So, I saw my first Raptor this weekend....

[BigRedGuy]

Saw my first Raptor this weekend at Enfield (CT) Ford.

Thoughts:

1. I know it is an unusual statement, but there isn't many in the Northeast. I believe I read there are 6,000 Raptors produced in 2010. There seem to be more in the Southwest based on anectodal evidence. If anyone knows the actual regional breakdown it would be interesting to learn.

2. Last weekend I vacationed in NH where I grew up. While tooling around I checked Ford dealerships while sightseeing. None had a Raptor, and three of the dealerships said they will get one and it will sell within a week (Manchester, Grappone in Concord, and Londonderry Ford.) Exeter Ford was closed, but I missed the used Black Raptor at Stratham BMW (north of Exeter) that I later saw in Craigslist.

3. This past weekend I went to a Buick GN meetup in East Winsdor, CT that a friend was hosting. I drove by the Winsdor Ford dealership, which didn't have any, and then I drove by Enfield Ford, which had one, a customer's.

4. What a truck! Molten Orange with Conn. plates. A firefighter sticker on the window, I am thinking it is a Volunteer or regular firefighter. I am assuming it was in for service.

5. The paint job is awesome. Pictures do not do justice when seeing the paint job in person, with the mud graphics. Another observation standing 10 feet away is the shocks have that aftermarket look that have a heavy duty racing/off - road look, like my '98 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Overall, sharp truck, whetted my appettite.

Has anyone seen actual production figures for the Raptor? In 2010 Ford has to have spreadsheets breaking trucks down by color and regional allocation.
Have any of you seen more on lots in larger cities? I haven't been to Springfield, Mass. dealerships yet so I may tool on by the 3 or 4 around there at some point.

 

[BIRDMAN]

I have only seen a few here in MA. Saw one in Maine. Don't hold your breath for the Manchester dealer...they kept me on the hook for a few weeks telling me they were getting one in "a week". Plus the person I talked to didn't know anything about the truck.

 

[BigRedGuy]

I have only seen a few here in MA. Saw one in Maine. Don't hold your breath for the Manchester dealer...they kept me on the hook for a few weeks telling me they were getting one in "a week". Plus the person I talked to didn't know anything about the truck.

Thanks for responding, Birdman. I had a couple of salesman who thought they weren't being produced in 2011, seemed like my limited knowledge outranked some of theirs...confidence inspiring.

 

[catosotp]

I have seen one recently in the hospital parking garage where I work. In fact, it was that Raptor sighting that got me looking at this truck again. I had been aware of its existence from trolling around on Autoblog for the past few years but seeing one in person really made me stop in my tracks. It is white with a Nav system and no side graphics. Damn sharp looking truck.

 

[pirate air]

Has anyone seen actual production figures for the Raptor? In 2010 Ford has to have spreadsheets breaking trucks down by color and regional allocation.
Have any of you seen more on lots in larger cities? I haven't been to Springfield, Mass. dealerships yet so I may tool on by the 3 or 4 around there at some point.

I haven't seen any official production numbers from Ford yet. I know at first (before they produced any of them) Ford hinted the number of 6000. But that was before Ford realized the Raptor was going to sell as well as it is. With the economy the way it is, it appears Ford is willing to build as many as they can sell (which I predicted they would over a year ago). I remember reading earlier this year that Ford had already confirmed 6000 Raptor orders, most of them being black and orange. So I bet final production numbers for MY2010 will be closer to 8,000. Ford also stated the average duration one sits on the lot before it sells is 3 days. They also had a break down of the top ten selling Raptor dealer; I can't remember for sure but I think they were all located in the southwest.

I've never seen more than one at a time on a dealer lot around here. They sell or get dealer traded too fast.

 

[BigRedGuy]

I haven't seen any official production numbers from Ford yet. I know at first (before they produced any of them) Ford hinted the number of 6000. But that was before Ford realized the Raptor was going to sell as well as it is. With the economy the way it is, it appears Ford is willing to build as many as they can sell (which I predicted they would over a year ago). I remember reading earlier this year that Ford had already confirmed 6000 Raptor orders, most of them being black and orange. So I bet final production numbers for MY2010 will be closer to 8,000. Ford also stated the average duration one sits on the lot before it sells is 3 days. They also had a break down of the top ten selling Raptor dealer; I can't remember for sure but I think they were all located in the southwest.

I've never seen more than one at a time on a dealer lot around here. They sell or get dealer traded too fast.

Thanks Pirate Air for the historical info and Backround. I posted the same question on the other forum and they said there was a dealer roughly an hour from me in Conn. that gets a lot (they had 4 at once.) If the economy was hot I bet they could sell 12,000 per year.

 

[BentToast]

i heard earlier that they had 6k orders for 5.4 liter Raptors before the 6.2s were available to order, so if thats any indicator there are more like 8k 2010 Raptors

 

[BigRedGuy]

i heard earlier that they had 6k orders for 5.4 liter Raptors before the 6.2s were available to order, so if thats any indicator there are more like 8k 2010 Raptors

Good Point. I like the fact that these are "special" so that there is some exclusivity, but not so small like a GMC Syclone that down the line parts get hard to come by and get togethers are difficult.

 

[BIRDMAN]

Good Point. I like the fact that these are "special" so that there is some exclusivity, but not so small like a GMC Syclone that down the line parts get hard to come by and get togethers are difficult.

The beauty of the Raptor is that most of the "important" stuff is standard F-150 stock. The Raptor Specific stuff- wheels, Body panels, shox, gears, control arms and maybe some interior trim/gadgets should be put on hold. And worst case scenario there will be enough on the salvage market.

I remember when I had my FJ Cruiser I tried to order some TRD wheels like the ones on the TRD FJ and Toyota had put a total stop to any sales of them to make sure they could cover parts replacements for at least 10 years. I'm sure ford will do the same. I would hope not just anyone can just walk in and buy a set of Fox Shox unless they own a Raptor.

 

[BigRedGuy]

The beauty of the Raptor is that most of the "important" stuff is standard F-150 stock. The Raptor Specific stuff- wheels, Body panels, shox, gears, control arms and maybe some interior trim/gadgets should be put on hold. And worst case scenario there will be enough on the salvage market.

I remember when I had my FJ Cruiser I tried to order some TRD wheels like the ones on the TRD FJ and Toyota had put a total stop to any sales of them to make sure they could cover parts replacements for at least 10 years. I'm sure ford will do the same. I would hope not just anyone can just walk in and buy a set of Fox Shox unless they own a Raptor.

Another good point. Hadn't thought of lining up special parts for each Raptor (FJ Cruiser story.) BTW saw another Raptor at Hoffman Ford in East Hartford (online), so they're around.