Dumping my daughters Jeep, what does Dad need to know?

[mdBr0nc0]

We purchased a Jeep for my daughter 5 years ago. For the most part it has served her well through high school and into college. But as stated in the title, I’m dumping the Jeep for a Bronco. She is now a Junior in a nursing program, which means she will begin clinicals next semester. As a dad, my concern is reliability and safety. So what do I need to know?

P.S. I already have the duck burning ceremony covered.

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[adam1991]

I’m dumping the Jeep for a Bronco....As a dad, my concern is reliability and safety. So what do I need to know?

That you're doing the right thing?

 

[raptorusmaximus]

Well, she won't look like she's drunk while trying to drive down a straight road......(jeep steering is horrendous)

 

[HeliPilot]

No issues with my 2dr Badlands SAS in 23000 miles

 

[mdBr0nc0]

That you're doing the right thing?

I know I’m doing the right thing. But every vehicle has its own little quarks. And I’m one of those guys that has no issue making modifications or adjustments for things to run better.

 

[TomC]

my 2 cents, having purchased a Bronco and having helped my daughter get a car (AWD Ford Edge). I'm assuming your goal is to be less $$$ as school can cost $$$.

Practical solution . get a CPO used 2 door Outer Banks - easy to park and drive, and she'll be buried in studies, so she'll want ease of use. Hard top, so she can remove the front two panels easily, but still have a little parking lot security - hospital parking is an issue.

Fun solution - She likes adventure, or you need 4wd where you live - get a CPO used two door further up the trim levels, like a Badlands that will have the front and rear locking differentials, but with a hardtop and high package.

wife is a PA and parking lot security at hospitals (schools will send her weird places) and clinics would be my focus. Good luck! This one is 38K BTW. Keyless entry and leather.

I would help my daughter w/ something like this:

 

[Blksn955.o]

Is this going to be a like trim to like trim swap?

One thing I would look for is a model equipped with the advanced transfer case. Having a AWD setting would be big plus IMHO. Not sure what trims outside of sasquatch and badlands have them anymore.

 

[Smocaine]

If safety is your primary concern, you may want to avoid Sasquatch-equipped Broncos. The Sasquatch package removes the front wheel-well crash bars for better tire clearance. IIHS tests on the Bronco are all models equipped with crash bars and they fared well on all tests except headrests and headlights.
IIHS has not tested Sasquatch-equipped Broncos so it's hard to say if removing the crash bar has a significant effect on its performance in tests like the frontal small-overlap crash. It's a test I pay attention to because it's easy for manufacturers to fail, and fail badly - I'm not sure if anyone remembers the '06 F150 controversy, but it was primarily based on this test. The Outer Banks (I think?) they tested did well here, but the new Expedition did quite poorly.
For reliability, the 2.3L has a very long lineage, back to the Ford Duratec and Mazda L and F engines. I'm probably biased toward them, but when I see failures here, I feel like it tends to be 2.7L equipped Broncos.

 

[Sgt Badlands]

If you want safety and reliability I would buy her a Toyota Rav4.

 

[Evergreen]

For what to get - my advice would be find a 4 door Big Bend or OBX on a lot somewhere with a soft top, 2.3 I-4, and some money on the hood if you want the best blend of on road creature comforts and reliability.

2 Door is definitely the one for purists, but the 4 door is considerably more practical for daily driving.

Soft top vs. hard top is very subjective, but I don't see many threads on here about soft top warranty claims.

SAS package isn't worth it if you are primarily driving on-road and don't care about the vanity aspect of the package.

For the safety, Bronco does fairly well in the crash tests from IIHS. Like mentioned in the posts above - sas package leaves some wiggle room for the results seeing the crash bars removed. The viral video online of the "simulated rear end crash" is entirely inaccurate and doesn't line up at all with the real testing.

https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/ford/bronco-4-door-suv/2023

 

[Bugkillah]

Which trim of jeep (assuming wrangler) she have now? There are parallels between the two vehicles. Go with similar trim levels…

 

[Imaginary Friend]

If you want safety and reliability I would buy her a Toyota Rav4.

Same thing popped into my head. Or a Honda something or other.

 

[broncobase1]

I would stay with the 2.3L and lower trim models without 4A and sasquatch. The less complexity the better when it comes to reliability. Aside from a fuel pump issue which was quickly remedied I haven't had any other mechanical issues with my Base.

 

[Brian_B]

Advanced Transfer Case for 4A would be my only recommendation - set it and forget it is really nice for bad weather.

It can be had without necessarily getting the Sasquatch package.

Beyond that - I would ask your daughter.

 

[mdBr0nc0]

Which trim of jeep (assuming wrangler) she have now? There are parallels between the two vehicle. Go with similar trim levels…

We started her off in the two door Sport. I didn’t see the point in starting with a rubicon considering a first crash was inevitable (wish I could’ve placed a bet on that because a return in 3 weeks would’ve been sweet). Fortunately the Lord answered my prayers with a slow fender bender, which was enough to wake her up.
Before she left for college I upgraded the bumpers to 1/4” steel. Not looking to win in a crash, but I just don’t want her to lose.

The wobbly wheel and easy to flip has been a true concern. The IIHS results definitely keep me up. Not to forget the random mechanical issues that can occur.

For this vehicle I’d like to go middle of the road. She’s a much better driver and is blossoming into such a wonderful young lady that I believe she has earned the upgrade.

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