Black Diamond vs. Base

[BigDaddySquatch]

Black Diamond, just can't get past the interior upgrades and the rear locker. It is even a bigger difference if you want an auto transmission and the 4.46 gears.

Otherwise it's a base no option with a manual transmission.

People keep saying rear locker, but wouldn’t I get that with Base Sas?

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[DA JUICE]

People keep saying rear locker, but wouldn’t I get that with Base Sas?

Yes, you get front and rear lockers with the Sas option. I felt like the Base w/ SAS is the most bang for the buck option of the Bronco lineup.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Current bronco is a Base, manual , non-Squatch 2dr.
Squatch or not, it is tough to argue against a Base and any other comparable trim. The $5000 Big Bend tax is nearly impossible to overcome.

Next Bronco will be a 4dr, Squatch Black Diamond.
Once you look at the 4 door and the forced auto in the Base, some of the price advantage goes away when you equip them similarly.

In this climate, at my age, I really want the heated seats and remote start this go around , so the Base is out.
I also have a liking for the MGV and Mod bumpers, etc, so the Black Diamond beats out the Big Bend, and the Badlands just didn't have enough "more stuff" to justify the next couple grand it cost, even though I'd probably prefer the 33's.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Yes, you get front and rear lockers with the Sas option. I felt like the Base w/ SAS is the most bang for the buck option of the Bronco lineup.

As long as you're comparing similars ... Squatch to Squatch or Non vs non ... the Base is easily the value leader.
As I recall, the Squatch Base was still cheaper or close to the non-Squatch Big Bends/Back Diamonds ... and that's a tough call to make.
Mid comfort or rugged off-roader???

Rugged and comfy offroader ... add $8 grand mnimum, LOL.

 

[sjjohnny]

Lol, depends on your use... if you are topless most of the year... get the heated seats, your girlfriend will love you.

 

[AZ_Liberty]

BD is $39.5K (2022 price)
Base is $32.9K (2022)

Sasquatch adds $7400 to the Base price to make it $40.3k

So for $800 more you get a front locker and a far more capable suspension. And worse gas mileage, and cloth instead of MGV.

So while I think that $7400 is a lot of money for the Sasquatch package, as HoosierDaddy says, the $4500 Big Bend tax is a huge obstacle to overcome. You are basically paying four and a half grand for the privilege of spending more money on options.

I'd really like a rear locker (honestly I'd prefer a limited slip) but to add a rear locker you need to pay an extra $5300 over the Base price (and get a way uglier grill) That's just not worth it for me.

 

[EveryDayBronco]

2 door base, manual, is biggest bang for your money.

Only other choice that makes sense is the base sasquatch but only if you're genuinely going to need that capability. Most broncos will be perfectly fine with open diff's and some driver skill.

Mods for base to bring the looks up a few levels:
- take off wheels & tires, $500-$900, lots available!
- white letter kit for grill, $25.

Most will never take it off pavement, the remaining few will never take off dirt roads and I expect very very few will actually rock crawl on regular basis to justify it. Those on youtube demonstrating it are there to sell you something.

If you got the ca$h to burn then get what-ever trim you desire but for regular working dude, base with take-offs is the ticket!

I should add, interest is super high right now. It added $4,500 to the cost of my base. The $33,000 base + tax + registration + interest totals over $40,000!

 

[Mpatient1]

To the original question, BD has MID package availability, vinyl seats, wash out floors, tow availability, steel bumpers standard w/skid plate, and if going 4 door underside skid/bash plates (2 doors have the gas tank plate on all trims)

I still go back and forth on what I should have done... I couldn't justify the cost of BD Sasq/BL, Base² really would meet my needs, but looking at a daily driver I wanted the Mid... The cost of BD w/Mid did make it hard not to go with Base Squatch for the samish cost... but again I really don't need all that so I stuck to my first choice from the beginning, BD Mid. But both Base² and BaseSquatch respective values do make me question myself at times.

 

[mpeugeot]

Black diamond is a nice trim level if you are going to use the bronco like a bronco. Like he said above you can get the mid package things like heated seats better radio and power options. Also you get all the GOAT modes on the 4x4 shift dial. You get the rear locker. Better front bumper than the base. Rock rails. Fog lights.

I have a black diamond and a badlands both mid package. If I was buying a bronco to really use it off road and as an adventure vehicle I would get a black diamond.

Any Bronco can have all of the GOAT modes.

It all depends on how important the package features are to you. Mid-package isn't available on the Base model. If you want high or lux, you can't even get those without stepping up to the OBX, Badlands, or WildTrak.

The base is fine for people rolling their own off-road Bronco.

My OBX has an identity crisis...

It thinks that it is a non-sasquatch Badlands Lux package with Black Diamond rims and tires.

 

[Garemlin]

Ford is the master of upsell. They know what to include and omit to jump you up to a more expensive trim. For me a base would not do. I wanted MGV and washout interior. Having a toddler in tow all the time makes clean up easier. I would have considered a Big Bend but wanted Advance 4x4. Not available on a BB without Sasquatch. I also wanted a few of the creature comforts in the mid package. The one thing I will never figure out is why they make signature lighting an option on the BB but not on the BD.

 

[Lowcountry Bronco]

Ford is the master of upsell. They know what to include and omit to jump you up to a more expensive trim. For me a base would not do. I wanted MGV and washout interior. Having a toddler in tow all the time makes clean up easier. I would have considered a Big Bend but wanted Advance 4x4. Not available on a BB without Sasquatch. I also wanted a few of the creature comforts in the mid package. The one thing I will never figure out is why they make signature lighting an option on the BB but not on the BD.

IMO base and BD are definitely the most heritage based Bronco, grille and standard lights and lack of lux items. Yes I like upsell too but all I can see when I look at the signature lights is this:

 

[evilletruck]

Wash out floor was deciding factor for me. still blows my mind that it is not available on base model. was only reason I went BD over base.

 

[‘21OBX]

If your going sas and are handy or want to spend a little $. Base is the way to go. You can add vinyl or leather from katskins for $1600ish bucks. Can add heated and ir cooled seats from them too at a later date. Window Tint is $250 ish. The underbody protection if not included in sas can be had too. The only thing I’ve not been able to get that I want is the wash out floors. But at some point it should be available from ford or aftermarket. Junk yard at least.
base Sasquatch is a great value and starting point to customize it the way you want.

 

[JT58Bronc]

I also initially ordered a Black Diamond. It sounded so good with the vinyl seats, wash out interior, rear locker, steel bumpers, etc. But it had the slightly smaller tires and then thinking about how I don't really like the "hot" leather seats in my C6 Corvette, I started to re-think that I wanted cloth seats. So when it came time to order I went with a Base Sasquatch 2.7. Very happy with my decision.

 

[Stache12]

If it was in my budget I would have gone BD with Sasquatch. I hate carpet in vehicles and the seats with MID would have been nice. The only thing I really needed that Base didn't give me was tow package, which took 30min to add on my own, and I saved a few hundred from the factory option. If the options that BD gives you isn't worth the money in your mind, then I think you would be more than happy with Base. I am.

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