How accurate does this describe you, Bronco Owners?

[RR25HB]

I got my 1970 in the late 80s when it was dirt cheap and often ridiculed for being a squeaky brick of rust. I got it because it was so cheap I could afford it and could reach my back pastures to fix fences, carry tools to my broke down tractor, and get me to work in a snow storm. My F305 dump bed was for heavy chores, lousy on highway, and too big to get to the back pastures. I kept it through the years because it was cheaper than buying anything newer, and maintainable. Somewhere along the line it became cool, and I enjoyed it a little bit, after being laughed at for a couple of decades. But I still used it to drive in snow and haul back a newborn calf. Then I got a long term contract in southwest. I had sold the cows. Needed AC and sheetmetal rust was becoming a problem I couldn't ignore anymore. So I got a 6th gen for AC to survive AZ valley temperatures with the idea to restore it. Why not explore the south west and national parks on my weekends since I'm not milking cows anymore? Discovered exploring off the beaten path was a lot of fun, and hey, that front locker is like magic and crawling gear really crawls. The heater is absolutely awesome, and the defroster actually defrosts the windshield. I thought heated seats where sort of a joke and at first thought I wet myself, but they were easy to get used to. The adaptive cruise control is the bee's knees on long trips. power disc brakes and power steering is sweet!

Am I doing it for image?

I kind of fit the video's statement that I enjoy being able to keep the old boy running and can troubleshoot it in the field and get myself home. The new one's literal bells and whistles drive me nuts. A little weird to shift it, not as obvious where the engine is at compared to the 302 and 6th seems a bit of a waste. I miss my bench seat, but I don't have a dog anymore. Girlfriend would still nap with her head on my lap on long trips though. I really miss the vent windows. I'd say I don't miss my floor dim switch except I can't stand the automatic high beams. If I had to pick one over the other I'd take my floor switch. Radio is better but only marginally and almost as much cabin noise. It did make me decide to put in front locker in my project, along with power assist disc brakes, and if I can get AC in it, I can't justify keeping both. I'll go back to the old one. Dollars per mile it's still cheaper but that's partially because I bought it for under a grand.

So, I discovered offroading sort of accidentally. I bought originally because cheap and useful, fixable. I'm inclined to keep it because its cheap, useful, and fixable. I only recently sold the F350, winding down the farming and don't need a dump bed anymore, only haying the fields now. I certainly didn't get it because I was trying to project any image. Like I said, I got laughed at mostly. I don't think i quite fit the videos typeset.

Beautifully well stated!

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[Fordified1]

Have you seen the promo videos for the concept vehicle that Hyundai unveiled at the New York Auto Show and that may appear by 2030 -- the Boulder? It certainly looks "Bronco-inspired!"

Looks like a mix of Dodge Nitro and FJ Cruiser.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

I got my 1970 in the late 80s when it was dirt cheap and often ridiculed for being a squeaky brick of rust. I got it because it was so cheap I could afford it and could reach my back pastures to fix fences, carry tools to my broke down tractor, and get me to work in a snow storm. My F305 dump bed was for heavy chores, lousy on highway, and too big to get to the back pastures. I kept it through the years because it was cheaper than buying anything newer, and maintainable. Somewhere along the line it became cool, and I enjoyed it a little bit, after being laughed at for a couple of decades. But I still used it to drive in snow and haul back a newborn calf. Then I got a long term contract in southwest. I had sold the cows. Needed AC and sheetmetal rust was becoming a problem I couldn't ignore anymore. So I got a 6th gen for AC to survive AZ valley temperatures with the idea to restore it. Why not explore the south west and national parks on my weekends since I'm not milking cows anymore? Discovered exploring off the beaten path was a lot of fun, and hey, that front locker is like magic and crawling gear really crawls. The heater is absolutely awesome, and the defroster actually defrosts the windshield. I thought heated seats where sort of a joke and at first thought I wet myself, but they were easy to get used to. The adaptive cruise control is the bee's knees on long trips. power disc brakes and power steering is sweet!

Am I doing it for image?

I kind of fit the video's statement that I enjoy being able to keep the old boy running and can troubleshoot it in the field and get myself home. The new one's literal bells and whistles drive me nuts. A little weird to shift it, not as obvious where the engine is at compared to the 302 and 6th seems a bit of a waste. I miss my bench seat, but I don't have a dog anymore. Girlfriend would still nap with her head on my lap on long trips though. I really miss the vent windows. I'd say I don't miss my floor dim switch except I can't stand the automatic high beams. If I had to pick one over the other I'd take my floor switch. Radio is better but only marginally and almost as much cabin noise. It did make me decide to put in front locker in my project, along with power assist disc brakes, and if I can get AC in it, I can't justify keeping both. I'll go back to the old one. Dollars per mile it's still cheaper but that's partially because I bought it for under a grand.

So, I discovered offroading sort of accidentally. I bought originally because cheap and useful, fixable. I'm inclined to keep it because its cheap, useful, and fixable. I only recently sold the F350, winding down the farming and don't need a dump bed anymore, only haying the fields now. I certainly didn't get it because I was trying to project any image. Like I said, I got laughed at mostly. I don't think i quite fit the videos typeset.

That post was an awesome read.

 

[GetShifty_Bronco]

Don't care about the "well the capability also needs to be visible". Bronco is the only new, out of the box decent enough rock crawler/offroad toy that still drives reasonably well on the street. Don't have time or a fab shop to build something from scratch and only really need 1 vehicle, so Bronco makes sense, and I'm not even a Ford person, but Chevy doesn't have anything that can compete. (Traded a Colorado in for mine, night and day difference in crawling ability)

 

[MadMan4BamaNATL]

It's poseurs vs wheelers man, poseurs vs wheelers......

Ha ha! The video is quite accurate and it's funny watching the AI generated pics switch from left handed to right hand driving positions.

Basically, these were the concepts we were discussing at length back in 2020 here on the forum. For those of us first to reserve, it was a personal identity and lifestyle choice, absolutely.

There were those of us who either grew up in or with Broncos or wanting one and modeling ourselves after the old heads we saw and still do like when at Super Cel. Those older men were legends 100% and damn right I'm trying to be like they were. They do represent manliness, independence, and Americana. Rugged, understated, handy, outdoorsy, clear your own path, real men.

Then, the trend happened.... Those old heads set the tone for us, then WE set the tone for many of you who are new here, but something else happened. Ford let a lot of influencers and poseurs get their hands on the new Bronco first. The "cup holder" and "rear vent" crowd. The guys who want big tires and to "look" a certain way, but in reality are not. These suburbanites paid ADM, purchased mods they didn't need, but were influenced by YouTube vids, and this drove up the price to that of a luxury vehicle.

Sure, those of us first out of the gate paid handsomely for the new Bronco, but not the crazy prices it's at now. Many of us also get dirt.

In the end, like how the narrator described my Bronco in a 2 Dr in Eruption Green. For those who've seen my Bronco muddy and thought "man, I'd love one of those to go do some of that". Well, that's what it's all about.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

The "cup holder" and "rear vent" crowd.

 

[RR25HB]

The "cup holder" and "rear vent" crowd.

Hey ... no Lux pkg, here, pal (he said sheepishly, while testing the expansive limits of Android Auto in his artically chilled passenger cabin seat).

That seat, BTW, is cloth and manually adjustable. Hmmmph!

 

[MadMan4BamaNATL]

The "cup holder" and "rear vent" crowd.

Man, you have no idea how much complaining it was from guys on here about those two "issues". Also a Moar Door thing....

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

Man, you have no idea how much complaining it was from guys on here about those two "issues". Also a Moar Door thing....

It’s the “no power/memory seats” folks now.

 

[not on the rug]

I got my Bronco because I always wanted a vehicle that allowed me to take the doors off. I liked old Broncos as a kid so it just felt right.

I also believe that cars/trucks are toys and should look and behave as such. The 6g Bronco just looks like a big kid's toy. A grown-up tonka truck.

I want as many smiles per gallon as possible. It has to make me smile when I look at it and drive it. Period. 500hp. 600hp. Lifted trucks. Sports cars. Obscenely fast sedans. Lifted SUVs. Embarrassingly fast SUVs. I want all of them.

 

[Wilbur's son]

Nostalgia. Dad had a '68 Bronco. It came from the factory as a custom color--solid Acapulco Blue a '68 Mustang color, no white top. So Velocity Blue was the only choice. My Sis had to approve this plus the manual transmission and 2 door model. All good according to her!

 

[DaddyO]

Growing up in rural America, I always wanted, but never could quite afford or justify a 1st generation Bronco. Later generation Broncos never interested me for a couple reasons, one being the top not removable all the way to the windshield. I settled for cheaper Jeep CJ’s as a safer open air trail capable vehicle over my motorcycle which was probably gonna maim or kill me. Jeeps being just one step above a tractor and less reliable, and being a die hard Ford guy, the reintroduction of the Bronco with 1st generation appearance cues and removable doors and roof seemed like the ticket. The addition of 4 doors and a lush ride made it sellable to the better half. We do off-road it frequently and I’ve already broken it twice. Ford slightly missed the mark for me personally, because it has way too many bells and whistles that made it expensive, annoying, and potentially un-reliable. . I still love it, but it could have been better…for me anyway.

 

[SKS Biker]

My initial thought was "Who sits around and thinks of this crap?" Then it progressed to "Who cares what other people spend their money on?" It smacks of having been written by someone who can't afford a Bronco.

I bought my '24 Badlands because it's a continuation the 2G and four 4G Broncos I've owned. I still own an '89. I've loved the concept of the Bronco ever since my dad had a '79 when I was a kid...a vehicle that the same off-road capability as a truck, but the size and manageability of a car. Every one I've had was fun as hell to drive, both on and off road, and now I have a newer modern version. The only person i care about impressing with it is myself.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

My initial thought was "Who sits around and thinks of this crap?" Then it progressed to "Who cares what other people spend their money on?" It smacks of having been written by someone who can't afford a Bronco.

I bought my '24 Badlands because it's a continuation the 2G and four 4G Broncos I've owned. I still own an '89. I've loved the concept of the Bronco ever since my dad had a '79 when I was a kid...a vehicle that the same off-road capability as a truck, but the size and manageability of a car. Every one I've had was fun as hell to drive, both on and off road, and now I have a newer modern version. The only person i care about impressing with it is myself.

Concur, but you’re sorta making his point as you’re squarely one of his two types, nostalgic Bronco vet (you) vs. the aspirational 4x4 rookie (not you).

But I’d contend there are other types of Bronco buyers, who aren’t nostalgic, brand loyal or image conscious, but who simply have a need and found this vehicle the best option in the market segment. I guarantee the video guy lives in a big city somewhere. The Bronco only starts to make rational sense out in the wild.

 

[Bronco6Geo]

I was born in '61, so I remember the original Bronco. My dad worked for Ford and he had a company lease car. One time when it was in the shop for maintenance they loaned him a 1G Bronco and he parked it in our garage. I looked at it and imagined all the places I could go in it. I ordered a new '88 Bronco II in the fall of '87. It had manual locking hubs, a 5 speed manual and a stick transfer shift. I upgraded the small tires it came with from the factory and took it offroad often, though nothing extreme. I've had nothing but 4WD vehicles since - all Fords. I test drove a couple Explorers 9 or 10 years ago and my salesman happened to mention that he heard Ford was bringing back the Bronco. I decided to keep my '07 Sport Trac until I could get a 6G Bronco. I finally got my '22 4Dr Badlands (non-Sas) around Aug 1st, 2022. My detached garage collapsed on it in February of 2025 and it was totaled in March. I ordered a '25 Badlands, 4Dr Sas w/HOSS 3.0 in April and purchased it on July 18th, 2025. I like it even better than my '22 Badlands as it is more capable and a bit quieter with the painted roof. I've yet to do hard core off-roading in it, but I have driven it through foot and a half deep snow. It goes through snow like a tank.

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