A brand divided?

[redbucky2022]

Figured I’d put this out there, and I know it’s been beaten like a dead horse before.

Is it me or is the Bronco brand heavily divided even by Ford Motor Company? No access to The Bronco Trail app for BS owners, full size owners snub Sports, and it seems like most Sport owners don’t get much traction in Bronco groups regardless of activity and contribution unless it’s a BS specific group.

I know I’m not the only person in the world who wheels their Sport like a full size. If Ford is so “proud” of bringing back their Bronco heritage, why create so much division right out of the gate? Everyone loved and respected the Bronco II years ago which was essentially a Ranger on a shorter wheelbase.

Sponsored

 

[Nosmo Rex]

The only reason the Bronco Sport exists is to elevate the MPG for the Bronco line. Don't get me wrong, I love my Bronco Sport, and I think it's very off road capable. I feel your comment about full size Bronco owners looking down on the Sport.
I'm a little surprised about your comment about the Bronco II. It had a generally poor reputation (I had an '88 and loved it).
I love the Sport for what it is: an affordable and economical off-roader.

 

[redbucky2022]

The only reason the Bronco Sport exists is to elevate the MPG for the Bronco line. Don't get me wrong, I love my Bronco Sport, and I think it's very off road capable. I feel your comment about full size Bronco owners looking down on the Sport.
I'm a little surprised about your comment about the Bronco II. It had a generally poor reputation (I had an '88 and loved it).
I love the Sport for what it is: an affordable and economical off-roader.

I used to live in Florida and people still go nuts over a clean Bronco II. They were not personally my favorite but they did have a following. Maybe it’s just my area but I wheel my sport (with the appropriate mods to do so) and good lord if looks could kill. The Sport owners in one of my local groups try to set up meets and get almost no responses… but a guy with a Full Size Badlands will get on there and plan a meet and you’d swear it was the second coming of Jesus.

You are correct, Ford put some emphasis on economy into the Sport. But when you look at some of their testing videos and actually take the time to analyze how much thought they put into off road capabilities, it’s surprising.
It’s just odd, give it a name with a cult following, engineer it to be a great daily but still go off road, and then absolutely divide the brand.

I mean the least they could have done was stemmed off trails on the app they felt were “Sport” appropriate.

 

[Goodland]

I get it, but at the same time, if Ford was showing people rock crawling and whatnot we'd have people posting about how Ford's marketing is a lie and why is my under body damaged etc.

I was out with some friends at an off-road park/BLM land area over the weekend. My BL can climb, and things like the trail control and goat modes do work well, and yeah ripping across sandwashes and canyon beds was really great. But I literally couldn't even approach the first and easiest obstacle in the off-road training area because I didn't have the clearance. I could ascend/decent sandy/rocky 22°+ slopes in control, but no way I could navigate big shelf rocks and knee-deep ruts, you know?

For what it's worth, I watched a Rubicon on 35s break an axle, my friend's lifted Taco high centered, GX buddy needed traction boards, etc. There's always something bigger. I also got like 12mpg better on the trip and don't have $5k in suspension.


The BS is a pretty capable crossover, and yeah the AWD system is better than what you're getting in a Subaru IMHO, but it will always be good/capable *for what it is* without matching up to the big boys, I think. Even so, I'm considering a Flatout lift to get it a little closer.

 

[Bucko]

Figured I’d put this out there, and I know it’s been beaten like a dead horse before.

Is it me or is the Bronco brand heavily divided even by Ford Motor Company? No access to The Bronco Trail app for BS owners, full size owners snub Sports, and it seems like most Sport owners don’t get much traction in Bronco groups regardless of activity and contribution unless it’s a BS specific group.

I know I’m not the only person in the world who wheels their Sport like a full size. If Ford is so “proud” of bringing back their Bronco heritage, why create so much division right out of the gate? Everyone loved and respected the Bronco II years ago which was essentially a Ranger on a shorter wheelbase.

Every forum I've been (or are currently) a member of has this disrespect of between models. The Mustang forums I've been on 'dis" each other over V6 verses V8; same with the Challenger forums over V6 and Hemi equipped cars.

I even see it here with the 1.5 verses 2.0.

Haters gotta hate I guess.

 

[Mark S.]

...full size owners snub Sports...

Tigger and I (as well as another forum user who has since purchased a full-size Bronco) trailed along with a Bronco club from the Chicago area. We went to an off-road park in Indiana, and spent the better part of an afternoon slinging mud, crawling up hills, ripping through the sand, and generally having a great time. At no point did I feel any disrespect whatsoever from anyone in the group. Was there friendly ribbing? Sure! Some kid said he liked the looks of the Bronco Sport, but would never buy one because "it's really just an Escape in an Otterbox." That was really my favorite moment of the day.

There are @$$holes in every crowd. If you don't like the crowd you're in find another one.

 

[TCBSport]

Our BSports don't meet my definition of a 4 wheel drive vehicle, whereas the 6G Broncos do. To me a true 4 wheel drive has a low range transfer case and if you've ever seriously wheeled before or pulled a large boat out of a steep slippery ramp you know how low range can save the day. Our BSports are not 4WD they are AWD vehicles (I love mine), and I think this is the biggest reason for the perceived 'slight' you may be noticing. I would just ignore it as it's like comparing Apples and Oranges. I am fortunate enough to also own an LR4 with the Ford-derived 5.0L that no 6G Bronco can even touch!

 

[Cage1970]

Our BSports don't meet my definition of a 4 wheel drive vehicle, whereas the 6G Broncos do. To me a true 4 wheel drive has a low range transfer case and if you've ever seriously wheeled before or pulled a large boat out of a steep slippery ramp you know how low range can save the day. Our BSports are not 4WD they are AWD vehicles (I love mine), and I think this is the biggest reason for the perceived 'slight' you may be noticing. I would just ignore it as it's like comparing Apples and Oranges. I am fortunate enough to also own an LR4 with the Ford-derived 5.0L that no 6G Bronco can even touch!

I feel my BS Badlands is a true 4WD even without the low range.
Interesting observation: when retrieving my seadoo, I had to put my F150 in 4WD to get up the “ramp” (rocky incline). Didn’t do anything in the Badlands and no issue ?. Probably more AWD but still nice not to have to do anything

 

[The Shark]

Our BSports don't meet my definition of a 4 wheel drive vehicle, whereas the 6G Broncos do. To me a true 4 wheel drive has a low range transfer case and if you've ever seriously wheeled before or pulled a large boat out of a steep slippery ramp you know how low range can save the day. Our BSports are not 4WD they are AWD vehicles (I love mine), and I think this is the biggest reason for the perceived 'slight' you may be noticing. I would just ignore it as it's like comparing Apples and Oranges. I am fortunate enough to also own an LR4 with the Ford-derived 5.0L that no 6G Bronco can even touch!

I think you pretty much nailed it. My wife has a BS BL and I have a Bronco Wildtrak. She loves her BS and I like it as well, it's more comfortable, better MPG and more practical than the Bronco. But is it a "Bronco", no, it's a "Bronco Sport". We having a running joke between us, when people say to her I like your "Bronco" I always jump in a say "Bronco Sport", then she will call me a snob. But the truth is it really is like apples and oranges, the Bronco is a true truck body on chassis with real 4WD, the BS is a SUV that is basically a rebodied AWD Escape. Nothing wrong with that, it's just what it is.
Rejoice in your BS and enjoy it for what it is, your cost of ownership is a lot less than us Bronco owners but realize you don't have a "Bronco", you have a "Bronco Sport" and that's not bad.

 

[rocks]

Tigger and I (as well as another forum user who has since purchased a full-size Bronco) trailed along with a Bronco club from the Chicago area. We went to an off-road park in Indiana, and spent the better part of an afternoon slinging mud, crawling up hills, ripping through the sand, and generally having a great time. At no point did I feel any disrespect whatsoever from anyone in the group. Was there friendly ribbing? Sure! Some kid said he liked the looks of the Bronco Sport, but would never buy one because "it's really just an Escape in an Otterbox." That was really my favorite moment of the day.

There are @$$holes in every crowd. If you don't like the crowd you're in find another one.

"it's really just an Escape in an Otterbox." I love it. ?

 

[Escape2Bronco]

My phones have been in OtterBox's for years. They hold up forever. I hope the Sport does as well.

I think most people that have actually driven them appreciate them for what they are. They are a great little SUV. They are not body on frame SUV that can accept much larger tires and can have 100:1 low speed gear ratio. As @Goodland states, the big advantage the full size has is it's ground clearance. But ask any of us that has one that takes it off road about the tie rods. Unless you have upgraded to someone else's or have the HOSS 3.0 steering, you carry an extra set. They have their limitations too. And there are always bigger ruts and obstacles. That's why GOD made rear steer rock crawling buggies!

 

[AmazingSieve]

Figured I’d put this out there, and I know it’s been beaten like a dead horse before.

Is it me or is the Bronco brand heavily divided even by Ford Motor Company? No access to The Bronco Trail app for BS owners, full size owners snub Sports, and it seems like most Sport owners don’t get much traction in Bronco groups regardless of activity and contribution unless it’s a BS specific group.

I know I’m not the only person in the world who wheels their Sport like a full size. If Ford is so “proud” of bringing back their Bronco heritage, why create so much division right out of the gate? Everyone loved and respected the Bronco II years ago which was essentially a Ranger on a shorter wheelbase.

They're two very different cars. Big Bronco is a Wrangler rival and the Sport is a more capable CUV. I imagine Ford doesn't want to send the wrong message by allowing Sport owners access to the trails app. Make no mistake the car can do trails but allowing access almost encourages users to go and find the limits of the car. Which on the Big Bronco are quite decent but on the Sport are much more limited due to clearance etc.

As you can tell I don't mind the differentiation and I can see why its important for Ford to maintain it. The Sport isn't an off roader. Its a capable CUV which is great and fine for my needs so I don't mind that. And like others I have taken this thing off-road and it can do more than the CUV tag would lead you to expect. But I don't think Ford wants people thinking its an off roader so again, the consistent messaging is important.

That said the AWD system is very good and the car will scratch and claw to find traction, that won't let you down. However the 8.8in clearance is a very limiting factor.

 

[The_Jimmer]

Figured I’d put this out there, and I know it’s been beaten like a dead horse before.

Is it me or is the Bronco brand heavily divided even by Ford Motor Company? No access to The Bronco Trail app for BS owners, full size owners snub Sports, and it seems like most Sport owners don’t get much traction in Bronco groups regardless of activity and contribution unless it’s a BS specific group.

I know I’m not the only person in the world who wheels their Sport like a full size. If Ford is so “proud” of bringing back their Bronco heritage, why create so much division right out of the gate? Everyone loved and respected the Bronco II years ago which was essentially a Ranger on a shorter wheelbase.

Welcome to the world of social media. Don't take that as an insult...just a fact. If you want to be excluded, insulted, shamed, bad-mouthed, or generally any other form of personal insult then look no further than Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and the likes. The fact that you can keyboard warrior everything without having to face a throat punch for your words, creates the very atmosphere you speak of. These internet social group mentalities then bleed over into real life and no matter where you go, the barriers you state will show up there as well, for no reason other than mindless indoctrination by the masses.

 

[Mark S.]

Welcome to the world of social media. Don't take that as an insult...just a fact. If you want to be excluded, insulted, shamed, bad-mouthed, or generally any other form of personal insult then look no further than Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and the likes. The fact that you can keyboard warrior everything without having to face a throat punch for your words, creates the very atmosphere you speak of. These internet social group mentalities then bleed over into real life and no matter where you go, the barriers you state will show up there as well, for no reason other than mindless indoctrination by the masses.

I agree with you regarding the strictly social media sites like those you mentioned. Thankfully, that kind of behavior isn't prevalent on this forum. The few instances of people behaving badly here have been short-lived. Everyone here seems mostly interested in sharing, learning, and having a bit of occasional fun, and that includes the several forum members I've met in person.

 

[B-Dog15]

As a proud owner of a Bronco Sport (love mine to death) I do think that Ford botched the rebrand by releasing it before the full size which created some animosity.
I also think they should’ve named it the “Bronco II” rather than Bronco Sport given the history of the cars. (Bronco II was a compact SUV that didn’t have the “truck-like” features of OG Bronco)

Sponsored