WheelMa1's most recent thread prompted this little thought. We all have OTHER vehicles (or many of us do). We chose the Bronco at some point in time. Some of us are on our second, or third, or fourth, or moreth! There is a loyalty to these vehicles that makes Jeep owners jealous. (and everyone knows that loyalty base). I find it astounding that a vehicle that was made for a mere thirty years (less than one quarter of the time the automobile has been around) has such a following and loyal band of brothers (and sisters) who wouldn't part with them for the world. We all have those things that make our Bronco our favorite or anecdotes we can share that prove why its worth the loyalty. But my question today is this...

In a world that sees $4.00 + fuel prices and shuns the SUV more every day, what is it about these things... these Broncos that keep folks smiling and giving the nod of approval?

I've seen H2 owners and Tahoe owners get jeered at and noses thumbed in their direction but my Bronco, the white 94 two streets over, the gorgeous green on white 96 across the park and even the red 84 that always seems to be dangling something from its undercarriage when it hits the local QT never seem to hear or feel the disdain. My own attitude towards these trucks would lead me to believe there is a greater respect for them as reliable functional vehicles that transcends the "SUV stigma". After all they were around before there was such a designation. And if you happen to stop somewhere with the top removed, there is almost ALWAYS someone who marvels and asks "Do they all do that?" or "Wow, they look even better with the top off". Its a puzzlement that something even as new as a 96 model gets this kind of attention and revere. But I guess thats what happens when you build something that people genuinely like and it WORKS like its supposed to.

 

I've had this sort of reaction when I'm out in my '96 Eddie Bauer, even from a few Jeep owners. A
Bronco is one of those vehicles that you just always admire, I think. Most Hummer's will probably never leave the pavement, and so they stand out as just being something the owner wants to be seen in (just my opinion: I'm sure that they are capable off-roaders and have good points). With a Bronco, there's always that sense that "Hey, this thing could go anywhere the driver wants to point it, and it probably has at some time." People admire them because they are good-looking AND functional. They'll haul the kids, tow the boat, go get groceries, run the mud pit, or climb the hills, and they do it reliably and with style. My Bronco is the first one I've owned, but I've wanted one since I first got my driver's license. With gas prices where they are, it spends most of its time in the garage in favor of my daily-driver Ranger, but I don't have any plans to get rid of it anytime soon. It's a classic, ya know.

 

There just something about the Bronco that people love!!!! When ever I see a full size Bronco crusing down the road, or an early Bronco, I push in the clutch, burb the throttle a few times and they look up and give a lil nod and I do the same. Its times like that that make me proud to be a Bronco owner!!

 

I don't classified the Bronco as a SUV there was no such thing then. But they r one of the originals. . In PA u could run wagon plates on em. Till SUV's fit.

But u r right . I alway got the thumbs up when I had mine . If it were not for need of a bed to haul long stuff i'd have 1 now.

 

I always say an suv is a station wagon with fourwheel drive. A Bronco is a short truck with a cap. Of course the IFS is not exactly truck. I've had two Scouts and two Broncos. People still stop me and say nice truck! I've had one friend that said he likes my ride, but he feels like hes hurting the environment when he rides in it. I always say you fly helicopters for a living (out to oil platforms no less), you are hurting the environment. LOL. He drives a turbo deisel.

 

I have had a 78 cj 5, and several ford trucks, but I have always wanted a big Bronco and finally got one 2 years ago. I need it to go get my kids (200 miles round trip x2) for weekends once a month. I could get a minivan (ya right!!!!!) but I love my truck and would not give it up for nothing! The only problem is they never made them with a diesel but I am in the proscess of fixing that now.

 

Yeah I too thought bout putting a diesel in my Bronco but not now with the way the price of diesel is!! course I've always liked diesel too. thought it would be good for playing in the mud and such. I just hate the way that they charge a arm, leg and your left nut, for a gallon of that stuff that is a byproudct of producing gasoline!!!!!!!!!! its fu*#ing bull******!!!!!!

But anyway cudos to your for putting a diesel in your Bronco!! I always thought it would be way to much work to reinforce the frame, body, get a new trannie, rear end, etc...

 

Biodiesel, gentlemen! So the truck smells like french fries. I've smelled WORSE things from trucks. Got a buddy of mine who is part owner in a biodiesel co-op. The cost is about 2.50 per gallon now that they have everything set up.

 

Would I be less of a Bronco enthusiast if I got rid of one of my Broncos and bought an Excursion?

 

Let me tell ya. I absolutely love my Bronco. As I stated on WheelMA's thread, I get so many people telling me I should get rid of it. It does have a bit of rust on it, has some cricketts that I have yet to find, and it is a beast. But I do enjoy driving it immensely. Being a female, mother of two, with no significant other to depend on. It has always been my fear to get stranded on one of my commutes home from work in a New England snow storm. I have had her for 5 years now, and it has yet to let me down.
I remember the winter a couple of years ago. It normally takes me 40 minutes on a good day to get home. Well on this day, I had already been on the road for an hour and a half and I was just half way home. Once I got off of the highway, my normal route was blocked and I had to detour off onto a side street. These roads weren't plowed and had about two feet of snow. The Bronco went through it like butter. I even had a nice long procession of cars following right behind me as I stomped the snow down.
And as a female drving a BFB, I probably get more attention than you guys. I can't count how many times I've been almost driven off of the road by some butt head trying to catch up to me to just say hi.

 

HI Robin!.....

 

Hey Darren!

 

I do plan to make and use bioD. And I bought a complete 86 f250 donor, so I have all the pieces I need.

 

I have only had my '85 for a couple months, all it does is sit in the driveway. I always get people stopping and even notes on the windshield, offering to buy it. I have wanted one for years and now I finally have one, so my answer is always, NO. There is a 4 dr Bronco around the corner(just sits in driveway), and I think I may be wearing him down to sell it.

 

Four-door would be a Centurion Conversion. It started its life as an F-series truck with a four-door cab and had the Bronco bed worked onto the back.