Dealer lets people test drive your new Bronco Sport…

[69cuda340s]

Majority of dealers don't let other ppl drive special ordered vehicles. Yes it has happened but its not common.

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[SgtT11B]

Now that we’ve placed an order for a BS Badlands, I was wondering:

How would you guys feel if your dealer allowed other people to test drive your Bronco Sport, something you customized, ordered and waited months for, before you picked it up?

On retail orders most dealers don't allow test drives on those vehicles. Mine doesn't, they put a sold sign with no test drives. To answer your question ot would be a reason for me to refuse delivery.

 

[PaulOinMA]

My dealer doesn't allow it. Can look at vehicles. Can't drive.

 

[Scottie137]

My dealer doesn't allow it. Can look at vehicles. Can't drive.

I was at a dealership not too long ago that had a Bronco Wildtrack. They wouldn’t even unlock the door to let me look inside…

 

[Meanderthal]

An interesting note on the window of my BS when I picked it up:

 

[sajohnson]

An interesting note on the window of my BS when I picked it up:

I'm sure Ford paid you the same amount they charge customers who exceed the mileage allowance on a leased vehicle...

 

[PaulOinMA]

Off topic, but a window sticker I saw walking around the lot at a dealership in April 2017. Essentially says "don't put this vehicle on display."

 

[Meanderthal]

I'm sure Ford paid you the same amount they charge customers who exceed the mileage allowance on a leased vehicle...

It actually makes me feel a little better knowing it was road tested. I’m sure that if they found any noises they would have tracked them down and fixed them. So far so good but I’ve only owned it for less than a week and driven it less than 100 miles (134 on the clock). It’s been on jackstands in my garage for the last 3 days while I install all the things I’ve had 7 months to think about and acquire while waiting for it. It should be back on the ground sometime today.

 

[BodieBronco]

My '16 F150 Platinum FX4 with long long list factory options was a dealer demo or loaner vehicle it had 1,300 miles on it. They listed it for sale with $11,000 chopped off the sticker price. I looked it over no signs of any wear was clean underneath ect bought it for the listed price. I haven't had any issues to date. I would have had to get a lower trim lower option truck if I demanded new never driven no miles. Beggers cant be choosers so I accepted truck had been drive by who knows who doing what ect ect ...

I got a beater 05 Pontiac Sunfire 98k miles spent first two years of its life as rental car. Its fine drives great has only needed maintenance to date.

My first car was also a rental car (Ford mustang). I would buy from a rental agency again.

 

[BodieBronco]

I ordered a bronco sport because I went to the Ford dealership to see a convertable mustang. The salesperson had just had knee surgery, so they drove me across the lot in an obx which other customers were coming to buy. I was not allowed to test drive it, but I got to ride in it and see some of the features. I was so excited leaving the dealership, I wasn't considering suvs at all up until that point. I went home and searched online, and found another dealership with a big bend on the lot which I got to test drive. I did take it on interstate and tried to pass another car because how that feels matters to me in whatever car I own. I would hope rarely getting the rps high briefly during a break in period wouldn't ruin the engine. I was the 2nd of 3 test drives that day, and the people after me bought the car. I ordered my car from that dealership.

 

[Mark S.]

I would hope rarely getting the rps high briefly during a break in period wouldn't ruin the engine.

From the 2022 Owner's Manual:

Your vehicle requires a break-in period. For the first 1000 mi (1,600 km), avoid driving at high speeds, heavy braking, aggressive shifting or using your vehicle to tow. During this time, your vehicle may exhibit some unusual driving characteristics.

Although there is a restriction on high speeds, there is no restriction on RPM. I don't believe brief periods of high RPM will cause any harm. In fact, most aftermarket engine builders recommend exactly that: Brief, hard acceleration with the throttle >75% (some even recommend using full throttle) open. Hard acceleration places the most load on the engine, which generates the most cylinder pressure. It's this cylinder pressure that helps seat the rings, a critical part of engine break in. Poorly seated rings contribute to greater blow-by and loss of power.

Curiously, the 2021 Owner's Manual includes different break-in requirements:

Tires
You need to break in new tires for approximately 300 mi (480 km). During this time, your vehicle may exhibit some unusual driving characteristics.
Brakes and Clutch
Avoid heavy use of the brakes and clutch if possible for the first 100 mi (160 km) in town and for the first 1000 mi (1,600 km) on freeways.

Again, nothing prohibiting high RPM or hard acceleration.

Modern design and manufacturing tolerances have all but eliminated the need for any kind of specialized break in procedure for the engine. I believe the break-in restrictions Ford recommends for the Bronco Sport have more to do with giving the brakes, tires, and suspension components an opportunity to settle in. If followed, they also provide a new owner time to get to know their vehicle before getting too frisky with it.

 

[sajohnson]

It actually makes me feel a little better knowing it was road tested. I’m sure that if they found any noises they would have tracked them down and fixed them. So far so good but I’ve only owned it for less than a week and driven it less than 100 miles (134 on the clock). It’s been on jackstands in my garage for the last 3 days while I install all the things I’ve had 7 months to think about and acquire while waiting for it. It should be back on the ground sometime today.

Congrats on the new cactus grey Badlands. You are clearly a man of refined taste (ours is also cactus grey).

Good luck with the mods.

 

[BodieBronco]

From the 2022 Owner's Manual:



Although there is a restriction on high speeds, there is no restriction on RPM. I don't believe brief periods of high RPM will cause any harm. In fact, most aftermarket engine builders recommend exactly that: Brief, hard acceleration with the throttle >75% (some even recommend using full throttle) open. Hard acceleration places the most load on the engine, which generates the most cylinder pressure. It's this cylinder pressure that helps seat the rings, a critical part of engine break in. Poorly seated rings contribute to greater blow-by and loss of power.

Curiously, the 2021 Owner's Manual includes different break-in requirements:

Again, nothing prohibiting high RPM or hard acceleration.

Modern design and manufacturing tolerances have all but eliminated the need for any kind of specialized break in procedure for the engine. I believe the break-in restrictions Ford recommends for the Bronco Sport have more to do with giving the brakes, tires, and suspension components an opportunity to settle in. If followed, they also provide a new owner time to get to know their vehicle before getting too frisky with it.

I wonder what they consider high speeds

 

[Ryan51173]

Test drove BS back in May. Come to find out it was a sold vehicle. Not sure if it was Special order or purchased on the lot.
My question for Special orders users. What are people seeing as far as mileage when you pick up your vehicle?My vehicle should be arriving in a couple weeks and I’m curious what Others have for mileage when they pick up their special order for the first time. I might have to make a call to my salesman to emphasize that no customer shall test drive my vehicle. Lol

 

[sajohnson]

Test drove BS back in May. Come to find out it was a sold vehicle. Not sure if it was Special order or purchased on the lot.
My question for Special orders users. What are people seeing as far as mileage when you pick up your vehicle?My vehicle should be arriving in a couple weeks and I’m curious what Others have for mileage when they pick up their special order for the first time. I might have to make a call to my salesman to emphasize that no customer shall test drive my vehicle. Lol

Ours had 7 or 8 miles on it. I believe there is a thread here about the subject, but in any case, from what I've read (and personal experience) <10 miles is typical.

It is perfectly reasonable to expect that NO ONE will drive a vehicle that was custom ordered. Those vehicles are 'spoken for'. The paperwork has yet to be done, but they essentially belong to someone.

Dealer stock is of course completely different. If the dealer owns a vehicle they can use it for test drives; as a loaner; let a dealership employee drive it, etc.

It isn't the end of the world if someone test drives your BS, but there certainly is no upside! Best case, no real harm is done and your SUV just has extra miles on it -- at your expense. OTOH, an idiot could go into manual shifting mode (if it's a BL) and drive down the road in (say) 2nd or 3rd gear, bouncing off the rev limiter. They could do a little off-roading -- or intentionally drive over some curbs and potholes. They might hit the brakes really hard a couple times (brakes need to be broken in).

Most likely, none of that will happen, especially if the salesperson rides along, but I've read enough stories about "test drives" to know they can be very abusive and should be avoided.

This is another example of something that should go without saying. Of COURSE the dealer should allow only their in-stock vehicles to be test driven. Special/custom order cars and trucks should be clearly marked "SOLD" and the keys secured in a place specifically for them, with limited access.

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