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Thinking about a Bronco

not on the rug

Wildtrak
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On another note, how do you feel about 2dr vs 4dr? My kids are grown, so I don't often need a back seat. And I think the 2 door looks a lot better than the 4. Looks are subjective, but with the back seats folded down, you still have a fair amount of storage, right?
The 4 door guys (me included) love their 4 doors. The 2 door guys love their 2 doors. Major difference is that the 4 door actually has room for what you want/need to bring with you while the 2 door guys have to struggle with creative solutions and flood the forum with complaints about storage space. The 4 door also has a ton more aftermarket support in many areas, so depending on how you're going to build it, that could sway your choice.
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HighVelocity

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The 2.3 vs the 2.7 is only about 30hp difference but nearly 100 lb-ft of tq. I don't know why guys love to leave that number out. The difference is quite noticeable.
It needs the extra torque to make up for the slushbox, especially in the station wagons!
 

userdude

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On another note, how do you feel about 2dr vs 4dr? My kids are grown, so I don't often need a back seat. And I think the 2 door looks a lot better than the 4. Looks are subjective, but with the back seats folded down, you still have a fair amount of storage, right?
I've got a 2dr BL Sas 2.3 w/auto and it's great. The 4dr will excel at some things like bringing home lumber or overlanding a bunch of gear to the wild; the 2dr is easier to park and cleanup after a day out. lol You can't go wrong either way. Beware, though, just asking the question and stating an opinion one way or the other brings out the trolls and fanboys. Drive both and see what you think.
 

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It needs the extra torque to make up for the slushbox, especially in the station wagons!
The 2 door is 186lbs lighter. Based on the average fatsss these days, I'd say me being fit and athletic makes up the difference. So, weight is a wash. The auto tranny isn't terrible in sport mode. It's not great in normal mode. It shifts too early and seems to always be hunting for gears. I can see how people who test drive an auto in normal mode wouldn't like it at all. Too bad Ford doesn't make the 2.7 with a manual....
 

Squatch

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I had 3 manual Jeep wranglers over roughly 15 years here so I can chime in here. One TJ 4 banger, a 2 door JK with stick and a Rubicon manual.

I went with a 2025 4 door 7 speed manual heritage and left behind my 4 door 2021 Rubicon. Stock my Bronco has way more get up and go than the Wrangler and the stick shift is quite a bit smoother. More car like vs truck like and the Bronco may be impossible to stall. The Bronco is better around town and on highway, driving is more comfortable.

I installed the Ford Procal Tuner a month or so ago and now it's a completely different beast. 333hp and 415 lb ft of trq made a high difference for 700 bucks+150 installed to keep my warranty.

Go test drive a bronco 4 cylinder, even the awfulmatic will give you an idea of how awesome they are, but the manual is tooooo sweeeeeet!
I had a 2007 JK manual on 35 inch Baja Claws and that's RadDad's response is all the response you need.


On another note, how do you feel about 2dr vs 4dr? My kids are grown, so I don't often need a back seat. And I think the 2 door looks a lot better than the 4. Looks are subjective, but with the back seats folded down, you still have a fair amount of storage, right?
Plenty of room for 2x4s... AND CUPHOLDERS!
Ford Bronco Thinking about a Bronco IMG_20250110_165851_881


Or some sort of tree your mother-in-law sees at a farmers market.
Ford Bronco Thinking about a Bronco IMG_20250716_205859_503
 
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HighVelocity

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crzyhawk

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OP: you have three options. 1, as pointed out above, complete removal. There are two positions for folding down, one of which involves removing the seat cushion. I happen to presently have my driver's rear side cushion removed, and the passenger side installed and just folded forward. I have a bunch of crap in the back, including my fridge so you can kind of get an idea of the scale for the space.

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CalvinT

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People talk about the 2.3L not having enough power. I have a 4-door Badlands, heaviest of all Broncos other than the Raptor. I can get rubber with little effort. But I also have stock tires. It has no problem passing going up hill on the freeway. (From Phoenix to Flagstaff). I do row the gears a lot on some places on that route.

My other car is a 2002 Subaru WRX wagon that's been tuned. It's faster, but I don't miss it's power when passing uphill with the Bronco. I just drop down a couple of gears to get the engine into it's powerband.
 

crzyhawk

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The 2.3 has plenty of power. It's the narrow powerband and the location of that powerband that I'm not as fond of as I could be. Between 2500 and 3500 RPM it feels fine. What I WANT is an old school 302 or equivalent. Ford's never going to give me what I want.
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