Reviews? First drives?

[Badgertits]

This is normal and expected, not weird. Whether it's a logical decision is debatable, but really depends on what's important to your deep pockets, as you pointed out.

I'll be honest, if I had a few million in the bank, I probably would have one on order.

lol- normal & expected in Raptor world, maybe- for vehicles that are typically daily driven? Extremely rare & odd for flocks of buyers to drop big coin w/o even SEEING one first.

a Ford GT? Sure. Acura NSX? Yep. But I guess that’s what makes the Raptor “special” it’s a halo/exotic in DD clothes I guess….or at least to some people it is

to me it’s an expensive nasty off-road truck that I certainly would like to own but not parting w/ a penny of my $$$ on a new until
I’ve driven a 1/2 dozen lol

 

[Badgertits]

Well, they convinced me not to buy a Defender for off-roading.

Just don’t get a sunroof w/ it- ask Doug Demuro lol

 

[KevoUsmc]

It's a Raptor, most people know already if they want one. Just because I didn't test drive a half-dozen Gen 3 doesn't mean I am not going to order it. Gotta pay to play. If you want to test drive before you buy that fine, probably won't be getting the truck until 2022 then. Not much different that buying a home, but yet you drop 3-4 times that amount and you don't "test drive" a house. The best you can do is look at photos and maybe walk around inside once or twice.

 

[mpd510]

The whole test drive thing is about to go the way of the do do bird. More companies are moving the Tesla route. Build to order

Ford CEO Jim Farley Says Build To Order Paradigm Is Company's Future

Ford CEO Jim Farley says that the build to order paradigm is the company's future, meaning the days of plentiful inventory and big incentives may be over.

fordauthority.com

 

[GTTXRAP]

The whole test drive thing is about to go the way of the do do bird. More companies are moving the Tesla route. Build to order

Ford CEO Jim Farley Says Build To Order Paradigm Is Company's Future

Ford CEO Jim Farley says that the build to order paradigm is the company's future, meaning the days of plentiful inventory and big incentives may be over.

fordauthority.com

They should have done this long ago. The challenge will be once things 'get back to normal' and they may not have enough order units to meet their financial estimates to Wall Street. They counted on those lots filled with cars for production numbers. Will be interesting.

 

[stoppard stop]

It's a Raptor, most people know already if they want one. Just because I didn't test drive a half-dozen Gen 3 doesn't mean I am not going to order it. Gotta pay to play. If you want to test drive before you buy that fine, probably won't be getting the truck until 2022 then. Not much different that buying a home, but yet you drop 3-4 times that amount and you don't "test drive" a house. The best you can do is look at photos and maybe walk around inside once or twice.

Damn well said

 

[KevoUsmc]

Yea there will still always be SOME cars sitting on the lots, but it does make more of a business sense to move to build to order. I have never driven a Raptor but in a way that's almost going to make the smile on my face that much bigger when I pick it up. I KNOW what I am buying and I've done my research. It has 4 wheels and goes fast, I have been driving cars for 17 years I know how they operate so it makes no difference to me if I test drive it. But this is a "special" kind of purchase and not a typical stroll into a dealer and drive a few compact cars kind of purchase. That drive before you buy model works for your standard fleet cars and people who are shopping around for "a car that gets me A to B and can fit my 6 kids"

 

[ganooch]

Yea there will still always be SOME cars sitting on the lots, but it does make more of a business sense to move to build to order. I have never driven a Raptor but in a way that's almost going to make the smile on my face that much bigger when I pick it up. I KNOW what I am buying and I've done my research. It has 4 wheels and goes fast, I have been driving cars for 17 years I know how they operate so it makes no difference to me if I test drive it. But this is a "special" kind of purchase and not a typical stroll into a dealer and drive a few compact cars kind of purchase. That drive before you buy model works for your standard fleet cars and people who are shopping around for "a car that gets me A to B and can fit my 6 kids"

This is where I am at. My wife is concerned that I am buying and have never driven a Raptor. I tell her that I have driven a ton of pickups, this is the same thing, only better, faster, and more off-road capable. Then she rolls her eyes. The joke is on here when her 5'3" body gets to climb up into the passenger seat, lol.

 

[dixonk]

The whole test drive thing is about to go the way of the do do bird. More companies are moving the Tesla route. Build to order

Ford CEO Jim Farley Says Build To Order Paradigm Is Company's Future

Ford CEO Jim Farley says that the build to order paradigm is the company's future, meaning the days of plentiful inventory and big incentives may be over.

fordauthority.com

Now if they would hurry up and make it where we can order online and have the vehicle delivered to the house. I would like to skip the whole going to the dealer and dealing with cheeseball salesman step all together. Dealerships are the worst part of the buying experience.

 

[melvimbe]

lol- normal & expected in Raptor world, maybe- for vehicles that are typically daily driven? Extremely rare & odd for flocks of buyers to drop big coin w/o even SEEING one first.

Bronco. Mach E. How many orders are there for the cybertruck? How many people actually drove a tesla before they bought one. You're expecting people to be logical with their decision making. While I make the same mistake often myself, recent evidence shows that logic cannot be expected from others. And no, I'm not just talking about automobile purchases.


And I'm probably being a bit too harsh. The Raptor is more more vehicle than I need personally, but it's what I wanted.

It's a Raptor, most people know already if they want one. Just because I didn't test drive a half-dozen Gen 3 doesn't mean I am not going to order it. Gotta pay to play. If you want to test drive before you buy that fine, probably won't be getting the truck until 2022 then. Not much different that buying a home, but yet you drop 3-4 times that amount and you don't "test drive" a house. The best you can do is look at photos and maybe walk around inside once or twice.

I would agree that if you want a Gen 3 ASAP, you're going to have to forgo a test drive and closer look. However, there are going to be a few things, likely minor that you don't like about the vehicle. I would certainly like to get a better look at them before hand. Maybe the little things don't matter to some, particularly if you aren't coming for a Gen 2. But if you are, maybe you don't want to trade in the vehicle your happy with for the one who's seats aren't as comfortable, with an orange stitching you don't like...that sort of thing.

As far as home buying goes, if you are bypassing a home inspection, you're a fool.