Bronco "Paper Launch" makes media headlines

[pony2bronco]

As far as *newer vehicle delivery, I got my 4xE 3 weeks after ordering it for that example. That said, the only real thing new on it is the battery. I think Webasto has a lot more to blame than Ford at this point. Ford definitely compounded the issue though with the introduction of allocations, priority orders, and 3rd dealer mannequins versus reservations on an already limited production. I mean at this point that's what, ~12,000? vehicles of the best case 60k MY21 production.

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[CCross]

I hear you dude, they are flooded with inventory and out for our souls. A friend from Montana sent me this pic today.

Maybe they have a great deal on long-term parking?

Local Ford dealerships look the same way. We bought my wife a Bronco Sport less than a month ago. They got 3 total Sports in and sold all 3 that day. A lady followed the truck to the dealership to buy one of them. Her ‘18 Pilot we traded sat on the new car lot until it sold.

 

[CCross]

Ford has drastically different UAW contracts and parts management. From what I understand, as Wrangler has been such a consistently (1986) product with so few changes from decade to decade, they also have parts suppliers that have been making the same crap for decades.

Question is: can you go to a Chrysler dealership and buy something newer with no inventory constraints?
Around here the only choices you have is fully kitted out Chargers, Gladiators and Wranglers.

Gladiators have almost $7K on the hood to beg for that sale. So you could look it as "wow, nobody wants this lot cockroach of a vehicle".

Just-in-time inventory has one main weakness that has never been encountered before now. Supply-chain issues. Ford has aggressively changed their product portfolio and at what turned out to be a bad time.

This explains a lot. Union contracts are something I know nothing about.

I like the new Wrangler. I was on the verge of purchasing a new JLUR when the Bronco was revealed. But that Gladiator is . It’s better with a lift and bigger tires, but I wouldn’t want one.

 

[Coldsmoke]

Ford would not have had 125k reservations for Broncos if there wasn't some pent up demand for something different/better out there. I suspect that subtle point was lost on the author of that article.
Patience...... God things come to those who wait. From all accounts the Bronco is worth the wait, although I do agree the wait is difficult. I was hoping to be knee deep in mud by this time.

 

[Oceannomad]

me yesterday after my wife got her new German car delivered…which she recently ordered…

Also side note, did not know German cars don’t have remote start. Dealer said it’s a law in Germany where they can’t have a car on without the driver present? Seriously?

 

[Carolina Jim]

Ford would not have had 125k reservations for Broncos if there wasn't some pent up demand for something different/better out there.

For all the criticism Ford has taken on this forum...perhaps their biggest blunder was not bringing Bronco back 5 years sooner.

 

[Erock]

Maybe the author is trying to convince folks to buy a J**P because he’s got a Bronco in order!?!?

Still seems odd, to compare an already built for years vehicle to the launch of a completely new one in terms of availability, in my opinion. Regardless of any pandemics or anything else, if you weren’t prepared for at least some hiccups you were probably being a little over optimistic.

 

[mcdoogs]

me yesterday after my wife got her new German car delivered…which she recently ordered…

Also side note, did not know German cars don’t have remote start. Dealer said it’s a law in Germany where they can’t have a car on without the driver present? Seriously?

My ‘21 e-class has remote start, pretty sure its standard

 

[Oceannomad]

My ‘21 e-class has remote start, pretty sure its standard

did a little Google sleuthing, law is called “Federal Emission Control Act”
Article for Air Force folks stationed in Germany
https://www.ramstein.af.mil/News/Ar...4/environmental-exclusive-dont-idle-your-car/

Wife’s new car is a 2021 Audi. Checked on their website. No Audi has remote start.

edit: I’m going to wager a guess, some German car makers do change their foreign market cars to appease clients but others like Audi just say screw it, no remote start

 

[North7]

as Wrangler has been such a consistently (1986) product with so few changes from decade to decade, they also have parts suppliers that have been making the same crap for decades.

Rick, there are actually significant and numerous differences from generation to generation of the Jeep, just like the Mustang. Designing changes, new features, physical changes in size of the frame and chassis, all lead to many newly designed supplier components and integration problems. That is why every brand, when they go through a redesign or refresh, uncover new issues to be addressed, in the design, in the factory or via recalls and technical service bulletins. Jeeps quality control, or lack of it, are legendary, to hold them up of how to do things right, is a stretch.

Just a few examples:
Jeep JK, TJ, YJ, CJ, XJ, What Does It All Mean?
TJ vs JK Wrangler
JK vs JL Wrangler

 

[mcdoogs]

did a little Google sleuthing, law is called “Federal Emission Control Act”
Article for Air Force folks stationed in Germany
https://www.ramstein.af.mil/News/Ar...4/environmental-exclusive-dont-idle-your-car/

Wife’s new car is a 2021 Audi. Checked on their website. No Audi has remote start.

edit: I’m going to wager a guess, some German car makers do change their foreign market cars to appease clients but others like Audi just say screw it, no remote start

That makes sense, although I'm surprised audi dealers aren't pushing a dealer installed remote start accessory here in the US lol. Might be a sign you have a good dealer

 

[Efthreeoh]

Stupid article. They are saying it's not a real launch because not everyone who preordered got their's yet. It's a real launch as customers are receiving their Broncos. And yes, if you haven't ordered this high demand item you will need to wait. Pretty much how reality works.

If Ford never did the cyberlaunch/reservation part of the Bronco, and only built units as available by commodity constraints, none of us would have ever known. We all would have just gone to the dealership and paid (bend-over) ADM for whatever was on their lot based on what Ford can produce at this point in time. So we have to wait a bit, but the good news is Ford has locked the pricing; I'll take that deal.

Other model vehicles in the past that have not been cyberlaunched have content and product changes as time progresses (not even segregated by model year). Have those past vehicles content introductions been delayed by commodity restrains? We'll never know.

Cyberlaunch just brings the sausage making into view, which is always ugly.

 

[Portapot]

I have Bronc-itis and I broke down and drove a 2.0L Wrangler Unlimited yesterday. The dealer told me it was the more powerful engine. I mean no offense to Jeep loyalists, which I am actually one of (I still have an 84 CJ7), but that 2.0 engine felt like I had a weed wacker powering the car. The 6 cylinder Ford Bronco I drove in comparison was night and days better. I really don't see how any review can even come close to saying the Wrangler drives better. But hey this is just one man's opinion. How reliable it is, remains to be seen but I have only heard good things about it in the F150. I would take the straight six with MPI conversion kit in my CJ any day over that 4 cylinder. Now the V8 Jeep is a whole different discussion but it is pushing 80k. I need to drive the Penstar V6 to firm up my opinion, but the 4 cyclinder Jeep is not for me. I also felt the IFS just makes the bronco an easier car to live with on a daily basis. Kind of a dumb article, but I'm not going to argue that this launch this has not been a total debacle.

 

[Bulletbill]

Ford has drastically different UAW contracts and parts management. From what I understand, as Wrangler has been such a consistently (1986) product with so few changes from decade to decade, they also have parts suppliers that have been making the same crap for decades.

Question is: can you go to a Chrysler dealership and buy something newer with no inventory constraints?
Around here the only choices you have is fully kitted out Chargers, Gladiators and Wranglers.

Gladiators have almost $7K on the hood to beg for that sale. So you could look it as "wow, nobody wants this lot cockroach of a vehicle".

Just-in-time inventory has one main weakness that has never been encountered before now. Supply-chain issues. Ford has aggressively changed their product portfolio and at what turned out to be a bad time.

Rick you do a great job of explaining the technical and logical reasons for the delays.

However, for many people this purchase isn’t logical, it’s emotional; this makes it much harder to see anything logical about the launch. They were told they would have a Bronco by Spring and it’s not here, COVID be damned.

Either way, thanks for your humorous insight and for keeping a reasonable perspective!

 

[Efthreeoh]

Yep. We say it and the Razor Blue Oval fanboys derisively pass us off as “new members” and call us “triggered” and “basement dwellers.” For anyone not looking at this through blue tinted glasses, it is an unequivocal debacle (not all Ford’s fault but they do have some culpability). Queue the “well cancel your order” replies …. Yawn.

I'm not a FoMoCo apologist by any stretch, but I am realistic and understand how major corporations run (sadly). It could be considered launching the Bronco in a global pandemic was a mistake, but look at it from Ford's perspective. In early and mid 2020, no one had any idea how the pandemic was going to play out. There was (is) so much political misinformation about the virus, trying to make major business decisions whether to delay the launch or go forward with it, will always been subject of debate. Wait how long? All public corporations have shareholders to contend with, revenue targets to meet, and customers to please. With nothing predicable for 8 to 10 months of 2020 no decision was bad nor good. The Bronco is just one part of rebuilding and right-sizing FoMoCo for the next several decades. There were a lot of hard decisions to make at the executive level.

I put myself in Ford's shoes, what would I have done. Pushing forward was the right move. Hiding from the pandemic would have been a lot worse than moving forward and getting some bumps a long the way. In reality the Bronco is a just several months behind schedule. If FoMoCo had given up to the pandemic, they'd most surely lost the battle in total. These weren't just Ford decisions nor just Bronco product launch decisions, they were simply business decisions any and many businesses had to make these past 18 months or so.

At this point being patient as a customer is all you can do. There is no intention on Ford's part to screw you. They've done the best they could considering the situation. You can call it an unequivocal debacle, but offer up a better suggestion and perhaps the Blue Oval Fanboys will leave you alone. You suggest Ford's communication has been poor, but again, how would have you handled it? It seems after the May email, Ford has decided to remain silent, so that's not worked either.

Let's not be children who didn't get the toy they wanted for their birthday.

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