Hello everyone, this is the long suffering Angry Systems Administrator. It’s been a while since I posted anything and I thought I would talk about my desire to replace my current vehicle with a new one.
Currently, like that insanely dangerous driver, the Angry Webmaster, I drive a pickup truck. I’ve grown tired of it, and have been looking to go back to an SUV. Originally, I was looking at the Toyota 4Runner, but then Ford Motor Company announced the impending release of the Ford Bronco.
My interest was peaked of course. I once owned a Jeep Cherokee, (1999), but since Jeep was taken over by the Europeans, it’s quality has gone downhill and the “look” of the various models could be called, “Effeminate.”
Going back to the 4Runner, (The landcruiser is very nice, but I don’t have any interest in something that costs as much as a house), I started going through all the specs and costs of ownership. I know someone who has one, (20 year old model in pristine condition), so I had a frame of reference. However, there is a small issue.
The 4Runner is rather dated technologically speaking. It gets lousy gas mileage since the engine design hasn’t changed in a couple of decades. I do like the “Look” of the 4Runner, (It certainly doesn’t look like it’s meant for the terminally pussy-whipped), but the price is on the high end.
When the Bronco was announced, (Technically the return of the Bronco), I started researching it. To begin with, the price point is much better then the 4Runner. I also started reading the specifications on it as well as any reviews I could find. (The vehicle is not yet in production so all that are available for reviews are the preproduction and prototypes) Still, what I’ve been reading makes the Bronco’s look very inviting.
One thing that hasn’t been released yet is what the estimated Miles Per Gallon will be. That hasn’t been released yet, although I expect it will be better then the 4Runner’s 17-20 MPG. I’ve also been looking at the various models that Ford is planning to release. I’ve decided that a 2-door model is just fine, since there are only 2 people in my household.
I’m also going to get an automatic transmission. I’ve driven standards, (Heck I learned how to drive using a “Three on the Tree” transmission), so I’m not scared of a standard transmission. I’m just to lazy to want to be bothered with manually shifting these days. Granted, Standards generally provide a higher MPG rate, but these days, I’m all about comfort.
I’m not going to be buying the top end model, since I don’t have the ability to print money. (Well, I could, but I would rather not go to prison, thank you very much, so no. Only government issued currency for me) Ford has set up a build and price section so I can figure out what I can get. At first I thought about getting the “Sasquatch Package,” but $5000? No Thanks! I’m not going to be driving through the Himalayas any time soon.
I started with the basic model, since it’s the cheapest, but when I started adding options, I soon realized that stepping up to the next model made more sense financially. Working through the choices, I came out at about what I paid for my pickup truck 10 years ago. Between the trade in and the massive down payment I’m planning, I figure the monthly payments will be quite reasonable, and since I like to pay things off as quickly as I can, I expect to have that cleared in a couple of years, if not sooner.
Of course, the bronco won’t be released until next spring. I think it would have been released this fall, but then we had the Great Panicdemic of 2020, and all the governors overdosed on stupid pills and shut down the economy. I suspect that Ford took the opportunity to really fine tune their quality control and fix any issues in the design that might have cropped up with the additional testing. (Best to avoid recalls if they can)
I’ve spoken to the Former Mrs. Webmaster, (Currently the Angry Girlfriend, what she sees in that fool still eludes me), and she is tired of the Honda Civic she bought 10 years ago, and she wants an SUV with 4 wheel drive. It seems that when she left, she went south and forgot how to drive in snow. She’s also interested in the Bronco, although for her, the Bronco Sport makes more sense. (She doesn’t want something to big. I find that amusing since her first car was a beat up Ford Taurus 4-door sedan land yacht)
The Bronco Sport seems to fit the bill for her. Doing some basic math with their build tool, I think she can get a fairly good deal. I recall what the Angry Idiot told me when she bought the Honda. She spent 4 hours arguing over $50 on her trade in. I suspect she’s going to do quite well. (I may have her badger the salesman when I go in)
So there you have it. It looks like, unless something drastic comes up, that I will be buying a new Ford Bronco sometime next year. Hopefully, it will last a while, since I have a habit of holding on to my vehicles for at least 10 years. Well, we shall see of course
Thank you
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~The Angry Systems Administrator~
