings. That cheap sort of velvet seat material. Look again at those trucks interior.That center console. (I turned mine into a cooler.) But I LOVED those Broncos. They were trucks. And performed well. I could have cared less about the interior, it was fine. I used it hard for hunting and camping and family trips. They were champs. My '88 Land Cruiser wasn't even close. Even our hunting dogs bashed it up no problem. The New Bronco, I test drove a couple of them, the interior is ok. I think is fine for a truck. And I'll bash my new Bronco, a truck, too.

 

[regularbronco]

This morning I test drove a WT at the dealer that I have a reservation at. Had an order but 99ed it to get a MY22. After this ~12 mile test drive, mostly freeway and city streets, I’m questioning whether I want to continue with a Bronco purchase. This coming from someone that owned Broncos from 1989 through 2017. There is nothing particularly wrong with the new Bronco. But driving it caused me to understand more clearly that Ford’s target was a better execution of a Jeep Wrangler. With the Bronco, they succeeded brilliantly at that. Maybe I’ll end up with a Bronco in 22 or 23, I’m just not as enthusiastic as I had been. Here are some test drive observations.

One thing I wanted to do was make sure a WT would fit in my garage. I had done all kinds of measurements using data from this site and for sure, the WT fit. That was not a surprise, but great to validate my research. My wife‘s car is missing, but it would easily fit too. No clearance problems either. Easily another 5.5-6 inches of overhead clearance.

When I first sat in the driver’s seat I was amazed at how much looking out the windshield reminded me of an EB. The raised edges of the hood are very reminiscent of an EB. Very thoughtful design feature from Ford.

One bad thing is the window fit. As everyone knows, without a frame the window must come down just a little to open and close the door. So long as you open the door slowly, all is well. But if you open the door quickly, the window hangs up a little on the molding and sort of vibrates back and forth. I seem to recall others here mention that. I’m not sure this hurts anything, it’s just not something I had thought much about.

Of course, this was a soft top. I was surprised at how noisy the Bronco is. I have seen posts claiming that the soft top was fairly quiet. I suppose this is subjective, but I thought the noise was excessive. Maybe the more aggressive tires were at fault. I have had two soft tops (see my avatar for one and an old P911-C4 for another) so I am used to a soft top. I honestly think my 74 EB with a BC Broncos safari top was slightly quieter. I mentioned this to the dealer sales manager and he said he was surprised because his soft top OB was really quiet. He claimed that the OB had sound deadening within the body. I had never heard that. Obviously I think a MIC top, particularly with the headliner, would quiet things down a little. I had planned on a color matching modular top which would also probably be quieter. By the way, the sales manager confirmed to me that the color matching top would be MY23, even though as recently as March it was listed at a MY22 option. Crap…

As has been opined by others on this site, the dash was a somewhat underwhelming. The plastic just seemed cheap. By the way, this was a Mid trim level, yet I don’t think Lux (which is what I ordered) would be any different. My personal car is a 2017 4Runner Limited and my work vehicle that gets most miles is a 2015 Tundra SR5. I would say the Tundra’s interior is pretty pedestrian, but the quality of the plastic and overall quality is noticeably better than the Bronco. The 4Runner interior is way superior. This is when I reminded myself that Ford wasn‘t trying to create something fancy, but just something overall better than a Wrangler. Again, I think they have done that in spades.

The engine was adequate. I have to admit that I drive with a bit of a heavy foot, but the Bronco seemed a bit slow off the line. From about 20 mph up, it performed very good. The transmission was smooth. I couldn’t feel the shifts. I was hoping the engine performance would be noticeably better than the 4Runner. I think it was better, but not by as much as I had hoped. Actually, I have to admit that I forgot to try the sport mode. That may have improved the engine performance a bit and I’m kicking myself for forgetting that.

I really did like the handling of the Bronco. It’s turning radius is superb. The SAS on the WT really smooths out rough pavements. I drove over a pavement that had been trenched and patched for a water line and it was smooth sailing over that bumpy pavement. I think this was the most favorable thing about the Bronco. The brakes were great, although there was an audible squeak at times.

In summary, I think the Bronco is a great execution of an off road vehicle for the masses. For sure it will take a big bite out of Wrangler sales. But for me I would give up a bit of the fancy off road stuff for a quieter, better fit and finish interior vehicle more like the 4Runner or some of the high end trucks on the market. My off roading needs are mostly rough forest service roads and snowy roads in AZ higher elevations. I guess I’m re-evaluating what I really need. This vehicle is my present to myself as I head into retirement. I still may end up with a Bronco. But I’m beginning to think I might need to give a nice F-150 or F-250 a look and build myself another EB to satisfy my almost life long Bronco addiction.

To your point on door window retraction-. Mustang GT same thing, BMW, same thing, all work just fine but will watch for delayed drop.

In terms of interior material choices, I would never take a Leather clad dash with suede inserts into the Bay on day three after delivery, nevermind the Suger white sand that sticks to everything like flour here in the Florida Panhandle.

The constant theme we're seeing in our Bronco is utility, usability, cleanability, and simplicity.

I can honestly say, I have zero worries about pampering this truck with the materials selected.

If you want luxury, get a Lexus/Lincoln/Cadillac/Land Rover.
If you want a rugged vehicle with no pretences that absolutely sets the bar for affordable go anywhere on and off road too, the Bronco is it.

Ford wasn't aiming for Jeep, Ford was aiming for every off road leader on each continent, Hilux, G-wagon, Defender, and yes Jeep. After 5 days, a relatively short time, the Bronco is a no excuses machine!

 

[BadlandsCable]

This morning I test drove a WT at the dealer that I have a reservation at. Had an order but 99ed it to get a MY22. After this ~12 mile test drive, mostly freeway and city streets, I’m questioning whether I want to continue with a Bronco purchase. This coming from someone that owned Broncos from 1989 through 2017. There is nothing particularly wrong with the new Bronco. But driving it caused me to understand more clearly that Ford’s target was a better execution of a Jeep Wrangler. With the Bronco, they succeeded brilliantly at that. Maybe I’ll end up with a Bronco in 22 or 23, I’m just not as enthusiastic as I had been. Here are some test drive observations.

One thing I wanted to do was make sure a WT would fit in my garage. I had done all kinds of measurements using data from this site and for sure, the WT fit. That was not a surprise, but great to validate my research. My wife‘s car is missing, but it would easily fit too. No clearance problems either. Easily another 5.5-6 inches of overhead clearance.

When I first sat in the driver’s seat I was amazed at how much looking out the windshield reminded me of an EB. The raised edges of the hood are very reminiscent of an EB. Very thoughtful design feature from Ford.

One bad thing is the window fit. As everyone knows, without a frame the window must come down just a little to open and close the door. So long as you open the door slowly, all is well. But if you open the door quickly, the window hangs up a little on the molding and sort of vibrates back and forth. I seem to recall others here mention that. I’m not sure this hurts anything, it’s just not something I had thought much about.

Of course, this was a soft top. I was surprised at how noisy the Bronco is. I have seen posts claiming that the soft top was fairly quiet. I suppose this is subjective, but I thought the noise was excessive. Maybe the more aggressive tires were at fault. I have had two soft tops (see my avatar for one and an old P911-C4 for another) so I am used to a soft top. I honestly think my 74 EB with a BC Broncos safari top was slightly quieter. I mentioned this to the dealer sales manager and he said he was surprised because his soft top OB was really quiet. He claimed that the OB had sound deadening within the body. I had never heard that. Obviously I think a MIC top, particularly with the headliner, would quiet things down a little. I had planned on a color matching modular top which would also probably be quieter. By the way, the sales manager confirmed to me that the color matching top would be MY23, even though as recently as March it was listed at a MY22 option. Crap…

As has been opined by others on this site, the dash was a somewhat underwhelming. The plastic just seemed cheap. By the way, this was a Mid trim level, yet I don’t think Lux (which is what I ordered) would be any different. My personal car is a 2017 4Runner Limited and my work vehicle that gets most miles is a 2015 Tundra SR5. I would say the Tundra’s interior is pretty pedestrian, but the quality of the plastic and overall quality is noticeably better than the Bronco. The 4Runner interior is way superior. This is when I reminded myself that Ford wasn‘t trying to create something fancy, but just something overall better than a Wrangler. Again, I think they have done that in spades.

The engine was adequate. I have to admit that I drive with a bit of a heavy foot, but the Bronco seemed a bit slow off the line. From about 20 mph up, it performed very good. The transmission was smooth. I couldn’t feel the shifts. I was hoping the engine performance would be noticeably better than the 4Runner. I think it was better, but not by as much as I had hoped. Actually, I have to admit that I forgot to try the sport mode. That may have improved the engine performance a bit and I’m kicking myself for forgetting that.

I really did like the handling of the Bronco. It’s turning radius is superb. The SAS on the WT really smooths out rough pavements. I drove over a pavement that had been trenched and patched for a water line and it was smooth sailing over that bumpy pavement. I think this was the most favorable thing about the Bronco. The brakes were great, although there was an audible squeak at times.

In summary, I think the Bronco is a great execution of an off road vehicle for the masses. For sure it will take a big bite out of Wrangler sales. But for me I would give up a bit of the fancy off road stuff for a quieter, better fit and finish interior vehicle more like the 4Runner or some of the high end trucks on the market. My off roading needs are mostly rough forest service roads and snowy roads in AZ higher elevations. I guess I’m re-evaluating what I really need. This vehicle is my present to myself as I head into retirement. I still may end up with a Bronco. But I’m beginning to think I might need to give a nice F-150 or F-250 a look and build myself another EB to satisfy my almost life long Bronco addiction.

Which dealer are you using? I have a reservation at Sanderson and have been waiting for them to get one in for a drive.

 

[indio22]

Which is exactly why a bronco - and to an even greater extent a wrangler - probably isn't for you. That's not meant as a criticism. There's a plethora of lux SUV's that can handle fire roads and light trails and would seem to be more what you're looking for.
But if you want to push further into the wild, those 'trade offs' are part of the bargain. Just look how far the Defender went in the TFL comparison test.
And, in all honesty, I love how my 2 door JL drives on the road. It has character without being 'squirrely' or overly floaty. I like to feel the road and everything a vehicle is doing. My wife's discovery, while luxurious, feels bland and soulless to drive. I'm betting the 2 door Bronco, as a short wheelbase vehicle, will feel more lively than most people are used to even with the IFS. But, again, I love vehicles you drive, as opposed to just riding in.

I think some folks want the image of the Bronco, but the reality of a regular SUV. Problem is Ford came through and made a real deal "Wrangler class" vehicle in the Bronco, not a generic SUV as are already available from various manufacturers.

 

[DEC]

Sounds like the Sport will be a better fit for many.

 

[Bronco Pilot]

Yeah, I’m planning on one of the Off-Rodeo’s in the fall. I’m originally from Austin, so I thought about going to that one. But I can drive to Vegas so it’ll probably be that. Your idea is a good one. That would give me more time in the Bronco than I had this morning.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts after the off rodeo. I think you might find you have a change of heart when you see it off road. I have to tell you I couldn’t believe how capable it was. The suspension setup is unreal.

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