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Am I the only one that thinks Bronco would have competed the FJ Cruiser?

Gaggs11

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Ford Bronco Am I the only one that thinks Bronco would have competed the FJ Cruiser? E4739700-2493-4707-A4C5-B502460A293A

Ford Bronco Am I the only one that thinks Bronco would have competed the FJ Cruiser? 01CBCF76-CD5C-4EB6-BEED-F4575C88FAFF


Yes, FJ is gone, and I think Ford is and will capitalize this niche space in a very smart way. They have started the lifestyle brand that Toyota failed in many ways. Wrangler is great, and those fans are a bit of different breed from guys who like the above, IMO.
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WuNgUn

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FJ... The thing that most likely killed it was its looks! Not even Toyota could copy their earlier models! Lol
Looks big and heavy and cumbersome...
Like a wild ?. Lol
 

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Ford Bronco Am I the only one that thinks Bronco would have competed the FJ Cruiser? index(2)


I think this is spot on. I see the Bronco as fitting right in that territory between the Wrangler and the FJ Cruiser. With the FJ gone, there's a big void for the Bronco to fill.

Personally I think the Bronco has more appeal to buyers looking for an FJ, 4-Runner, Cherokee, Hummer, Avalanche, etc. that is more like a Wrangler vs. buyers looking for a direct Wrangler alternative.
 
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jtzako

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Replacing the windshield frequently is part of the 'fun' of having an FJ... In reality though, they were not any more capable than other similar suv's around at the time. Based on what we've seen so far the Bronco will be a lot better offroad.
 

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Replacing the windshield frequently is part of the 'fun' of having an FJ... In reality though, they were not any more capable than other similar suv's around at the time. Based on what we've seen so far the Bronco will be a lot better offroad.
FJ did pretty well with a mild lift and 33s. I loved mine and it impressed off road for what it was. I do expect the Bronco to be better of course, hopefully way better.
What killed FJ was that it didn’t have a removable top or soft top option. Thats why I sold mine. That’s why it never competed well with Jeep, and after the first two years, sales plummeted. Bronco will sell way, way more than the FJ and be a true Jeep competitor and alternative.
 

sscott87

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The FJ didn’t particularly fill any void or take any significant market share. After the first 2 years, it never approached 50k sold in a year. After year 3, never passed 15k. It was a swing for the fences and a miss for mass market, too niche of a vehicle and at a time that we started to see the move away from rugged SUVs and toward efficient CUVs. It has a following, sure, but wasn’t a significant role player in any particular market after the new wore off.

The Bronco is timed right to take advantage of the return to popularity of legit SUVs during these times (even before COVID) of affordable gas. The question will be whether it builds the market to last through the market changes in a way only the Wrangler has (and 4Runner to a slightly different degree).
 

jtzako

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FJ did pretty well with a mild lift and 33s. I loved mine and it impressed off road for what it was. I do expect the Bronco to be better of course, hopefully way better.
What killed FJ was that it didn’t have a removable top or soft top option. Thats why I sold mine. That’s why it never competed well with Jeep, and after the first two years, sales plummeted. Bronco will sell way, way more than the FJ and be a true Jeep competitor and alternative.
For some very hardcore folks I'm sure the top is an issue. The FJ's issue was it was not good for pretty much anything most people would use an SUV for. It wasnt comfortable, had poor visibility due to the tiny windows, didnt have enough passenger room, had tiny rear doors that you had to open the front door to use and didnt have enough cargo space behind the 2nd row. You could get a 4runner or Xterra or a few others that worked just as well off road but were better in town etc. The every-day use issues were the main reason my brother and a few others we knew got rid of their FJs.
 

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Don’t forget about Isuzu. ? They played the same game Toyota did before FJ.

Ford is smart in offering a completely removable roof and doors. Those two things are what always has hurt would-be Wrangler competitors.

That said, they all found their own space. ?

Ford Bronco Am I the only one that thinks Bronco would have competed the FJ Cruiser? 1595901255903


Ford Bronco Am I the only one that thinks Bronco would have competed the FJ Cruiser? 1595901682541
 
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Gaggs11

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Don’t forget about Isuzu. ? They played the same game Toyota did before FJ.

Ford is smart in offering a completely removable roof and doors. Those two things are what always has hurt would-be Wrangler competitors.

That said, they all found their own space. ?

Ford Bronco Am I the only one that thinks Bronco would have competed the FJ Cruiser? 1595901682541


Ford Bronco Am I the only one that thinks Bronco would have competed the FJ Cruiser? 1595901682541
Loved the Isuzu! It was a great truck during its time
 

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Ford Bronco Am I the only one that thinks Bronco would have competed the FJ Cruiser? 1595901682541

Ford Bronco Am I the only one that thinks Bronco would have competed the FJ Cruiser? 1595901682541


Yes, FJ is gone, and I think Ford is and will capitalize this niche space in a very smart way. They have started the lifestyle brand that Toyota failed in many ways. Wrangler is great, and those fans are a bit of different breed from guys who like the above, IMO.
Yep, I've said it in many posts and caught hell for it... FJ came back with an IFS to take on the wrangler. No one lifted em much, and they never took off... one generation and done.
 

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FJ... The thing that most likely killed it was its looks! Not even Toyota could copy their earlier models! Lol
Looks big and heavy and cumbersome...
Like a wild ?. Lol
FJ... The thing that most likely killed it was its looks! Not even Toyota could copy their earlier models! Lol
Looks big and heavy and cumbersome...
Like a wild ?. Lol
As the current owner of a 2008 FJ I can tell you a lot of people stayed away because it is a rolling blind spot, horrible outward vision. Very capable off road and love that Toyota reliability.
 

AcenTitus

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Chevy Tracker anyone? (I learned to drive in one of these before learning to drive stick in our '94 Mustang)

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Bimmerxi

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As the current owner of a 2008 FJ I can tell you a lot of people stayed away because it is a rolling blind spot, horrible outward vision. Very capable off road and love that Toyota reliability.
I agree probably the best and most reliable and capable vehicle I have owned but it was a niche vehicle and not for everyone
Ford Bronco Am I the only one that thinks Bronco would have competed the FJ Cruiser? 601CA420-8A6A-4513-B01D-ADD61068E6C5
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