Bronco as good first car?

[MallCrawlinBranco]

Are you looking at broncos/jeeps because you do want to offroad? How deep into it do you want to get? if its only ever mild forest service roads, you might want to consider a new/used subaru forester. Good fuel economy, great safety ratings, fulltime AWD for the snow (no forgetting to switch between 4hi and 2hi), no solid axle driving weirdness, probably cheaper to insure, and if its used, they can take a surprising amount of beating offroad. I made that choice and while the subaru is absolutely the more logical option for my use case, the wrangler I test drove had 1000x more character. I regret not getting the more fun option, but I've never regretted the reliability, nor the stability and well designed AWD keeping my dumb ass safe in snow and ice.

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[Felix808]

I feel any new car for your first car is a bad choice. There is a big learning curve with all things associated with owning / operating / maintaining a vehicle and the stupid things that happen along the way.

 

[indio22]

I have always wanted a Jeep to be my first car. Even when the Bronco came out I still liked the look of the Jeep Wrangler better, and still do. But my parents like the Bronco better for the side airbags that Jeeps lack. I also rode in some Broncos and they ride smoother. I won't be doing too much technical off-roading so I won't need the SFA that the Wrangler has. And when I said I prefer the look of the Wrangler, that doesn't mean I think a Bronco is ugly. It still is a very good-looking car that I would enjoy owning. Would a Bronco be a good first car for someone of my age (16, almost 17). I like the ride quality and how similar it is to a Jeep, and my parents like the safety. Also, can anyone recommend trims? I wouldn't get a base because of some features that only come on higher ones, and the possibility of a Raptor is unlikely due to the price and time it would take to ship. I am looking at outer banks mainly, but also everglades. Thanks.

Are you legit going to off-road though? If you don't for real need the ground clearance and other off-road features, then consider getting a vehicle designed to excel on pavement.

I'm a long time 4x4 owner and off-roader, but with Bronco taking so long, I bought a used sports car, and now Bronco has fallen on my list of wants. (At least until moving back to a part of the country where I'd make more use of it's features.) If only on pavement try and get a used rear wheel drive sports car and have fun.

 

[BlueOvalBandit]

Bronco looks good too, see if it stands the test of time as well

I wonder about this in the back of my mind. When I was getting my first car in 2004-5, I wanted the new 05 Mustang bad....I loved the retro vibe it had compared to the previous generations. I just couldn't afford it as a first car, so I got a stripped down regular cab Tacoma that I drove for the next 17 years.

Now when I look at that generation of Mustang (05-09?), to me the design did not hold up. It just looks dated now and not in a good way.

 

[greatlakes]

Are you looking at broncos/jeeps because you do want to offroad? How deep into it do you want to get? if its only ever mild forest service roads, you might want to consider a new/used subaru forester. Good fuel economy, great safety ratings, fulltime AWD for the snow (no forgetting to switch between 4hi and 2hi), no solid axle driving weirdness, probably cheaper to insure, and if its used, they can take a surprising amount of beating offroad. I made that choice and while the subaru is absolutely the more logical option for my use case, the wrangler I test drove had 1000x more character. I regret not getting the more fun option, but I've never regretted the reliability, nor the stability and well designed AWD keeping my dumb ass safe in snow and ice.

I agree 100%

I know it's not on the OP's list, but as a father who's son just totaled the Subaru we bought him (and walked way unscathed), it's a perfect first car.

I would also recommend getting quotes from your insurance company before deciding. I always believed with new drivers, that the bigger the better when it came to vehicles in order to protect them. My insurance company told me that with young drivers, they are not as concerned about Junior as much as the liability for the other family he could kill.

 

[HorizonHunter]

Big bend or black diamond with MT.

 

[DriveAllNight]

Are you legit going to off-road though? If you don't for real need the ground clearance and other off-road features, then consider getting a vehicle designed to excel on pavement.

Not at all picking on you, but I see this all the time on here. I don't get it.
Even if you never plan on taking it off road, why shouldn't someone get a Jeep or a Bronco?
The 'Need argument' makes absolutely no sense, with that argument there should only be about 4 (non commercial) vehicles on the market, a Prius, an Odyssey, an F150 and a Grand Cherokee - that pretty much covers 'Needs'

They have other features that you can't/won't get anywhere else.
If you want a convertible - they have to be the safest option going.
If you want to take the doors off - there are no other options.
If you want to be at truck height going down the road and you don't want a pickup.
If you want a vehicle that you can customize to make your own - best options.
They are fun to drive , that's reason enough.
You like the way it looks.
Life is short - drive whatever you want, how ever you want to drive it.

Anyway, there is no reason Broncos and Jeeps should be made, you'd be better off getting a buggy or a side by side if you want a vehicle better suited for off road fun - and yet here we are.

 

[ArrickSports]

I have always wanted a Jeep to be my first car. Even when the Bronco came out I still liked the look of the Jeep Wrangler better, and still do. But my parents like the Bronco better for the side airbags that Jeeps lack. I also rode in some Broncos and they ride smoother. I won't be doing too much technical off-roading so I won't need the SFA that the Wrangler has. And when I said I prefer the look of the Wrangler, that doesn't mean I think a Bronco is ugly. It still is a very good-looking car that I would enjoy owning. Would a Bronco be a good first car for someone of my age (16, almost 17). I like the ride quality and how similar it is to a Jeep, and my parents like the safety. Also, can anyone recommend trims? I wouldn't get a base because of some features that only come on higher ones, and the possibility of a Raptor is unlikely due to the price and time it would take to ship. I am looking at outer banks mainly, but also everglades. Thanks.

Sigh . . . . . . I remember when my parents spent the equivalent of $60,000 for my first vehicle.

 

[kodiakisland]

Well, go to any High School parking lot and take a look. It's pretty common for the kids to drive a nicer car than most working adults. Is it a good first car? I guess it depends if you want it to be worth anything 2 years down the road. It will certainly have it's dings, dents, scratches, etc. As far as safe, I guess it's probably as good as any.

 

[JT58Bronc]

My first two vehicles were Broncos LOL. A 1971, then a 1970. And yes I had an accident in the 1971 during my first three driving years. Fortunately no one was hurt and I was easily able to repair the Bronco myself with salvage yard parts and learned a lot about it a body panels, body work, etc..

If you can afford (or your parents) a Bronco that's great....and also afford the gas. It will be a safe and practical vehicle. But it does not get good gas mileage. My Sas gets almost 22 MPG average, pretty darn good for what it is but my daily a VW Jetta gets over 50. You won't be able to find used ones that are around 8 years old like mine were but you should be able to find something. You could get an older Jeep also, not a bad choice if you can find a good one that does not need too much work. Check insurance rates too- they vary by vehicle.

 

[BeachTiger]

1. I agree with Felix808 and others that your first car shouldn't be a new car as there is a strong likelihood that you will be involved in one or more fender benders and insurance rates are going to be sky high already (if you are wealthy, then maybe this doesn't apply to you).

2. Perhaps an unpopular opinion here, but I wouldn't recommend a Bronco, Wrangler, or any traditional body-on-frame SUV as a first car, especially a short wheelbase/2 door version. The handling characteristics are poor, stopping distances aren't great, and in the case of the Wrangler at least (I've owned 3) they don't track straight due to poor steering design and components. Having a vehicle like this as a first car is analogous to buying 100 HP Japanese sport bike as a first motorcycle: you will expend great effort just controlling the vehicle to overcome its inherent characteristics and/or limitations, when you should be focused on becoming a competent driver, which is why boring, but easy-to-drive cars like Honda Civics and Toyota Camrys are often recommended to new drivers.

3. If you are dead set on something in this category, then I'd say a Toyota 4Runner is probably a better choice. Not a convertible, but otherwise spacious, comfortable, proven, good off road chops, and widely available in the used market (even the previous gen 2003-2009 still look great IMO).

4. Lastly (in case you aren't familiar with the general availability of this vehicle), actually getting your hands on a new Bronco won't be an easy task unless you have the ability to pay well above MSRP and possibly travel to another state even then.

 

[DriveAllNight]

My parents let me drive their 10 year old Mercury station wagon with simulated wood grain panels that my dad stopped using years before and went through both my older sisters as their first cars. By the time I got it, I was putting a quart of oil in it about once a week because my sister thought the red engine light was more of a suggestion.

I can' t blame them for wanting us in a tank as our first car but damn that's no way to go on a date in high school.

 

[Paul Gagnon]

The best first car is never a new car. If you are an inexperienced driver you are going to have a few mishaps. It is better to do this on an older car.

 

[ThisGuy611]

I'm assuming you want a vehicle sooner rather than later, so unless you're buying off the lot for a heavy markup, try to grab a Jeep or something else entirely (Toyota 4Runner would be a GREAT option). I say this because part constraints are a huge thing right now with broncos. If you get into an accident, even a minor fender bender, getting replacement parts is going to take forever. And with a new car with sensors, even a minor fender bender can cause you issues. Being your first car, it's pretty likely you'll end up hitting something, or backing into something, your first year or two. It just happens, doesn't matter how good you are.

Check out images of modified 4Runners, they should suit your want for a "cool" car, the back window rolls down, they handle great on road, they're easily one of the most reliable vehicles on the market, and they're great for road trips with your friends. Throw some all-terrain tires, new wheels, and a roof rack, you have a sweet truck that you can throw around and not worry about waiting for.

Now, if you're willing to wait a year for a car, get the Bronco. It's going to have a ton of character, just be warned that it'll be loud, not as comfortable, not as great handling, worse MPG, and overall less road manners than your standard SUV. But it'll be fun.

Just my .02

 

[NotApplicable]

First car? Neither. Go with something that's less prone to rollover and other maneuverability difficulties.

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