I have opinions of the Bronco.

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck) 10/14/2020 at 10:00 • Filed to: Opinions are like CB: cold and moist

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Yes, I know. If I talk about cars that aren’t Toyota, it’s either a) about cargo space, or b) probably still a Toyota.

I watched Dougster’s tour of the pre-production model. First impression is that wow this thing is huge — but Ford’s own handy dandy online spec shows that it really isn’t.

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I guess anything on 37s looks big. Anyway, it’s barely wider than an FJ Cruiser but also lighter. The mirrors have quite a footprint, but I do appreciate actually seeing things. T he 2-door is a foot shorter than my longboi, so it would fit in my garage — if the mirrors fold in, but they appear fixed as shown in the video 

Item 2 is I wish it were a tru cky tailgate and not a doorback/swing-gate.

I’m sure it’s because of the spare tire placement , and direct competition with the Wrangler and Defender to an extent — but the Broncos of yesteryear had a folding tailgate, and the had rear sliding glass which I absolutely LOVED. Obviously not possible with the swing gate . Oh well. I also saw that the side windows can be removed, but it would be cool if they popped out for ventilation as well with the roof up.

Item three is there’s no “in a pinch” seating for a fifth person. But when you see the rear seats wedged against those massive wheel arches, it does makes sense...

Final item: the Bronco has more features than I will ever need, let alone want or ever use. I’m not an offroad guy and I barely even do any glamping at all these days. But I do like two door BOF SUVs. If it were me, I’d get a base model manual, with steelies, byx and if there’s an option to have the roof color-matched and side window to pop open, that would be pretty cool to me... Why don’t they sell the Jimny here, darn it!

D oug’s video, if you so desire.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/14/2020 at 10:10

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Ford had a prime chance to knock Jeep off the top spot but decided to match the payload and towing specs instead. Also the Bronco Sport isn’t rated for flat towing, womp womp. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/14/2020 at 10:16

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But would you buy one if you wanted an expensive toy with offroad chops?

Interesting bit about that backseat. Looks pretty cozy but I’d probably fit ok. 

Milky > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/14/2020 at 10:19

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A friend works at Jeep so he’s always swapping leases. The last 6 months he had a super base spec wrangler just to try it out. It was pretty great, nothing more than you need, you can reach over and unlock the other door, rear windows slide out in a few seconds. Plus it was so small and light it did well at an off road park, also meant it was easy to park in the city.

He recently upgraded to a “black and tan” so it has some creature comforts, but base is a good spec for these kind of trucks.

The Ghost of Oppo > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/14/2020 at 10:19

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I agree about the swing out tailgate. It’s probably fine for being out in the wilderness, which is where this is intended to be, but they are terrible for concert and sporting event(remember those?) tailgating, which is where most of these will be used*.

*If the world doesn’t end in any various possibilities 2020 has teased us with.

The Ghost of Oppo > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/14/2020 at 10:21

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In the video, 6'4" Daddy Doug seems happy with it.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 10/14/2020 at 10:23

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I think a Bronco Sport may be a rebodied Escape or something right?

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > The Ghost of Oppo 10/14/2020 at 10:24

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Yeah the accessory for a pullout tray after you swing the door open... to act as a fold down tailgate replacement.... I'm like, you're basically admitting you done goofed!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available 10/14/2020 at 10:25

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I would probably just buy an old expensive Toyota instead because that’s what I do  .

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/14/2020 at 10:27

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I believe so, however a Bronco Sport is the perfect vehicle for the back of a RV and Ford whiffed on that also. 

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > The Ghost of Oppo 10/14/2020 at 10:31

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Leg room seems decent and the width isn’t terrible because it’s a four seater. Seems about on par with a two door Golf in terms of space and those have a very comfortable back seat. The high wheel arch might get annoying for resting your arm though. 

rctothefuture > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/14/2020 at 10:39

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I’m curious to see how well these sell and if it moves Jeep to IFS in the future. All the Wrangler competitors are rocking IFS so it’s only a matter of time, right?

mhr555 > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 10/14/2020 at 10:41

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How much are you really going to gain by going all full size truck towing war with a vehicle like a Bronco or Wrangler?

@Dr. Zoidberg - I don’t think the Jimny does too well in impact testing and I bet it’d be a rollover hazard like the Samurai was here in the States. That said, my buddy imports JDM vehicles and he’s got a Pajero XR-1 that’s screaming for either a UN Peace Keeper livery or Solo Cup “Jazz” stripe on both sides.

https://www.clevelandmoto.com/Pre-owned-Inventory-1995-Mitsubishi-Car-Pajero-Mini-VR-1-Turbo-9410909?ref=list

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/14/2020 at 10:48

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That back seat config was on all the old ones, too. They might have squeezed 3 seats in, but they were between the wheel arches.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/14/2020 at 10:48

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Looks pretty bad ass. On the size part, remember that the last “””real””” Bronco was HUGE. Stock, the old one was taller, longer, and wider.

The seat thing is a made up issue that will come up when cross shopped against a Wrangler. Nobody ever sits in the middle seat. “Well it’s nice to have” is a fine point and all, but if it was bought for practicality, a CRV would have been bought instead. 

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Milky 10/14/2020 at 10:58

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How many other vehicles are still available on the market today without power locks? How about with crank windows?

UserNotFound > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/14/2020 at 11:08

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Huh. Somehow I’ve missed all this time that there’s only 2 seatbelts in the back.

fhrblig > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/14/2020 at 11:13

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Somehow I forgot the base model is only $29k.  I may have to go look at these next spring.

Milky > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 10/14/2020 at 11:19

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Gotta imagine just work trucks and vans.  Probably very few if any passenger cars.  

Kar Wai Wong > The Ghost of Oppo 10/14/2020 at 11:20

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Was the rear mounted spare tyre even that integral to the Bronco look? I thought Ford would want to differentiate it from the Wrangler, not copy them. C ould advertise Wrangler owners having to struggle to open the “super heavy” rear door on the Wrangler , while enviably watching nearby Bronco owners have a picnic on their (possibly electrically opening?) tailgate. A nd just offer a swingout spare tyre carrier accessory for those that wanted it.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > mhr555 10/14/2020 at 11:36

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Think about demographics, if you have 7500lb-8500lb tow capacity for the 4 door you’re now having people who own a boat and/or camper looking seriously at it vs a Wrangler. As it stands now you’re just hopping that the person likes the look more because they’re basically the same vehicle. 

Dusty Ventures > Kar Wai Wong 10/14/2020 at 11:36

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I don't think the giant Sasquatch shoes would fit in or under the truck very well

HammerheadFistpunch > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/14/2020 at 11:55

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I love how hilarious the base model looks with those wheels. There is MILES of space for bigger tires. Seems like they should have made the base tire a little bigger.

EDIT: its a 30" tire, surely a 31.5 would have been a better base tire.

mhr555 > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 10/14/2020 at 12:41

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I don’t see an issue with the Bronco not upping the tow rating game against the Wrangler. I f someone needs to tow more than than, are the really looking at a Wrangler or Bronco in the first place?

kanadanmajava1 > The Ghost of Oppo 10/14/2020 at 12:42

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I think that a conversion kit for the folding tailgate c ou ld be made. With a filler piece to narrow the window opening even a sliding window could be used. The height of the window seems to be a bit smaller than the height of the tailgate. S o it should fit in if the width issue would be solved.

My ‘84 Electra wagon had a double hinged tailgate. If the window was up the hinges in the lef t side were used. If the window was down the hinges in the lower edge were used. The clever mechanism naturally started having issues when the 20th birthday of the Electra was approaching. It was quite annoying when the the only locked hinge was the lower left corner and the tailgate was resting on the bumper.

adamftw > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 10/14/2020 at 13:01

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Spring rates wont let you do that safely but still have the off road chops and ride in a short wheelbase . Thats why the Defender 2 is best in class, bc it has air IRS.

Kar Wai Wong > Dusty Ventures 10/14/2020 at 13:24

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Sasquatch models would get rear mounted spare tyre carrier standard than.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > mhr555 10/14/2020 at 13:49

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The 90's Bronco could tow 7000lb’s and people sure as shit used them for tow rigs. Not eveyone can afford both a fun weekend toy and something that can tow their boat/trailer/camper ect... 

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > adamftw 10/14/2020 at 13:55

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I was talking more of the 4 door, but the old D90 was 3500 lbs on coil sprung beam axles so it is possible although would probably make the Bronco a bit more expensive. Still, as it stands now they’re basically the same vehicle and there isn’t much to convince fence sitters either way other than looks and nostalgia .

adamftw > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 10/14/2020 at 14:11

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Yup. Same sort of way the Colorado is rated at 7500 IIRC and the ZR2 is rated at 5000.

Those old tow standards are crazy. My D1 was rated at 7700lbs, which is fucking mental.

TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. > adamftw 10/14/2020 at 14:19

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Imagine pulling a 20ft trailer in heavy crosswinds over a bridge, pucker factor would be high as f. 

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > mhr555 10/14/2020 at 14:49

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Short wheelbase and soft suspension seem like a bad combo for a tow vehicle. 

gmctavish needs more space > Milky 10/14/2020 at 16:35

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I really wanted to like the JL more than I did. One or two of the issues I had with it might’ve been livable, but added up it was too much. Windshield is too short, the auto trans is too indecisive, the clutch in the manual is terrible, and the cargo space is too small. Honestly if there 2 door medium wheelbase Wrangler with more cargo room, but not as long as the Unlimited, I could live with my other complaints. Or a single/extended cab Gladiator

gmctavish needs more space > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/14/2020 at 16:37

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I kept waiting for him to fold the rear seats up so I could get an idea of the cargo space, but he never did. Cool that it can fit 37s on the stock Sasquatch suspension, but it also means that anything less than 35s just looks small

For Sweden > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/14/2020 at 16:40

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Jim Spanfeller > mhr555 10/14/2020 at 16:43

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The Samurai rollover hazard thing was actually a hoax. Some exec at Consumer Reports got mad because his son/nephew/whatever got in a rollover crash in one and wanted revenge, so Consumer Reports decided to test the things in the most brutal ways they could imagine. It actually passed all of their regular tests just fine, so they had to devise new ones to guarantee that it would flip. Suzuki actually called them out on their bull crap report, sued them, and won, but by then the damage was done and Suzuki never recovered, so they left the American market for good.

That’s why they refuse to sell stuff over here. They don’t want to have to put up with our crap again.

Roadster Man > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/14/2020 at 16:50

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I think this looks like complete resto-mod shit.

Milky > gmctavish needs more space 10/14/2020 at 17:54

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Just take that backseat out and it’s got plenty of cargo! Friend does that and it works for him, also I make a Miata do everything I need.

That trans issue  reminds me that auto start stop worked well with the mild hybrid 2.0. A lot smoother than a Volvo from a few years ago.  But eh I like wranglers, not a sales guy tho, they clearly don’t work for everyone. 

adamftw > TheBloody, Oppositelock lives on in our shitposts. 10/14/2020 at 20:32

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Just driving it 70mph without a trailer over a bridge when it was windy was an adventure.

I did tow max it out once, never went over 35 tho. Just a 10 minute drive down to the ramp and then back. I won’t say it felt good but it didn’t feel bad either.

Dusty Ventures > Kar Wai Wong 10/14/2020 at 21:38

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Fair enough

gmctavish needs more space > Milky 10/14/2020 at 21:52

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Even with it out it’s too small for me. If it had the same cargo space as my Raider, I would’ve considered it more seriously, but it’s noticeably less unfort unately.

sn4cktimes > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/15/2020 at 10:41

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If they sold new Jimny’s in North America I would’ve bought one instantly.

I drove an older one in Iceland and I LOVED it. Even the my wife loved it. And it got us everywhere in some very wintery February storms. One day was so gnarly the front desk was telling guests just to stay put and enjoy the bar and that if need be they’d get another night comp’d. We walked up and they asked us where we were from “Rockies in Alberta, and driving a Jimny”. They said “Have a great day! You guys will be fine.” And away we went off into the weirdscape, in our Jimny, which we named the Jimnotron. If you’ve read this far... we also had a rival vehicle. A Dacia Duster with another couple who seemed to be pretty much shadowing our trip and they were dicks.

JIMNY!!!