The issue appears to be that the Raptor falls short of their expectations in a few areas. Satisfying this segment of buyers is something Ford should consider with the next gen Raptor.
Putting my salesman hat (I've never worked for/at/with any auto manufacturer) on I'd be steering them towards Roush or Shelby or Henessy modified Raptors, that is just a bonus.
I just needed a truck, and any factory truck I could buy would be a lesser offroader (for low speed ranch duty with 15-foot boulders and trees everywhere) than the one I was trading in. So I bought the baddest most capable offroad truck I could afford. The fact that it is still quicker/faster on-pavement at posted speed limits than any other stock truck except SRT10 and Lightning neither of which I see on the roads anymore.
(Ooops, I did see a G2 Lightning a couple of weeks ago)
You know, the resolution and low-light performance is really REALLY bad, and the top down/4-direction thing (brain fart cannot remember the name) is terribad! Nissan had better in 2010. But then I start the motor and put her in gear and all is forgotten.
I'm willing to bet most of you in person would be very surprised at the speeds you can hit stuff offroad and be fine.
This is 100% true!
There's a section of trail I've driven 1,000 times before. Ranger STX (remember those?) 5 or 6 F150s (FX4/XLT/platinum/lariat), a couple of Willys, an International or two, a WWII PowerWagon (!!!), and half a dozen Wranglers. It is about a 400 foot climb on "granite-gravel" (which is very slippery) with boulders and trees close on the sides, total length is about half a mile.
I'm no stunt driver (I'll even accept the term chickensh1t since I have grandkids and this is my DD), and getting into the weeds out there is not only life threatening but it will be 6-12 hours before they can extract you.
This Raptor can climb that road in less than half the time of any other vehicle, and that is not pushing it compared to those lesser vehicles where I'd be pushing it even harder since it was less capable. Does that make sense?
I have owned 3 M-cars and currently own an M2.
I've lusted after the 3 for many years, dealer convinced me to get the 335 and doing the Dinan tune. I know it is not the same, even with the sport package and aftermarket susp kit. It is just what I could afford.