Test drove a Bronco Wildtrack.

[aldo98229]

This is the key point that Jeepers need to keep in mind. Jeep had been stingy af with major upgrades to the Wrangler until it smelled Bronco in the water.

Agreed. But most of all I want Jeep to feel Bronco’s pressure and start delivering everyday value for money once again.

Unfortunately, every time Bronco quality and production take a step back, the pressure on Jeep to deliver better value goes away.

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[Headbarcode]

Well said!! That describes the Bronco nicely. I wouldn’t mind getting one but have sticker shock: a fully loaded, new four door Bronco can easily be $70k!!!?!

My wife was originally interested in a 2 door Badlands with a lot of bells and whistles. She reserved a spot on the evening of last year's reveal, and several months ago she was contacted by the dealer about submitting a build sheet, but they were wanting a $5k deposit made and she backed out because she still wanted to drive one before committing. I drove my factory order before dropping a dime on it, to make sure I didn't get a problem child, and she was expecting to do the same. One of my local dealers actually has a yellow 4 door Badlands fully loaded with the sasquatch package. I wasn't able to actually see it, because they're surprisingly using it as a loaner when needed and a demo when not. They said that they don't mind it losing value with use, because it's getting more exposure out and about than just sitting on the lot. The salesman I spoke to said they aren't allowing casual test drives outside of loaner miles, but he also liked my jeep enough that he'd make an exception and let her drive it if he can follow in my Jeep. I'm not crazy about the thought of a stranger fondling my mistress, but I'll suck it up if she's wanting some wheel time in their Bronco.

 

[Headbarcode]

The same guys whining about opinions or people being too harsh on the Bronco are the same guys who had nothing to say when the Bronco guys ran the asylum. Nothing but boasting, speculation and opinion came out of their mouths for months. In fact, we were called “fanboys” for saying to wait for the vehicle to be released. Yet you had nothing to say then. Funny how that works.

Exactly why I can't help myself from chiming into these threads. To offset, and even play a small part, in chasing off the chest puffers.

And I fully agree, because I never just scan threads, that most of the false Bronco boasting has been met with more reality based comments from JL members who actuallyown one. On the other hand, the bronco would-be owners tend to be quick to getting overly emotional and irrational at times. It immediately turns into a shit show of back peddling and side stepping, all for the sake of too much pride to concede. As mentioned previously, I find it all entertaining at times.

After reading that linked thread from 6g forum, started by Doetsch Offroad, it seemed that about 20% of the members are thinkers and the rest are just easily triggered reactors. 2 pages in, and I couldn't help but to have a mental picture of someone standing there soaking wet but refusing to admit that it was raining.

 

[Outrun]

Looking forward to seeing how well the front defrost works on the Ford Bronco in removing ice and snow which Jeep engineers for whatever reason flubbed 100%

Maybe on your 97 Wrangler? I don't have these problems with mine.

 

[Outrun]

Ford dealers are going to have a lot of used Jeeps to sell. Hope it doesn't affect resale values for peeps.

Hard core off roaders will justifiably stick with Jeep. Moderate to none-offroaders - that's a toss up with a nod to the Bronco (whenever they are widely accessible, which will be a while).

You do know people buy Wranglers because they like Wranglers and aren't waiting to get out of them for something else regardless of off roading?

Point to the doll where the Wrangler touched you

 

[Tellurian]

This is the key point that Jeepers need to keep in mind. Jeep had been stingy af with major upgrades to the Wrangler until it smelled Bronco in the water.

True, but this is a double edge sword.

Several have stated that competition is great and Jeep will need to step up their game since they won’t be the de facto off-roader; however, there is another element involved here which is that both competitors might not be able to meet the market’s insatiable demand for off-roaders (or more accurately, the lifestyle marketed as the off-roader’s).

If this occurs and mirrors the pickup truck segment, pricing could start increasing at a faster clip as new technology/safety packages are created, and new bundles required for certain tiers. Pickup trucks over the past few decades have seen an unquenchable demand which has led manufactures to increase their packaged prices quite drastically because, well, they can and people will still buy within the segment.

This type of tier and package competition (phrasing?) was brought on by such demand that it took the pickup truck from a bare bones “this is all I need to get the job done” mentality to a “I want to power my house from my truck if the power goes out for a few hours so my smart fridge can send out my grocery list for tomorrow”.

Yes, Jeeps have been increasing in price over the decades as well but now they have a better comparison point of market “worth” and the tech necessary to please the every-day off-roader buyer. Hopefully, at its core Jeep will offer a more bare bones version with upgraded components (LED lights) that gives us the freedom to build up instead of having to price up.

Out of some irony, we seem to need to buy more in order to let go and get “out there” now.

 

[Outrun]

You don't have to drive the new Bronco to know how it will drive on road and off. People are arguing like it's some revolutionary new vehicle. Solid rear axle and short arm ifs, it will drive like an fj Cruiser, 4runner, or wk grand Cherokee both on and off road. The 2 door nearly identical to the fj due to wheelbase. The 4 door will be more 4 runner or Ford ranger like. The drivetrain isn't even new. With the lockers, sway bar disconnect, and 35's it will be very capable, just like a 4runner built the same way. It will never flex like a wrangler. It will feel tippy in off camber situations. It will carry a tire in the air far more often than jeep drivers are used to. They didn't reinvent the physics of off roading. It's a fairly built 4runner, but without Toyota quality.

It's hard for those who have never been around off road things to comprehend.

 

[T Town]

I don't disagree with you and I edited my post before you posted. Plus I'm not bashing Bronco. I am glad it has all this hype. Probably wouldn't have the 392 or Recon package without it. Competition is good.

It's August 2021 and you can't get a 2021 Bronco on the lot or even if you reserved one so the FACT is it will probably be year(s) before you see a Bronco on a Lot...

Many folks have bought one off the lot.
When somebody who reserves one cancels his order the dealer still takes delivery and sells it to whoever wants it. Not always with an ADM. A lot of folks have canceled for a variety of reasons.
Each dealer also has a demonstrator that cannot be sold AND delivered to a walk up for 6 months.

 

[Steph1]

It is very questionable to come on-here with a Bronco post and expect positive comments. You have to remember that most wrangler fans can't even accept a new Jeep wrangler generation when they come out. Heck, I was bashed a few times on different Jeep forums in 2018 for having the guts to share how I thought the JL was a big improvement over the JK. Then you go-on, only to realize that the bashers have moved-on to the JL themselves and are the ones venting the improvements and being bashed-on.....

I've owned wranglers since 1986 with a 1987 YJ and have owned every generation since... Besides for really agreeing what the CJ crowd were saying about the YJ headlights, everything else was just the fear of innovation... Oh no, coil springs... and every generation was a huge improvement over its predecessor.

I wanted a Bronco and had an opportunity to be one of the first order around here. But just could'nt blindly buy something I haven't test driven. You know... Will I like the ride, driving position, cabin etc...I also didn't trust the spring 2021 ''at the latest'' delivery promise. And since I don't want to bother with privately selling the Jeep, I fealth that once they receive my Bronco, they'd offer a ridiculous amount of money for my Jeep that they know I'd want out of.

Speed forward to today, and now that my Jeep is paid for with only 11000 miles thanks to Covid, I can guaranty you that by the time I'm ready to move-on, the Bronco will have a few years under its belt and I'll know a lot more about it.

I do like that Ford seems to be listening and addressing Wrangler owners complaints a lot more than Jeep ever did. So hopefully, Ford's presence in the market will change things as stupid as mirrors mounted on the A pillar and little details like that.

 

[viper88]

Maybe on your 97 Wrangler? I don't have these problems with mine.

I did not have defrost problems with my '97 TJ either. No defrost problems with either my old '15 JK or '19 JLR either. As a matter of fact it is a fairly common TJ problem for the blend door flap to break or for the vacuum actuator to loose vaccum sometimes. The default mode is DEFROST when that happens. All 3 had excellent heat and A/C if everything was working. The TJ heater cores can get plugged after 20+ years. Lol.

 

[Outrun]

I did not have defrost problems with my '97 TJ either. No defrost problems with either my old '15 JK or '19 JLR either. As a matter of fact it is a fairly common TJ problem for the blend door flap to break or for the vacuum actuator to loose vaccum sometimes. The default mode is DEFROST when that happens. All 3 had excellent heat and A/C if everything was working. The TJ heater cores can get plugged after 20+ years. Lol.

It's like he's making up fake excuses to justify buying something instead of just buying something because he likes it.

 

[aldo98229]

Yeah, Bronco is better than Jeep at everything...until it isn’t.

I was totally fed up with my local Jeep dealer, and with FCA at large. I’ve owned Chryslers and Jeeps for 30+ years and never seen customer service this bad.

When I got wind that Ford was bringing Bronco back I got very excited. Months went by, then Ford started pushing back the launch date time after time. By late 2019 it became clear that Bronco wouldn’t be hitting dealer lots for another year. I got tired of waiting and bought a JL Sahara.

I’ve owned many Wranglers before. But this one has beat all my expectations: it’s very comfortable, amazingly capable, and it’s been trouble-free.

Meanwhile, Ford has re-written the book on incompetence. The ongoing production delays, the never-ending excuses, blaming COVID, blaming the suppliers, the non-stop bombardment of picture-perfect videos, the glowing reviews that turned out to be fake, they all got on my nerves.

This Bronco launch makes my dealer, Jeep and FCA look like the tightest ships in the fleet!

I still don’t trust my dealer, but I have to pick my battles.

 

[Thill444]

These products have a different flavor that one person may dislike, and another person will love, but when it comes down to it, it's the same dang thing. I can see many people enjoying the Bronco flavor over Wrangler, and others preferring Wrangler over Bronco. To think that it won't pull sales and customers from Jeep is hubristic.

I own a Jeep CJ and a JLU, so obviously I love Jeeps. I enjoy moderate trails, but I drive to work, and I drive my family around on the weekends. I even have to drive 2 hours to get to an ORV park. I like comfy seats, and something that drives in a straight line.. It is very possible my JLU will be one of those sitting in the used vehicles at a Ford dealership.

I'd note too that the sales atrophy for Jeep will not come from the "hardcore" models that Stellantis is pushing out (Rubicon, 392, Extreme Recon). It will come from the rest, considering the vast majority of drivers have a Jeep to drive on the road. Stellantis knows this, and that is why they are trying to come out with Halo after Halo for their Wrangler brand.

The best part - It's OK! People can prefer the Bronco to the Wranger! People can prefer the Wrangler to the Bronco! This world is beset with the affliction of bifurcated thought, and attacking those with differing opinions. I aspire not to be one of them.

Well back here on Earth, Ford has been taking deposits on the Bronco for what, well over a year now, and Stellanits has been reporting record profits since 2019 even with semiconductor shortages. Just a few days ago they highlighted the Wrangler aNd the 4xe specifically as drivers for that record profit.

Most Jeep dealers have little to no inventory and incentives have become reduced. Again, reality shows the Bronco has had ZERO impact on Jeep sales. Will that continue? Who knows, at some point Ford will have inventory sitting on lots and incentives, but by then Jeep will likely have a counter punch or two.

 

[Notorious]

they were wanting a $5k deposit

WHAT?!?!!! Hard pass - NO.

they aren't allowing casual test drives but he liked my jeep enough that he'd make an exception and let her drive it if he can follow in my Jeep.

Wow. Again, no.

I'm not crazy about the thought of a stranger fondling my mistress,

Exactly.

 

[Headbarcode]

It is very questionable to come on-here with a Bronco post and expect positive comments. You have to remember that most wrangler fans can't even accept a new Jeep wrangler generation when they come out. Heck, I was bashed a few times on different Jeep forums in 2018 for having the guts to share how I thought the JL was a big improvement over the JK. Then you go-on, only to realize that the bashers have moved-on to the JL themselves and are the ones venting the improvements and being bashed-on.....

I've owned wranglers since 1986 with a 1987 YJ and have owned every generation since... Besides for really agreeing what the CJ crowd were saying about the YJ headlights, everything else was just the fear of innovation... Oh no, coil springs... and every generation was a huge improvement over its predecessor.

I wanted a Bronco and had an opportunity to be one of the first order around here. But just could'nt blindly buy something I haven't test driven. You know... Will I like the ride, driving position, cabin etc...I also didn't trust the spring 2021 ''at the latest'' delivery promise. And since I don't want to bother with privately selling the Jeep, I fealth that once they receive my Bronco, they'd offer a ridiculous amount of money for my Jeep that they know I'd want out of.

Speed forward to today, and now that my Jeep is paid for with only 11000 miles thanks to Covid, I can guaranty you that by the time I'm ready to move-on, the Bronco will have a few years under its belt and I'll know a lot more about it.

I do like that Ford seems to be listening and addressing Wrangler owners complaints a lot more than Jeep ever did. So hopefully, Ford's presence in the market will change things as stupid as mirrors mounted on the A pillar and little details like that.

My JL is my 1st Jeep, so I don't have any hands on experience with prior generations, but I'm a research hound on topics of interest and only stick to one at a time.

From what I've gathered, Jeep has pretty consistently made improvements to the Wrangler, both smaller tweaks within each generation and larger leaps when transitioning to the next. Just from JK to JL, they offered better powerplants, an amazing 8-speed, and beefed up axles to name a couple. The Rubicon itself was built to answer the call of Jeep owners. I believe they have, and continue to listen to the wants and desires of the marketplace, so long as those wants don't interfere with the Wranglers #1 priority. Offroad capability.

The only benefit of the mirrors staying on with the doors off, is saving the owner from having to buy a simple bare bones set for on road legality and blind spot checking. The downside of having the factory mirrors on the vehicle is the added concern of not damaging an expensive assembly filled with lights, sensors, etc. Yes, they can be folded inward to help, but not entirely and they easily double the width of the a-pillar blindspot.

Removing the center structural crossbar for the sports cage was another form over function item that Jeep ignored and Ford listened to. And for what, putting priority to the backseat passengers view? Please Jeep, feel free to continue ignoring that one. On top of added rollover insurance, I also enjoy my quiet hardtop panels and convenient speaker mounting.

A better example of what I'd like to see jeep follow suit of Ford on, is Dana 44's on all trims with optional front and back lockers.

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