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- Your Bronco Model
- Base
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- #1
Let's talk about the BaseSquatch.
First, this thread is not about arguing the BaseSquatch is "better" than your build. Everyone has their own specific preferences and needs that will determine what trim is best for them. I just want to spell out the pros and cons of getting a BaseSquatch, both for my own benefit and for other people who are looking for a highly capable value option. I'm going to do a rundown of what's missing on a BaseSquatch relative to higher-end trims and, where possible, how much it would cost for good aftermarket equivalents.
First, let's take a 2-door base and add Sasquatch and a 2.7 engine. This brings us to $39,900 MSRP. Already, we have a Bronco with the bigger engine, rear locking diff, 35s, advanced 4x4 auto, and 4.7 gearing. On the trail or the pavement, you'll already be keeping up with any factory Bronco out there. BUT, there are a good number of features that are unavailable on this trim. Let's go through them.
The rock rails on higher trims are body mounted, so I wouldn't count on them protecting your vehicle from really big hits. For about $750, you'll be able to get some really great frame mounted rails that will give you much more protection and can double as a step.
Here's the preview image from DV8 for their front bumper for a peek of what will be out there:
The only option on the base is cloth seats. Personally, I live in Sacramento where summers get up to 110, so cloth is great for me. But let's say cloth isn't for you. Time to start thinking about aftermarket seats. Let's look at Katzkin's options. Here's a link if you want to see what they do for the Jeep. Doing 4 seats in leather + installation will run you about $1200-1500. You can add heating for a $100-300 and active cooling for about +$1000.
The base also comes with carpeted floors. If you want something easier to wash, you can add the rubber floor liners for $160.
Finally, note that there is no center grab handle and there are no accent colors. I imagine you can pick up a center handle fairly cheap in the aftermarket, and the lack of interior accent colors is pretty much 100% a positive in my opinion (race red with BD blue interior anyone?).
Without Mid you're missing out on intelligent access, remote start, dual-zone AC, 110V outlet, reverse sensing, co-pilot 360, ambient footwell lighting, and heated front seats. Heated seats can be easily bought and installed for $300 or so. Footwell lighting should be pretty cheap if you even care about it. Reverse sensing seems unnecessary since you still have the backup cam. Interestingly, the standard package does actually come with remote start, but you can only use it through the Ford Pass App (see here: https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/free-remote-start-in-base-model.10827/). The biggest things you can't easily replace, in my opinion, are intelligent access and dual-zone AC.
Without high package, you're missing out on the 12" screen, the 360 camera, and mirror approach lamps. None of these really have viable aftermarket alternatives, and they are really cool features. I can definitely get why some people opt for this package, but we should also note that getting to this package will be at least $10,000 more than our BaseSquatch assuming you keep sas and 2.7.
Without Lux, the big ones you miss are adaptive cruise control, heated steering wheel, and B&O stereo. ACC and the heated steering wheel would be difficult to match aftermarket, but you can pretty easily upgrade the base speakers. It's still limited in that you only have 6 speaker cut-outs vs the 10 for the B&O system, but you will be able to get speakers that are higher-quality than B&O at a competitive price. For $1000, you can certainly get an audio system that sounds better.
The automatic sway bar disco in the badlands is awesome, but ultimately it won't matter for 95% of the off roading most owners will be doing. For the 5% that it does matter, you can get quick swaybar disconnects for $200 or so.
________________________________
I think the BaseSquatch strikes a nice balance between value and performance. There are some very cool features from higher trims that you won't be able to replicate, but for most things, you can get custom options from aftermarket suppliers that will match or beat the factory equivalents. Thoughts?
First, this thread is not about arguing the BaseSquatch is "better" than your build. Everyone has their own specific preferences and needs that will determine what trim is best for them. I just want to spell out the pros and cons of getting a BaseSquatch, both for my own benefit and for other people who are looking for a highly capable value option. I'm going to do a rundown of what's missing on a BaseSquatch relative to higher-end trims and, where possible, how much it would cost for good aftermarket equivalents.
First, let's take a 2-door base and add Sasquatch and a 2.7 engine. This brings us to $39,900 MSRP. Already, we have a Bronco with the bigger engine, rear locking diff, 35s, advanced 4x4 auto, and 4.7 gearing. On the trail or the pavement, you'll already be keeping up with any factory Bronco out there. BUT, there are a good number of features that are unavailable on this trim. Let's go through them.
- No Rock Rails/No HD Front Bumper/No Bash Plates
The rock rails on higher trims are body mounted, so I wouldn't count on them protecting your vehicle from really big hits. For about $750, you'll be able to get some really great frame mounted rails that will give you much more protection and can double as a step.
Here's the preview image from DV8 for their front bumper for a peek of what will be out there:
- No MGV Seats or Washout Interior
The only option on the base is cloth seats. Personally, I live in Sacramento where summers get up to 110, so cloth is great for me. But let's say cloth isn't for you. Time to start thinking about aftermarket seats. Let's look at Katzkin's options. Here's a link if you want to see what they do for the Jeep. Doing 4 seats in leather + installation will run you about $1200-1500. You can add heating for a $100-300 and active cooling for about +$1000.
The base also comes with carpeted floors. If you want something easier to wash, you can add the rubber floor liners for $160.
Finally, note that there is no center grab handle and there are no accent colors. I imagine you can pick up a center handle fairly cheap in the aftermarket, and the lack of interior accent colors is pretty much 100% a positive in my opinion (race red with BD blue interior anyone?).
- No Mid/High/Lux package
Without Mid you're missing out on intelligent access, remote start, dual-zone AC, 110V outlet, reverse sensing, co-pilot 360, ambient footwell lighting, and heated front seats. Heated seats can be easily bought and installed for $300 or so. Footwell lighting should be pretty cheap if you even care about it. Reverse sensing seems unnecessary since you still have the backup cam. Interestingly, the standard package does actually come with remote start, but you can only use it through the Ford Pass App (see here: https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/free-remote-start-in-base-model.10827/). The biggest things you can't easily replace, in my opinion, are intelligent access and dual-zone AC.
Without high package, you're missing out on the 12" screen, the 360 camera, and mirror approach lamps. None of these really have viable aftermarket alternatives, and they are really cool features. I can definitely get why some people opt for this package, but we should also note that getting to this package will be at least $10,000 more than our BaseSquatch assuming you keep sas and 2.7.
Without Lux, the big ones you miss are adaptive cruise control, heated steering wheel, and B&O stereo. ACC and the heated steering wheel would be difficult to match aftermarket, but you can pretty easily upgrade the base speakers. It's still limited in that you only have 6 speaker cut-outs vs the 10 for the B&O system, but you will be able to get speakers that are higher-quality than B&O at a competitive price. For $1000, you can certainly get an audio system that sounds better.
- No Towing Package/No Automatic Sway Bar Disconnect
The automatic sway bar disco in the badlands is awesome, but ultimately it won't matter for 95% of the off roading most owners will be doing. For the 5% that it does matter, you can get quick swaybar disconnects for $200 or so.
- No Area 51/Cactus Gray/Cyber Orange; No Sig Lights
________________________________
I think the BaseSquatch strikes a nice balance between value and performance. There are some very cool features from higher trims that you won't be able to replicate, but for most things, you can get custom options from aftermarket suppliers that will match or beat the factory equivalents. Thoughts?
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