I writted a thing for Autoanything - BS!

[HammerheadFistpunch]

Its about the new Bronco Sport and how it's basically just an Explorer. Blasphemy! Maybe, but honestly, I think nostalgia for the OG Explorer is stronger than it has any right to be. They weren't...um...great. That's not to say that I think the Bronco sport is going to follow in those footsteps, but I do think that people ought to give it a fair shake. It's really too bad they couldn't add a little more final drive and a little more towing.

https://www.autoanything.com/resources/bronco-sport-explorer-2-0-or-just-bs/

[nth256]

@hammerheadfistpunch - Well done, sir!

[ITA97]

@HammerheadFistpunch Nice write up!

If I'm honest, a Bronco Sport in the more off-roadie trim would probably be the sensible vehicle of choice for me if I were to ever consolidate my fleet to a single vehicle.

[HammerheadFistpunch]

@ita97 If I could bring myself to consider a Ford it would be something I could look at.

[HammerheadFistpunch]

@nth256 Thanks! My big, story for Jalopnik is coming soon I hope. That one I worked my butt off writing. Its 3x as long

[flatisflat]

@hammerheadfistpunch Really nice write-up and definitely a neat 'ah-ha!' moment seeing all the similarities between the two. My how things ....haven't really changed, just changed names.

One note: from what I could tell of your drawing comparison, the Bronco Sport (red) has a shorter wheelbase than the Ford Explorer (blue), but I believe your text states the opposite. Am I misinterpreting something?

[i86hotdogs]

I can already see die hard off-roaders gasp and shake their fists at this article. I love it. It shows proof that this vehicle is more than capable for the majority of people's needs. Everyone WANTS the Bronco, but will utilize a Bronco Sport a lot more for a lot less coin.

Give me about two years when I pay off this Chrysler 200 and I'll probably have a Badlands trim (with the fake steelies) in my driveway.

[HammerheadFistpunch]

@flatisflat yeah I can't square that one either. I'm going to go back in and look again

[jminer]

@hammerheadfistpunch said in I writted a thing for Autoanything - BS!:

@ita97 If I could bring myself to consider a Ford it would be something I could look at.

This is my thinking too - I've had a couple bad fords made in the last 10 years though and just can't bring myself to buy another one.

Well written article - I had a 3rd gen explorer that we loved and somehow managed nearly toyota levels of reliability with nothing but maintenance and wear components required until 215k miles (then the timing chain grenaded). Also congrats on the upcoming Jalopnik one!

[i86hotdogs]

FYI, I shared this article to a Bronco Sport Facebook group I follow. The reception was exactly what you expect: "Why are we comparing to things it's clearly not [Explorer] vs what is clearly is [Escape]?"

This "BS is an escape" joke is already getting old.

[nth256]

@hammerheadfistpunch - I'll keep an eye out!

[HammerheadFistpunch]

@i86hotdogs Yes, its on an escape platform, but to see this as a serious comparison to an Explorer is missing the point of the story entirely. Oh well. Forums and Facebook groups...

[onlytwowheels]

@hammerheadfistpunch

Saw my first Bronco Sport yesterday, silver Outer Banks model. It was a good looking vehicle, but didn't have any "wow factor" for me. Also, smaller than I had imagined.

[WhoIsTheLeader]

@hammerheadfistpunch Fair play and well written. It's a good comparison to make, really. The Bronco Sport is a much more livable car than the Explorer and pretty even off-road with different strengths and weaknesses. I enjoyed that. Shameless plug accepted.

[adamftw]

I wish it was bigger, because my wife would be all about it. Frankly, it's just too small.

[ST80MND]

@hammerheadfistpunch Is the sport not based on the escape? At least according to Ford's website.

[Tripper]

@hammerheadfistpunch said in I writted a thing for Autoanything - BS!:

They weren't...um...great.

Hey I've had 3 of them, and two Rangers, and ..oh yeah.

That was a really great write up. I reminded me that off-roady bits, traction, ratios and how they all work together are some of the automotive things that I am most ignorant to, but you explain it well.

My first two vehicles were the eddie bauers you describe in the first paragraph. A red 96 and a blue 97. They were hand me downs but still plenty nice by the time I got them.

I've told this story on here before so forgive me if you have heard it, but I traded the 97 in for my first real car, a 3 pedal Mazda Protege5. I bought the Mazda from some rinky dink little dealer with a really cramped lot. I made the deal, was sitting in my new car ready to pull out. The guy from the dealer was in the explorer I just traded, threw it in revers and SLAMMED into another car parked on their lot...There goes your check, buddy.

After that I had another 96 limited with the 5.0, bought it with 144k on the clock transmission #3. It was ok but I junked it to fund a snowboarding trip. Then an 97 ranger I bought for a grand and drove into the ground (2.x 4cyl), then my most recent 2001 ranger that was pretty good to me all in all. Alas, I had a vision, achieved it, sold it.

[Zaphod's Heart of Gold]

You say the bronco sport has 3" more wheelbase but your drawing shows otherwise

[HoustonRunner]

@hammerheadfistpunch My mom wanted an OG Explorer as soon as she saw it (probably in one of my Motor Trends), and we had one of the first ones in town. And it was unique - front row bench. If I remember correctly it was an oddly optioned XLT 2WD, with the cloth bench seat in the front, but nicer radio, cruise, etc. It was a solid machine for us, and at the time quite the looker.
I bought it off my parents when I was in college, and drove it to 160k, though that included a transmission rebuild around 90k. No other major service issues through the life.

[HammerheadFistpunch]

@zaphod-s-heart-of-gold yeah I need to look at that. I had to snake them based on pictures so it's not perfect at all

[HammerheadFistpunch]

@zaphod-s-heart-of-gold Fixed, I had the wrong specs for the explorer, it actually has 6.8 inches more wheelbase. I couldn't figure out why I couldn't get the dimensions to match there where they matched everywhere else.

[HammerheadFistpunch]

@flatisflat fixed. The Explorer specs I had were wrong, it actually has more wheelbase

[nermal]

@hammerheadfistpunch It's a peculiar comparison but well written and shows broader trends within the industry. Existing model gets bigger and more expensive over time, manufacturers release newer / smaller / relatively less expensive versions that are more in line with older models. At the same time, new models advertise more to "lifestyle" than than actual capabilities, and sell for the same reasons.

I think a bigger issue is that Ford should reward their product designers for a job well done on recent new models, but fire their product namers. The Bronco Sport is different enough to warrant a different name, just like the Mustang EV crossover thingy.

Spicy Taek - The Bronco Sport is the spiritual successor to the Hummer H2, not the Explorer. Why? The H2 was a Chevy Tahoe that had upgraded off-roady bits and a different appearance. It was targeting a specific type of customer. The off-roady part was done surprisingly well, if under-utilized by actual customers.

[HammerheadFistpunch]

@nermal Agreed on the naming thing. Bronco Sport is a mouthful and doesn't differentiate it enough plus...well...BS