I’ll be the devils advocate here but the notion of buying a $40K (SM already said low 40’s so unfortunately I don’t think $35K is possible. Average new car price in US is $48K. An SUV/EV less than 40 won’t happen) back to point-$40K plus your $5-$8K for off-road goodies (if it stops there) and 20 minutes later flipping your Scout on Satan’sSpine or the Devil’s back or whatever trail you decide to take your $50K new Scout on and it is Done. I get buying a Scout or Bronco that is 30 years old, finding the joy in rebuilding (to whatever level you choose) then enjoying the outdoors in it. At that point dents and trail stripes are a badge of honor. I’ve bounced on and off Bronco6G forum as I’m paying for one currently (for daughter-technically she’s paying me via bank of parents loan) and considered a second. I can’t for the life of me imagine buying a $50K+ vehicle and destroying it several weeks later.
I also think the base Bronco was discontinued because there wasn’t enough margin for Ford and there were enough sales/orders on the higher end trims to justify killing it. That’s what the forum implied and I’m prone to believe that.
I think people are better off letting the “gotta have it crowd” rush out, take a line of credit to pay for one they can’t afford prior to selling it for pennies on the dollar making it a PRIME buy for off roading.
I think the Scout needs to be a lifestyle vehicle that caters to many and can be optioned in reasonably affordable ways to suit as many buyers as possible. Material pricing and the lovely new UAW wage rates dictate where the vehicle costs will be and if they/SM can add another $200 in products/features and price it $5K higher they’d be crazy not to. General business strategies dictate the need to add, not subtract to succeed in profitability. I just ordered a pair of Keen hiking boots as my local dealer was out of my size. $145 and when she pulled it up on screen to verify color the price (their price) was $72.50. I realize automobile mark ups aren’t anywhere close to 100% but stripping down a vehicle as a new sale doesn’t allow success when certain features cost “pennies” to make and sell for $100’s.
Acura just eliminated 2wd on the RDX and is going right to AWD. If you read enough many companies are dropping base level products.
I truly do hope SM starts with a basic Scout and builds scaled options and packages so we can all have what we need/want. But sadly, at a minimum, if SM wants to hit sales margins they almost have to play “keep up with the Jone’s”. On top of that, the younger generation doesn’t want basic commodity products. Everything has to be authentic, have a story and be built by hand so-to-speak and all the bulls**t they expect so SM will almost be forced if they want to succeed long term
I also think the base Bronco was discontinued because there wasn’t enough margin for Ford and there were enough sales/orders on the higher end trims to justify killing it. That’s what the forum implied and I’m prone to believe that.
I think people are better off letting the “gotta have it crowd” rush out, take a line of credit to pay for one they can’t afford prior to selling it for pennies on the dollar making it a PRIME buy for off roading.
I think the Scout needs to be a lifestyle vehicle that caters to many and can be optioned in reasonably affordable ways to suit as many buyers as possible. Material pricing and the lovely new UAW wage rates dictate where the vehicle costs will be and if they/SM can add another $200 in products/features and price it $5K higher they’d be crazy not to. General business strategies dictate the need to add, not subtract to succeed in profitability. I just ordered a pair of Keen hiking boots as my local dealer was out of my size. $145 and when she pulled it up on screen to verify color the price (their price) was $72.50. I realize automobile mark ups aren’t anywhere close to 100% but stripping down a vehicle as a new sale doesn’t allow success when certain features cost “pennies” to make and sell for $100’s.
Acura just eliminated 2wd on the RDX and is going right to AWD. If you read enough many companies are dropping base level products.
I truly do hope SM starts with a basic Scout and builds scaled options and packages so we can all have what we need/want. But sadly, at a minimum, if SM wants to hit sales margins they almost have to play “keep up with the Jone’s”. On top of that, the younger generation doesn’t want basic commodity products. Everything has to be authentic, have a story and be built by hand so-to-speak and all the bulls**t they expect so SM will almost be forced if they want to succeed long term
