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Spent 1.5 years using 3 different Broncos to build up a nice daily for my son - 1995 EB Bronco. 6" lift, 35s etc. Wife, who has always been a convertible person, kept trying to talk me into keeping one of the parts Broncos to build up....but I already have her '84 GMC K1500 short bed that was line up next, so that wasn't happening.
Then the new Bronco reveal and all that happened. I showed it to her, she liked it - but we both thought it would be goofy to order a brand new vehicle without every driving one. So first week of December, the dealer I've known for years (bought multiple new cars from them) finally got a Mannequin in.
2dr (honestly don't remember which trim level) they paired up with the local 4WP and had steps, spacers, wheels and 35s installed. 2.3 and 3.73 gears. I had my wife test drive it and she really liked it. Before that test drive I was pretty set on ordering (if we did at all) the 2.7. But after test driving the Mannequin and playing with Sport mode - I was fine with the 2.3.
So we decided to spec it out and order it. It would replace the wife's '17 Mustang Ecoboost Prem ragtop as her daily driver. Which is kind of funny, considering she worked 99% from home BEFORE all this COVID stuff. In fact, she put 1800 miles on her car in a 6 month time frame. Whenever we went anywhere, we always took my '19 Mustang GT 6 speed or our '12 F150 FX4.
Unfortunately the dealer in question - I know the GM and Sales Mgr from way back - but their new "point man" for Bronco orders was a disappointment. Look, I grew up around and in the car business. I get it. But I had the full build and price done, all this guy had to do was take my deposit, confirm my order and sent me a buyer's order to date / sign. I could never get a hold of him and he never replied to emails (even though he said he preferred email responses). I was okay with MSRP (all my purchases from them before the Bronco were new and well below invoice) but being as he was getting orders for Broncos with ADM - I guess he didn't give a shit about me. Fair enough. Called a few friends, they recommended another local dealer.
Called and spoke with their new car sales mgr. Literally sent him my detailed build and price, he sent me a signed buyer's order, I called in a deposit and the order was DONE. Didn't have to go in - MSRP - zero issues. That was 12/7/21.
At this point, I had joined and searched these forums. I figured it was going to be FALL 22 or later before we saw our Bronco - and we were okay with that.
February rolls around and I get a phone call from the dealer - we got pulled for production and we issued a VIN. I was shocked - as was he actually. They had quite a few allocations and do quite a bit of volume - but still. I feel bad that there are still reservation holders still waiting....but it is what it is.
FWIW 2 dr BB, 2.3 Auto, Mid package, mod bumper, brush guard, roof rack (wife wanted it), steps and I added AUX switches, and door bags. Wife was ALL about Area 51 from the get.
We got a 4/12 build date...but after I checked OASIS, looks like it was a 4/19 build.
Tracked it via Norfolk Southern railroad (I have a friend with the railroad - then I found the trackers here - so that was kind of ironic) and then tracked it once it got loaded on a truck for delivery to the dealer (about 30 miles from the railyard holding facility) - shout out to B6G members for being able to set that up.
By this time, I had been handed off to a salesman. Great guy. He's young and they hadn't received but one 2dr Bronco so far, he seemed as excited as my wife LOL.
I did let him know that when it arrived, I nicely request they do their PDI but don't remove any plastic, don't drill the bumper for the front plate (VA requirement) and no detail. I'm not a detail fanatic - but again, I've been around the business. Removing rail dust and checking OEM paint flaws on delivery is hard after a "detail" from the dealer crew. NOTE - I'm sure some dealers have great detail departments - just not my choice.
So a few days before - my wife and I met up at the dealer to get a number on her trade. I met her up there in my '19 Mustang GT. The used car sales mgr was there that Saturday morning as I pulled in. My Mustang had a few mods. He commented on the exhaust when I pulled up. Asked if I was trading it in on the Bronco. I laughed and said no. I JOKINGLY said if he gave me a certain amount for it - he could buy it from me. About 30 minutes later, he offered me what I PAID FOR IT NEW in '19 - and it had 30K on it. Couldn't turn that down. I have a paid off '12 F150 FX4 5.0 with only 69K on it that I can daily.
They offered us MORE than what we paid for my wife's '17 Mustang convertible used in '18.
When I called to get our preapproval from my CU for the Bronco financing, she made fun of me about selling my Mustang...I had just refinanced it with them.
I let the salesman know up front (again NICELY) that we had financing, and we wouldn't be purchasing any add ons.
By this time, I already knew we'd be upgrading wheels and tires, so the tires were waiting at Discount Tire and the wheels were already in my shop in the boxes.
5/4/22 - went to the dealer and picked it up.
I started removing plastic, installing mats etc. The wife went around and inspected the paint etc. As we pulled plastic off everything, the salesman was amused. He'd never had a customer request this like I did. While we were doing it, he commented "It's kind of like opening a present on Christmas morning isn't it?" LOL
Got the paperwork done and we drove it home (5 miles on it). Wife couldn't stop grinning. Pulled it in the shop, I yanked the front crash bars. They came out w/o a lot of drama. I did end up loosening the end caps of the mod bumper and did have to remove one OEM side step end cap. Folded the seats and loaded up the wheels - I already had an appointment at Discount Tire.
Wife isn't what I would call a "Car" person, while I've been building / modding / wrenching for over 30 years. (I started young LOL). Even she couldn't believe the difference with the new wheels and tires. I had done the math and some homework - so I figured the 17x8.5 0 offset Motegi Trailites and Nitto Terra Grappler G2s in 315/70/17 would fit nice.
Shout out to Discount Tire - crew there did a great job as always. A few of 'em asked to take pictures of it. My wife was tripping out. Later she told me she was worried how it would drive with the bigger tires / wheels. She said she likes it better all the way around.
Then the new Bronco reveal and all that happened. I showed it to her, she liked it - but we both thought it would be goofy to order a brand new vehicle without every driving one. So first week of December, the dealer I've known for years (bought multiple new cars from them) finally got a Mannequin in.
2dr (honestly don't remember which trim level) they paired up with the local 4WP and had steps, spacers, wheels and 35s installed. 2.3 and 3.73 gears. I had my wife test drive it and she really liked it. Before that test drive I was pretty set on ordering (if we did at all) the 2.7. But after test driving the Mannequin and playing with Sport mode - I was fine with the 2.3.
So we decided to spec it out and order it. It would replace the wife's '17 Mustang Ecoboost Prem ragtop as her daily driver. Which is kind of funny, considering she worked 99% from home BEFORE all this COVID stuff. In fact, she put 1800 miles on her car in a 6 month time frame. Whenever we went anywhere, we always took my '19 Mustang GT 6 speed or our '12 F150 FX4.
Unfortunately the dealer in question - I know the GM and Sales Mgr from way back - but their new "point man" for Bronco orders was a disappointment. Look, I grew up around and in the car business. I get it. But I had the full build and price done, all this guy had to do was take my deposit, confirm my order and sent me a buyer's order to date / sign. I could never get a hold of him and he never replied to emails (even though he said he preferred email responses). I was okay with MSRP (all my purchases from them before the Bronco were new and well below invoice) but being as he was getting orders for Broncos with ADM - I guess he didn't give a shit about me. Fair enough. Called a few friends, they recommended another local dealer.
Called and spoke with their new car sales mgr. Literally sent him my detailed build and price, he sent me a signed buyer's order, I called in a deposit and the order was DONE. Didn't have to go in - MSRP - zero issues. That was 12/7/21.
At this point, I had joined and searched these forums. I figured it was going to be FALL 22 or later before we saw our Bronco - and we were okay with that.
February rolls around and I get a phone call from the dealer - we got pulled for production and we issued a VIN. I was shocked - as was he actually. They had quite a few allocations and do quite a bit of volume - but still. I feel bad that there are still reservation holders still waiting....but it is what it is.
FWIW 2 dr BB, 2.3 Auto, Mid package, mod bumper, brush guard, roof rack (wife wanted it), steps and I added AUX switches, and door bags. Wife was ALL about Area 51 from the get.
We got a 4/12 build date...but after I checked OASIS, looks like it was a 4/19 build.
Tracked it via Norfolk Southern railroad (I have a friend with the railroad - then I found the trackers here - so that was kind of ironic) and then tracked it once it got loaded on a truck for delivery to the dealer (about 30 miles from the railyard holding facility) - shout out to B6G members for being able to set that up.
By this time, I had been handed off to a salesman. Great guy. He's young and they hadn't received but one 2dr Bronco so far, he seemed as excited as my wife LOL.
I did let him know that when it arrived, I nicely request they do their PDI but don't remove any plastic, don't drill the bumper for the front plate (VA requirement) and no detail. I'm not a detail fanatic - but again, I've been around the business. Removing rail dust and checking OEM paint flaws on delivery is hard after a "detail" from the dealer crew. NOTE - I'm sure some dealers have great detail departments - just not my choice.
So a few days before - my wife and I met up at the dealer to get a number on her trade. I met her up there in my '19 Mustang GT. The used car sales mgr was there that Saturday morning as I pulled in. My Mustang had a few mods. He commented on the exhaust when I pulled up. Asked if I was trading it in on the Bronco. I laughed and said no. I JOKINGLY said if he gave me a certain amount for it - he could buy it from me. About 30 minutes later, he offered me what I PAID FOR IT NEW in '19 - and it had 30K on it. Couldn't turn that down. I have a paid off '12 F150 FX4 5.0 with only 69K on it that I can daily.
They offered us MORE than what we paid for my wife's '17 Mustang convertible used in '18.
When I called to get our preapproval from my CU for the Bronco financing, she made fun of me about selling my Mustang...I had just refinanced it with them.
I let the salesman know up front (again NICELY) that we had financing, and we wouldn't be purchasing any add ons.
By this time, I already knew we'd be upgrading wheels and tires, so the tires were waiting at Discount Tire and the wheels were already in my shop in the boxes.
5/4/22 - went to the dealer and picked it up.
I started removing plastic, installing mats etc. The wife went around and inspected the paint etc. As we pulled plastic off everything, the salesman was amused. He'd never had a customer request this like I did. While we were doing it, he commented "It's kind of like opening a present on Christmas morning isn't it?" LOL
Got the paperwork done and we drove it home (5 miles on it). Wife couldn't stop grinning. Pulled it in the shop, I yanked the front crash bars. They came out w/o a lot of drama. I did end up loosening the end caps of the mod bumper and did have to remove one OEM side step end cap. Folded the seats and loaded up the wheels - I already had an appointment at Discount Tire.
Wife isn't what I would call a "Car" person, while I've been building / modding / wrenching for over 30 years. (I started young LOL). Even she couldn't believe the difference with the new wheels and tires. I had done the math and some homework - so I figured the 17x8.5 0 offset Motegi Trailites and Nitto Terra Grappler G2s in 315/70/17 would fit nice.
Shout out to Discount Tire - crew there did a great job as always. A few of 'em asked to take pictures of it. My wife was tripping out. Later she told me she was worried how it would drive with the bigger tires / wheels. She said she likes it better all the way around.
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