My wife wants a Big Bronco (bless her heart). So I need to know which year/years are the best. Best means most reliable, most functional, best package, etc. She wants the kind that the top is removeable.

Thanks for your help.

 

All Broncos have a removable top, so you're set there.

"Best" is a subjective term, so your version may be different than mine. The 92 to 96 Broncos tend to be worth more than their 87 to 91 counterparts, but it should be easier to find a newer one in nice condition. I would definitely get a 5.8L engine with a manual t-case and manual locking hubs.

The 5.8L gets about the same mileage as a 5.0L but has a lot more power. The electronic t-cases and auto hubs are prone to failure.

The Eddie Bauer trim package was top-of-the-line.

 

I would recommend the '95. It has fuel injection and all the updates to the E4OD. The 96 had many changes that came with ODB2 and I wouldn't want to depend on first-year engineering. The 95 would have a reasonably intelligent ABS system as well. One suggestion would be to get nerf-bars; it's a bit of a climb for my wife to get in and out of ours.

If the 4x4 is important I would try to find a manual transfer case and manual hubs. I don't know if it is possible to get all the bells and whistles but with a manual t-case. Regarding 4x4 manual is MUCH more reliable than automatic. Using the floor shifter to go to 4Hi is litterally easier than setting the parking brake.

All years have removable tops, but some years are more removeable than others. DOT regulations change in early 90's required a high-mount brake light. Removing the top for these years requires unplugging the light connector and a willingness to run less-than-legal. Also, in the last few years the rear seat belts anchored to the roof so you also lose those with the roof.

 

Well 1996 of course! Not that I’m partial or anything. Being that production stopped almost 11 years ago, even the newest models are going to need some work. The question of which is best is really very dependent on the person. I remember seeing I nice post in here a few years back that listed all the changes for the years, might try to dig that up. Definitely go with the 351. I’m not sure I agree with the new year bugs thing for OBD-II. Yes it was the first year, but I never had so much as a hiccup from mine. As mentioned all broncos ever produced had removable tops, but as mprice mentioned, it eventually became illegal, but all you need is a set of tamper-proof torxs and the willingness to do it. Eddie Bauer was a nice trim, but the perforated leather seats ripped easy. Just decide what you want, the forum is crammed with 100’s of post on what to look for.

 

is this truck going to be a daily driver, or for fun summer weekends? for a daily driver, go with what everyone else is saying (newer), but for a project, or something that will stick out more, go with the second gens (78-79). I love the older ones, they look more baddass and are just more fun to drive. then again, they are harder to find, i got lucky finding a decent one here in Minnesota that has been restored and is parked during winters. it is good to see you are doing research on what you really want before you reach for your wallet, good luck!

 

The best Bronco is a 1978-79. That being said, perhaps the most reliable would be 1995-96 Bronco. You know, newer, fuel injected, etc. but the 78-9 is still the BEST.
BFW

 

IMHO-
Best looks and easiest to work on- 1978-79
Most reliable- 1987-1994(FI)
Best bronco period-1966-77(it's everything the bronco was meant to be)

I've been in almost every year and the one that I love the most is the 1987 model.
It's the one that I can't let go of no matter what happens to it. My 87 has full power,Fuel injection,man. trans-case,c-6 auto, and auto hubs(soon to be changed)
The only things I would change is- I want a 5.8/I have a 5.0, manual locking hubs, more gears in the tranny(for Mileage).
This is honestly a personal preference so you have to look at all models,available funds,how much you want to work on it, as far as what it needs to get it the way you expect it to be,and then the general auto buying inspections- is it worth what they want for it? what's been done to it? what needs to be done to it? and all the others you already know.

If you go through the past posts you'll find we're all partial to our specific vehicles otherwise we'd sell em and go find what we want.

As for the 96 model- I've heard alot of bad things but- the one my uncle owns has had a fuel pump and a new top(due to an unfortunate tree falling). Other than that it has only had routine maintanence since it was bought new. One reason why may be the fact that it has never seen anything other than asphalt though.

I know most won't agree with my best period but, that's my opinion and I love those little things. One day I'll find one that doesn't need ground up resto(that I can afford), then maybe my personal favorite will change.

 

I wouldn't get anything older than '93 since you'll need the AC (Phoenix) and they switched to the new refrigerant starting with '93. IMHO, the best Broncos are the ones with MAF, that means all '96, some earlier Kali vehicles, and I think '95s with 302.

 

Hmmmmm .... I'm partial to the 96 EB, had mine since it was shiny on the show room floor with 13 miles on the clock. 175k and still running hard

 

I would say it depends on your budget. The 87-96's are nice and have all the bells and whistles but I love my 82 because when something goes wrong with her it doesnt cost me alot of money to hook it up to a computer and them more money to track down the problem then more money to repair. Alot of guys here can do it themselves but not everyone can. I find the older Broncos are easier and cheaper to maintain and I can do all the maintenance myself.

 

Thanks guys. I think she wants the newer body style.

Question: some of you mention illegalities of the removeable top. I don't think I understand. Is it just the light that you don't have or is it that you took off the top and look too studly for modern man ?

 

The high-mount brake light is required safety equipment per DOT regulations so removing it is some kind of illegal. You would probably need to talk to a state trooper to find out exactly how illegal since they seem to be the most studied on the nitty-gritty of the rules. I doubt anyone would bother you about it, especially since there's no empty slot left when you take the whole top off so it isn't obvious that you removed it.

If you/she were really concerned about it it shouldn't be too difficult to build a bracket that bolts into the same place as the top with another light that has a pigtail running to the original connector or to the trailer connector if you have that. This would put it in the exact same place as a regular pickup and with some clips you could make it look very tidy. IIRC, the light assembly is the same for all the Ford trucks.

 

You can always add one of those LED brake lights that mount below the tailgates to suppliment as the 3rd brake light with the top off.

 

If you look at mine, you'll see the best one. Ha-Ha Of course I would say that. The best advice I can give you is get a Bronco from Desert country. You can fix anything machinical, but eventually must give in to rust. I would stick to fuel injection. I prefer manual T-case, but the auto is not as bad as the guys are saying. On the other hand, the auto hubs are. But they are a cheap and eazy fix.

 

what he said