I finally got around to finding a pre-owned Raptor R at a local dealership. Took it for a nice drive on local streets that I'm very familiar with using my own truck. Drove it like I drive my own truck.
It looks good. Sounds amazing. Anything over 1/2 - 2/3 throttle is hilarious. The Recaros are still something I miss that I don't have.
However, and I'm still trying to describe accurately to even myself, it's just "not there" for me. Here's the best way I can say it, I think;
If I didn't have a Raptor already, I'd get an R hands down, zero hesitation. It's good. It's great. It's an animal, I dunno, like a Polar Bear or something. Super good looking, majestic, beautiful, and extremely dangerous. But I have a Raptor. Sure, it's a little bit slower. It sounds equally as badass (though I simply prefer the rumble over the rasp), but there's just something about the dynamics of the driving experience.
If the R is a Polar Bear, the V6 Raptor in my book, is a Grizzly Bear. Still almost as aggressive, a bit smaller (engine size and power), though a little more nimble and dare I say, "refined"...?
Would I drive one? Hell yeah. Do I drool and desire the R as much as I used to? Negative. Do I still envy when I see one? Yep, you bet. But then I'll go into Sport mode, flick the paddles down a few gears and listen to the screaming wail of that V6 and know I'm extremely happy and blessed just the same to be where I'm at.
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