And I thought Tahoes/Yukons Were Expensive

[EddieC]

Would I be the only one to think "BUT it's a FORD" ?

 

[JTGZ71]

When I was shopping for new vehicle for my wife she really liked the looks of the new Bronco and we checked them out.

Out of all the model lines the Bronco has to have the most options. The base model to the high end model doesn’t even look like the same truck. I saw sticker prices from the $50k to $95k depending on the model.

After researching the new Bronco history we decided to keep the 2003 Honda Element she is driving now. The Element has more reliable engine and more room.
Also if you think the latest GM debacle with the 6.2l engine is bad google the problems with the Bronco!
They didn’t have to initiate recall as most of those Broncos ended up back at the dealer lol!

Were you really cross-shopping a Bronco and a Honda Element? Seems like 2 completely different vehicles.

 

[BacDoc]

Were you really cross-shopping a Bronco and a Honda Element? Seems like 2 completely different vehicles.

No, my wife has a 2003 Honda Element she is original owner and it is garage kept and perfect condition.
It’s got 160k miles and I thought it was time to trade in or sell, strictly because of age and mileage.
The Element is very versatile small/mid SUV, decent fuel economy and roomy for its size. Runs on regular gas and besides regular maintenance, shocks and motor mounts (the only weak link of the Element. 1 usually goes bad and causes some noise at certain rpm but many just run it as it’s not that critical) this vehicle has been reliable and never left her stranded. I think we’re still running the original brakes. Engine and transmission are still working like new.

If Honda continued to make it we would get a new one absolutely!

For the mid size SUV there is a lot out there but unfortunately nothing as good as the Element for cargo room and driver/passenger room.

We ended up looking at Toyota Land Cruiser, Ford Bronco and the Lexus GX 550.

My wife liked the look of the Bronco but as I posted before the differences between trim levels was very wide - the better looking and equipped trim was pretty expensive for what you get and fuel economy is disappointing. Plus the problems and reliability is worse than GM.

Unfortunately all the manufacturers are having quality control issues and Toyota and Lexus are not as reliable as they used to be.

The Toyota and Lexus are beautiful and have the handling and room but actually not much better than the Element, despite having twice the MSRP. Plus they both require premium and have way worse fuel economy than the Element.

You don’t buy a big SUV or truck for fuel economy but you expect decent fuel economy from mid sized SUVs.

Driver area and cargo capacity is actually better in the Element.

My wife is an Equestrian ( fancy way of saying we got a big pet that eats a lot and we need to pack and haul cargo like feed bags and bales of hay) and the Element can easily fit a couple bales of hay, buckets, tack etc.

I am starting to agree with Marky Dissod and some other posters that anything made after 2015 or so is over priced, poor quality control and built for obsolescence rather then reliability!

 

[Marky Dissod]

Driver area and cargo capacity is actually better in the Element.

My wife is an Equestrian ( fancy way of saying we got a big pet that eats a lot and we need to pack and haul cargo like feed bags and bales of hay),
and the Element can easily fit a couple bales of hay, buckets, tack etc.

I am starting to agree with Marky Dissod and some other posters,
that anything made after 2015 or so is over priced, poor quality control and built for obsolescence rather than reliability!

Nevermind me, keep your horse involved in your conversations about what you're gonna buy next.
Pretty sure your horse would not prefer anything less reliable than it.

 

[BacDoc]

Nevermind me, keep your horse involved in your conversations about what you're gonna buy next.
Pretty sure your horse would not prefer anything less reliable than it.

Exactly

 

[GMCnewbee]

Call me what you want, but this looks like a job for a Minivan.

 

[BacDoc]

Call me what you want, but this looks like a job for a Minivan.

Yes, you are absolutely right, that is a good point and definitely worth looking at. Unless you need towing ( which we don’t as the Tahoe fills that niche) the minivan is the best bang for the buck!
Doesn’t look as “cool” but besides that it checks all the boxes.
The Honda Odessey and Toyota Sienna are on our shortlist.
I am satisfied with my Tahoe but the few times I would drive the wife’s vehicle I would prefer something cooler than a minivan lol!
But the minivans I mentioned have the room, options and way better fuel economy than the Land Cruiser or the GX 550. Plus the double sliding doors are the best for loading people and cargo.

 

[Johnny Fr]

The good thing that we often forget, is that our salaries have kept pace

I know some people whose did (43%), and they immediately got a new Escalade last year. Isn't it ironic.... (maybe this year would have been better, but it was the timing of the raise).