Ford should offer this for the lovely Bronco.

[XCR440]

While I disagree and Don't think they should make a Bronco without removable top, I could see making another vehicle on the Bronco Frame for Lincoln without out removable top. Something to compete with the G class Mercedes.

Sponsored

 

[Bronco4lyfe85]

It’s almost like you could buy a Bronco and just not remove the top and doors.

 

[dgorsett]

I will never remove the rear shell, but the I like, at least the idea of, the 'freedom panels'. My 05 Wrangler does not have them, it's the one thing I like better about the 07 ++ Wranglers.

Cruising mountain roads with the panels off, yet readily available is a nifty idea. Although my wife is definitely not the topless type so there may have to be some negotiation. Maybe I'll say I want to take the whole top off and reluctantly settle for removing the panels...

 

[RBF 1401]

I'm confused. I thought everyone joined this forum because they love and want a Bronco?

I would be buying a very different vehicle if I wanted a 4WD with a fixed roof. There are a TON of seriously-capable "closed cab" off-road trucks and SUVs out there. (And many cost less.)

The Bronco is special because it's an open air truck.

But... I can't promise that Ford might muck it up a bit since they made a big deal about saying how Bronco is "a whole family" of off-road vehicles, and make a new FSB with a fixed roof and call it a Bronco Expedition or a Bronco Overlander or maybe a Bronco Family Hauler.

 

[Brongo]

Get the painted modular top, and just never take it off.

My experience with my Jeep is basically that. Once in a blue moon we’ll take the front freedom panels off over the driver and passenger, or even the front doors, but otherwise it’s just a normal vehicle.

Good point. Add in the headliner and you're set.

 

[Bronc-O]

It’s almost like you could buy a Bronco and just not remove the top and doors.

That's my plan.

 

[duc135]

Personally, I would prefer a Bronco with a non-removable roof. I much prefer a moon-roof to a removable top. There is no other SUV that is as capable as the Bronco in the same price range that has a traditional non-removable roof.

Why would past history of a vehicle dictate what can be offered on a new, upgraded model? Why would people who want a non-removable top be told to buy a CUV like we are any less of an outdoor type person that would want the full off-road capabilities of the Bronco?

People mention the 4Runner, but have we forgotten that the original 4Runners were also once available with a partial removable top? There is a lot of precedence for multiple roof options for the same model vehicles. VW Rabbit, VW Bug, Ford Mustang, Chevy Corvette, etc. It can't be that big of a money loss or technically difficult to do if there are so many out there.

 

[intothegnar]

Personally, I would prefer a Bronco with a non-removable roof. I much prefer a moon-roof to a removable top. There is no other SUV that is as capable as the Bronco in the same price range that has a traditional non-removable roof.

Why would past history of a vehicle dictate what can be offered on a new, upgraded model? Why would people who want a non-removable top be told to buy a CUV like we are any less of an outdoor type person that would want the full off-road capabilities of the Bronco?

People mention the 4Runner, but have we forgotten that the original 4Runners were also once available with a partial removable top? There is a lot of precedence for multiple roof options for the same model vehicles. VW Rabbit, VW Bug, Ford Mustang, Chevy Corvette, etc. It can't be that big of a money loss or technically difficult to do if there are so many out there.

Or a single removal glass panel, instead of four separate opaque panels (or two in the case of 2dr) unless crash safety makes this difficult to pull.

 

[Toccoa]

Personally, I would prefer a Bronco with a non-removable roof. I much prefer a moon-roof to a removable top. There is no other SUV that is as capable as the Bronco in the same price range that has a traditional non-removable roof.

4Runner says hello! I mean, the damm thing is a legend. If it had the correct number of doors, a stick, and the Bronco wasn’t so sexy; I’d be looking it.

 

[duc135]

4Runner says hello! I mean, the damm thing is a legend. If it had the correct number of doors, a stick, and the Bronco wasn’t so sexy; I’d be looking it.

Ever try to fit a 35" tire in a 4Runner? Not that easy. Even 33" tires require quite a bit of work. Whereas the Bronco comes from the factory with 35" tires on some trims. Bronco engine has a lot more power than the 4Runner. Like I said, there are no choices in the Bronco price range that can compare. I'm a huge Toyota fan, but the current 4Runner just can't compete with the Bronco specs. We'll see what the 6th gen will bring.

 

[scottyb907]

Yeah No Thanks.... Not in the Bronco heritage, maybe a Bronco Sport Badlands or Chevy Trail Blazer is move your style?

 

[Hoofnmouth]

Awesome idea call it the trojan horse.

 

[duc135]

Yeah No Thanks.... Not in the Bronco heritage, maybe a Bronco Sport Badlands or Chevy Trail Blazer is move your style?

Again, why is that if someone doesn't want the removable top they automatically get a recommendation for a CUV or some other vehicle not built for off-roading like the Bronco? Why the assumption that if a person doesn't want removable doors and tops that person must not need a true off-roading capable rig?

I never understood that mentality. It's the same on the Jeep forums. As soon as someone states, they prefer a solid top and non-removable doors, members start recommending they turn in their man cards and get an EV crossover because true off-road enthusiast have to drive with the doors and top off.

If you want to get into heritage, only the 1st and 5th gen Broncos had completely removable tops. The 2nd - 4th gen had a removable top over just the rear seats and rear cab much like the older 4Runners. Not sure if all Broncos had removable doors either. There are a lot of major things different between the original Broncos and the 6th gen. You can't use "heritage" as an excuse when it serves your purpose and ignore the rest.

 

[jwoobs]

Well 4runner sold 129k units in 2020, while wrangler sold 201k. So the market prefers removable tops 3:2.

Then you have to consider how many incremental customers you would get that absolutely refuse to buy a removable top vehicle. (I bet that number is very small, and further I bet the inverse position of people that demand a convertible is pretty big). Then take that number of extra customers and determine if they are enough to pay for the extra engineering and tooling and plant complexity.

Non removable doors wouldn't be any cost reduction, realistically. They are pretty much regular doors but with a waterproof flap for when the electrical harness is unplugged. Maybe you offer the door bags as a $200 option?

Then there's the fixed roof. Without putting too much effort into research, the base crew cab 4x4 ranger starts at $31k (and doesn't include some bronco features), while the base 4 door bronco starts at $33k. Again, I don't think a <$2000 difference is going to pull in customers that are otherwise on the fence.

 

[duc135]

Well 4runner sold 129k units in 2020, while wrangler sold 201k. So the market prefers removable tops 3:2.

Then you have to consider how many incremental customers you would get that absolutely refuse to buy a removable top vehicle. (I bet that number is very small, and further I bet the inverse position of people that demand a convertible is pretty big). Then take that number of extra customers and determine if they are enough to pay for the extra engineering and tooling and plant complexity.

Non removable doors wouldn't be any cost reduction, realistically. They are pretty much regular doors but with a waterproof flap for when the electrical harness is unplugged. Maybe you offer the door bags as a $200 option?

Then there's the fixed roof. Without putting too much effort into research, the base crew cab 4x4 ranger starts at $31k (and doesn't include some bronco features), while the base 4 door bronco starts at $33k. Again, I don't think a <$2000 difference is going to pull in customers that are otherwise on the fence.

Your arguments are not valid. Do you really think the only reason the Wrangler outsells the 4Runner because of the removable tops and doors? Could there be any other possibility? Say because it's a better off-roading rig? Or maybe some people just like the looks of it even with the top on? I know of at least 2 Wrangler owners (one household has three Wranglers in the driveway) on my street that have NEVER removed the tops and I live in SoCal where we only have spring and summer seasons.

As for being cost effective to have two body versions. How do you explain cars like the Corvette? They have a convertible and a coupe. Worldwide, they sell less than a third of what the 4Runner sells in just the US alone.

Just to be clear, I never said Ford needs to do this or else I wouldn't buy one. The Bronco is still on the table for me. I'm just saying that I agree with the OP and would prefer a non removable hardtop with a sunroof option over having a removable top (with all it's shortcomings) that I will never use. It's a preference. Nothing more, nothing less.

I was once considering the Wrangler JL until I heard about all the major issues they've been having with the steering, welds, electrical, etc. The design of the removable hardtop dumping water runoff into the cab (known issue due to design) was just the straw that broke the camel's back.

It will be an interesting next couple of years as other manufacturers step up their game (I assume and hope) to respond to the Bronco.

Sponsored