Base vs Big Bend, what am I really missing?

[mpeugeot]

This is where I was at but the kind folks convinced me to buy a hardtop so that I can get the bronco I want now instead of waiting on a retail order. Then I can immediately sell the top on the used market and swap in a bestop instead. Save a few bucks and not have to wait on a retail order.

What say you on the bestop vs the stock soft top???

I can only speak on the two door, but driving at highway speeds with the Bestop was like driving inside a bass drum. It sucked.

My 2021 2-door hardtop initially was very loud inside and the Bestop was equally bad. I eventually put the hardtop back on and got it all sorted out. It's now as quiet as the 2023 2-door hardtop I had (which was much quieter than the 2021 initially).

It's likely very different on the 4 door Bronco. I drove a 4 door factory soft top in 2023 and it was slightly less noisy as the 2021 2-door before I got it sorted out and slightly more noisy than the 2023 2-door. The factory 4 door soft top was definitely less noisy than the 2 door Bestop.

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[Danielsand]

Dang man, show us on the doll where the hard top hurt you

I guess the "winking smiley" didn't work? Truth is, I am not good with smileys.

 

[Danielsand]

This is where I was at but the kind folks convinced me to buy a hardtop so that I can get the bronco I want now instead of waiting on a retail order. Then I can immediately sell the top on the used market and swap in a bestop instead. Save a few bucks and not have to wait on a retail order.

What say you on the bestop vs the stock soft top???

My post above was in jest (hence, "winking smiley"), but in all honesty, I prefer the soft top (I have both). I have a big property with many outbuildings, and storage of the hard top is not an issue, however, I took it off ONCE and never put it back.

I had several Best Top soft ones on Jeeps, and they were well made, fitted well, and were easy to handle. I don't care much for OEM soft top with wrinkled windows on Bronco, and getting the back window open is a joke of a design, but it makes Bronco look "unique" on the road. Ford wanted to be "different" with this one, and they achieved it. If mine starts to leak, or fade, I'll go with Best Top for replacement for sure. I have good experience with them.

 

[Danielsand]

We cannot talk about the "noise" at all (or shouldn't be). We're all of different age. Older people perceive "noise" differently than the younger ones. I have this awful Tinnitus for 27 years now. Bronco SAS with soft top is LOUD (to my much younger wife), to me, my Tinnitus is louder going down the road. I live with that noise for almost three decades, and anything that is not as loud as that, seems "quiet". At least I don't have to think about upgrading Bronco's sound system, right?

 

[OverBudget]

We cannot talk about the "noise" at all (or shouldn't be). We're all of different age. Older people perceive "noise" differently than the younger ones. I have this awful Tinnitus for 27 years now. Bronco SAS with soft top is LOUD (to my much younger wife), to me, my Tinnitus is louder going down the road. I live with that noise for almost three decades, and anything that is not as loud as that, seems "quiet". At least I don't have to think about upgrading Bronco's sound system, right?

I agree noise is pretty subjective based on the occupants tolerance levels.

I'm 34, with supposedly great hearing according to all the hearing tests I've done, and I'll say that the hard top with no insulation is "noisy" but I think most blow it out of proportion. Can I hear birds chirping pretty clearly while driving around the neighborhood? Yes. Do I have to scream at my wife to talk going down the highway at 80mph? No. Is there more wind noise then a full body car? Of course. Does it ruin my driving experience at all? No way.


soft top is obviously going to be another level of noise over the hard top, it's just the nature of the beast. And in my opinion, anyone buying one of these should already be expecting more noise then a full body car, so it shouldn't even really be as big a talking point as it seems to be.

 

[moose05]

I want the ease of use of the soft top. Is there any good long term solution for hard top storage?

Is the factory soft top easier to use than the bestop or is the bestop best?

 

[Oldhippie]

I will just say if ya don’t plan on going off road the Sasquatch package is a total waste…just throw whatever wheels/tires ya like on what ever ya get…

 

[indio22]

I will just say if ya don’t plan on going off road the Sasquatch package is a total waste…just throw whatever wheels/tires ya like on what ever ya get…

Well they call it an "aspirational" vehicle. Meaning, people spend thousands extra on functionality they aspire to use ... but never will.

 

[moose05]

Im sure 90% are mall crawlers, my exact use case .

 

[UncleBrad]

As much as I like the OBX with the 2.7 and high lux package, I don't see that as the right move without the Sasquatch package.

I see the best values being the following choices based on your use case.

Non-Sasquatch:
1. Big Bend with Black Diamond package
2. Badlands with high/lux package
3. Base

Sasquatch:
4. Heritage Edition
5. Base Sasquatch
6. OBX Sasquatch with high/lux package.

If you don't want to get burned by the seats and you are stuck with a model with MGV or Leather, just buy some cloth seat covers.

If you don't like the Sasquatch rims/tires (I didn't), then don't get the Sasquatch package. You are better off with the Badlands non-sasquatch (gets you essentially the same setup - except for the 4.7 gears on the automatic equipped vehicles, but there is only a 5% difference in the gearing 4.46 vs 4.7).

You really don't need the Badlands, but it's the only way to get a high/lux package and 4A without the Sasquatch package. The Big Bend with the Black Diamond package will get you 4A, but you are limited to the mid-package. In my personal opinion, you give up way too much going with the Base over the Big Bend because of the significant difference between standard equipment and the mid package.

This reflects my personal biases because I see 4A and rear locker as must haves for a Bronco. Otherwise, why get a Bronco...

If you ONLY care about the looks, then I would consider a non-Sasquatch base if creature comforts don't matter or the non-Sasquatch OBX if you want any creature comforts.

>> This reflects my personal biases because I see 4A and rear locker as must haves for a Bronco. Otherwise, why get a Bronco...

Easy: for the manual transmission and to save money. And rear lockers are not must-haves in most driving situations for an experienced driver.

 

[BroncoRuss]

I went big bend non Sasquatch, put the Everglades wheels on it (I guess they’re just stock Sasquatch wheels on the 25 now? Not sure) with 285/70r17 tires. Recently got a set of the fox coilovers taken off a wikdtrak, awesome upgrade. Netted me 2in in the front and 1 in the back and leveled it out nice.

I went big bend over base for just those few more creature comforts that it has. The mid package is nice and I love the marine grade vinyl, but they definitely get hot like leather, but there are simple solutions for that and I think it’ll have better resale value than the base. Either way, you’re gonna love it!

 

[moose05]

I went big bend non Sasquatch, put the Everglades wheels on it (I guess they’re just stock Sasquatch wheels on the 25 now? Not sure) with 285/70r17 tires. Recently got a set of the fox coilovers taken off a wikdtrak, awesome upgrade. Netted me 2in in the front and 1 in the back and leveled it out nice.

I went big bend over base for just those few more creature comforts that it has. The mid package is nice and I love the marine grade vinyl, but they definitely get hot like leather, but there are simple solutions for that and I think it’ll have better resale value than the base. Either way, you’re gonna love it!

This is great insights! Thank you. I think I’ve pretty much settled on big bend, squatch if I can get a deal but I’ll skip it and go source parts if I need to.

I’m still torn on if I want hard top or soft top, I feel like hard top will be better resale but I just don’t know if I want to store it and buy an aftermarket top. I own my cars 10-12 years on average so resale isn’t a huge deal anyway.

 

[mpeugeot]

This is great insights! Thank you. I think I’ve pretty much settled on big bend, squatch if I can get a deal but I’ll skip it and go source parts if I need to.

I’m still torn on if I want hard top or soft top, I feel like hard top will be better resale but I just don’t know if I want to store it and buy an aftermarket top. I own my cars 10-12 years on average so resale isn’t a huge deal anyway.

If that's the case, then just get one with the factory softtop, because after 10 years I would not bet on the hardtop holding up (although my 2021 hardtop hasn't disintegrated yet.

Use that hardtop money towards the Black Diamond package which will actually improve the resale value slightly.

The best Bronco for resale appears to be the stripped down base model for some reason.

 

[moose05]

If that's the case, then just get one with the factory softtop, because after 10 years I would not bet on the hardtop holding up (although my 2021 hardtop hasn't disintegrated yet.

I’m now reading about the MIC tops cracking. People seem to say the painted tops are different.

 

[BroncoRuss]

Also could go big bend and add the appearance package that comes with the ford performance 2 in lift. Looks sharp and I think would cost slightly less than Sasquatch. I think I read it wasn’t available on the base model but I’m sure someone will correct me if it is.

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