Tell me I'm completely insane for even considering this........

[GordoJay]

Anecdotal and second hand accounts of reliability are meaningless. Use case, maintenance, care, and customer perception are all things that need to be accounted for. For example, people will pair an incompatible device to the infotainment, crash the system, and then bad mouth the vehicle and brand as “unreliable”.

I agree with your point, but not your example. The system should be designed to gracefully handle an incompatible device. Failure to do so indicates that a lot of corners were cut in software development and is an indicator of a low quality product. That low quality is seldom confined to one module.

 

[2018Shelby]

Wait for Raptor…you will not be disappointed!

 

[FordTechOne]

I agree with your point, but not your example. The system should be designed to gracefully handle an incompatible device. Failure to do so indicates that a lot of corners were cut in software development and is an indicator of a low quality product. That low quality is seldom confined to one module.

That’s design intent for any system I would think, but it’s impossible to account for how new software/hardware that hasn’t yet been invented will interact with the system. If it were that easy, Windows would never have functionality issues with new software. We all know how that goes…

 

[GordoJay]

That’s design intent for any system I would think, but it’s impossible to account for how new software/hardware that hasn’t yet been invented will interact with the system. If it were that easy, Windows would never have functionality issues with new software. We all know how that goes…

Yes we do. And that’s a strong argument for limiting tech in applications where human life is at risk. I had two more incidents last week where my transfer case did something weird and different. Once it remembered that I was in mud/sand mode. I was excited, as I had put on the parking brake before I shut her down and I thought that might be the secret incantation. Sadly, I was unable to duplicate the bug. The second time I parked in town in 2H and when I restarted, it was clearly in 4H with the diff locked. Dash indicated 2H. Power cycling fixed it. Maybe we should all be glad that blue cruise won’t be happening on our trucks….

 

[Tortuga-Raptor F150]

At the risk of getting blasted, here goes...........

Given the 3 bumps in my build date (now pushed out another 2 months to April), I started thinking whether this was a sign to perhaps not a get raptor. Accordingly, I started thinking about other options.
As I posted way back, I've always been intrigued by the 392 Hemi V8, and as such, cross shopped a Rubicon 392. Then I drove a Rubicon with the turbo diesel and decided quickly that there was no way I could live with this on long drives. I also have loved the Raptor from afar for years, but never seriously considered getting one until moving up here to the mountains and driving my buddy's gen 2.

When I drove his, I really liked it-- A LOT, minus the turbo lag in normal mode, and figured based on what I read about the Gen3, I'm going to like it even more. I live in a rural community at 6500 ft, and won't be doing hard core rock crawling, and likely won't be pushing the Raptor in the desert either, but am intrigued about doing some stupid stuff occasionally down in the desert w/o hopefully doing any serious damage.

I can't have a second 'fun' sports car right now, so having one vehicle that does it all is important.
So, the other vehicle I'm considering is.............

.......A Dodge Durango SRT 392.

Before anyone laughs too hard, the reasons are as follows:
-- Durango gives me a very good DD --similar to the Raptor. Not sure which would be more comfortable for long drives to Utah and CA, which I will do every couple of months, along with twice a month drives down to Phoenix.
--Durango would scratch the 392 itch, and from what I'm hearing, this engine may be retired soon b/c of emissions laws. I have no idea if this is true, but if it is, then it makes sense to own one for a couple of years and then get the Raptor later, as it's not going anywhere.
-- Off roading: I haven't done nearly as much as I thought I would in my current ride: 4runner TRD pro. Therefore, I'm not sure it's a big loss here. The Durango can get me to the light trails I need to get to for hiking. The big minus is no fun in the desert, but again, I wasn't going to push my Raptor too hard down there.

In terms of cons..........
--The Durango interior << Raptor. I much prefer the Raptor interior in terms of tech/design, and space, and on long drives, will probably enjoy driving the Raptor more with the new suspension set up in the 3rd gen. Durango will be a stiffer ride for sure, but probably fine in 'auto mode'. I can't find a SRT Durango anywhere around me, so there isn't a chance to compare the two.
--If I change my mind about off roading, I'm screwed.

In terms of fun factor:
--Not sure about this one. I love the way the Raptor handles on road, but that exhaust note isn't going to put a smile on my face the way the 392 will.

Unknowns:
--I'm not sure if the AWD platform with AS tires on the Durango (295/45/20) or the auto/part time 4wd system in the Raptor is going to be better for our winters when it does snow and the roads ice over. This is only relevant for 3, maybe 4 months out of the year.


--Bottom line is that I now KNOW I want a Raptor one day, after having driven one. I completely get the love people here have for them. I'm just proposing an alternative for maybe 2 years before I sell it and get a Raptor once this economy cools and the supply chain issues resolve.
--yes, I'll still have to order the Durango and there may be delays there too............no guarantees.
--Price wise: it's close to a wash. Durango built out is more expensive than the Raptor at MSRP by a few thousand, but I'll get about 5% off MSRP on the Durango.


Tell me I'm nuts for even considering this alternative.

Well this is a Raptor forum and if you are considering to change to a Durango or any other suv or truck good luck , but my opinion is to wait for the Truck you want and Raptor is a badass truck , I order mine this week, and I will wait 6 months relax in fact now is 3k more for new orders so if you already order i would recommend that stick with it

 

[SurfRaptor]

Maybe we should all be glad that blue cruise won’t be happening on our trucks….

I was stoked it didn't come with Blue Cruise and Id gladly take the cash to lower me below MSRP now along with the fact MSRP just went up on the same model year.

 

[bruin1md]

I just got back from the dealership and drove a Durango RT. Seats are the same as in the SRT I think.
Black with suede, correct....Not sure what the red leather upgrade seats are like but these were just perfectly ok IMO. The interior overall was fairly 'meh'..... nothing close to what a Gen3 raptor interior feels like.
5.7 engine is fine but again, if I'm doing this, I'm getting the 6.4. We even took it off road on a light trail. Did fine with the 265 stock tires.

They also had a gen 2 Raptor 2018 with 46k miles on it. Sticker is $69k, which is LOL funny. But that's the market for Raptors out west with this shortage.
I drove it after the Durango and took it on the same trail, and it was so much fun putting it in Dirt/Mud mode and going about twice as fast as in the Durango.
I paid close attention to the seat comfort and those seats are definitely more supportive and comfortable than the Durango........I was just trying to imagine a really long drive in my mind.
And I think the Gen 3 seats are the same seats, correct?

I think i would be pretty happy with a SRT Durango if I lived in a more urban setting w/o the incredible access to trails and offroading, but there is no way I'm taking that trail again in one, not with 7.8" of ground clearance and lower profile tires. I think it would be lots of fun climbing the grade where I live and passing people on the drives to Phoenix, but I'm not sure I would savor 9.5 hour drives to CA in it. Also, the Raptor has plenty of passing power, so that's not a win for the Durango.......just the engine and exhaust note are.
And of course the Raptor would pretty much guarantee I continue to explore all these trails.

Side note since I now decided I'm keeping my Raptor order: the 392 will be discontinued after 2023 so it's very possible these vehicles hold their values better than history would dictate.

 

[Syberspace]

Did you miss the exhaust note of the 392 after you got your Raptor?
And yeah, from the reviews I've read and videos I've watched, the Durango SRT is no joke. It tows great and is a ton of fun to drive and hauls stuff. But where I think I will regret not having a truck or more off road capable SUV is b/c of where I live. There are always times I think about veering off the road to explore this or that and have lots of chances to do that up here. Then of course there is the opportunity to check out the desert in the Raptor.

I won't lie... that SRT exhaust note is incredible. I do like the new Gen 3 exhaust, but not nearly as much as the SRT.
I hear you on the other comments... and why I went back to a truck. Good luck... and the Jeep SRT seems pretty amazing as well, just never drove one.

 

[Stojanowski]

Theyre 10% off MSRP but don’t know their fees.

I think koons is 11 but the fee is 899

 

[Stojanowski]

I just got back from the dealership and drove a Durango RT. Seats are the same as in the SRT I think.
Black with suede, correct....Not sure what the red leather upgrade seats are like but these were just perfectly ok IMO. The interior overall was fairly 'meh'..... nothing close to what a Gen3 raptor interior feels like.
5.7 engine is fine but again, if I'm doing this, I'm getting the 6.4. We even took it off road on a light trail. Did fine with the 265 stock tires.

They also had a gen 2 Raptor 2018 with 46k miles on it. Sticker is $69k, which is LOL funny. But that's the market for Raptors out west with this shortage.
I drove it after the Durango and took it on the same trail, and it was so much fun putting it in Dirt/Mud mode and going about twice as fast as in the Durango.
I paid close attention to the seat comfort and those seats are definitely more supportive and comfortable than the Durango........I was just trying to imagine a really long drive in my mind.
And I think the Gen 3 seats are the same seats, correct?

I think i would be pretty happy with a SRT Durango if I lived in a more urban setting w/o the incredible access to trails and offroading, but there is no way I'm taking that trail again in one, not with 7.8" of ground clearance and lower profile tires. I think it would be lots of fun climbing the grade where I live and passing people on the drives to Phoenix, but I'm not sure I would savor 9.5 hour drives to CA in it. Also, the Raptor has plenty of passing power, so that's not a win for the Durango.......just the engine and exhaust note are.
And of course the Raptor would pretty much guarantee I continue to explore all these trails.

Side note since I now decided I'm keeping my Raptor order: the 392 will be discontinued after 2023 so it's very possible these vehicles hold their values better than history would dictate.

I just paid 64k for my 2019 and not even mad about it... Did have some "upgrades" but when I factor in what I got for my trade it's a good deal. Figure this will hold it's value for a trade if I decide to order a 2023 Raptor or TRX.

Not sure even after the hellcat engine is canned if it will help hold value. I guess we can see what srt10 rams are at