Built vs. Bought: Should You Buy a Bronco Sasquatch or Customize It Yourself?
The built vs. bought debate is as old as time. But when it comes to the new Bronco does it make sense to go factory or go on your own?
Are you tired of arguing with your friends over the virtues of a manual versus an automatic transmission? Well, if you don’t want to stop arguing all together perhaps you can just change the subject. How about a debate about what is likely the second most common discussion among truck enthusiasts? Do you prefer to buy the most capable vehicle you can afford from the manufacturer? Or do you buy in at a lower price point and build exactly what you want? It is the classic built vs. bought discussion. Now let’s apply this to the new Ford Bronco. Will you order up all the goodies that Ford makes available? Or will you skip on factory options because you know you are going to strip most of them out anyway and build the Bronco your way?
We were recently watching a video posted on the Town and Country TV YouTube channel and that got our mind racing a bit. In this video they took a Bronco Big Bend without the Sasquatch package and TC Customs modified it to make it as close to that package as possible. Does it make sense to do that? We take a look at some of the pros and cons and then you can decide for yourself.
Advantage Bought
If you buy the new Bronco from Ford, there are already a ton of options that you can choose from. This goes far beyond just paint and interior colors. What bumper to you want? What type of top would you choose? Engine, wheels, transmission and so on are all selectable options. It is likely that you will never see a Bronco just like yours in the wild even if you factory order the SUV. And of course, if going off-road is your main objective you will want the Sasquatch Package. With that you will get 17-inch beadlock capable wheels, 35-inch tires, a 4.7 final drive ratio with locking front and rear diff, a lifted suspension and high clearance fender flares.
Right out of the gate you have a unique Bronco that is capable enough to handle everything that most owners will throw at it. Adding all the options you want will make the SUV more expensive. On the mid-grade Black Diamond trim, the Sasquatch Package alone will set you back $4,495. But you can finance all of that as part of the purchase. With interest rates being so low adding a full $10,000 in options will add less than $200 a month on a typical 5-year loan. And if you go aftermarket to get locking diffs and new gears, you will be spending a pretty penny. Also, from the factory everything is covered by the full factory warranty. On top of that the vehicle is ready for you to enjoy from the day you get it.
Advantage Built
One advantage of going with a Bronco that is built with aftermarket mods is unique to the times we are living in right now. Supply chain issues continue to haunt all auto makers. A lot of those tasty Bronco options such as the Sasquatch Package are simply not available right now and will result in a significant delay in getting your Bronco. If you keep the build simple you might be able to drive your Bronco for a year before your neighbor who ordered every option in the book even gets his. You can also upgrade as budget and time allows. Add a piece here and there as you get the cash. You have more financial flexibility compared to a loaded-up factory Bronco.
The other key advantages to a built SUV hold true no matter what the supply chain world is doing. For example, you are not bound by the rules of Ford. You can make a Bronco into whatever you want. You want to lift it and stuff 40-inch tires under it, then go for it. Your only limited to what you can imagine and what you can afford. And when you build a Bronco of aftermarket parts you a truly driving a one of one vehicle. Plus, there is the pride that comes with designing and building the Bronco based on your vision. Your Bronco was not designed by a committee, it was designed by you. And if you can do the work yourself, there are few things more satisfying in the world than working on your own ride.
Disadvantage Bought
As mentioned earlier, some key options are difficult to get right now. If you order the Bronco loaded with options, you might be waiting a really long time before it is in your driveway. In addition, even though Ford did a good job offering a lot of customization options, you are still selecting from a standard menu. If you buy a loaded up Bronco you may be less inclined to modify it. Suppose you already sunk $55,000 into a new Bronco, do you have the budget to spend another $20K in aftermarket parts? If you order a Big Bend model for $35K you can put $20K into aftermarket upgrades and have spent the same amount as the person with the loaded from factory model.
Disadvantage Built
Cost. If you load up on factory options, the final price is all rolled up into a single payment. When you build on your own, you need to pay for those parts out of pocket. And depending on what you upgrade, the parts may void part or all of your warranty. If something were to break, your built SUV might drive you right to the poor house. Also, the Bronco will eventually have a ton of aftermarket support, however, right now it is still quite new, so options are limited. In some cases, you may find that there is no better option compared to what you can get from the factory. The Bronco in the video looks good and would perform close to a factory Sasquatch-equipped Bronco. However, it can’t completely match what the factory rig can do. Of course, that won’t always be the case, but it is here.
So, Built or Bought?
Well, much like the transmission debate there is no clear right or wrong answer. It all depends on your specific situation and needs for your new Bronco. For us, based on where things stand at the moment and all that Ford offers with the Bronco straight from the factory, we think buying it equipped as you like is the way to go. Let us know your thoughts in the Ford Truck Enthusiasts forum.
Images: Ford; TC Customs
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