1 year and 7,600 miles review

[AKBronc49]

It was 1 year ago today that I took delivery of my 4dr, 2.7, Outerbanks Sasquatch, Lux, MIC, Tow, Roast Leather. My Bronco was built 7/23/21 and sat on dirt mountain awaiting a new hard top. It shipped and arrived in Alaska about 28 days from MAP.

I have not off roaded my Bronco, other than what normal Alaskan roads throw at it. I have a side by side to get scratched and beat up. The Bronco for me was a year round daily driver convertible.

The day I took delivery 11/12/21 a day after 20" of snow fell. I'd never driven a Bronco until I drove mine off the lot. I didn't drive it in 2wd until April 2022.

At 400 miles I had studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta LT2 and ran them under April of 22 when the stock Goodyears went back on.

Over the last year, I ran with the entire top off as much as I could and absolutely loved it! This little truck just makes you smile it's hard to explain to people.

Mods are relatively tame.
-35% tinted front windows
-Factory SAS wheels powder coated bright metallic silver
-Center console organizer
-Painted standard Outerbanks fender flares (for summer)
-Thinkware f200 dash camera
-Plastic rear seat protectors
-Cargo floor liner
-Rigid 360 spot lights pillar mounted
-Universal mud flaps front/rear
-Winter wheels Motegi Traillite Bronze 17x8.5" wrapped in Nokian Hakkapeliitta snow tires


So, issues? A couple and nothing I didn't expect honestly.
-July I developed smoke coming from under the hood up through the cowl at stop lights or once parked when driven relatively hard. I investigated this and could not exactly pinpoint it, but I had oil dripping on the driver side of the engine, off a turbo coolant line, dripping on the catalytic converter. I made an appointment at my local dealer, they were 2 weeks out from getting it in. I didn't drive it much until then. I dropped it off, my advisor was out having a baby so I had a different gal, this turned out to be a huge PITA.
I dropped it off before 8am 8/2. At 10am I received a call "your oil change is done and no leaks found" obviously I said that's impossible I even sent her photos of the oil trail before it was dropped off. Long story short it took 24 days to repair a leaking valve cover. Insult to injury when I picked it up the check engine light was on! Wasted another hour to find out the EGR wasn't plugged back in correctly.
-The horn cover was replaced under warranty for the crack, the new one has already started again..maybe I use the horn to much? Haha
-A few squeaky places from the MIC top I've mostly got those taken care of.

MPG daily for me has been 15.5-16 in town and 17-19 highway with a pretty heavy foot.

I am a die hard Ford guy and I absolutely love this Bronco. I look forward to many more years and miles with it.

Photos in order from today to a year ago.

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[Ksjrb03]

Wait, you expected a leaking valve cover and pos squeaky MIC top?

 

[AKBronc49]

Wait, you expected a leaking valve cover and pos squeaky MIC top?

I expected a few teething issues on a brand new platform, rolled out during a global pandemic. In a vehicle aimed at being more utilitarian than anything Ford has put out in decades. Those that didn't, well that's on them.

I really like the MIC top, little electrical tape over the alignment pins and hockey tape on the rear tailgate where it meets the window and its nice and quiet again.

I rented a 2020 Jeep Wrangler in AZ for 10 days this summer. I find the Bronco to be miles ahead of it in every conceivable way. Especially when it came to the wind noise and terribly leaky jeep top.

 

[John Auer]

Beautiful truck. I have a very similar build, still waiting though. Couple questions, did you paint the fenders yourself? What brand mud flaps did you use? Thanks in advance!

 

[AMTRV]

Thanks for a great review…….that’s a really classy Bronco!
Enjoy!

 

[Tricky Dick]

I'd have to park mine till Feb to match your yearly mileage. You must stay close to home a lot more than I do.

Both sets of your wheels look terrific.

 

[AKBronc49]

I'd have to park mine till Feb to match your yearly mileage. You must stay close to home a lot more than I do.

Both sets of your wheels look terrific.

A few contributing factors, but 8k a year on my main daily driver is typical for me. I have (2) F150s, an Excursion, Chrysler 300c awd and a number of classic cars to drive so my miles are spread between them all. If I add it all up I probably did 14k this year.

My work commute is 1.5 miles 1-way so daily miles are low, work is busy so not as much time to get out. When I do go camping I'm in the F150 hauling my trailer and side by side and the Bronco is at home.

 

[AKBronc49]

Beautiful truck. I have a very similar build, still waiting though. Couple questions, did you paint the fenders yourself? What brand mud flaps did you use? Thanks in advance!

I found the fender flares on here for sale, they came off a Velocity Blue Bronco. Shipping was killer though.

The mud flaps are just universal flaps you can find at auto zone, Napa, O'Reillys..ect and just screwed to the bumper in the rear, fronts are connected to the fender flares, running board and fender liner.

 

[John Auer]

I found the fender flares on here for sale, they came off a Velocity Blue Bronco. Shipping was killer though.

The mud flaps are just universal flaps you can find at auto zone, Napa, O'Reillys..ect and just screwed to the bumper in the rear, fronts are connected to the fender flares, running board and fender liner.

That’s quite a collection you’ve got. We’ve had two Excursions, the ‘04 we had for 14 years. My wife loved that truck, but it was time to go. We’re now on our second Expedition. We love that as well, drives like a dream. I’m still waiting for my Bronco, but it’s only been 20 months. Many are waiting much longer. Mine will come sooner or later. Thanks!

 

[F OR D]

I'd have to park mine till Feb to match your yearly mileage. You must stay close to home a lot more than I do.

Both sets of your wheels look terrific.

Yeah was gonna say the same thing. Slight nod to the Traillites in bronze, with blue it looks insane good.

 

[Shesadragon]

It was 1 year ago today that I took delivery of my 4dr, 2.7, Outerbanks Sasquatch, Lux, MIC, Tow, Roast Leather. My Bronco was built 7/23/21 and sat on dirt mountain awaiting a new hard top. It shipped and arrived in Alaska about 28 days from MAP.

I have not off roaded my Bronco, other than what normal Alaskan roads throw at it. I have a side by side to get scratched and beat up. The Bronco for me was a year round daily driver convertible.

The day I took delivery 11/12/21 a day after 20" of snow fell. I'd never driven a Bronco until I drove mine off the lot. I didn't drive it in 2wd until April 2022.

At 400 miles I had studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta LT2 and ran them under April of 22 when the stock Goodyears went back on.

Over the last year, I ran with the entire top off as much as I could and absolutely loved it! This little truck just makes you smile it's hard to explain to people.

Mods are relatively tame.
-35% tinted front windows
-Factory SAS wheels powder coated bright metallic silver
-Center console organizer
-Painted standard Outerbanks fender flares (for summer)
-Thinkware f200 dash camera
-Plastic rear seat protectors
-Cargo floor liner
-Rigid 360 spot lights pillar mounted
-Universal mud flaps front/rear
-Winter wheels Motegi Traillite Bronze 17x8.5" wrapped in Nokian Hakkapeliitta snow tires


So, issues? A couple and nothing I didn't expect honestly.
-July I developed smoke coming from under the hood up through the cowl at stop lights or once parked when driven relatively hard. I investigated this and could not exactly pinpoint it, but I had oil dripping on the driver side of the engine, off a turbo coolant line, dripping on the catalytic converter. I made an appointment at my local dealer, they were 2 weeks out from getting it in. I didn't drive it much until then. I dropped it off, my advisor was out having a baby so I had a different gal, this turned out to be a huge PITA.
I dropped it off before 8am 8/2. At 10am I received a call "your oil change is done and no leaks found" obviously I said that's impossible I even sent her photos of the oil trail before it was dropped off. Long story short it took 24 days to repair a leaking valve cover. Insult to injury when I picked it up the check engine light was on! Wasted another hour to find out the EGR wasn't plugged back in correctly.
-The horn cover was replaced under warranty for the crack, the new one has already started again..maybe I use the horn to much? Haha
-A few squeaky places from the MIC top I've mostly got those taken care of.

MPG daily for me has been 15.5-16 in town and 17-19 highway with a pretty heavy foot.

I am a die hard Ford guy and I absolutely love this Bronco. I look forward to many more years and miles with it.

Photos in order from today to a year ago.

Absolutely loving the painted fenders on this SAS!!

 

[JT58Bronc]

Wow, the scenery in your photos is absolutely amazing. Your Bronco is in 4WD more than it is not. Love your commute! Mine is almost 100 miles a day in sunny hot FL. I use a commuter car, I'd put too many miles on the Bronco and burn too much gas too.

 

[John Auer]

Thanks for your review. Love the fender flares and the powder coated wheels in silver. So many guys paint the OBX SAS stock wheels, all black. I think they look great up close, but once you're more than a few feet away, they kind of get lost in the wheel wells. I won't be doing much off roading with my rig either, except taking it on the beaches here on Long Island. Although, driving NY roads could possibly count as "off roading," our roads suck!

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