New Guy… big question!

[Calm horse]

Decision made...!!!!

I was able to meet a member who wanted to trade Bronco rides for GT350 rides.
He has the 7-speed... he is a true car guy (Thanks Tom) who has a stable of manuals, including one that makes my 526 hp Shelby seen gutless!

I was very impressed with the manual when the rpms were kept in the proper range. His Bronco was optioned perfectly.
What a FUN vehicle to drive...!!!!

I then drove to a local Ford dealer and drove a 2-door Bronco with the 10 speed.
I can say there was more of a seat-o-the-pants meter difference that I was expecting!

The wife said get what you want, but I know she would enjoy driving the Bronco.
She is VERY good with a stick, but has no interest anymore. (Reason#1)

When I did the test drive in the 10 speed, the grunt and the noise from the exhaust was better than I thought. (Reasons#2&3)

I still have the Shelby for manual driving.

The local dealer is having a Hot Pepper Red Badlands with the Sasquatch package and the 334A group and some extra goodies being shipped in a trade.
I should take ownership next week!

Thanks for all the collective feedback my friends!!!!!!!!!!

Order the tune for that when you get it....it will help with the shift points and give slight power boost! Also slight mpg boost as well. Then bring it up to woodstock and we can race.

Sponsored

 

[Lowcountry Bronco]

Decision made...!!!!

I was able to meet a member who wanted to trade Bronco rides for GT350 rides.
He has the 7-speed... he is a true car guy (Thanks Tom) who has a stable of manuals, including one that makes my 526 hp Shelby seen gutless!

I was very impressed with the manual when the rpms were kept in the proper range. His Bronco was optioned perfectly.
What a FUN vehicle to drive...!!!!

I then drove to a local Ford dealer and drove a 2-door Bronco with the 10 speed.
I can say there was more of a seat-o-the-pants meter difference that I was expecting!

The wife said get what you want, but I know she would enjoy driving the Bronco.
She is VERY good with a stick, but has no interest anymore. (Reason#1)

When I did the test drive in the 10 speed, the grunt and the noise from the exhaust was better than I thought. (Reasons#2&3)

I still have the Shelby for manual driving.

The local dealer is having a Hot Pepper Red Badlands with the Sasquatch package and the 334A group and some extra goodies being shipped in a trade.
I should take ownership next week!

Thanks for all the collective feedback my friends!!!!!!!!!!

So you ordered the 2.3 or the 2.7 with the auto? If I had to have an automatic then the larger engine makes sense.

 

[dpAtlanta]

So you ordered the 2.3 or the 2.7 with the auto? If I had to have an automatic then the larger engine makes sense.

I’m getting the 2.7 with the auto.
If I didn’t have the Shelby, I would definitely have got the manual Bronco.
The reason I didn’t entertain getting a GT500 is because they don’t offer a manual. The GT350’s are manual ONLY!

 

[bloominguez]

Decision made...!!!!

I was able to meet a member who wanted to trade Bronco rides for GT350 rides.
He has the 7-speed... he is a true car guy (Thanks Tom) who has a stable of manuals, including one that makes my 526 hp Shelby seen gutless!

I was very impressed with the manual when the rpms were kept in the proper range. His Bronco was optioned perfectly.
What a FUN vehicle to drive...!!!!

I then drove to a local Ford dealer and drove a 2-door Bronco with the 10 speed.
I can say there was more of a seat-o-the-pants meter difference that I was expecting!

The wife said get what you want, but I know she would enjoy driving the Bronco.
She is VERY good with a stick, but has no interest anymore. (Reason#1)

When I did the test drive in the 10 speed, the grunt and the noise from the exhaust was better than I thought. (Reasons#2&3)

I still have the Shelby for manual driving.

The local dealer is having a Hot Pepper Red Badlands with the Sasquatch package and the 334A group and some extra goodies being shipped in a trade.
I should take ownership next week!

Thanks for all the collective feedback my friends!!!!!!!!!!

I apologize to every manual transmission enthusiast on the list. This is my fault. My Bronco wasn't fast enough. To be fair, it was being compared, back to back, with a Mustang GT350!!

In all seriousness, it was fun showing my Bronco, trying to go through all kinds of features, everything significant that I could remember. Show the crawler gear in 4L (in a straight line), show the different modes (Eco/Normal/Sport) while driving, etc.

And of course the GT350 was fun, and sounded better than any car I've driven. Thanks Dave!

Are you going to offroad it? Manual on the freeway and manual on the trail are different beasts. Mine is a DD so I would never get a manual. Flipping gears and working the clutch in rush hour traffic is for masochists

I would argue that the problem is more fundamental. It's not the "working the clutch in rush hour traffic" that's the problem, it's having a job that requires being in rush hour traffic in the first place that's masochistic! (I don't have that problem anymore, and I realize that I'm very lucky.)

 

[Blackcat]

I've never driven the auto with the 2.7, but I absolutely love my M/T base with the 2.3. It's plenty quick for me, especially in Sport Mode, and is way more responsive than my wife's M/T 3.7 in her Jeep Wrangler. M/T was a requirement for me for this truck and I've had absolutely no regrets with it. It's so much fun.

 

[Anvilair1973]

I have owned both the 2.3 7mt & the now drive a 2.7 Auto. I LOVE both but for different reasons.

The 2.7 is smoother, more power and the auto is so buttery when commuting or as I did this last week, putting 1000 miles on her carting family all over the state for vacation, exploring, kayaking, towing jet skis, etc. It is just damn convenient. And as others have noted hear, the exhaust note is quite pleasing.

The 2.3 was just plain fun with the MT! I love rowing gears as well and I loved the manual off road as well as on solo trips avoiding to much slab.

It is is up to you, but if I had to pick one and only one, I would go with the 2.7 and auto. (Full disclosure, I will be in the used market soon to grab another 2.3 manual as a second ride, but the auto wins the day for now)

Hope that is is at least marginally helpful.

 

[GroovyGeek]

I would argue that the problem is more fundamental. It's not the "working the clutch in rush hour traffic" that's the problem, it's having a job that requires being in rush hour traffic in the first place that's masochistic! (I don't have that problem anymore, and I realize that I'm very lucky.)

Here we disagree. If COVID taught me anything it is that I am not cut out for the monotony of WFH. I find being in the same room, at the same desk every day, staring at the same monitor, and interacting all.ost exclusively via electronic means soul crushing. And I am an introvert.

 

[dejones64]

7mt was my priority. No regrets. Sport mode makes it snappier.

 

[dpAtlanta]

I put down the deposit for the 2024 Badlands Sasquatch today.
The vehicle is in Mississippi, and they said they can have it here in 1-2 days
I asked how it was going to be transported, and they indicated it would be driven.... OH HELL NO...!!!!!!!
I don't want 400 miles on the odometer on my "new" Bronco when I take delivery.
They are going to transport it via truck... a little extra cost, but HELL NO on driving it 400+ miles!

 

[dpAtlanta]

The dealership called and the Bronco should arrive this Thursday.

Boy how times have changed...!!!!
I took delivery of the GT350 in August of 2019.
I would never have thought that five years later, I would be paying $3110.00 more for a Bronco, than what the Shelby stickered for.
I know, Covid & inflation.
I am really excited to get this beauty home to its new stable.

A "Mustang" and a "Bronco" in the same stable.... what do I shop for next...???????????
A Dodge "Colt"?
A Ford "Pinto"?
A Hyundai "Equus"?
A Subaru "Brumby"?
A Hyundai "Pony"?
A "Pinzgauer"?






ADDITIONAL PONY VEHICLE ADDITION DISCLAIMER
Yeah........... uh no...!!!

 

[dpAtlanta]

It's official... I have the Bronco at its new home...!!!!!

 

[userdude]

love how the 4 banger folks claim they have plenty of power and always add they have or are planning a tune…my v6 10spd (with a tune) has adequate power but nowhere near the mustang coyote 6spd I traded for it…but you be you

Yeah, well, I can't say the 30hp made a huge difference getting the tune, but the shift points did. So there are reasons to get the tune that don't involve juicing the engine to the max. But we always gotta hear from the v6/8 brigade about how horrible the 2.3 is, when it is just a choice informed by a lot, including driving style. Not everyone wants a hot rod and 2.3's aren't blowing up left and right. I feel comfortable telling people to get the 2.7 if I know they'll enjoy it, like my neighbor.

The 2.3 is good, the 2.7 is better. There you go. It you want to be dyspeptic about other people's choices and recommendations, you be you but we can also take it for what it's worth.

I chose not to spend the very real money on the 2.7 upgrade and got the Sas because I just want to go off road. For that and around town, my driving style, no complaints and I'd say most would be happy. I get lashed by some coming and going, but feel 100% fine with my choice at 2021 prices.

 

[dpAtlanta]

I love the 5.2 liter, and could care less about the 2.3 v. 2.7 debate… they are both GREAT engines for this platform. I’m glad Ford gave us the chance to choose.

I LOVE MY NEW BRONCO…!!!!

Sponsored