Switched from R1T (Gen 1 Quad) to a Ford Bronco

[LR4toR1S]

Obviously a very different vehicle and very different driving experience. But I'm loving the Bronco! I forgot how nice it is to have intuitive knobs and switches controlling things inside the car. 30 years of driving-related muscle memory means it just feels like home to have a "normal" windshield wiper control stock or volume knob. I did enjoy driving an EV and I'll buy another one at some point. I miss the ease of plugging in at night. Don't miss the acceleration. That became just a parlor trick after a few months and I never really used all that HP and torque. I realize this will not be a popular post on here, but thought I'd share in case anyone else is thinking of going back in time to a truck that runs on dino juice.

I have a 1973 Bronco. These new ones look fantastic.........however, these new ones are 95% plastic on the interior. Its awful. It isn't even th sof touch plastic that wears well, its hard crappy cheap plastic. FORD went cheap. They could have gone Xterra style neoprene, but nope, crappy scratch-able plastic everywhere. I was so disappointed with the interior materials and quality I noped out of buying one after my LR4.

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[Forest Edge]

I have a 1973 Bronco. These new ones look fantastic.........however, these new ones are 95% plastic on the interior. Its awful. It isn't even th sof touch plastic that wears well, its hard crappy cheap plastic. FORD went cheap. They could have gone Xterra style neoprene, but nope, crappy scratch-able plastic everywhere. I was so disappointed with the interior materials and quality I noped out of buying one after my LR4.

You're right! I went for the more basic Heritage spec because I felt like the price accurately matched the overall quality of the vehicle. I seriously considered the 60th Anniversary Outer Banks edition, but it would've cost $10-12K more than the Heritage and just didn't feel worth it. Mid $60K for a plastic-y, loud Bronco is not a great value proposition in my mind. Low $50s made more sense to me.

 

[LR4toR1S]

You're right! I went for the more basic Heritage spec because I felt like the price accurately matched the overall quality of the vehicle. I seriously considered the 60th Anniversary Outer Banks edition, but it would've cost $10-12K more than the Heritage and just didn't feel worth it. Mid $60K for a plastic-y, loud Bronco is not a great value proposition in my mind. Low $50s made more sense to me.

As a lifelong FORD guy, Still own the 73 bronco, 1969 mach 1, 22 Premium Mach E......Do yourself a favor and buy a Granger FORD extended warranty. If you are in CA you need to buy it from a local dealer. Anywhere else it can be used. 3y 36k Ford has the worst warranties in the entire auto industry.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Agree. But as you know, we humans in general ARE continuing to use it as an infinite resource with data centers leading the charge. And blame data centers, but who are the end consumers of that power? Everyone of us that is connected or expects technology driven services (online help, chat bots, AI agents, etc.). Create an AI generated video of rabbits jumping on a trampoline or an AI agent that indexes your photos? That consumed a few grams of fossil fuel. The problem is that electricity growth demand outstrips new alternate energy coming online, so fossil fuel consumption is not going to drop any time soon in the US.

I pay extra on my home electricity bill for it to be 100% renewable. I'd rather have solar on our roof, but our house isn't well positioned for it, so I suppose this is the best I'll get. Funnily enough, at one point it was about 1% savings over the "normal" electrical mix. Power co must have noticed and got the power commission to increase rates across the board, so it wasn't true anymore. Still though, only paying about an extra 4% for 100% renewable vs 15% that's "promised".

 

[Hillbilly]

If the R2 had lots of manual knobs, air vents and Carplay....would that of swayed you to stay EV?

The R2 isn't nice enough for us to replace our R1T and S. But the tactile buttons and switches are some of the reasons we'll be switching to the scouts.

Hell, if there were a manual diesel land cruiser here in the states I never would have bought a Rivian in the first place and probably would have gotten another Range Rover for the wife.

Still have a diesel hd truck and gas motorcycle to scratch that ICE itch (which is very real).

 

[usulio]

I pay extra on my home electricity bill for it to be 100% renewable. I'd rather have solar on our roof, but our house isn't well positioned for it, so I suppose this is the best I'll get. Funnily enough, at one point it was about 1% savings over the "normal" electrical mix. Power co must have noticed and got the power commission to increase rates across the board, so it wasn't true anymore. Still though, only paying about an extra 4% for 100% renewable vs 15% that's "promised".

Cool.

I'm big on the "free market". People should be free to buy gas vehicles in 2026 if they want. But the externalities of pollution and climate change should be priced in. Otherwise it's not really a free market, it's off loading costs to others and our children instead of paying ourselves. In an accurate market gas would be $10/gallon and fossil fuel electricity would cost more too. We should price things for the damage they cause and then people can make their decisions based on the true costs.

 

[yesimahuman]

Obviously a very different vehicle and very different driving experience. But I'm loving the Bronco! I forgot how nice it is to have intuitive knobs and switches controlling things inside the car. 30 years of driving-related muscle memory means it just feels like home to have a "normal" windshield wiper control stock or volume knob. I did enjoy driving an EV and I'll buy another one at some point. I miss the ease of plugging in at night. Don't miss the acceleration. That became just a parlor trick after a few months and I never really used all that HP and torque. I realize this will not be a popular post on here, but thought I'd share in case anyone else is thinking of going back in time to a truck that runs on dino juice.

I saw someone on reddit post recently about switching from an R1T to a Tacoma, and I just scratched my head. To me, the EV specific features of this truck make it 10x better than any alternative on the market, gas or otherwise. The gear tunnel and the frunk in particular that make it a viable road tripper compared to other trucks where your only storage is the bed. And the R1T bed is a perfect balance of being wide enough to fit sheet goods flat but not too long that you can't fit it into a garage. Home charging, acceleration to make passing a breeze...I could never, ever go back. I actually like the simplicity of not having a ton of physical knobs, but I know that's a contentious topic. Also, I always hated going to gas stations so I would never willingly sign back up for that lifestyle. Either way, good on you for finding the best car for you, and I hope you enjoy it.

 

[Forest Edge]

I saw someone on reddit post recently about switching from an R1T to a Tacoma, and I just scratched my head. To me, the EV specific features of this truck make it 10x better than any alternative on the market, gas or otherwise. The gear tunnel and the frunk in particular that make it a viable road tripper compared to other trucks where your only storage is the bed. And the R1T bed is a perfect balance of being wide enough to fit sheet goods flat but not too long that you can't fit it into a garage. Home charging, acceleration to make passing a breeze...I could never, ever go back. I actually like the simplicity of not having a ton of physical knobs, but I know that's a contentious topic. Also, I always hated going to gas stations so I would never willingly sign back up for that lifestyle. Either way, good on you for finding the best car for you, and I hope you enjoy it.

I'm definitely going to miss the frunk and gear tunnel. Those are awesome!

 

[Count Orlok]

Environmental issues aside, there is currently no direct substitute for a Ford Bronco or Jeep Wrangler. Lockers, 35s, Low range gearbox - a combo that does not exist in the EV world. So for now, we can give you a free pass .
(also, no pics of the Bronco??)

INEOS has entered the chat

 

[Holler Wanderer]

I'm definitely going to miss the frunk and gear tunnel. Those are awesome!

I can't live without my frunk now, even with the R1S. It remains filled with my camping gear all summer.

 

[MXA121]

INEOS has entered the chat

Yeah...I should have added 'in the EV space'. The ineos is pretty neat. Toss some FOX shocks on there and it boogies pretty good too!

 

[SASSquatch]

Eh, most people aren't buying EVs to "save the planet". I certainly am not.

If the Scout isn't available in a year or two, I'm buying a V8/high horsepower gas guzzler like I used to have.

This is a public forum, and I think it's actually useful to hear why people are leaving. Those perspectives can be just as insightful as hearing why people stay.

Why would people be stupid enough to make an informed decision that helps protect humanities only viable home?

To hell with record breaking heatwaves, flooding, wildfires, destructive storms, and any hope of pulling our climate back from a catastrophic tipping point we can't come back from.

 

[BanditTA]

Not exactly the same comparison but I went from a Gladiator to an R1T Tri. This truck is so much nicer I can’t ever imagine going back. Obviously it should be for the price difference.

I’d love a removable roof or t tops but the driving experience otherwise makes the Jeep feel like it’s 40 years old. 0-60 in 2.8 seconds instead of 8 seconds and the vastly better handling helps a bit too.

I realized I spent about 1% of my time off road where the Jeep would beat the R1T and 1% with the tops off so best to enjoy 99% of my driving time.

 

[Timbuk2000]

Not exactly the same comparison but I went from a Gladiator to an R1T Tri. This truck is so much nicer I can’t ever imagine going back. Obviously it should be for the price difference.

I’d love a removable roof or t tops but the driving experience otherwise makes the Jeep feel like it’s 40 years old. 0-60 in 2.8 seconds instead of 8 seconds and the vastly better handling helps a bit too.

I realized I spent about 1% of my time off road where the Jeep would beat the R1T and 1% with the tops off so best to enjoy 99% of my driving time.

 

[LebaneseMarc]

Obviously a very different vehicle and very different driving experience. But I'm loving the Bronco! I forgot how nice it is to have intuitive knobs and switches controlling things inside the car. 30 years of driving-related muscle memory means it just feels like home to have a "normal" windshield wiper control stock or volume knob. I did enjoy driving an EV and I'll buy another one at some point. I miss the ease of plugging in at night. Don't miss the acceleration. That became just a parlor trick after a few months and I never really used all that HP and torque. I realize this will not be a popular post on here, but thought I'd share in case anyone else is thinking of going back in time to a truck that runs on dino juice.

Happy for you! we live in a fun time....

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