Need help deciding between two cars … which one should I pick

Hi everyone, I could really use your advice here. I’m trying to decide between two Broncos to lease:

  1. A 2024 Outer Banks with equipment group 312A (I think that’s the standard/base version) and 18-inch wheels.
  2. A 2024 Big Bend with equipment group 222A, which adds heated seats and co-pilot. It also has a 10-speed automatic transmission, which seems to cost an extra $1500. This one has 17-inch wheels.

The Big Bend is the color we like more, and both have soft tops. My main question is: Is the Outer Banks worth paying around $150 more per month if we don’t plan to do any off-roading? Also, this car will be driven on the highway for 90 miles each way once or twice a month. Would the bigger wheels make the ride more comfortable or feel more luxurious? Thanks so much for your help!

If you prefer the color and it’s $150 less a month, I’d go with the Big Bend. Maybe test drive both and see which one feels better. Or, when you park and walk away, does one make you want to look back at it? If so, that’s probably the one you should choose.

@Cannon
They’re pretty much the same car. The Outer Banks has some small details like painted mirrors and fender flares. But this advice is solid.

Smaller wheels usually give a smoother ride. If you’re not planning to go off-roading, I wouldn’t pay extra for the bigger wheels. It’s not worth it.

My advice? Get one with a hard top.

Connor said:
My advice? Get one with a hard top.

Agreed. I just traded in my Outer Banks soft top for a Wildtrak with a hard top.

Connor said:
My advice? Get one with a hard top.

We live in a seasonal beach town, so the soft top is a must for us.

Mariana said:

Connor said:
My advice? Get one with a hard top.

We live in a seasonal beach town, so the soft top is a must for us.

A soft top is definitely more comfortable if you plan on going topless often.

Mariana said:

Connor said:
My advice? Get one with a hard top.

We live in a seasonal beach town, so the soft top is a must for us.

A used soft top might cost you $500 to $1000, but a used hard top can run up to $5000. You mentioned long trips—I regret not getting a hard top, and now it’s too expensive to switch.

Do both have automatic transmission?

Sara said:
Do both have automatic transmission?

Yes, both are automatic. We’re only interested in a soft top because we live in a seasonal beach town.

I bought a Big Bend with the Advanced Sasquatch package and a hard top a few months ago. The heated seats are amazing—they heat up so fast I keep them on the lowest setting. I’ve never leased a car, but I know people who do and it works for them. Good luck with your decision!

I think the Outer Banks also has HOSS 1.0 suspension. Not sure if that’s worth an extra $130 a month. I have a Badlands, so I can’t really compare the suspension to the Big Bend’s standard setup.

Xander said:
I think the Outer Banks also has HOSS 1.0 suspension. Not sure if that’s worth an extra $130 a month. I have a Badlands, so I can’t really compare the suspension to the Big Bend’s standard setup.

Thanks. Can you explain that in simpler terms? Sorry!

Bigger wheels mean less sidewall, which usually means a stiffer ride. We’re only talking about a half-inch difference here, but generally, more sidewall means more comfort.

Declan said:
Bigger wheels mean less sidewall, which usually means a stiffer ride. We’re only talking about a half-inch difference here, but generally, more sidewall means more comfort.

Thanks!

Just confirming—the 312A package includes heated seats. Not sure if you already knew that.

Leases are great for CEOs who get a new company car every few years. It’s a good tax deduction for them. But dealerships have figured out how to sell leases to regular people who can’t afford to buy a car outright. They make huge profits because people only look at the monthly payment, not the total cost. Have you heard of this forum called Dave Ramsey?

@Corbin
Uh, okay.