Convertible experience with a Bronco

[Sig Oris]

Good Day All,

my first post is a question, surprise surprise.

my wife and I are both retired, 65 & 68 and we are planning on ordering a MY26 Mustang GT convertible, POTUS sale weekend, to use for day trips when we’re not out and about with our TT.

as we live in western Maine, about a half hour drive to Mt Washington in NH for GEO location, the STANG would be in a lay up status say November to April to avoid winter crud. So a Bronco would be a more practical year round second vehicle. We have a 4WD F150 so that need is addressed.

i couldn’t make heads or tales from the Ford site about roof options to get the convertible experience from a Bronco so i thought who better to ask than owners.

so my question is, what do I need to order to get a convertible experience with a Bronco? Any pics you folks have enjoying your Bronco with the top down would be awesome.

thanks in advance

John

Sponsored

 

[23OBX2.7]

Mustang convertible with wind blocker (must have) is amazing I've driven on the highway with up to med heavy rain and don't get any splatter after 45, also, with heat and seats on and scarf can dive comfortably down to 50F.

Bronco soft top has zero rattles and squeaks like hard tops. Thermal performance in extreme cold is fine since doesn't convect like steel or composites. Flipping back any portion of roof takes some stretch, maybe stand on side boards, and strength while removing hard top panels even more awkward. Recommend getting power top if can take the cost hit.

Lots of wind turbulence in bronco over 40, uncomfortable unless it's over 85F, need to wear hat if longer hair No effective wind blocker like avail for Mustang (I will get one fabricated).

If no plans for Bronco convertible get soft top or maybe painted top also Ford Performance B and C brace a must to eliminate rattle and creak caused by body twisting.

Overall I'd rank the Bronco convertible experience in stock form a 10 under 45 at temps above 65F and a 2 over 45-55 at temps above 80F due to extreme wind buffeting.

 

[DALOLA]

so my question is, what do I need to order to get a convertible experience with a Bronco? Any pics you folks have enjoying your Bronco with the top down would be awesome.

Not sure what you mean here.... all Bronco's are convertibles. You just have different top options, but they all come off. None will be a calm, serene experience.

Since you asked...

 

[Sig Oris]

Not sure what you mean here.... all Bronco's are convertibles. You just have different top options, but they all come off. None will be a calm, serene experience.

Since you asked...

im not into Broncos so that’s why I joined this forum. Likely it’s me, but I didn’t gather much info about the roofs on the Bronco from the Ford website. That’s for an understanding how the B looks topless.

 

[Rick66]

We absolutely love our 2dr with the @bestop Sunrider flip back that replaces the front panels of the standard hardtop.

Waterproof, car wash proof, not much more noise at freeway speed over the hardtop, and has the ability to open in under 5 seconds. I throw it back at a stop sign. With the heated cloth seats and the heat on, I have enjoyed open top sunny days as cold as 45 degrees. When rain pops up,close it up from the driver seat just as quickly. I cruise the freeway with the top back, side windows up, and its very comfortable. If the Bronco was not my primary vehicle, I would leave it on year round. But in MN, the solid roof is preferred about 5 months of the year. Good luck in your search, and enjoy the Bronco experience!

 

[BlueWaffle]

Fellow Mainer here.... Go for the bronco. Western Maine is.. as you know.. full of all sorts of fun roads & areas to explore that a mustang wouldn't be able to manage.

Jericho mt State Park in Berlin NH... Pretty park.. but also has the northeasts ONLY club built&maintained off road trails on public land..

 

[Oldhippie]

Bronco is kind’a a fail as a ”convertible”…it kinda is either a vehicle with a top or a vehicle without a top…with a hardtop you need to remove the bolts, lift the top off and store it somewher (can’t take it with ya)…with a soft top you need to remove the side panels, store them somewhere and manually fold the top down (Not a easy, fast process)...the mustang ya push a button and wait a few seconds, up or down…I loved my mustang with the top down…I have never taken the top off my bronco…Good Luck…

 

[23OBX2.7]

I picked up a rare 6K mile Mustang HPP black on black at huge discount, PPF the entire car, upgraded sound to Audison & Hertz added Eibach rear sway bar and hardwired police countermeasures, and set of HPP size winters tires.

Drove it year round. The ESC is amazing. If there was so much snow would have issues not smart to drive anyway. Took it deep into mountains in middle winter no issues. It was primarily inner city and mountain car.

Only reasons sold it at a $7K profit after lease buy out was the third world roads, despite Canadians having total combined tax burden of 54-80%, was getting too much, the installation of endless bike lanes drove a desire for curb, median and plastic pylon capbility (just need to add full composite underbody protection), endless unpaved 3rd world roads to explore since the very limited paved roads were all explored already w top down, and the crazy deal on NOS 23OBX2.7 Lux 2.7 with 4A and bronze / brown fabric interior.

Best vehicle for 3rd world conditions but Ford parts avail is a comedy plus service and dealer experience is horrific mainly due to all the failed loser entitled people that permeate every dealer here - in sharp contrast to the amazing experience at both BYD and Porsche dealers in MX.

I will never pay full price for any Ford ever. Its a shame the quality and service is so poor (0.3 /10) when the final product of both Mustang and Bronco are so appealing to me. It like owning a 1981 Alfa.

 

[not on the rug]

Stay away from the MIC tops and do a painted top if you go for a hard top. The MIC top is garbage.
Other than that, it's personal preference. I have a MIC top because I got mine before learning they were junk. Some guys like hard tops and others like soft tops. I'm not a fan of soft tops for all of the standard reasons.
I have zero squeaks and rattles from my hard top at all, but some guys do. I personally didn't buy the Bronco to take the top off frequently, so that wasn't a selling point as much as door removal was. I love the doors off and have them off as frequently as possible. Door removal is super easy. Roof removal is pretty easy too.

 

[Easy-v]

Bronco is kind’a a fail as a ”convertible”…it kinda is either a vehicle with a top or a vehicle without a top…with a hardtop you need to remove the bolts, lift the top off and store it somewher (can’t take it with ya)…with a soft top you need to remove the side panels, store them somewhere and manually fold the top down (Not a easy, fast process)...the mustang ya push a button and wait a few seconds, up or down…I loved my mustang with the top down…I have never taken the top off my bronco…Good Luck…

Actually, I disagree.
You clearly do not use your soft top a lot if you find taking the sides and back off anoverwhelming labor. It takes five minutes tops maybe less and you can throw them in the back. It takes a few more minutes if you get the case for your windows.

 

[Techun]

At your age, removing the hard top panels is a 2 person job. It's easier the taller you both are...

 

[Nc211]

Soft top is nice, but not terribly user friendly to lower all the way and get back up. Does take some strength and effort, especially when fully retracted all the way back. It goes in two stages - (1) flips open for all passenger area exposure, (2) all the way back to the spare wheel. At night, it's wonderful under the stars. Not a cruiser though like a sports car would be, aerodynamics just aren't there for that in general. But like said above, 45mph and below, it's great.

You have to remove the windows first to fully lower it down.

You see in my photo the black plastic pieces along the back of the roll bar by the cargo area? You will 100% want to get them, as the soft top will scratch the crap out of the paint of the exposed roll bar in that area. They're not expensive, many 3rd party options for the protection (mine shown are from IAG).

In my photo, this is called "safari mode", and it is fantastic! Keeps the sun off of me while enjoying the open air cabin. I rarely lower my soft top in general, just cruise around like this instead.

The Brono's HVAC for the front seats is very very good. You're close to the vents, and it blows hot/cold very hard. Match with the Lux package for the heated seats and steering wheel, and it makes for a relaxing drive in the spring and fall. AC blows so cold that it'll condensate on the vents and dash in high humidity situations sometimes (think coastal).

If you have the room to store it (garage ceiling with a winch is ideal), I would recommend the dual top option, especially in Maine. I swap out for the HT around Thanksgiving and again back to the ST around Easter. It's not a particularly hard process to swap them out, but not a one-man-band chore either. The ST is a bit clumsy (and heavy) to get seated in the back initially. Once seated, it's a few shared bolts from the HT and you're on your way. Takes two people to remove and reinstall/position. Once seated, it's a one person process to bolt down.

 

[BlueBronco]

Broncos come from the factory with 3 tops options (for the 4-door):

soft top - four door only from the factory, release two clamps and it can be flipped back, remove the rear vinyl windows and undo another latch to stow the top all the way back. Can get real noisy at highway speeds in the closed position

MIC hardtop - QC issues early, somewhat resolved. 4-door comes off in 4 pieces, 2-door in 3 pieces. Both have two piece panels above the front seats (think old t-tops) that easily come off, one big middle piece over the rear seat (4-door only) then the rear clamshell (a bit larger for the 2-door). The MIC top has a textured finish and only available in a carbonized gray looking color.

MOD hardtop - same panel design / configuration as the MIC. Better quality and has a smooth painted finish. Available in different colors.

These tops are made to come off so they can be noisy. Best to do some test driving. Both hardtops have sound deadening material options that helps out some, and there are tips and tricks posted on the forum to decrease sound levels further but they will never be as quiet as fixed top vehicle.

If you went with one of the hardtops, consider buying one of the available removal assist tools or build a winch system for your garage. Or else, hardtop removal is a 2-person job, and while the pieces aren't overly heavy, the clamshell can be awkward to handle (be careful setting down so you don't bust the guide pins)

As far as the open air experience, unbeatable.

There are also aftermarket options for hard tops and soft tops and what not. Bestop now makes a powered soft top for both 2 and 4 door that stows with a push of a button. It is also less noisy than the factory soft top. They also make a sunrider soft top that replaces the front panels on the hardtop.

Oh, and the doors come off too. Here are a bunch of gratuitous pics of my first bronco in various mod stages and soft top open positions to give you ideas and inspiration.

Safari mode with doors off (would be awesome in Maine summer months):

All the way back for a little mall crawling:

You can also take the soft top all the way for the clean look. However, the soft top is really awkward and unbalanced to remove fully. And tube doors

Closed top, no doors (or fenders, they come off easily too)

 

[battering ram]

Or get a hard top and remove the panels.

front 2 you can easily do yourself. Middle section will take 2 people at your age.
Back section you might need 2-3 or buy the lift for it

doors I do myself at age 55 but the front ones are a struggle.
There’s nothing like having the doors off. A very unique experience.

 

[Sparkherd]

I've got the MIC top on my 2 dr 22 Badlands, no problems yet. But parking is in the garage.
Taking the front "T-Tops" off is a five minute job. Figuring out whether to leave/take them is a bigger problem.
I bought a Rampage black soft top new for $825. Takes about an hour to swap out, and an extra peep to help remove the back part of the hard top. It is very functional, and wind noise is not that bad. I don't think I'd drive cross country in it tho.
Why not have both?

Sponsored