What the hell is Ford doing?

[rak2]

The only way it changes is for people to not buy.

I am one who is not buying.

Have been watching since before the original release and thought I'd be in a Bronco years before now. Have the money saved up but cannot pull the trigger.

CV248's analysis and explanation is excellent! My less insightful analysis would be to blame it all on excessively influential marketing staff.

Although the roof/top quality issues are a non-starter for me, am also very very afraid of the (to me) excessive excessive use of chips and software at a risk of
-increased cost
-decreased reliability
and for electronic features I don't care to have in an automobile at all.

With 40 years experience as a computer owner, professional programmer, and software systems project manager - my belief is that automobile manufacturers are not prepared and equipped to support the software systems they are selling.

Another frustration is the constantly changing trim configurations such that is seems that I am less and less able each year to get a model with the combination of features I'd like to have.

Now add to all this the price increases and my 19 year old Honda is looking pretty good.

Sorry for the negativity. I claim that I am not really a negative person - Just very very good at risk analysis .

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[Danielsand]

I read several articles which indicated COVID taught some auto makers they could do better financially selling fewer vehicles at higher prices. Meaning they reduced volume by not chasing the low price buyers. Maybe that's one reason for higher prices and focus on the more upscale loaded versions?

Without going into numbers, I'll tell you I did just the opposite. When I purchased a majority of a successful new car dealership, it had the M.O. of "high gross - low volume". I changed that immediately in "low gross- high volume". Within five years, the volume DOUBLED, and once it hit those numbers (240-260 new and used units per month), the gross came back up. I tripled my investment when I sold it.

 

[OCNORB1974]

I just love all the people that compare ‘21 prices to ‘25 prices after a 2 year period in there of high inflation because of the pandemic, and then blame Ford for it.

 

[Jakob1972]

I came from an 08 chevy cobalt LS coupe, only thing it has is AC. no cruise no touchscreen, crank up windows and manual transmission, so moving over to a one option (Desert Sand) Everglades for $55k is like driving a Lincoln, wrapped in a Mercedes, under a layer of Lexus. keep the expectations low. Oh I still have that car with 400K on it.

Also we need to keep in mind that the cost of the bronco is not just in the creature comforts it does have some very expensive bits that makes it one helava off-road vehicle.

 

[CitrusBronco]

Big Bend's are $41,000, not $55,000. Your requirements (Sasquatch) are probably above your salary. I would like a Raptor R, but my salary hasn't kept up.

Ops example was a BB and with a few options it was almost $60k his words.
I see BB for sale right at $55k in my area.
Yes SAS package, again working off ops original statement.
You can see what model I have, no need to speculate what’s model is above my salary.

 

[shoptb2277]

Like others have said, look at the used market. I picked up a loaded out Badlands 2-dr with almost every option and 400 miles for $52K two years ago.

 

[Brian_B]

I just love all the people that compare ‘21 prices to ‘25 prices after a 2 year period in there of high inflation because of the pandemic, and then blame Ford for it.

Well, go to a lot and see how many Fully Loaded Platinum F150s and Lariat trims are in stock, compared to how many XL standard cab F150s

Apply the same thing to Broncos - how many fully loaded OBXs and Badlands compared to stripped down Base and Big Bend models.

There is some blame to be had if you can only get the “affordable” options via special order or basically winning the in-stock-lottery

 

[Jdyount]

I am one who is not buying.

Have been watching since before the original release and thought I'd be in a Bronco years before now. Have the money saved up but cannot pull the trigger.

CV248's analysis and explanation is excellent! My less insightful analysis would be to blame it all on excessively influential marketing staff.

Although the roof/top quality issues are a non-starter for me, am also very very afraid of the (to me) excessive excessive use of chips and software at a risk of
-increased cost
-decreased reliability
and for electronic features I don't care to have in an automobile at all.

With 40 years experience as a computer owner, professional programmer, and software systems project manager - my belief is that automobile manufacturers are not prepared and equipped to support the software systems they are selling.

Another frustration is the constantly changing trim configurations such that is seems that I am less and less able each year to get a model with the combination of features I'd like to have.

Now add to all this the price increases and my 19 year old Honda is looking pretty good.

Sorry for the negativity. I claim that I am not really a negative person - Just very very good at risk analysis .

I would just hate to live my life in fear of something not being perfect.

Have I had top issues? Sure, my center panel was replaced under warranty. Are all of the feature I bought useable? No, the wireless charger is shit, the lane assist is garbage, and the B&O sound system absolutely had to be upgraded. Are there things they added that I wish I had on mine? YES, HOSS 3.0. 1000%. Are there things I wish they would add? YES, cooled seats, memory seats so I don't lose my seat position when my wife drives.

All of that being said, the memories I've made in my Bronco with my family over the last 4 years are priceless, PRICELESS. The people I've met off-roading in my Bronco, priceless. The feeling of that perfect temperature day with the top and doors off, priceless.

You either want something or you don't, second guessing everything leads to not being able to experience things in life. It makes me sad to even think about.

 

[NatureMan]

I also agree, it is definitely a two-way street.

A lot of it is also "different strokes for different folks" and it's impossible to make everyone happy. The amount of people who have showed up on this forum looking for features like BlueCruise or power seat memory. Heck the amount of people who have bought the Lux package specifically because it has adaptive cruise control or a heated steering wheel is much higher than I would have ever anticipated.

People want the things, but the things are expensive and people complain. So you take away the things and people complain that it doesn't have the things. And of course you can't just make everything à la carte cause then production costs go up.

No idea what it's like being on a team for a vehicle manufacturer that has to make these choices, but I imagine there are lots of spirited internal arguments over it. Probably a no-win situation.


Feel that one.

The good news is price of protein has gotten to the point where I'm starting to do veggie-only dinners. So ya know, unexpected health benefits.

The bad news is when I do buy meat, I typically buy chicken because it's the most affordable. And I've run out of different ways I can prepare chicken that I'm not sick and tired of.

(ps. Chicken dinner ideas welcomed)

You will be driving a lifted subaru soon if you eat to many veggie dinners.

 

[Herewegoagain]

There are plenty of used Broncos for you to consider. Most aren't driven off road and are only relegated to pick-up/drop-off line at school and to fetch groceries to feed their obese kids.

Pretty harsh

 

[Brian_B]

Pretty harsh

The truth hits the hardest

 

[Toccoa]

 

[Squatch]

There are plenty of used Broncos for you to consider. Most aren't driven off road and are only relegated to pick-up/drop-off line at school and to fetch groceries to feed their obese kids.

Pssshhh!!! Shows what you know! I'm my own obese kid and driving on curbs and landscaping to connect parking lots is totally hard core off-roading, sir!

 

[Danielsand]

The truth hits the hardest

That's what I wanted to say, and you beat me to it.

I love truth (not the "social" kind!)! Mine goes to town once or twice a week. Hasn't seen mud yet (it will when the season changes), and once it even got caught in the summer storm! It gets washed once a week, and nobody ever sat in the back seat. I carefully remove the bugs off of it every time we come home. In between the washes, I carefully dust it off with "California duster" (thank God for them!). It never had its doors off (it never will), and the soft top was never opened (it's good to know that this can be done, but I don't need to "show off"). Mine is NOT a "Mallcrawler" though. There are no malls within three hours from me (no Starbucks either!). Mine is a bonafide garage queen (that's what the wife calls it). I don't give a damn.

 

[Squatch]

That's what I wanted to say, and you beat me to it.

I love truth (not the "social" kind!)! Mine goes to town once or twice a week. Hasn't seen mud yet (it will when the season changes), and once it even got caught in the summer storm! It gets washed once a week, and nobody ever sat in the back seat. I carefully remove the bugs off of it every time we come home. In between the washes, I carefully dust it off with "California duster" (thank God for them!). It never had its doors off (it never will), and the soft top was never opened (it's good to know that this can be done, but I don't need to "show off"). Mine is NOT a "Mallcrawler" though. There are no malls within three hours from me (no Starbucks either!). Mine is a bonafide garage queen (that's what the wife calls it). I don't give a damn.

Damn... I bet the plastic is still on the info screen and it's got the original gas and blinker fluid in it.

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