I saw the press materials for Ford’s new Bronco a few days before they were published, and I instantly knew that I had to have it. My first car was a Jeep CJ-7, and my wife’s first new car was a Jeep Wrangler TJ. We both like the idea of rough and tough little trucks that also happen to be convertible, and we both instantly liked the Bronco.
The 2011 4Runner I had before the Bronco was great, but with a dozen New England winters and 90,000 miles, it was beginning to feel a little old, even if there was nothing wrong with it. The truth is, I wanted something new. At the time, after owning it for six years, I sold the 4Runner for only a little less than what I paid for it.
After spending endless hours reviewing the specs, I chose the mid-level Black Diamond model. This model was designed to be more off-road-y than the other models, short of the Badlands. Outside, it had steel bumpers, rock sliders, and steel wheels. Inside, it has marine-grade vinyl seats and rubber floors. To me, this was perfect for a vehicle that lived in the city and was used by a family with two messy kids and a dog that sheds.
I loved the idea of the Sasquatch Package with its 35-inch tires. But the truth was that I didn’t need it, and I really did not want to spend almost 10% of the cost of my spec’d out Bronco on factory off-road upgrades. What I did want and needed was the “Advanced 4×4 with Automatic On-Demand Engagement” transfer case, however. The Black Diamond was the only model that was available (standard on Badlands) without the pricey Sasquatch pack.
My other options included the Mid-Pack, which gave me heated seats, auto climate controls, keyless entry, a 110V AC socket, ambient lighting, remote start, back-up beep-beep sensors, and some other crap. I also opted for Ford’s signature numerical keypad, which can be used to unlock the car, but I have never used it.
Due to Ford’s manufacturing issues, I could not get the one thing I really needed – a hardtop. It was a relatively cheap option, $800 at the time, about a grand less than what Jeep was charging. But if I wanted one, I’d have to wait another four to eight months. But in the meantime, various quality issues came up with Bronco’s hardtops, some still unresolved. Ford acknowledged the issue and prepped all soft-top Broncos for a hardtop (wiper, defroster, and washer controls). They also said that first-year soft-top owners would be able to get a hardtop with a steep discount once they became available. That turned out to be BS.
Three years and thirty-three thousand miles later, and I’ve had no issues. I only had one CEL; it came on as I was ascending a steep, snow-covered hill in 4WD Low. It went away, but then came back on again. The transfer case felt like it was stuck in 4WD High, with evident binding and difficulties in turning. The dealer “updated the software,” and the problem hasn’t returned. This is the kind of repair that makes me squint.
I ditched the factory 32-inch General A/T tires, which were excellent, for slightly bigger 33-inch BFGoodrich KO2s. Those looked so much better and allowed for more confident curb hopping. I’ve since switched to Falken Wildpeak AT4s, as Falken asked me to review those tires. Despite being the same size, those tires are even meatier, although slightly heavier.
Service and maintenance have been limited to oil changes at the dealership. Ford gave me a lot of dealer credits for the original manufacturing delay, so those were nearly free. I am now looking to replace the transmission, transfer case, and differential oils with high-quality synthetic ones. And just today, I ordered air and cabin filters, which should have already been replaced. I thought about a cold air intake but decided against it in the end.
Just last weekend, I was thinking that, three years later, if I were buying a new car today, I’d probably end up with the same Bronco. It fits all my needs very well, has been great, and when optioned carefully, still presents itself as the most budget-friendly option compared to the Wrangler or the new 4Runner. Here is to many more years, my mighty Bronco!