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Hello party people! New owner as of yesterday. Bought a 25 Heritage in Robin Blue.
Two days ago Broncos were not even on my radar! So what happened?
Had a 2012 Wrangler Rubicon 2 door 6 MT since new. Loved it. At 107k miles the left cyinder head failed for the second time, that and all the other in between issues was the final nail. It actually was very sad as all the memories of the trips taken with the pups etc, I really wanted to keep it. But the shop could not guarantee that it did not need a new engine (parts + work = $10-$12K) so I threw in the towel. It was still running 'fine' but vibey, CEL was on. Carmax did not care - I disclosed the issues - and cut me a check.
Makes me wonder what they are going to do with it, but that's another story!
So I wanted to try something different and thought the new 4Runner was interesting. I dug the opening window on the hatch. I test drove one and it was 'ok'. Nice, but the interior was frankly super crappy. I convinced myself that it did not matter. The prices have gone nutty on the top models - $70k+ - but I was going to get a TRD Off Road which frankly had all the same 4wd features as the most expensive ones, bar the sway bar disconnect. Didn't think it worth paying another $15K to get that!
And I managed to tune out the lack of real features expected for a off road vehicle at that price point ($58k). Just a plastic skid plate. Street tires. Lame wheels. No front frame mounted bump stops anymore!
I could fix that stuff - just would be another $4K give or take. Again, convinced myself that was 'fine'.
My Jeep was an awesome Cosmo Blue color - eye catching and photographed really well out in the desert, plains, mountains, beaches! I'm a photographer so I appreciated it being a prop. The 4Runner was available to me in white, grey or black. But that was something I'd just deal with.
Money was agreed upon, the salesman's assistant called my Friday morning to confirm the time I was showing up Saturday. 11am - 'perfect thank you Sir!'
Go to the bank, get a cashier's check - still with the feeling of not being as excited as I should be - my brother was nice enough to take time away from his family to drive me an hour to the dealer.
Get there, my salesman looks at me and says 'oh sorry, it's not going to be here until tonight'.. I mention his assistant called me to confirm etc but it was like talking to an empty box. Their mistake did not register with him, he wanted me to complete the paperwork and then come back again! No effort to even think about how to make it right - like 'we will deliver it to you'. Nothing.
So I said later, and we left. Wasted my brother's time, but he was cool about it. But now I'm pi$$ed because I was not going back and was thinking of options. Another dealer had been texting me, I had given them the exact details from the deal I was going to do and they acted like that was an insane impossibility for them to match, but drive another hour to see them and they can work something out... Sure thing buddy.. Hard pass.
Later that evening I thought, you know what looks really b1tchin? That Bronco HE. A local shop had a couple and I had never driven a new gen Bronco so I thought I might as well take a look. Do a little test drive. What's the worst that could happen?
I was blown away! First off, absolutely gorgeous vehicle. Paint obviously so much thicker and better than the 4Runner, plus the color! And all the other colors available! Then the interior! The 4Runner felt plain, cheap, rental car. I know you guys are used to it by now, but the Bronco's is stunning, unique and works. Plus the quality of materials with soft touches, nice contrasts and the seat fabric just is so much better. The seats also are much more comfortable, and the way the info screen/nav thing is properly incorporated vs looking like a glued on ipad shows care of design.
Driving down the street - again I went from 'eh, this is ok" to 'oh man this is so sweeeeet!'. It was an occasion. Freakin' love it! And the kicker? 2.7 turbo 6 vs 2.4 turbo 4. 4A (as well as the other modes) vs only part time 4wd. Front and rear locking diff vs only rear that can only be locked in 4low!. Giant clearances with 35s on sweet wheels stock vs having to put in $thousands to get there.
The advantage the 4Runner has is way more cargo space behind the second row (as not a convertible). And, er, the power rear window.
If you look at the style, paint, interior, spec you'd think the Bronco would be way more expensive. It actually cost less than the penalty box 4Runner I was going to get! So thank you to that salesman for messing up that deal. You turned lemons into a prime rib three course meal followed with lemon sorbet for desert!
I don't mean to knock the Toyota - I actually had the cashier check in hand. It was and is just such an eye opener to what else is available for the same money!
I'll post pics once I get some decent ones out in wild. And in the mean time in order to get banned, anyone want to buy crypto? j/k don't ban me!
Two days ago Broncos were not even on my radar! So what happened?
Had a 2012 Wrangler Rubicon 2 door 6 MT since new. Loved it. At 107k miles the left cyinder head failed for the second time, that and all the other in between issues was the final nail. It actually was very sad as all the memories of the trips taken with the pups etc, I really wanted to keep it. But the shop could not guarantee that it did not need a new engine (parts + work = $10-$12K) so I threw in the towel. It was still running 'fine' but vibey, CEL was on. Carmax did not care - I disclosed the issues - and cut me a check.
Makes me wonder what they are going to do with it, but that's another story!
So I wanted to try something different and thought the new 4Runner was interesting. I dug the opening window on the hatch. I test drove one and it was 'ok'. Nice, but the interior was frankly super crappy. I convinced myself that it did not matter. The prices have gone nutty on the top models - $70k+ - but I was going to get a TRD Off Road which frankly had all the same 4wd features as the most expensive ones, bar the sway bar disconnect. Didn't think it worth paying another $15K to get that!
And I managed to tune out the lack of real features expected for a off road vehicle at that price point ($58k). Just a plastic skid plate. Street tires. Lame wheels. No front frame mounted bump stops anymore!
I could fix that stuff - just would be another $4K give or take. Again, convinced myself that was 'fine'.
My Jeep was an awesome Cosmo Blue color - eye catching and photographed really well out in the desert, plains, mountains, beaches! I'm a photographer so I appreciated it being a prop. The 4Runner was available to me in white, grey or black. But that was something I'd just deal with.
Money was agreed upon, the salesman's assistant called my Friday morning to confirm the time I was showing up Saturday. 11am - 'perfect thank you Sir!'
Go to the bank, get a cashier's check - still with the feeling of not being as excited as I should be - my brother was nice enough to take time away from his family to drive me an hour to the dealer.
Get there, my salesman looks at me and says 'oh sorry, it's not going to be here until tonight'.. I mention his assistant called me to confirm etc but it was like talking to an empty box. Their mistake did not register with him, he wanted me to complete the paperwork and then come back again! No effort to even think about how to make it right - like 'we will deliver it to you'. Nothing.
So I said later, and we left. Wasted my brother's time, but he was cool about it. But now I'm pi$$ed because I was not going back and was thinking of options. Another dealer had been texting me, I had given them the exact details from the deal I was going to do and they acted like that was an insane impossibility for them to match, but drive another hour to see them and they can work something out... Sure thing buddy.. Hard pass.
Later that evening I thought, you know what looks really b1tchin? That Bronco HE. A local shop had a couple and I had never driven a new gen Bronco so I thought I might as well take a look. Do a little test drive. What's the worst that could happen?
I was blown away! First off, absolutely gorgeous vehicle. Paint obviously so much thicker and better than the 4Runner, plus the color! And all the other colors available! Then the interior! The 4Runner felt plain, cheap, rental car. I know you guys are used to it by now, but the Bronco's is stunning, unique and works. Plus the quality of materials with soft touches, nice contrasts and the seat fabric just is so much better. The seats also are much more comfortable, and the way the info screen/nav thing is properly incorporated vs looking like a glued on ipad shows care of design.
Driving down the street - again I went from 'eh, this is ok" to 'oh man this is so sweeeeet!'. It was an occasion. Freakin' love it! And the kicker? 2.7 turbo 6 vs 2.4 turbo 4. 4A (as well as the other modes) vs only part time 4wd. Front and rear locking diff vs only rear that can only be locked in 4low!. Giant clearances with 35s on sweet wheels stock vs having to put in $thousands to get there.
The advantage the 4Runner has is way more cargo space behind the second row (as not a convertible). And, er, the power rear window.
If you look at the style, paint, interior, spec you'd think the Bronco would be way more expensive. It actually cost less than the penalty box 4Runner I was going to get! So thank you to that salesman for messing up that deal. You turned lemons into a prime rib three course meal followed with lemon sorbet for desert!
I don't mean to knock the Toyota - I actually had the cashier check in hand. It was and is just such an eye opener to what else is available for the same money!
I'll post pics once I get some decent ones out in wild. And in the mean time in order to get banned, anyone want to buy crypto? j/k don't ban me!
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