I need some advice.

I don't know if I'll pull the trigger on getting a Bronco, but I have always liked them and am getting the itch. I know very little about them, so any help on these questions would be great.

First question: Found a 1995 with a lot of rust. Lots on both back wheel wells, some on the tailgate, bottom area infront of the driver door is extremely bad, some spot on passenger side isn't as bad but there. My first thought is this truck has either been "rode hard" or there is something wrong with the paint to begin with. It has over 200,000 miles on it so I know that's a lot of wear but with it only being 20 years old I wouldn't think the body would be in such bad shape. My question is, which is more likely: someone used and abused it or there was some sort of added issue that led to extreme rust?

Next question: Found a 1989 that has almost no rust, is in very good shape, and has around 75,000 miles on a 5.0 liter automatic. 1995 is Eddie Bauer, interior is in good shape, and it has the 5.8 liter automatic. There is no comparison on which is in better shape and seems to be the wiser choice (the older one). However, a body shop is selling the older one, which makes me think it was wrecked (tailgate is a different color than the body) so that makes me worry a bit. Of course the price is a major difference also. The rusted '95 is $1500 and the good looking '89 is $10,000. Thoughts? Something I'm not considering? Everything being equal, I'm choosing the 1995 because I love the look and would rather have the 5.8 liter.

Thank you for the help!

 

$10,000 American dollars? Someone is high on the paint fumes that they used to paint it.

The newer one with all the rust, I would recommend staying away from. The older one may be in better shape but the price is beyond absurd.

Keep looking. You should be able to find a nice, rust-free Bronco in good shape for $5k tops.

What part of the country do you live in?

 

I thought it seemed high. Maybe it was a rebuild and they need to get their money back.

I am in Kansas. Most that I am seeing are in (what I would call) average shape, rough/blown motors, or jacked up with huge tires and lots of modifications. I have found a few early 90's models at dealers in the 8-10k range. The '89 I mentioned seems to be in great shape and very low mileage, so I thought maybe the price was about right considering a '93 with high miles and in good shape is about that.

 

The rusty one was probably used near the coast (sea air rusts metal very quickly) or in a high snow area (snow melt salt on the road destroys body pieces).

Only first gen Broncos or the very best rebuilds should be anywhere near even 6k. 10k is a ridiculous asking price. Even for low mileage. Really, you don't need to consider these expensive ones. for 4k I guarantee you can get a GREAT Bronco if you know how to play the game. And if you don't know how you can get stuck with one in exactly the same shape for 8k. So don't assume it is in better shape just because they are asking more for it. This is a mistake many buyers will make and it is why it can be hard to sell a truck for cheap. if your price is too low, people assume it must be inferior to other trucks on the market and so they aren't interested.. Works both ways, ask way more and people assume it must be a better VALUE. Remember, PRICE and VALUE are completely different. Don't get sucked into a less than fair deal just because the seller knows what they are doing and they don't mind being a little bit... greedy? Or do get sucked into and buy from me!

Keep looking, and good luck!

 

you may have to consider looking on the west coast or just be patient. I would also mention it might be good to have a commuter car as well. I love my bronco but driving it daily is expensive. even stock the MPG isnt very good.

 

Check the rear crossmember and tailgate for rust. If you see my build thread you'll see why

 

OK, you are in luck

You get a nice mini-vacation and a Bronco

Jump on Craigslist for LA and for the SF Bay Area and start looking. You'll see plenty of Bronco's for decent prices. Fly out and pick it up and drive it home.

Budget a few extra days to get home during the week. Something may go wrong on the trip back, but usually not. If something breaks, any Ford dealer worth a dime can fix it in a day or two and get you back on the road to home. A local independent where you break (if it happens at all...) might be able to do you better on prices, but you prolly need to keep moving, so...

You can find nice used Bronco's out here from between $2,500 and $4,500 most days of the week...

Don't let mileage get to you. These things can easily run 250,000 if they have been maintained. If you find one you like, communicate with the seller and get a real good sense of the condition and maintenance. You'll be OK.

PayPal a deposit so they don't sell it out from under you while you are in the air...

Also look on FSB (Full Sized Bronco forum) in the sales area. Same on this site...

 

Sounds like a great idea!!!

 

Question for everyone: what is a 1995 Bronco worth if, let's say worst case scenario, a week after you buy it something HUGE goes completely to crap? So, I buy a 1995 Bronco (5.8liter, some body rust but not terrible, some normal wear, etc.) and a short time later I realize the transmission was held together with super glue or the 4 wheel drive goes out or the motor blows...whatever would be major. Is the body still worth $______?

 

$800 tops

 

After the blow-up... About the towing fees to get rid of it. Worth way more if parted out. Maybe $3K in parts sold on CL over time...

But, if you buy a solid runner that is rattle and mostly leak free, why would it blow up? These things don't die easily. That's why we all still have them

 

I get what you're saying brocluno. I guess I'm just paranoid. I have found a 1994 XLT with over 200,000 and it looks good. Has some rust issues, but nothing out of the ordinary. The person did offer to drive it 2 hours to me if I wanted to buy it so I assume it runs. I guess I'm just worried that I'll drop the small sum of money I have on a Bronco and a week later I'm stuck with a lemon that needs something major done that I can't afford. I'm no mechanic or body man.

 

I hope you don't mind my being honest with you, but I think you should be asking yourself some questions.

If reliability is that big of a factor to you, then why are you shopping in the 200,000-mile, 25+ year-old vehicle section?

If money is tight enough for you that you are forced to shop in that price range right now for whatever reason, why are you buying a Bronco? Do you have some special use for its capabilities that can't be served by something less prone to breaking down than a 200,000 mile truck that (if you're lucky) maybe was sometimes maintained properly by some of its previous owners? Heck, even with a properly maintained Bronco at that mileage, the battery, the alternator, the fuel pump and the water pump could all go out within 6 months of each just by random chance.

As much as I love them, a Bronco isn't a very economical vehicle when used as a daily driver.

 

That all makes sense. I appreciate your frankness. I think I'm just overthinking things too much. I'm not needing whatever it is I get to be a daily driver. I have a 2014 Ram as my main mode of transportation, but for whatever reason (probably a semi-early mid-life crisis), I have been looking at Jeeps, Broncos, and Bronco II's as a "just for the hell of it" kind of thing. I am leaning towards a Bronco because of the size...my wife and I are both teachers so that is driving my price range.

Funny you posted that andym, I was driving back home about an hour ago and told myself, "just shut up and buy the damn thing already". HA!

 

I am always amused when someone offers a 25-40 yr old car/truck for sale and makes the statement "runs like new" No matter how the engine runs or tranny shifts, chances are it is wore slap out.Wiring goes bad. Bushings dont last forever, and when they wear out and aren't repaired in a timely manner the bolt holes and or bolts tend to wear out. Everything is a wear item when a vehicle is 25+ years old. Plastics,rubbers,metals etc.