Can a Raptor SCab be city daily driver?

[masmole]

I looked at the newest cayenne and WOW. It was the s with 400hp V8. Its amazing now that they made the center console stuff like the panamera. If I was to spend $80k on a 4x4, it would be that.
How about the 2012 SRT8 Grand Cherokee? It does 0-60 in 4.7 seconds and is supposed to be amazing fun on the track.

If only the new Jeep GC SRT8 had more than a 5k tow rating, I'd definitely consider it. My trailer loaded with car is more than that. 5400 to be exact, so I wouldn't want to take any chances should I ever wreck while towing and my insurance carrier questions if I was towing within my equipment's rated capacities.

Cayennes are nice inside but I just can't get over the looks outside. Plus, I didn't want to be one of "those guys" towing a Porsche with a Porsche. Also, Cayennes are just too expensive (I'd want the Turbo) to use and abuse with towing duties. I'd feel bad beating it up like that, less so with its sibling, the Touareg for obvious reasons. Raptor is a truck that's meant for hard work and getting dirty, and I guess that's what appealed to me for a tow vehicle/daily driver.

 

[whtrapta]

Too bad. That jeep would be bad ass to have. I don't see why you really couldn't have a raptor in chicago. I would HIGHLY recommend the SCAB there but after a little getting used to the width, it should be fine. We have some streets in downtown springfield where the lane is 8' wide if you include the gutter. Its unnerving at first but you get used to it. The truck is surprisingly maneuverable and turns pretty tight.

 

[JuggNuttz]

Great points!

About the plates... so you mean I can't just transfer the plates from my Touareg to the Raptor, and will need either these "Truck B" plates or some specialized plates? Specialized as in what, vanity plates? Please educate me. I had no idea about all this. Damn.

Funny you mention Millennium Park. That's where I live! The photo of the parking garage I posted is an underground condo garage on Columbus Drive on the north end of Millennium Park. I've seen Hummers and Tundra crew cabs parked here, so I figured the Raptor would be fine.

any of the specialty plates, like an "E" plate (environmental), sports team plate or like mine the DNR. i got the deer plate. they are about $40 more per year then a B plate i think.... (i could be wrong, been a while since i paid for a B), but no tickets to pay for makes up for it! and yes i can tell you from expirience that parking on any residential street with a B plate will get you a ticket......

 

[Tomas]

I mentioned the underground city garages because the raptor won't fit between the lines in some. Others have a no truck policy. Of course, SUVs are OK even though some are longer/taller than trucks. Go figure.

Maybe you should just rent a regular F150 from Hertz or Budget for a week to see what it's like to drive around downtown. Just park it 9" further out from the curb and see if you can get used to worrying about sideswipes. Or bikers. They get pissed when cars park in the bike lanes...

Tomas

PS If speed bumps are your biggest problem with the GT3 you're lucky. I gave up driving my toy car in the city because I couldn't make it through the potholes.

 

[RevlimitrSVT]

I live in the DC metro area and pretty much decided anytime I have to go someplace that requires garage parking I leave the Raptor at home and I take either our 04 Expedition or Jetta TDi. The Main reason is that we have some notoriously low parking garages(the height warning bar scrapes the roof rack of the Exp.) and the parking spaces are very narrow and even if you can get the in the spaces sometimes they are too narrow to open the doors to get out easily especially since the people around here are incapable of actually parking between the lines and usually park on them, this is still an issue with the expedition but not as severe because it lacks the bulging fenders that takes up the extra space between vehicles.

Now granted not every parking garage in the DC metro area is as bad as I outlined above and you will eventually figure out what parking is Raptor safe and what isnt but if you dont have the luxury of using the same garages everytime there is a chance it could be a problem...

Actually disregard everything I just typed here because your Raptor will eat anything that comes within striking distance and you will most likely come back to an empty lot if parked long enough....

oh and I never have an issue with street parking with the Raptor as long as I can find an empty space and the back up camera is a life saver in tight parking spaces.

Keep in mind I'm not trying to deter you from buying a Raptor,just letting you in on a few of the experiences I had with lot parking.

 

[6.2]

This thread makes me glad I live In the country.



-Posted with my iPhone.

 

[cdngunrunner]

I've only had my Raptor for a couple weeks and had the need to drive downtown twice, othersiwe - I'm in the suburbs, industrial parks and shopping parks.

Downtown, I couldn't find a garage that had a high enough clearance. (But I didn't look too long)

Traffic wasn't an issue. Little crap tends to back off when they're looking straight into a 35" tire.
My air horn helps a bit too.

Parking generally - I'm making good use of the retractable side mirrors and camera.

I could see where daily grind in the city could wear you out, but when you find a little open road and hear that growl, you might just get re-energized.

 

[mrpositraction]

Wouldn't be much different than a regular F150. Mirrors are the same width and length isn't any different.

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

 

[Boostin]

If only the new Jeep GC SRT8 had more than a 5k tow rating, I'd definitely consider it. My trailer loaded with car is more than that. 5400 to be exact, so I wouldn't want to take any chances should I ever wreck while towing and my insurance carrier questions if I was towing within my equipment's rated capacities.

Cayennes are nice inside but I just can't get over the looks outside. Plus, I didn't want to be one of "those guys" towing a Porsche with a Porsche. Also, Cayennes are just too expensive (I'd want the Turbo) to use and abuse with towing duties. I'd feel bad beating it up like that, less so with its sibling, the Touareg for obvious reasons. Raptor is a truck that's meant for hard work and getting dirty, and I guess that's what appealed to me for a tow vehicle/daily driver.

I'm glad you posted this thread because I had been having the exact same thoughts. I fell in love with the Raptor and was trying to convince myself that it was the perfect vehicle to replace my Cayenne Turbo S which also happens to be what tows my 996TT to the track (yes, I'm the guy that tows a Porsche with Porsche but keep reading and everyone will be happy ). I love the Cayenne and it is a beast when towing, probably just as good as your Touareg, but I was just itching for something I could take and beat off road while also being able to tow my track car. I happen to live in a city as well and one that may arguably be worse than Chicago...San Francisco. Like you, I never drive my 911 around because I can't get anywhere without being extremely cautious (I'm a touch lower than GT2 height).

Well, long story short, I some how rationalized with myself that a Raptor made sense (which I will be honest, it doesn't!) and went and ordered a 2012 last weekend!! The wait is going to kill me and I'm sure as much as I'll hate taking it around the city, I'll love it at the same time! You should go order one so I don't feel like the only idiot who lives in a city and bought a Raptor.

I used to own a Jeep SRT8 before the Cayenne but it didn't even come with a hitch and took a decent amount of work to get it in shape to tow 5K+ lbs so I scrapped that idea. The SRT8 was a blast but wasn't the best in the snow (Tahoe) although I'd bet she'd be alright with a decent set of snow tires aside from the fact the front valance was literally 4" off the ground...almost as bad as the 911. Well to be fair I did have to get chains to get to my house up there one weekend and she looked pretty badass if I don't say. And as much as I love the new SRT8, I'd still say go for the Raptor!