Advice Needed on Bronco Purchase: Badlands 7MT or Stroppe 2.7L?

[Gopher]

Do you ever tow? I've towed 3000lb with the 2.3L auto and manual.
The automatic is magic. The 2.3/manual, gets it done, but with more effort and far less grace.
The 10spd made that 4cyl pull better than the GM 5.3L that we have towed that boat with for years.

I can't imagine how much better the 2.7 would be with that same tranny. I definitely want to give it a try someday though.

I do tow but mostly a small 14' aluminum fishing boat that weighs little. Also a large pontoon boat occasionally and only a few miles from my cabin to a storage facility for winter.

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[timhood]

Hello. I am considering purchasing one of two models, both 2-door:

2025 Stroppe
2026 Badlands 7MT

I have test driven both along with a Big Bend 7MT.

For those who have or have had these, what do you think?

I know the manual-vs-automatic debate can get heated, so here goes!

My impressions:
The 2.7L Stroppe is much snappier off the line vs. the Badlands 2.3L 7MT. Interestingly, the Big Bend 2.3L 7MT felt closer to the Stroppe in acceleration, likely due to the smaller tires. The larger tires, I suspect, made the Badlands feel relatively sluggish to me at least below 3,000 RPM.

While I love manual transmissions and thought I wanted it in my Bronco, the 2.7L auto felt much better. Also, I have three Mustangs all with manual transmissions, so have plenty of other time rowing my own gears. Since the Bronco is not an on-road performance vehicle, the stick shift is becoming less important to me.

This will be just a fun vehicle for me, not a daily driver. I will use it for a mix of on- and off-road uses, including some road trips. I have a cabin in the woods, so it will spend a lot of time there running around the wilderness and going into places devoid of people.

I realize that only I can make this decision, but am just curious how others have approached this tradeoff and open to any words of wisdom based on actual usage.

Thanks!

I have a "split the difference" Bronco that can't be purchased currently: a 2-door Badlands 2.7. Given you are considering the Stroppe, I assume the paint package appeals to,you, so I would go that route. In Badlands form, at least, there is no MPG penalty for opting for the 2.7. I really appreciate its low-end torque off-road as well as on. The only reason not to get the 2.7 IMO is to save money.

 

[Bronco Toad]

22 2.3L 7mt Badlands, no ragrets

 

[Pb.Slinger]

Stroppe

 

[Felix808]

This.

The 2.7 is the more “fun” engine but the 7Mt is more funner

Until you are in the rocks with no easy option for a hand throttle

 

[RK Racing]

I would definitely buy the one that will put a bigger smile on your face every single day!!!!!!

 

[Brian_B]

Until you are in the rocks with no easy option for a hand throttle

Never claimed it was easier, just funner

Auto trans is cheat mode

 

[Felix808]

Never claimed it was easier, just funner

Auto trans is cheat mode

I lived the diehard manual life for decades. I love the auto these days. Cheat mode is so less stressful on difficult trails & I can still manually shift it

 

[Brian_B]

I lived the diehard manual life for decades. I love the auto these days. Cheat mode is so less stressful on difficult trails & I can still manually shift it

Very true

 

[Snacktime]

Manual is an 8 hour clutch job, cable shift and has grinding issues. At this point you have to be an absolute manual freak to jump on board that sinking ship.

At this point I would buy the 2.7 auto in a 2 door if you want performance or a 2.3 auto if you want a forever vehicle.

 

[wjtinfwb]

Hello. I am considering purchasing one of two models, both 2-door:

2025 Stroppe
2026 Badlands 7MT

I have test driven both along with a Big Bend 7MT.

For those who have or have had these, what do you think?

I know the manual-vs-automatic debate can get heated, so here goes!

My impressions:
The 2.7L Stroppe is much snappier off the line vs. the Badlands 2.3L 7MT. Interestingly, the Big Bend 2.3L 7MT felt closer to the Stroppe in acceleration, likely due to the smaller tires. The larger tires, I suspect, made the Badlands feel relatively sluggish to me at least below 3,000 RPM.

While I love manual transmissions and thought I wanted it in my Bronco, the 2.7L auto felt much better. Also, I have three Mustangs all with manual transmissions, so have plenty of other time rowing my own gears. Since the Bronco is not an on-road performance vehicle, the stick shift is becoming less important to me.

This will be just a fun vehicle for me, not a daily driver. I will use it for a mix of on- and off-road uses, including some road trips. I have a cabin in the woods, so it will spend a lot of time there running around the wilderness and going into places devoid of people.

I realize that only I can make this decision, but am just curious how others have approached this tradeoff and open to any words of wisdom based on actual usage.

Thanks!

I love a manual as much as the next enthusiast, but the smooth and torquey 2.7L and efficient 10-speed won the day for me. I'd rather salt away some money for an old Miata or Boxster that rewards the manual experience than the Bronco where I see it being as much of a hindrance as an attribute. Either way you'll love the Bronco, maybe comes down to a coin flip!

 

[RadDad]

7MT+procal=best of both worlds.

If you want 2 pedals maybe go look at bicycles.

 

[broncobase1]

Only you can make this discission, go with the one you like the best. My personal opinion is to avoid special edition models as they command a high price, and the Stroppe doesn't seem to be very popular in this site anyway.

 

[timhood]

I wonder if all the two-pedal die hards specifically request a manual truck when renting a U-Haul. I drove one inter-state one time, and I wouldn't exactly say it made the move more fun.

 

[Spiff]

I wonder if all the two-pedal die hards specifically request a manual truck when renting a U-Haul. I drove one interstate one time, and I wouldn't exactly say it made the move more fun.

2025 Stroppe.

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