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GizzardLizard

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This is what drew me to the Bronco Sport (nothing to do with the Bronco brand per se). There's huge demand for smaller, boxier off-road capable vehicles in the spirit of old Defenders and FJ40s. Heck, look at prices of used FJ Cruisers with 100k+ miles!

Until the Bronco Sport, there weren't many new vehicles in the USA that scratched the itch. The redesigned RAV4 TRD and Adventure trims -- which 'replaced' the smaller FJ Cruiser Toyota briefly considered -- are kinda there. Jeep styling misses the mark on most of their vehicles. I think we'll see a resurgence in these vehicles thanks to hybrid and electric motors to 'offset' the terrible aerodynamics of boxy shapes + tall wheels.
I was briefly interested in the Jeep Renegade a couple years ago until I sat in one and hated the interior. Anyone who tries to say Jeep has a better interior than either of the Broncos is either biased or hasn't been in both.

I really like the big Bronco but the thing for me that puts me off them a bit is the removable roof, especially with all the issues they're having now. I'm not a convertible person so that ability doesn't interest me and seems like it'd be just a headache more than anything for me. I much prefer the Sport having a normal fixed roof.

A hybrid Sport would be quite literally eveything I'd ever need in a vehicle. If they offer it thats something I would keep long term.
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SportWest

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I had the the RAV4 TRD when my Bronco Base was in the shop. the seats were awful, it was hard on gas nothing about it was enjoyable. for the money there is no way id would look at Toyota anymore.
My last vehicle was a bulletproof Toyota. Last year, when prices were low due to rental car companies unloading inventory, I was 90% certain I'd snag a RAV4 Adventure in lunar rock. But I took one for an extended test drive and everything about the vehicle was disappointing. Toyota somehow lost its way: the interior design is mediocre, the seats are uncomfortable, and the transmission was always hunting for the right gear at <40 mph. Not that I expected a small Toyota SUV to be fun to drive, but the 2020 RAV4 was outright annoying.

One of the interesting things about car shopping every 15 years is that you have a 'time warp' effect. Contemporary Ford interiors remind me more of old-school Nissan and Toyota interiors than the actual Nissan and Toyota ones today.
 

GizzardLizard

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My last vehicle was a bulletproof Toyota. Last year, when prices were low due to rental car companies unloading inventory, I was 90% certain I'd snag a RAV4 Adventure in lunar rock. But I took one for an extended test drive and everything about the vehicle was disappointing. Toyota somehow lost its way: the interior design is mediocre, the seats are uncomfortable, and the transmission was always hunting for the right gear at <40 mph. Not that I expected a small Toyota SUV to be fun to drive, but the 2020 RAV4 was outright annoying.

One of the interesting things about car shopping every 15 years is that you have a 'time warp' effect. Contemporary Ford interiors remind me more of old-school Nissan and Toyota interiors than the actual Nissan and Toyota ones today.
IMO Toyota has become really complacent lately (Honda too). They still build solid reliable vehicles but they it seems like anymore they're just coasting on their reputation and kind of phoning it in. The Tundra/Sequoia is only just now getting a redesign after 14 years, while the big 3 have been constantly updating their trucks and moving forward. The current 4Runner has been out since 2010 IIRC. Despite being early proponents of hybrid tech they seem to have little interest in EVs, at least until recently. And both of the sports car offerings are essentially designed and built for them by other brands despite having Lexus R&D and all their platforms at their disposal.

I think its because they know people will buy them anyway because at the end of the day they're still solid dependable vehicles. For the average consumer thats all they need and that's perfectly fine.

But for me I've been more interested in Ford as well as Hyundai/Kia because I like that they're trying new things and innovating, even if the execution isn't without problems. I respect that they're bringing something different to the table. And I hope cars like the Bronco and Bronco Sport influence other brands to do something similar.
 

christopheru

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IMO Toyota has become really complacent lately (Honda too). They still build solid reliable vehicles but they it seems like anymore they're just coasting on their reputation and kind of phoning it in. The Tundra/Sequoia is only just now getting a redesign after 14 years, while the big 3 have been constantly updating their trucks and moving forward. The current 4Runner has been out since 2010 IIRC. Despite being early proponents of hybrid tech they seem to have little interest in EVs, at least until recently. And both of the sports car offerings are essentially designed and built for them by other brands despite having Lexus R&D and all their platforms at their disposal.

I think its because they know people will buy them anyway because at the end of the day they're still solid dependable vehicles. For the average consumer thats all they need and that's perfectly fine.

But for me I've been more interested in Ford as well as Hyundai/Kia because I like that they're trying new things and innovating, even if the execution isn't without problems. I respect that they're bringing something different to the table. And I hope cars like the Bronco and Bronco Sport influence other brands to do something similar.
Agreed. Toyotas, with a couple exceptions (like some of their trucks and the Subaru they sell) are basically appliances. Boring ones at that.
Clearly though there is a huge market for boring as Toyota is the number one ranked automaker in the world. The big three are not even in the top three.
That said, I have been lamenting how boring the USA car market is for years. Canada is a minor tack on to that market, so we get stuck with what Americans want by and large. Toyota, VW, etc make lots of interesting cars that Americans as a collective don’t want (individual Americans might, but not enough do) so those of us that want them, are out of luck. If enough people wanted them, auto makers would make them part of their plan here and work them through the import quota regs etc.
 

fitterhappier

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I was on the big Bronco train until it became clear just how big it actually is. I need to transport family members with mobility challenges and my truck is just too high. Was going to sadly trade my Raptor to meet those needs but the Sport came along and the numbers said I could have both and both be off road capable. A couple test drives, FE and BL and liked it. Pretty sure the Sport Badlands will cross the stream and handle the rutted climb to our hunting camp but will see if it needs bigger tires.
Just waiting for the 22s to open up.
Same! I saw a Bronco Badlands (Sasquatch) at the dealer and it's massive. We have plenty of wide open spaces in Austin, but there's no way that would do well trying to parallel park at a Trader Joe's. BS can handle itself on rough terrain plus it's small enough that you can do the city thing too.
 


christopheru

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Same! I saw a Bronco Badlands (Sasquatch) at the dealer and it's massive. We have plenty of wide open spaces in Austin, but there's no way that would do well trying to parallel park at a Trader Joe's. BS can handle itself on rough terrain plus it's small enough that you can do the city thing too.
Yep. My thoughts exactly.
Wouldn’t it be neat for the capacity of a big bronco to be put in a package the size of a 1965 Land Rover defender?
 

SportWest

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Agreed. Toyotas, with a couple exceptions (like some of their trucks and the Subaru they sell) are basically appliances. Boring ones at that.
I guess it's to Toyota's credit that they can sell new vehicles with fewer standard features than the competition without really lowering their prices. Comparing Forrester to RAV4, the former has more goodies -- Toyota can still move a ton of units without dangling heated front seats.
 

Osco

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I agree with this to a point.
My sport is not a jeep BUT I have already out climbed a RAV4 AND a Subaru Cross something And a Renegade. On very steep gravel and very steep mud.
Under certain conditions here on our mountain My BASE sport is the only non true 4x4 that can climb up our steeper route to the top.
The others have to go the long way.
In other words I can go where only the 4x4 jeeps and pick up trucks can go without any slippage.
I can stop Mid climb and restart where all the other SUV's have to back down and start over. Even then there are spots where they all loose it and slip then have to back down.
I can do this and never hear a single rock move.
I'm on the stock continental all season tires btw.
I do know better than to drive into deep water or deep mud and I'm not gonna do rock crawling.
I have used all of my departure and approach angles with good results..
 
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christopheru

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I have reached the point where I wish my bank account and the aftermarket would step up where Ford won’t.

I wish my Bigbend had two inches more clearance (springs, dampers, control arm, etc route vs spacers - I am concerned about straining things under there and would rather make big changes right than strain all the bushings and create future problems for myself) and proper skid plates. I also want to replace the bumpers with non-plastic ones. What is there is literally low hanging fruit for very minor ruts to snag.

I suspect I am living in dream land.

The thing is, the vehicle as it sits is almost perfect for what I want to do with it. It is a good daily driver, and only lacks when the ruts get too deep or the river crossings too rocky (ran into both on the weekend last). I may have to find a fabrication expert who does this sort of thing or just give up entirely and let the front end take the beating that is coming it’s way eventually.
 
 







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