Purchasing A Bronco With The Intent To Sell in 2 Years

[Dusty Dude]

Try this instead. Rent a Bronco for a week and take it on a long trip. See how your backside feels after a few hours in the seat. How noisy is it inside? How is the ride? Do you like the layout of the dash, buttons, etc. How good is the heater/AC? Does the radio suck? Do the tops come off easily?

Your wife may change her mind (or not) after using the Bronco instead of just looking at it.

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[DUCK01]

The Bronco market is pretty saturated now, so they're readily available on dealer lots. If you're getting one to sell and only plan on keeping it two years or so, get a Badlands (without Sasquatch - it doesn't really add much to a Badlands) with a 2.7. There's a potential for cam phaser issues on the 2.7 because Ford hasn't updated the design on that motor, yet, but it's not an overly expensive repair and it'll be the next owner's problem if you're only keeping it a couple of years. There are a ton of Badlands out there because that's what everyone thinks they need/want. If you're looking at resale, I'm guessing you'd get more versus getting a Big Bend or Outer Banks. My 2022 Base with 2.7, auto, and Sasquatch stickered for $41,990 and I got $33,500 on trade last month with 49K miles on it.

I will say that the fit and finish is pretty bad. I traded mine in for my Jeep in last month because I was tired of the wind noise from the misaligned doors and frameless windows. I tried to get a dealership to get things realigned enough to keep my driver's side window from popping out of the seal in a heavy crosswind, but they didn't do squat. My next step was to just pay out of pocket for a body shop to try and get the doors aligned, but I wound up finding a decent Jeep before I had time to do that. Other than that, I didn't dislike it, but it never thrilled me. They're roomier than a Jeep and their on-road mannerisms are better, so if your wife ever drives your Jeep, she'll notice a difference for the better. If you get one with a good top and check the alignment of all of the body panels before you buy, you'll be ahead of the game.

 

[Bryce]

When we were looking at new vehicles for my wife earlier this year, she really wanted a Bronco. In the end, she decided it was too much the same type of vehicle as my Wrangler and that it didn't make sense. After test driving a few Bronco's and assorted other SUV/CUVs, she decided against it and wanted something more road trip friendly. 1 off roader in the drive way was enough.

Jeep Grand Cherokee is where she wound up.

 

[Tredsdert]

Heres how we made the decision on our last new purchase and will so again on the next.
Wife was looking at a brand new fully loaded 2020 4Runner Limited Nighshade and a new 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee fully loaded.
They both listed for right around the same amount, $59k CDN
I took a different approach and looked at what 5 year old models of the same vehicle's were selling for.
5 yr old Grand Cherokees were selling for $18-$23k
5 yr old 4Runners were selling for $33-$35k
We love our 4Runner.

That's another great idea honestly. I don't think broncos go to the back that far, but by the time we'd be purchasing one, they might be old enough at that point.

What year were the new broncos released? 2022 I thought, right?

 

[Bryce]

That's another great idea honestly. I don't think broncos go to the back that far, but by the time we'd be purchasing one, they might be old enough at that point.

What year were the new broncos released? 2022 I thought, right?

2021 model year was the first year.. not sure when you could actually get one. My neighbor waited 18mo to get a Night 1 reservation 2dr hard top Badlands. The hard top kept delaying his.

 

[Tredsdert]

I have a '21 Badlands, 4dr, Sasquatch package, 2.7L, high package. 52,000 miles on it now.

MSRP was $57K after destination fees
KBB shows resale to private party today at $42K - $49K for very good condition.

Contrast that to my '22 JLUR-XR 3.6L w/25,000 miles on it.
MSRP $63K
KBB today: $37K -$42K

There's a clear wonder at least for now in resale value. We'll see if it stays that way.

You know it probably wouldn't be a bad idea for me to be looking in the used market for broncos as well.

Part of the reason why we would sell it after 2 years is because it would still have a fair amount of its factory warranty left on it, which I know for sure is a selling point. Especially if you're going private sale.

Depending what my wife is doing for work going into next year, we might use her next vehicle for weekend travel and trips only, and if that's true, we probably wouldn't be past 36,000 mi in 2 years. A large portion of the reason right now why we are doing so much mileage, is because my wife drives 60 miles to and from work 3 days a week on top of our heavy weekend driving. I know it doesn't seem like a lot, but that s*** adds up quick!

 

[Mocopo]

I'm guessing you didn't pay MSRP for your JLUR (if you did, that was just silly), but I bet you paid MSRP or more for your Bronco. I checked out the Bronco, but ultimately it wasn't for me. I really wanted to like it, but it was just meh. And then when comparing new actual purchase price (I could care less what MSRP is), there was a big gap between a comparable Bronco to Jeep i.e. the Bronco was about $10k more. There are just a lot more cash incentives and favorable dealer pricing with the Jeep, which is likely reflected in the quicker depreciation.

I paid exactly MSRP for both. Sorry I didn't run around trying to find the best deal on a jeep, I can afford it. Also, my Ford dealership only charged us MSRP for the Bronco.

Also, do the math... drop $10K off my jeep MSRP and that bronco still wins the resale value war. I'm not claiming one is better than the other, not giving reasons why the prices are what they are... just giving a real world example of the Bronco resale not just being better than jeep, but actually being objectively good as well.

 

[siggy]

I paid exactly MSRP for both. Sorry I didn't run around trying to find the best deal on a jeep, I can afford it. Also, my Ford dealership only charged us MSRP for the Bronco.

Also, do the math... drop $10K off my jeep MSRP and that bronco still wins the resale value war. I'm not claiming one is better than the other, not giving reasons why the prices are what they are... just giving a real world example of the Bronco resale not just being better than jeep, but actually being objectively good as well.

I didn't run around either. Sent what I wanted to one of the Jeep dealers on the site and done in 5 minutes. Even did it while sitting on the pot. I can afford MSRP too, but bragging about knowingly paying 10k more for something that took 5 minutes of my time is silly to me. You're comparing KBB values, which are not reliable whatsoever. I have no idea what the used market is for a Bronco, but a quick search seems to suggest the market is getting plump and they're not moving that quickly.

 

[Astro Jeep]

Within the bounds of responsible financial management, I agree. Imagine being someone who only ever owned four Camrys, each of which you kept for 15-20 years? And all in the name of pinching pennies. Like wow, bro. You died having never had any fun in a car.

At least people that drive Camrys don't have civil disagreements about 4 vs 5 tire rotations! lol

 

[Bryce]

At least people that drive Camrys don't have civil disagreements about 4 vs 5 tire rotations! lol

I'm impressed that they still come with a spare. A donut spare, but still and actual tire/wheel.

 

[grandsrus]

I wouldn't mind @grandsrus being my wife.

I hear the guys pretty wealthy. Nothing better than a sugar daddy!

True sir, true. I work very hard for my Jeeps.

 

[autotragic]

All you guys arguing Bronco vs Jeep whatever,

Interesting. Honestly that does make sense.

Given that they are competing with the Wrangler, or at least trying to. Do you think it would be better to buy a tire and luxury trim, or shoot for more of a off-road luxury trim?

The Wrangler equal would be getting a Sahara versus getting a Rubicon? Which one do you think would have better resale value, the luxury package or the luxury off-road package?

Badlands looks middle of the range and maybe a good starting point. Then you can either go up or down depending on wants/needs.

 

[NWJeepr]

I'm writing from the perspective of believing this is a serious question, and I also haven't read anyone else's responses.

First thing, which I'm sure you've considered, is how this might impact your goal to purchase a house in 2026. Unless you are purchasing with cash, interest rates probably won't be a whole lot lower than the 5-6% on a 30-year than they are now. That adds up to a lot of interest, so every buck you can avoid financing on a house will cost you less in the long run. And if you have considered how this will impact your goal, be sure to double-check your assumptions on just how much income/cash you will want and need once you're saddled with a house payment (and related repairs, improvements, maintenance, furnishings) ...and the seemingly inevitable when a man and woman buy a house, usually little Tredsderts come along in the nearer future!

Ok, dad shoes off for a moment.

My lowest carrying costs on vehicles have always been undesirable configurations on aging inventory with strong dealer/cash incentives, and approaching dealers as monthly, quarterly, or year-end sales goals are incentivizing the dealer to come to the table. That typically eliminates most of the worst 1st and 2nd year depreciation. While I don't advise turning over vehicles frequently from a good financial perspective, if you're a car guy and get the itch often, this is a cheaper way of doing it.

Where you *will* take it in the shorts is buying popular, in-demand, iconic vehicle models. I pity first-year Bronco buyers, and anyone who bought a Wrangler when sales were strong and incentives were null.

Dad shoes back on...

Almost nothing will be more financially advantageous than keeping a vehicle long term, paying it off, and driving it until the depreciation curve has been flat for a good while!

After that explanation, a Bronco is not a vehicle I'd plan to sell after 2 years, and the above is why. You're likely to take it in the shorts, no matter what you do, and no matter what options/trim you select.

 

[2nd 392]

With rare exceptions a 2 year old vehicle will have high depreciation so get the one you want. You just might decide to keep it…… for me that would be a Heritage 2dr, a Heritage anyway, they just look like a real Bronco, and a 2.7 with factory tune ($825 IIRC). Also insurance rates could be a factor on keeping it. My 4R’s rates were fairly high and insurance never gets paid off.

oh yeah- I think the 4R is going the same route as the GC for 25, 4 banger or hybrid only….
on that note the GC-L has just dropped the V8 so those wanting one better hurry and find one.

 

[Ecorubi]

Buy a used Bronco. Already quite a few around these parts (KC Metro)

The new Land Cruisers look awesome as well.

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