4runner vs the new Ford bronco

Ah makes sense. I didn’t know that was a thing. Thanks for clearing that up!

 

I honestly hope that the Bronco turns out to be reliable and a great vehicle. I love the looks of it and the capability. More competition in the off-road capable market is a good thing. That said, my 4Runner with a 2.5" lift and 33s is as capable of a vehicle that I need. I doubt that few people who buy the Bronco will actually ever utilize it's capability and end up in the Jeep Rubicon mall-crawler crowd, but whatever floats their boat. I see a ton of Raptors around here where we have no desert and no terrain that the Raptor was designed for. The Bronco would be a bit more applicable, however.

 

itll be dope rolling through Santa Monica with no doors or roof on the way to the mall bro!

 

Make sure you get gold grillz homey LOL!!!

 

I like the Bronco. I built one out and it came win at $57K. Thats too rich for my blood nowadays. Maybe things will be different in 3 years once they work the kinks out and there will be many. I think it could be a great cross between a Jeep and 4R. At this point I'm extremely happy with my TRD Pro. Its still worth almost what I paid for it so in 3 years maybe I will look at the Bronco. At least I know the 4R will be going strong in a decade. Jury is out on the Bronco, but based on what I know about the Fords my parents have bought it won't be.

 

The Bronco looks like a nightmare to work on. And this tangle does not scream "long term reliability" to me.

 

I built one similar to my 4runner and it came out pretty close to the same price. You have to keep in mind that the $57K build you put together is way more capable than a 4Runner, from a specifications standpoint.

 

The coolest Bronco I've seen so far (and by far) is the light blue one with the white grill and top in the photo gallery here:

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/b...07/13/new-2021-ford-bronco-reveal/5397224002/

I don't think you can get one like this though. Prototype I guess? This is what they should be selling.

 

There might be many more on the road in 3 years, but I've yet to see any auto mfg's pricing go lower, just higher, year after year. Unless you're referring to used prices.

 

Same motor as the F150. Been around a while.
My days of "wrenching" are over anyway. Oil changes will be fine.
What type of "work" have you performed on your 4Runner's motor that you wouldn't do on the 2.7?
Most stuff these days go to a shop because everything is so complicated w/all the electronics, for me at least. Plus...that's what warranties are for.

 

The early Bronco was the first 4x4 to catch my eye back in my '20's. By that time, however, they were no longer offered in the smaller size (after 1976). There were plenty of Jeeps still being sold, and I ended up eventually driving a Jeep pretty much non-stop for over 30 years. Finally, though, the 'top-down, sun-on-your-head/wind-in-your-face' experience ran its course as far as I'm concerned. I have no desire any more for a removable top vehicle. I'm sure the younger generations will be all over the new Bronco. At any cost.

 

I'm with you.
My Bronco top and doors will never come off. It's a god damn mess after 2-3 days on the trail.

 

I never really understood wanting to open your vehicle to the elements while 4 wheeling, like you say, after a couple of days you have crap everywhere.

 

So true, but I like to think that I can dive in there and do simple maintenance if I get fed up with the dealer. There are quite a few things that fall into that category, once mileage gets in the 100k range, with plugs, filters, serpentine belts, hoses, brake fluid changes, not to mention all the sensors that a good code reader can tap into. When some of us old timers find out that a dealer is charging $500 to change the spark plugs, and you need to remove the intake manifold to do it, we get ornery and do it ourselves, lol. Ok. That example is a Jeep 3.6 pentastar and this is a 4 Runner forum, but you can catch my drift here.

 

I hear you.
Truth be told apart from oil changes...I'd bring the 4Runner to the dealership anyhow. Same as the 2.7. That's just me being honest. For guys that are really going to take care of the long term maintenance themselves, then yes, I can see zero room in the engine bay being an issue.
I have more money than motivation these days to tackle such things.

 

Tight engine bays also increase to cost of routine maintenance at the dealer, due to more hours being required to do basic stuff. I bet dealers love these new setups.

 

My biggest concern is heat soak.
Perhaps unfounded.

 

Maybe if they get the engine bay packed tightly enough, there won't be any more room for those wire insulation chewing rat bastards...

 

Absolutely.

 

For sure, Red_5, when my 4 runner was being sprayed with fluid film last Fall by a great independent shop north of Toronto, they had an almost new F350 diesel pick up that was having engine work, and they lifted the cab off the truck to get access. I was amazed. All in a days work for the guys there, but quite a bit beyond the wheel house of the average weekend warrior. And of course, the customer pays, and probably pays less because that’s the most efficient way to do whatever they were doing.

 

July 13 8pm - Bronco "live" reveal online. Video doesn't work right, forums exploding, people bitching about the frozen desert, audio only video on their screen. WHO CARES! BRONCO!! 8:07 pm First edition reservation placed. Live reveal a bust, doesn't matter. Must have Bronco. Only 3000 FEs planned.

July 21 - email from Ford. Soooooooooo, now we're gonna make 7000 FEs. Feel free to cancel if you want. No chance! Can't wait to order that green bronc with a white top!

8/20 - email from Ford. Sorry that the reveal was terrible and the website sucks. Anyway your dealer is confirmed.

10/2- email from Ford. Build and price opening soon!

10/20something - Build and price open! Here we go! Green with white top......Or not. Hmmmmmm I have 5 color options and the only blue/green is weird area 51 something or other. Lets check interiors. Special FE interior! Its uhhhh, navy pier? It's really blue. Man I should have reserved any other trim. No options for anything. Price- $58k.

November (I think) - email from Ford. Sooooooooo, everything's delayed because of the pandemic. Orders can be placed soon, delivery in spring. Oh and by the way, no modular painted tops. Just MIC. Sorry.

December - more email, more delays. Deliveries now late summer. Maybe.

Mid december - Rent Jeep. Loud, wobble all over the road, but so much fun in snow, and mud. Decide I'm too lazy and it's too cold to ever take roof and doors off especially in Buffalo. Meanwhile passing random Toyota dealership and stop on a whim. Test drive a base 4runner. Literally didn't want to get out of it and the research begins. Come to the realization that what I really want is an analog vehicle that can live forever. But a heated seat would be nice. Internal conflict for the next month. Realize I'm in love with the Bronco nostalgia. Dead sure I'm never taking the doors or roof off. Hate that I'm about to drop 58k on a truck that doesn't have most of what I want. Annoyed with entire process. Plus....reliability, first gen vehicle blah blah blah. Can't stop thinking about how much fun the 4runner was. Maybe I'll go drive another one. Maybe I'll steal my buddy's and go run around in the snow and mud. He won't miss it.

January- we're taking orders! FE gets an all black interior! Colors still suck but hey black interior! New build and price ready. $58k now $65k. Modular painted top an $1800 add now. Can't add headliner due to vehicle weight. Email from ford - good news you can place your order. Bad news - if you want a modular top, have sasquatch and some packages you may be pushed to model year 2022. Oh and if your dealer doesn't convert enough orders, their allocation will be less and you may be pushed to 2022. If you want a manual, 2022. Green? 2022. White top? 2022. Change to the 2.7L with sound deadening and modular top? 2022.

Jan 20- Hi! This is Mike! Can't wait to convert your FE order. Keep in mind that some specs may push your delivery to MY2022. When do you want to come in?Uhhhhh hey Mike. So a thing happened. I fell in love with the Newfoundland dog of trucks. Its big, slow, low tech, gets 6 miles to the gallon but its durable, it goes anywhere and its fun as hell. Plus it actually fits said Newfoundland who loves to stick his big assed head out the sliding rear window.

Mike - hahahaha yeah thats funny, so lets get that order in!

No seriously, I bought a 4runner. Sorry man.

Mike - you're probably the only person with a FE reservation taking a pass. You're gonna regret it.

Doubt it Mike but hold my resi and let me know when there's a green bronc with a white top and baseball glove interior that I can drive before I actually buy it. Till then me and the dog are gonna drive cross country in this here 4runner having a blast.

 

Haha. I’ve tried to build and price one a couple times just for fun and gave up both times due to the bizarre option configurations. Some simplification would serve them well.

 

You should submit this story to Car and Driver, seriously, nicely expressed. Words are powerful, eh.

 

Agreed with @Oldtoyotaguy !

It sounds like Ford has really dropped the ball on this introduction, unfortunately. I hope the new Bronco ends up being great, but it seems like they really jumped the gun on trying to sell them.

 

Yes..the launch is a total shit show.

 

anyone remember the last rotary gen rx7. Stupid fast. Runs hot. Engine was covered with hoses that you had to replace all the time. That’s what this looks like.

 

I know of a local shop that lifts the cab on the DuraMax also, the Chevy dealership had to put head gaskets in my boss's truck, they did not lift the cab off, and the bill came to a 'paltry' $8,000+, they also put on some new exhaust parts due to anti-freeze contamination. That's crazy! Engineers should be on the same page when they design a vehicle..... don't you think? Future maintenance seems to take a back seat to "looks" and wow-factor. As far as the little turbo-charged engines..... I'm not a big fan at this point, but may come around eventually, my daughter owns a Navigator with the Eco-Boost and when she starts it, there's always a hint of 'oil smoke', I've seen a couple others do this also, Eco-Boosts love 'maintenance'! Anyway I hope it works out for Ford, nice to see competition!

 

Yes. I do remember the Rotary RX7...fast and hot.
I suppose I'd be more cornered about the 2.7 motor in the Bronco if wasn't already in other Ford vehicles for many years.
Still getting extended warranty.

 

There's a guy on 150 forums has over 300k on his 2.7 with regular maintenance.
I had a 16 f150 and was fairly quick. 5star makes a tuner for it that turned it into a beast. Rolling punches could break the rubber loose. The 2.7 will get you there faster but once you hit 70 would need more rpm/ gas to keep u going. Also they hate cold weather. Took about 20 minutes of highway to blow heat around 10 degrees

 

As for all your points, sure, but not for me, I’m 60 and I just bought what I hope will be my last vehicle, a 4runner.