Ok I have been lurking for some time and enjoying the stories, information, knowledge and general conversations on this board for a little while. I have been stalking the Raptor for longer. Basically ever since I saw it at SEMA 2009. I wasn't considering realistically buying one since I had a 2000 F-150 that I had built toward what the Raptor is. However, resistance is futile. This truck just has too much appeal. I finally justified to myself last July that I "needed" to have one. After looking at the features added for 2012, I decided to wait and order the 2012 instead of buying a 2011 right away.
Finally, I went in on Jan 7, 2012 and placed an order for a Flame Blue Screw with all options except stickers, man step and bed extender. Like many on this forum I agonized over the long wait I had to endure (not really as long as several here). I got a build date of Mar 6 and delivery was tentatively Mar 19ish. It was built, shipped and received by the dealer as scheduled. I was out of town so I ended up taking delivery on Mar 26.
The truck has satisfied or exceeded all of my expectations. A week after delivery I went on a 1000 mile round trip. I did not realize I purchased a soft riding luxury sedan, but this is how it felt. Freeway driving was effortless and city driving in traffic (LA rush hour) was less stressful than expect. I was expecting the width to be a little unnerving in heavy traffic, but this was not the case at all. Parking is not much worse than parking my 2000 F-150. I had a 4inch lift and 35s on that truck. It was actually an inch or so taller than the Raptor, so parking garages are not much of an issue.
After getting over 1000 miles I was ready to take it off road. I live in Las Vegas and there is an area called Apex that is northwest of Vegas just past where they hold the roundup. I went out there and ran through the sandy areas and climbed hills and ran down whoop roads. The truck is amazing compared to any stock or modified truck I have been in. Flying down rough trails at speeds well above what would be safe in a normal truck was relatively uneventful in the Raptor.
I have religiously read posts on this forum about issues that people have reported. I think I am pretty indifferent to some of the small issues that people have had. For instance I think I have had some weird drivetrain "clunks" here and there, but have not considered them to be to an extent to warrant real concern to this point. I attribute anything I would consider weirdness in the behavior of the truck to basic settling pains. So I am completely happy with how the truck is performing to this point. Of course I have only had it for almost a month and have 1700 miles on her.
I have not planned many modifications yet. I am more interested in seeing what Ford has put together for me to play with. Eventually I may look at performance enhancing mods. The main additions I have made so far are:
1) LineX color match spray in bed liner (including spraying my bed buddy)
2) Tinting Driver and passenger windows to match factory privacy tint in rear windows
3) 3 Cell LED Mag Light mounted on pillar behind drivers seat
Finally, if anyone in the Vegas Area is going out on an adventure feel free to pm me. I would like to venture out with other Raptors in the Southern Nevada desert.
Hope you enjoyed my post,
Tony (MavenSVT)
Finally, I went in on Jan 7, 2012 and placed an order for a Flame Blue Screw with all options except stickers, man step and bed extender. Like many on this forum I agonized over the long wait I had to endure (not really as long as several here). I got a build date of Mar 6 and delivery was tentatively Mar 19ish. It was built, shipped and received by the dealer as scheduled. I was out of town so I ended up taking delivery on Mar 26.
The truck has satisfied or exceeded all of my expectations. A week after delivery I went on a 1000 mile round trip. I did not realize I purchased a soft riding luxury sedan, but this is how it felt. Freeway driving was effortless and city driving in traffic (LA rush hour) was less stressful than expect. I was expecting the width to be a little unnerving in heavy traffic, but this was not the case at all. Parking is not much worse than parking my 2000 F-150. I had a 4inch lift and 35s on that truck. It was actually an inch or so taller than the Raptor, so parking garages are not much of an issue.
After getting over 1000 miles I was ready to take it off road. I live in Las Vegas and there is an area called Apex that is northwest of Vegas just past where they hold the roundup. I went out there and ran through the sandy areas and climbed hills and ran down whoop roads. The truck is amazing compared to any stock or modified truck I have been in. Flying down rough trails at speeds well above what would be safe in a normal truck was relatively uneventful in the Raptor.
I have religiously read posts on this forum about issues that people have reported. I think I am pretty indifferent to some of the small issues that people have had. For instance I think I have had some weird drivetrain "clunks" here and there, but have not considered them to be to an extent to warrant real concern to this point. I attribute anything I would consider weirdness in the behavior of the truck to basic settling pains. So I am completely happy with how the truck is performing to this point. Of course I have only had it for almost a month and have 1700 miles on her.
I have not planned many modifications yet. I am more interested in seeing what Ford has put together for me to play with. Eventually I may look at performance enhancing mods. The main additions I have made so far are:
1) LineX color match spray in bed liner (including spraying my bed buddy)
2) Tinting Driver and passenger windows to match factory privacy tint in rear windows
3) 3 Cell LED Mag Light mounted on pillar behind drivers seat
Finally, if anyone in the Vegas Area is going out on an adventure feel free to pm me. I would like to venture out with other Raptors in the Southern Nevada desert.
Hope you enjoyed my post,
Tony (MavenSVT)
