Sometimes the best 'ability' is availability

[Speed331]

Oh no! Yet another 'shill' for Jeep writing a sensible article....

Ford Bronco availability making you sick? There's a cure, and it's called Wrangler

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[Gee-pah]

...and if both Bronco and Wrangler were equally available for the consumer to purchase right now, there's also the reality that the availability of aftermarket gear between the two has no comparison. The Wrangler has one of the largest markets of such items of any production vehicle, while the Bronco (right now at least) has one of the smallest markets of such accessories.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

Yet still, the JK has far more aftermarket parts available than the JL, even after 4 model years.

 

[Speed331]

...and seeing as the Wrangler just had It's best sales quarter ever, it seems the Bronco has not pulled in as many potential Jeep buyers as had been foretold...

 

[aldo98229]

Yes, I am sick of Bronco, and I haven’t even seen one yet.

But I am also sick of Jeep taking us to the cleaners.

Wrangler stood for simplicity, ruggedness and affordability. You could own a Wrangler on a student income, fix it with a screwdriver and look like the coolest kid in school.

Wrangler’s looks may not have changed very much, but now you need a mortgage, a retirement account, and a trusted mechanic to own one. At least you still look like the coolest dentist in the building.

It seems unbelievable that after 15 years of development and 2 years of nonstop marketing, Ford proved so inept at launching Bronco. By the time Bronco hits the average driveway, JL’s mid-cycle redesign will be out. Then again, Ford’s problem appear to run much deeper.

If nothing else, I hope Bronco keeps Jeep’s greed in check.

 

[aldo98229]

PS - the article exonerates Ford of negligence and incompetence. I wouldn’t be so sure. Sure, it is a tough market. But no other manufacturer has marketed a product so hard and delayed it so many times at the same time.

 

[JJSix]

Yes, I am sick of Bronco, and I haven’t even seen one yet.

But I am also sick of Jeep taking us to the cleaners.

Wrangler stood for simplicity, ruggedness and affordability. You could own a Wrangler on a student income, fix it with a screwdriver and look like the coolest kid in school.

Wrangler’s looks may not have changed very much, but now you need a mortgage, a retirement account, and a trusted mechanic to own one. At least you still look like the coolest dentist in the building.

It seems unbelievable that after 15 years of development and 2 years of nonstop marketing, Ford proved so inept at launching Bronco. By the time Bronco hits the average driveway, JL’s mid-cycle redesign will be out. Then again, Ford’s problem appear to run much deeper.

If nothing else, I hope Bronco keeps Jeep’s runaway greed in check.

I wish you could still build any vehicle like that but more and more, government regulations are just as much to blame. With the "brand average MPG" issue, the simple 4.0L couldn't be made today, especially with so many emissions standards. That, plus the safety features, really drove the mandatory stuff in the Jeeps way up and away from the simpler is better motto.

Also, even with all the changes, more JLs are sold than they ever sold the simpler models. 83 to 92, Jeeps only sold 50k once and it wasn't until recently that we would typically see over 100k a year sold.

 

[aldo98229]

I wish you could still build any vehicle like that but more and more, government regulations are just as much to blame. With the "brand average MPG" issue, the simple 4.0L couldn't be made today, especially with so many emissions standards. That, plus the safety features, really drove the mandatory stuff in the Jeeps way up and away from the simpler is better motto.

Also, even with all the changes, more JLs are sold than they ever sold the simpler models. 83 to 92, Jeeps only sold 50k once and it wasn't until recently that we would typically see over 100k a year sold.

The addition of 4 doors accounts for most of the growth in sales. This is true for any vehicle that’s offered in 2 and 4 door configuration. Just look at pickups.

It is also true that vehicles have become more complex due to regulations, and also to consumer demands for creature comforts. But Jeep has turned Wrangler from the affordable entry into the Jeep lineup, into one of its high-end destinations.

The new entry into the Jeep lineup is now a Fiat with a 7-slot grille... ?

 

[JJSix]

You're not wrong, it does seem like they're more expensive than they used to be, which is sad.

 

[johnnyj]

It's all relative I think if we're comparing *as* similar items as we can. If we set aside COVID BS shortage pricing that will drop eventually, the hikes seem to be market. A first gen rubicon was about 24k new in 2003. The Unlimited Rubis I believe were closer to 26/27k plus tax in 2004. I bought my 2020 JLUR for 42k + tax, a difference of about 16k because sales tax has nothin to do with Jeep. A mid range Honda civic in 2003 was about 16k, and now the same car is about 27k. So, the jeep has about a 5k mark up over the civic in real world terms. My point is simply everything has gone up and it's not necessarily that Jeep specifically has become super expensive. Now, are there stupid expensive <1% of buyer models out there like the 392? Sure...but those aren't fair comparisons.

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