Help a newbie out!

[Sevensecondsuv]

Hello all. I've been driving, repairing, and modifying Ford trucks for 20 years now. I currently own a '95 F-250, a '94 F-350, an Excursion, a '01 Ranger that I turbocharged, and finally a 2011 Ranger that I bought new. Now for the first time in 11 years I find myself in the market for a new vehicle - this time to replace our '07 town car that's currently my wife's daily driver and kid hauler. I've looked at Explorer, Ranger, and other various makes/models but just can't get excited enough about tiny engines, automatic transmissions, and electronic nanny and EPA everything to drop $40k on one.

That's where the Bronco comes in. We're interested in it for one reason: the manual transmission and 5 seats. I'd really prefer the V6 but obviously Ford won't let us have nice things. So I'm basically looking at the cheapest spec I can come up with that has 4 doors, the manual, and a hard top. This appears to be a big bend with no options other than the hard top (and probably the locker since you'd be stupid not to). If given the choice, I'd actually prefer to save a few thousand and do without 4wd, but obviously Ford doesn't do a 2wd version. Apparently that's too retro...

Anyways, I have a few questions about the buying process. What do I actually need to do? I see order banks open in Feb - do I rush into the dealer to make a deposit at that time? What's this I read about reservations (I'm not familiar with that term)? I had the 2011 Ranger in to the local po-dunk rural Ford dealer last week for the takata airbag recall and they said Bronco orders are MSRP and running 8-10 months for delivery. I'm considering the possibility that he's entirely full of ****. We didn't discuss further. Finally, what's the chances of getting a hardtop in '23 and what is that going to do to my wait time?

Sorry for the newb questions. I realize I probably sound like a uneducated rube. Honestly I'm not even sure I want to deal with all the trouble currently - the town car could go another year or 5 if it has to.

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[RobBob22]

That's where the Bronco comes in. We're interested in it for one reason: the manual transmission and 5 seats.

Good, manual bronco is the best bronco.

Anyways, I have a few questions about the buying process. What do I actually need to do? I see order banks open in Feb - do I rush into the dealer to make a deposit at that time?

Call a few dealers, ask if you can put in a bronco order. If they say yes, ask them to clarify because you heard the order banks were closed. If they insist they can put in the order, bail and go somewhere else. If they say, we can copy down the details of your order on a spec sheet, give you a copy, and on the day the order banks open, we'll put your order in first thing, go with them.

My advice, see if they are cool with only charging a deposit on the day the banks open when the order is placed. Might a sticking point, I wouldn't die on this hill but reasonable compromise. Then keep an eye on the forums and hound them to make sure your order gets put in as you want it on the day the banks open.

You can always ask if they think the have allocation, or best best is just lookup and try and order from the highest volume dealers in your state, this improves your odds.

Once your order is in ask for a copy of your order form, for the vehicle at MSRP signed by both parties.

What's this I read about reservations (I'm not familiar with that term)?

Reservations were for folks who ordered a bronco well before they started building them, back when they were first announced. There are no new reservations now, just orders.

...Bronco orders are MSRP and running 8-10 months for delivery. I'm considering the possibility that he's entirely full of ****. We didn't discuss further. Finally, what's the chances of getting a hardtop in '23 and what is that going to do to my wait time?

MSRP is the standard, fair price for an ordered bronco today. Will that still be true in 10 months? I'm not sure, but thats the gamble of agreeing to a price now with a dealer. 5K is a pretty standard markup on a walk in and drive off the lot bronco, you can maybe do better on a low trim manual, but manuals are pretty rare for walk in, and so are hard tops. But 8-10 months is a pretty solids bet, reasonable chance you could get pushed to 2024. I ordered in Feb 2022, and my Bronco is out for delivery now, so If the order banks do open in Feb, I think you will have a very reasonable chance of getting it in 2023 with a hardtop.

 

[22OBX]

I had good luck with small/mid size dealer in a rural area. I think because of a smaller base they have to be much more careful how they are ran vs a big market dealer where customers are a dime a dozen. For a very basic build, 2.3 soft top, no add on’s I would guess 6 months. The manual transmission has been a constraint so I would think 8-12 potentially. I would get in writing they will honor msrp on your WBDO order, once the order banks open. You might be able to shop around and find a base or big bend on the lot but doubtful with a manual or at MSRP, but I have seen a few. I have the 2.3 and so far it’s been great and has plenty of power.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

Thanks for the help guys. You think there's much point in talking to dealers now or just wait until the new year?

Also, my distain for the 4 cyl isn't a matter of power - the turbo resolves that issue - it's the feel/sound of it. 4 bangers just have that unbalanced buzz. V6s are smoother. The ultimate in smoothness is a straight six or V8, but those are pipe dreams for now. I keep thinking Ford should consolidate the current 2.7/3.0/3.3/3.5 sixes to an inline architecture since all the products that offer a six are rwd drive-based now, but Ford seems content to pour all their R&D funds into the EV pipedream lately.

 

[Eroc88]

My bronco took 7 months from ordering to delivery. You want to find a large volume dealer in your area. Get a signed purchase/buyers agreement indicating they will not add or charge over msrp upon delivery. Some dealers may or may not require a deposit, depends on the dealer. That's the process I took. Good luck!

 

[Lil Red Broncette]

Good, manual bronco is the best bronco.



Call a few dealers, ask if you can put in a bronco order. If they say yes, ask them to clarify because you heard the order banks were closed. If they insist they can put in the order, bail and go somewhere else. If they say, we can copy down the details of your order on a spec sheet, give you a copy, and on the day the order banks open, we'll put your order in first thing, go with them.

My advice, see if they are cool with only charging a deposit on the day the banks open when the order is placed. Might a sticking point, I wouldn't die on this hill but reasonable compromise. Then keep an eye on the forums and hound them to make sure your order gets put in as you want it on the day the banks open.

You can always ask if they think the have allocation, or best best is just lookup and try and order from the highest volume dealers in your state, this improves your odds.

Once your order is in ask for a copy of your order form, for the vehicle at MSRP signed by both parties.



Reservations were for folks who ordered a bronco well before they started building them, back when they were first announced. There are no new reservations now, just orders.



MSRP is the standard, fair price for an ordered bronco today. Will that still be true in 10 months? I'm not sure, but thats the gamble of agreeing to a price now with a dealer. 5K is a pretty standard markup on a walk in and drive off the lot bronco, you can maybe do better on a low trim manual, but manuals are pretty rare for walk in, and so are hard tops. But 8-10 months is a pretty solids bet, reasonable chance you could get pushed to 2024. I ordered in Feb 2022, and my Bronco is out for delivery now, so If the order banks do open in Feb, I think you will have a very reasonable chance of getting it in 2023 with a hardtop.

All this here,

I would also ask if they will give a written signed agreement to see with no ADM and no mandatory options. At the very least get the amount of these up front. There are too many dealers that say one thing and then burn you at time of delivery on this stiff.

 

[RobBob22]

Thanks for the help guys. You think there's much point in talking to dealers now or just wait until the new year?

Also, my distain for the 4 cyl isn't a matter of power - the turbo resolves that issue - it's the feel/sound of it. 4 bangers just have that unbalanced buzz. V6s are smoother. The ultimate in smoothness is a straight six or V8, but those are pipe dreams for now. I keep thinking Ford should consolidate the current 2.7/3.0/3.3/3.5 sixes to an inline architecture since all the products that offer a six are rwd drive-based now, but Ford seems content to pour all their R&D funds into the EV pipedream lately.

I think you can talk to dealers now if your really interested. Never an issue to have them prepped with what you want to order.

 

[Headsong]

Hit that little search bar in the top right and put in Northern illinois. Usually it's the second one. Not the club but just straight Northern illinois. And that's where a lot of us get updates is to rallies and fun things. And you can yak with local guys

 

[osoblanco]

What's this I read about reservations (I'm not familiar with that term)?

Don't worry about it, Ford obviously doesn't know what that word means.

 

[PSUTE]

OP, the auxiliary switches are a bargain at $200. You may want to add them to your build, those who didn't tend to regret it...

 

[AZ_Liberty]

Thanks for the help guys. You think there's much point in talking to dealers now or just wait until the new year?

The "order banks open in Feb" is an unsubstantiated rumor. All we actually know is that Ford will make an announcement, in the future. Said announcement will be after 21 Nov.

I would build a Big Bend on the website, add Aux switches and rear locker. Save the order as a PDF so you can e-mail it to the dealer of your choice.

My guess for a BB hard top 4-door is 8-10 months. Soft top would cut it to 3-4 months.

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