How did you come to afford your raptor?

[TurboTJ]

Gotta respect those who built their own companies from scratch. I hope to do this some day but I’m not sure I have the perseverance.

I’m an aerospace engineer in the middle of a talent war. No strategic brilliance, just right place, right time. We’ve all been getting job offers back back and forth weekly. I just got a friend from my old company a job offer at my new company for $51k/year MORE than what he was making. He showed the offer to his manager and they beat it! 30% pay raise overnight with no change is position/company/responsibilities . This is uncharted territory for me.

 

[Oldfart]

$60k truck divided by $5 (all I can see you getting for one) and that's 12,000 hand jobs. I admire your dedication to Raptor ownership!

The upside to my job is that I can now grip the wheel like a boss!!

 

[Gerald]

I've worked for NASA for over 30 years. Until the Raptor, I had always just viewed my vehicle as a conveyance to get me back and forth to work. I was usually driving small cars like Mazda3 and Hyundai Elentra. No bells and whistles. My wife and kids usually had better cars than me. For the past 4 years, I've been driving around in a 2003 F-150 Lariat. Found it in 2016 with 135K miles for under $7 K. It's been a great vehicle and I still have it for all of my "truck work" that I need. So once the kids where out the door and gainfully employed, my wife said "it's your turn to get a nice vehicle.......go get whatever you want......." She had no idea!! Probably will be retiring in December and plan to take the Raptor out west at some point next year to have some fun in New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah!!

 

[Sunchild714]

Hard work (aka busting my ass)

 

[goblues38]

. But for those of you that have been successful enough in your career to own a $75k truck....what do you do?

I work my ass off 50 hours a week as an IT professional. years and years of career building led me to a point where a $70k truck was something I can consider in my mid 40's.

Sure I could have bought one sooner, but family has priority.

 

[FDHog]

Retired with a good pension. Kids all gone.
20 Raptor, 19 Shelby GT350,19 Harley Ultra Ltd.
Cancer survivor and drove shit boxes while raising the kids, now it's my time.
Life's short

 

[isis]

Went to college for Electrical Engineering.

Work as an Electrical Engineer.

Ordered my '17 801a exactly how I wanted for $57k.

Same. Except I bought mine used for 50k. I used inheritance money because I choose to not have payments but I could afford them if I wanted to. Even having two kids in preschool.

 

[Mister Pinky]

Multiple jobs at 50+ hours a week.

For me though, the big thing was resale value. I could’ve bought a cheaper F150 like an XLT or Lariat. I could’ve justified a Super Duty. But honestly, you won’t get better resale value on a half ton than what the Raptor offers. Knowing I can put 100k miles on it and then sell it for a great price is part of it. It’s essentially a long term investment up front on future trucks down the road. Is that a risky strategy? Maybe.

But at the end of the days, there’s three F150 owners. The guys who don’t care about the Raptor. The guys who care but can’t afford the Raptor. And the actual Raptor owners. Usually there’s more #2 guys than #3 guys and the #2 guys are always trying to find ways to become #3 guys but can’t afford the upfront costs.

 

[PorterW1111]

I gave handies at the bus station. It paid the bills and I got to make my own hours.

Hey $20 is $20

 

[PorterW1111]

I’m a cyber guy, 8 years in the Navy got out and I subcontract cyber data science for the government ever sense. It pays well...

I bought a gen 1, a metal building as a shop, and filled it with tools. For me being able to build, fab, and create to my imagination has more worth than a new truck, that’s the road I took.

but I balance my salary to support wife, two kids, and remodeling a house. Hence why that Whipple just sits in the shopping cart.. lol