repost, looking for opinions

[builthatch]

i found this forum while researching this vehicle. i am looking for something that is:
cheap
durable
easy to repair with readily available parts
can haul my boxer dog to the beach and stuff from the lumber yard
handle the short, menial trips around town, etc.
oh, and crawl through the snow in the winter.

i have a turbo Mazdaspeed3 and a 2007 Honda Civic Si. both require 93, and both like to be driven quickly...and both entail car payments with warranties, so the less meaningless driving, the better. plus, you can figure i'm not well-versed with trucks.

i have my eyes on this one -

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...09&doors=&transmission=&max_price=&cardist=42

what do you all think?

 

[AllanD]

I'll be honest with you...

If you live in an area that is mercifully free of rust I still
wouldn't buy a bronco2 unless it was a particularly clean
1990 (produced AFTER 11/89) and even then it would
have to be equipped with the "M" code manual transmission.

but other than that I'd strongly recommend getting a rust free
Explorer Sport or Mazda Navajo with a manual trans.
Preferably a 1993-94.

The problem with a Bronco2 is simple, everyone who's seriously into
Ranger Based Vehicles who gets their hands on a bronco2 wants to
turn it into an Explorer sport anyway.

Personally my only issues with an Explorer 2dr over a bronco2 is that
the longer (heavier) doors tend to wear out the door hinges.
Hinges can be repaired or replaced.

But other than that it's all good, the Explorer comes with the
stronger (WIDER) 8.8" rear axle the stronger (WIDER) Dana 35
front axle and already has the 4.0 which is generally a more
reliable engine than the 2.9 can hope to be.

Lastly if you find yourself with a 93-94 Explorer sport it will have
the superior FOUR WHEEL Anti-Lock brakes
and even though that Bronco2 is advertised as having ABS it
is only on the REAR wheels.

The system is called RABS and frankly it sucks.

AD

 

[builthatch]

^ hmm, very interesting info. thank you for all of it.

the biggest thing is that i will literally not use the thing for more than simple trips and hauling. no off-road, no aggressive driving...keep it bone stock, change the oil per the factory recommendations, perform regular maintenance, keep it clean and drive it solely around town in a very easy manner. i guess i might be different than most of those on the forum since i have no yearning to modify whatever i get, whatsoever. i've been looking at everything (VW wagons, older small trucks with extended cabs, even Honda Wagovans, the old 4wd Civics!) i can't find anything in nearly the shape of that posted Bronco II. It's simply immaculate. I've found a few of the generation Explorer's you've mentioned, but all are auto, none are sports, and all seem shaky compared to the condition of the Bronco.

all of that said, would you still not consider it for say $1800?

 

[RebelRanger97]

Heres the thing , if you like it and it will do what you want then buy it .If there was a bronc near me in that kind of shape I would buy it in a hoofbeat!!!

 

[Hahnsb2]

but other than that I'd strongly recommend getting a rust free
Explorer Sport or Mazda Navajo with a manual trans.
Preferably a 1993-94.

The problem with a Bronco2 is simple, everyone who's seriously into
Ranger Based Vehicles who gets their hands on a bronco2 wants to
turn it into an Explorer sport anyway.

AD

While I agree that Sport/Navajo would be a better choice for him, after "turning my b2 in a an X sport" or in process of doing so, for my purposes I'd still rather have my B2 with the upgraded parts than the sport, I could have put the tranny into my perfectly acceptable (and rather clean) sport parts rig and had a good rig but I'd rather put it's parts in my B2, I like the extra space underneath and the ground clearence is better, among other things.

And $2500 for a B2 is insane, I don't care how nice it is. I found my sploder sport which is pretty damn nice for $400, ran very well too (engine is very clean inside), it just needed a new 5 speed, for $250 it would have made a better rig than that bronco II...

 

[AllanD]

If you really like it and you are really interested in paying $1800 for
it then that's all that matters.

Just remind yourself it is a 19year old vehicle.

AD

 

[rickcdewitt]

be wary of paying more just because its a clean looking truck,the drivetrain is most important.in an old clean vehicle its likely the previous owner paid more attention to washing and garaging than maintenance.i know way too many guys that have been hosed because "it looked nice" and they spent their time inspecting the interior rather than the engine compartment.spiffing up a truck is a good way to get rid of a lemon,i know.grill them on the maintenance history