2025 Badlands 7MT Arrived

[EasternSierra]

Today I'm really smiling! My new Bronco is home and I'm finally a real Bronco owner.

2025 Badlands, Eruption Green

2.3 l, 7MT, Non-Sas

Raptor-style running boards

Floor mats (not carpeted!)

Soft top

and nothing else!

So, marine-grade vinyl seats and washout flooring for the trail.

This is going to be our fun vehicle - mixed pavement and dirt trips for me most of the year, and snow trips with my wife in winter and spring (the Sierra Nevada mountains are right next door).

I sold my previous 4x4, a 1996 Toyota T100 extended cab, just about two years ago. I owned that truck for 27 years. It served me well on pavement and on the trail, but it was time for it to go.

Soon after, I signed up here knowing I wouldn't be getting a Bronco soon. My health was poor to the point that I questioned whether I should go out into the boonies anymore. I had open-heart surgery (valve job) coming up real soon and a lengthy recuperation afterwards. We were looking for a house in a new city and needed to keep our finances clean so we could get it. Ford dealers in my area were still charging ADM. On top of that, Bronco 6Gs with manual transmissions were nowhere to be found on the lots. For a while you couldn't even order them.

So I bided my time, read a lot here and elsewhere, researched and analyzed choices, and did a couple of test drives. Over time it became pretty clear exactly what I wanted. Once our old house sold we had the cash and I ordered soon after. Today the dealer delivered it to our home and I did a brief test drive. Verdict: I already love it!

In the meantime my health and mental alertness improved a lot thanks to the operation, things got pretty well settled down at home, and I can get going right away with having some fun with my new ride! That way I can also get an avatar that shows my Bronco in its natural habitat instead of on pavement.

Thanks to all the people who posted here during my time here and before, who provided so much information and hard-won experience. What I learned from all of you was invaluable.

Sometime soon I'm going to start a build journal. Here are some of the things I'm considering:

-Armadillo Designs hard top (this one for sure)
-Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T LT255/85R17 pizza cutters
-Low-profile crash bars
-Ditch lights
-ARB bumper with 'deer guard' as I call it
-5.38 differentials
-Overhead rack like Dusty has
-GMRS radio, and maybe a ham radio too (I have both licenses)

Suspension mods will have to wait until I've finished adding significant weight to the vehicle.

It's time to start having fun again!

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[Sitruc_btb]

Congrats! The simple Badlands is a great all around vehicle. I have the same build albeit a few years older. It will serve you well. You'll have a blast with the 7mt.

 

[Roger123]

Congrats on the new ride AND getting the heart "tuned up". My Dad had a TAVR and now needs a Mitral valve, fun never stops.

Best of luck to you!

 

[UncleBrad]

You know, that good-looking Bronco is going to put a spring in your step. It sounds like you can use that right now.

 

[Muskrat14]

Congrats on the new ride and your health. Go have some fun!

 

[JustinsCustoms]

The 7 speed standard is super cool and it's my biggest gripes with the other power train options. I'm concerned with it's future because of the Tarrifs but here's hoping that the result is considering Tremec for the Raptor or some of the other powertrains.

 

[DrewBronc21]

Congrats all around from a fellow 7Mt Badlands owner!

 

[EasternSierra]

Thanks to everyone who responded!

Today my wife and I went on our first Bronco excursion, on pavement since she hates the bumpiness of off road. I'm trying to get in some easy but variable miles while I'm still breaking it in.

We went from our home up I-80 to Auburn in California's Gold Rush country, then turned south on State Route 49. After a bit we turned off on a side road and reached our destination at historic Georgetown, gateway town for the Rubicon Trail at 2650' elevation (808 m for our international friends). We had lunch and looked around a bit, then headed home on a pretty hot day. We'll be back again to look around more in cooler weather.

So what are my impressions of the Bronco?

I'm still getting used to it - it's not really 'mine' yet in the way my old truck was. At times I felt I should be driving my old truck; after 27 years it was like vehicle and driver were one, and shifting was so automatic I didn't even have to pay attention to it.

Still, I'm really impressed with the Bronco.

The Bronco feels really, really solid yet refined compared to previous vehicles I've driven, especially the pickups (1983 Chevy S-10 and 1996 Toyota T-100). I felt really confident driving it thanks to the great handling, though I was taking it easy and a bit cautiously for my first significant drive (85 miles/140 km). On the way back I started getting a little more adventurous with the gas pedal and the transmission as I felt more comfortable with them.

The transmission/clutch is the easier stick I've ever driven, not that I've driven more than just a few trucks and one long-ago car with a manual. After nearly two years of driving only an automatic I had to get my 'stick legs' back, so to speak, but that was far easier than I expected. By the end of the trip my old stick-driving habits were back in force. It was really satisfying experiencing direct drive again, especially in the mountains, after so much driving with a torque converter. There's at least some degree of engine braking, something I'll have to get a better feeling for over time.

The gearing is great, thanks to the 4.7 axle gears on the Badlands manual. I used all the gears at one point or another (even crawl for about 15 feet). However, I'd be fine with all the shift points moving somewhat if I go to a higher numerical gear ratio. I probably won't bother unless I go to 35s.

The Bronco was a lot harder for me to get into than our Transit Connect van, thanks to a smaller doorway, higher step-up, and my not-very-limber old body. I'm not 25 anymore! Well, time to get serious about those stretching exercises. It'll get easier with more practice as I figure out how to get in more gracefully.

The side-curtain airbags, however good in a collision, take away one feature I really liked on my T-100 - the grab handles on the A pillars. They're just so handy for pulling yourself up into a high seat. My wife who's shorter than me also misses them.

The turn signal was too quiet, and even my wife (with her younger ears) couldn't hear it on the highway. I had the same problem as with my old truck - I have a long torso so I sit high, which puts the visual blinkers on the instrument display right behind the steering wheel on both sides. That let to a few embarrassing episodes of forgetting to turn the blinker off (thanks to no sensory feedback), though towards the end I was getting pretty good at remembering.

I didn't find the interior noise a problem even with my hearing aids in, but my wife reported some hearing fatigue by the time we got home. The Armadillo Designs top should largely fix that.

I found the instrument display to be pretty decent. Sure, I'd love a bunch of analog gauges but this display is good enough for my purposes.

Other than that, there's so much else that's great about the Bronco that I didn't really engage with this time, stuff that I'll be exploring in upcoming trips.

 

[UncleBrad]

Thanks to everyone who responded!

Today my wife and I went on our first Bronco excursion, on pavement since she hates the bumpiness of off road. I'm trying to get in some easy but variable miles while I'm still breaking it in.

We went from our home up I-80 to Auburn in California's Gold Rush country, then turned south on State Route 49. After a bit we turned off on a side road and reached our destination at historic Georgetown, gateway town for the Rubicon Trail at 2650' elevation (808 m for our international friends). We had lunch and looked around a bit, then headed home on a pretty hot day. We'll be back again to look around more in cooler weather.

So what are my impressions of the Bronco?

I'm still getting used to it - it's not really 'mine' yet in the way my old truck was. At times I felt I should be driving my old truck; after 27 years it was like vehicle and driver were one, and shifting was so automatic I didn't even have to pay attention to it.

Still, I'm really impressed with the Bronco.

The Bronco feels really, really solid yet refined compared to previous vehicles I've driven, especially the pickups (1983 Chevy S-10 and 1996 Toyota T-100). I felt really confident driving it thanks to the great handling, though I was taking it easy and a bit cautiously for my first significant drive (85 miles/140 km). On the way back I started getting a little more adventurous with the gas pedal and the transmission as I felt more comfortable with them.

The transmission/clutch is the easier stick I've ever driven, not that I've driven more than just a few trucks and one long-ago car with a manual. After nearly two years of driving only an automatic I had to get my 'stick legs' back, so to speak, but that was far easier than I expected. By the end of the trip my old stick-driving habits were back in force. It was really satisfying experiencing direct drive again, especially in the mountains, after so much driving with a torque converter. There's at least some degree of engine braking, something I'll have to get a better feeling for over time.

The gearing is great, thanks to the 4.7 axle gears on the Badlands manual. I used all the gears at one point or another (even crawl for about 15 feet). However, I'd be fine with all the shift points moving somewhat if I go to a higher numerical gear ratio. I probably won't bother unless I go to 35s.

The Bronco was a lot harder for me to get into than our Transit Connect van, thanks to a smaller doorway, higher step-up, and my not-very-limber old body. I'm not 25 anymore! Well, time to get serious about those stretching exercises. It'll get easier with more practice as I figure out how to get in more gracefully.

The side-curtain airbags, however good in a collision, take away one feature I really liked on my T-100 - the grab handles on the A pillars. They're just so handy for pulling yourself up into a high seat. My wife who's shorter than me also misses them.

The turn signal was too quiet, and even my wife (with her younger ears) couldn't hear it on the highway. I had the same problem as with my old truck - I have a long torso so I sit high, which puts the visual blinkers on the instrument display right behind the steering wheel on both sides. That let to a few embarrassing episodes of forgetting to turn the blinker off (thanks to no sensory feedback), though towards the end I was getting pretty good at remembering.

I didn't find the interior noise a problem even with my hearing aids in, but my wife reported some hearing fatigue by the time we got home. The Armadillo Designs top should largely fix that.

I found the instrument display to be pretty decent. Sure, I'd love a bunch of analog gauges but this display is good enough for my purposes.

Other than that, there's so much else that's great about the Bronco that I didn't really engage with this time, stuff that I'll be exploring in upcoming trips.

Breathe in that new Bronco smell and enjoy it. Life is short.

 

[Ducgsxr]

Today I'm really smiling! My new Bronco is home and I'm finally a real Bronco owner.

2025 Badlands, Eruption Green

2.3 l, 7MT, Non-Sas

Raptor-style running boards

Floor mats (not carpeted!)

Soft top

and nothing else!

So, marine-grade vinyl seats and washout flooring for the trail.

This is going to be our fun vehicle - mixed pavement and dirt trips for me most of the year, and snow trips with my wife in winter and spring (the Sierra Nevada mountains are right next door).

I sold my previous 4x4, a 1996 Toyota T100 extended cab, just about two years ago. I owned that truck for 27 years. It served me well on pavement and on the trail, but it was time for it to go.

Soon after, I signed up here knowing I wouldn't be getting a Bronco soon. My health was poor to the point that I questioned whether I should go out into the boonies anymore. I had open-heart surgery (valve job) coming up real soon and a lengthy recuperation afterwards. We were looking for a house in a new city and needed to keep our finances clean so we could get it. Ford dealers in my area were still charging ADM. On top of that, Bronco 6Gs with manual transmissions were nowhere to be found on the lots. For a while you couldn't even order them.

So I bided my time, read a lot here and elsewhere, researched and analyzed choices, and did a couple of test drives. Over time it became pretty clear exactly what I wanted. Once our old house sold we had the cash and I ordered soon after. Today the dealer delivered it to our home and I did a brief test drive. Verdict: I already love it!

In the meantime my health and mental alertness improved a lot thanks to the operation, things got pretty well settled down at home, and I can get going right away with having some fun with my new ride! That way I can also get an avatar that shows my Bronco in its natural habitat instead of on pavement.

Thanks to all the people who posted here during my time here and before, who provided so much information and hard-won experience. What I learned from all of you was invaluable.

Sometime soon I'm going to start a build journal. Here are some of the things I'm considering:

-Armadillo Designs hard top (this one for sure)
-Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T LT255/85R17 pizza cutters
-Low-profile crash bars
-Ditch lights
-ARB bumper with 'deer guard' as I call it
-5.38 differentials
-Overhead rack like Dusty has
-GMRS radio, and maybe a ham radio too (I have both licenses)

Suspension mods will have to wait until I've finished adding significant weight to the vehicle.

It's time to start having fun again!

Congrats! Could I asked when you placed the order? I have a non-sas 7MT Badlands on order, and am curious how long yours took.

 

[EasternSierra]

Congrats! Could I asked when you placed the order? I have a non-sas 7MT Badlands on order, and am curious how long yours took.

Thanks! End of December, but then there was a delay of a couple of months on all 7MT orders at one point.

 

[Bob Dobbs]

Just got my MT as well. I kept stalling coming off a stop during the test drive ha ha, gotta get used to this clutch.

 

[Rd1103]

Congrats on your new rig! I HIGHLY recommend the Ford Performance tune. It makes the MT even more fun. The increase in horsepower and throttle response is pretty dang cool. Only downside is 91/93 octane fuel is required.

Also, NICE COLOR.

 

[SoDak1623]

Congrats on your new rig! I HIGHLY recommend the Ford Performance tune. It makes the MT even more fun. There is rev matching when downshifting (I know some don't like that, so it's an option you can turn on/off) but the increase in horsepower and throttle response is pretty dang cool.

Also, NICE COLOR.

Unfortunately rev matching is gone from the performance tunes as of a 2024 revision I believe. The only ones with rev matching are those of us with the original tune files installed on our Broncos. I still think the tune is worth it though, if filling up with minimum 91 doesn't bother the owner.

 

[UncleBrad]

Congrats on your new rig! I HIGHLY recommend the Ford Performance tune. It makes the MT even more fun. There is rev matching when downshifting (I know some don't like that, so it's an option you can turn on/off) but the increase in horsepower and throttle response is pretty dang cool.

Also, NICE COLOR.

I also want to say that the ProCal4 Ford Performance tune really makes a difference! I did note that the rev-matching is no longer available. The throttle response is improved, but (for me) it manifests itself well beyond launch. I'm considering breathing changes - and maybe even an aftermarket intercooler.

I have yet to put in the Steed clutch spring.

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