Anthony

I have not been there since we had kids. (My eldest is going on 15). Top Thrill Dragster was new the year we went last.

Tucson is the same size class as the Escape (and 38 vs 41 is close enough to be in the same ballpark TBH). Santa Fe is larger (comparable to the Edge / Grand Cherokee / Blazer).

I'm going in two weeks! :-)

Santa Fe is a larger vehicle than the Escape and in a different class. Not really a good comparison. If the Tucson hybrid gets 38 as mentioned above, that is a better comparison as they are in the same class, and the mpg is only a rounding error difference.

Correct, to the public, this is a Ford issue, not a vendor issue...regardless of how loud we cover our ears and yell LALALALALALA. We know the issue and who is responsible, but that's not how the public sees it and trying to change that perception will be like turning the titanic on a dime. Is Ford to partially blame? Absolutely, they should never have let it get this far down the road without interjecting and ensuring the tops are of quality worthy of being on their vehicles. Also, let's be real, you don't think Ross or anyone else with these issues will go to Webasto to get this resolved; they will go to Ford. ...and I know this is a Ford site, but let's be honest, if this were happening to Jeep or GM, we'd be all over it as proof of their crappy quality. I honestly think Ford should be micromanaging their suppliers, so stuff like this does not happen (and I hope they are). As far as they should be concerned, they work for Ford, and their processes and parts should go through the same scrutiny that Ford would do with their internally sourced parts. Let's just hope Ford puts their very loud megaphone to Webasto and gets them to make these tops with better QC and solves this before it gets any worse. I hope they have Ford engineers in there overseeing everything from this point until they are dumped for another supplier.

So glad you are loving your Bronco, but man that sucks about the roof. Are you going to push for a replacement for yours once they have it figured out?

Odd name to pick since it is associated with such an iconic car (and the PlayStation generation will surely recognize it).

Maverick is just better looking each time I see it. Can't wait to see these out on the road.

The big difference between the Gladiator and Ford creating a Bronco pickup is that Stellantis doesn't have another midsize pickup (a la the Ranger) to contend / compete against (yet) in NA. Yes, they are different enough to where they could be sold side-by-side, but one of them would most likely suffer.

Those charts make sense. I never had any bad experiences with the sales process with Ford (well, no worse than any other manufacturer I've bought from). But it seems that once they make the sale, the great service & support you received is gone. Retention is harder when you have crappy service. Ford builds world-class vehicles. The ownership journey needs to be world-class as well and it is not in my experience.

Hey it even showed up in my newsfeed!

I just saw Tommy’s video about his new Jeep (which explains a lot). He mentioned that the Bronco doesn’t offer a soft top in the 2 door? How did I miss that all the past year?

I wish it were just the lease issue. It’s been years of incompetence and indifference.

This has been boiling up for some time and finally hit a breaking point this morning. I know I'll most likely light some fires with this post, but I just need to rant. It seems every time I go to a Ford dealership (no matter which ones), something always seems to go wrong, and none of them seem ever to have a smooth-running operation. Earlier this week, I emailed the dealership to make an appointment to talk to someone about paying off the lease on my wife's older Edge and turning it in a few months early (not looking to make a deal or anything, just payoff what's left and get it out of my driveway since nobody drives it). I made an appointment for 9:30 this morning. I drive up to the dealership (a 20 minute drive each way). I pulled in and saw a gorgeous four-door Cactus Grey Bronco and five Mach Es. VERY lovely on both of those fronts, great looking vehicles! Unfortunately, it went downhill from there. I went inside to the receptionist, and she had no record of my appointment. (Here we go again; I can see where this is going). She asks me to sit down and wait to see if she can get someone. Ten minutes later, a gentleman (sales manager?) comes over and asks what I needed. I explained to him the appointment I made and why I was here. He advised that no one here could help me as only the GM could "ground a lease," and the GM would not be back in until Monday or Tuesday. This is super frustrating because I had even explained in the email thread when making the appointment to verify that someone would be available to assist me when I came in (being it was on a weekend). He said an outside company makes those appointments, and they don't know what they are talking about. So I left, having accomplished nothing. Unfortunately, this is in a long line of times I've left a Ford dealership feeling frustrated. Guys, I don't know if I am in the minority, but I have yet to go to a Ford dealership and get anything accomplished in one visit. It is starting to sour me to the point where I don't even want to bring my Ranger in for a recall because I am concerned about the bullshit I'm going to be put through. Whenever something happens, they always smirk and blow it off as "someone else's fault" and nothing is done to remedy the situation. I know we have several members who work at dealerships here, and I try to give the benefit of the doubt that not all dealers are as clueless as the ones I seem to deal with constantly. But I've dealt with three different dealerships in the area, and they are the same. I'm not a difficult customer, in fact I probably put up with much more than the average person would. I don't get mad and cause a scene as some people would; I just take my business elsewhere when it gets too much. It is getting to be too much. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Ford vehicles. But that love affair ends very quickly once I have to visit a dealership. Whether its for service, sales or financing, it is never a pleasurable experience or one that accomplishes anything in a straightforward and smooth manner. The vehicles stand on their own, the rest of the ownership experience does not live up to the promise the vehicles make. Horrible customer service is what gives Ford and other domestics a lousy name. I know we always say "well, go to another dealer". Many people don't differentiate Ford the company with a dealership...and frankly, they shouldn't have to. I've tried three different dealerships in the area and each one is just as inept as the others. The post-sales support is downright pathetic (and to be honest, the sales experience is nothing to write home about either) I would literally pay extra to just get good support (which I guess is what people do when they buy a Lexus, etc). I already like the vehicles, just give me the post sales support that lives up to the rest of the experience. Because I have not experienced it yet. Sorry, just needed to rant.

I had no clue you were 6'1" I'm a pipsqueak at 5'9". Great article! I know the Bronco is getting all your attention right now, but let's pour one out for the Flex and the many years and miles she gave you.

https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2021/07/02/june-sales-2021.html https://media.ford.com/content/dam/fordmedia/North America/US/2021/07/02/ford-2021-june-sales.pdf

https://www.autoblog.com/2021/06/30/new-dodge-coming-july-8/

Sticking with my measly shares has paid off quite nicely so far! 113% / $1.1k gain off of only 148 shares. I wanna see you guys who got in a $3 or $4!

To bring back the gas milage conversation. The EPA only shows a 1 mpg combined difference for the 2.3L. between the Ranger and the Bronco (auto or manual). The 2.7L is obviously worse, but its not offered on the Ranger (yet). I don't know if the 2 / 4 door has an affect either (or which the EPA is putting on the comparison tool I used) Again, very negligible.

Some members on Ranger5G just plug in a Glade air freshener or night light into the back seat 110 outlet and that turns it off automatically! I keep meaning to do this but always forget to buy one. lol. Easy $3 fix and makes your vehicle smell nice!

Awesome! I am so glad Ford went the extra mile in the Bronco to make it top of class in all regards. That is my only real beef with the Ranger (your cousin!). The usability of the switchgear is mostly an afterthought and all the buttons (from the HVAC to the secondary offroad controls) are tiny and all black. It would be a major challenge to use the controls in this vehicle with gloves on. I'm excited to see what cool stuff they bring over from the Bronco into the next gen Ranger.

Looking great!!! I am so happy for you! PS: My wife and I: The first thing we do when we turn on our cars is disable Start / Stop....very annoying! ...and the button to turn it off in the Ranger is tiny and in the middle of a cluster of 6 buttons (which include the rear locker, crawl control, towing, traction control and parking sensors, etc...): (Not my pic, but my Ranger is the same)

I forgot which review (TFL or SavageGeese) also mentioned the Wrangler weighs around 300 pounds less when comparing trim to trim. The Ranger also weighs less by a few or more hundred pounds with the same engine, so I guess it is possible there is a difference, but I am sure it is negligible.

FANTASTIC! Enjoy her for many, many years! Can't wait to hear your impressions.

That is some really cool info. Thanks bud!