Why buy a Raptor??

[Quicksand]

I've wanted a Raptor (just ordered Scab 2012 Tux Loaded) ever since I saw the first '09's with small 5.4 engine. I remember studying this vehicle in the showroom as soon as my eyes fell upon the Raptor--it was Tux Black btw AND loaded back then. Even with the 2 door scab....I was in shock & aww. This is how every truck should look. But not enough Power so I waited...I didn't even test drive it as I currently role a 6.1 Hemi with 420hp. 5.4 is chump change. And I was right!

Then a year later in summer 2010, my brother and I went Truck shopping (he bought a 1500 Ram Larame that day btw) and I test drove a White 2010 6.2 Raptor. I have owned Supercharged SRT-8 Jeep's, '07 Audi RS4, '00 R/T Durango, '00 WS6 T/A, '91 Landcruiser and driven anything else with an Engine from '56 Buick special coupe to S600 V12 Benz etc. etc. and The 10 min of driving I had in the 6.2 Raptor (with two other people onboard ie my brother and salesman in Scab 6.2) was LIKE DRIVING A REAL LIFE ADULT SIZE QUAD!! Unbelievable vehicle. Just amazing AND fun to drive. Plenty of power even though I'm use to 0-60 in low 3's via my Supercharged (prior SC) SUV.

I still waited b/c the 2010 Raptor didn't have HALF of the features my '08 Jeep had that I purchased in '07!! Items like TPMS, front dash lcd vehicle info center and much more. I knew it would only improve every year. So I waited.

Then the 2011 model hit the lots. I was almost sold b/c most of these features I previously wanted--Ford added. But then my brother let me borrow his Ram for a mountain trip this past year and I again noted all the extra features his truck had i.e. cooled/heated seats etc. Plus, in the snow/ice...I knew whatever truck I got needed a LOCKING FRONT AXLE. So I waited yet again and didnt research Raptors for about 6 months. Just took a break.

Then, a month or so ago, out of no-where, I looked up the 2012's. Not only do the 2012's now come with everything 2011 had....but also the following:

-Cooled seats aka oh ya
-Front Camera aka AWESOME
-FRONT LOCKING AXLE aka THE BEST!!!

So, the story ends with....always best to wait it out. However, now that I ordered mine....the wait is killing me!

The 2012 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor is the exact vehicle, I as a man and young boy in spirit, have always dreamed about since being little playing with Tonka's. Now I will have no limits in life regarding where I can/can't go if a road exists OR doesn't + my rowdy friends and I will look good getting there.

The End.

 

[debate]

I

Not only do the 2012's now come with everything 2011 had....but also the following:

-Cooled seats aka oh ya
-Front Camera aka AWESOME
-FRONT LOCKING AXLE aka THE BEST!!!

Think the front is a Torsen differential; some type of torque multiplier. FoMoCo must have worked with Torsen to resolve the torque steering effect.

 

[BigJ]

Think the front is a Torsen differential; some type of torque multiplier. FoMoCo must have worked with Torsen to resolve the torque steering effect.

Yeah its a Torsen T-2 I believe. The cool part is it sounds like us OG's are going to be able to drop one in for under $900 new. Or find a junkyard one for far less than that.

 

[Quicksand]

Yes, front is TORSEN. PS-I left out on the 2012's having the new Blue Accent Interior Trim ($750 option)...which also sets the 2012 apart from previous models AND looks much better than the orange interior trim did.

 

[BigJ]

Yes, front is TORSEN.

Right but I don't think anyone knows yet if its a T-2 or T-2R. It would matter for those looking to retrofit one into their '10-11 Raptor.

 

[Quicksand]

Right but I don't think anyone knows yet if its a T-2 or T-2R. It would matter for those looking to retrofit one into their '10-11 Raptor.

Correct. Here is a link with a pic showing the internal cam workings of the 2012 Raptor Torsen front axle mod....maybe this will help determine if able to retrofit to our liking being able to see th cams inside the actual locking unit. PS-scroll down in the link to see pics of the blue interior!!

Ford Unveils Changes for 2012 F-150 SVT Raptor - PickupTrucks.com News

 

[dabsdb]

Your truck does look nice but i am sorry, I don't see the same offroad capabilities in that truck.

Don't confuse capability with speed.

For the off-road capabilities I found critical, the Raptor just didn't cut it. No way, no how could a Raptor carry 3-4 hunters, 3 hunting dogs amd their gear for a 5-7 day trip. And don't forget the additional 25-30% MPG, which means I can go 12-15% further off road before turning back to find a filling station.

I had an old Willis jeep that could go anywhere a Raptor could & a lot of places a Raptor couldn't. But it would never get there fast, couldn't go as far with its small fuel tank. And it barely carried enough for me alone, much less a hunting buddy or dog.

For sure any FX4 & most 4x4 trucks with or without a posi in the rear can go anywhere at 5-10 MPH that a Raptor can go & is more likely to get you home than a Raptor that broke at 50-60 MPH.

 

[BigJ]

Don't confuse capability with speed.

For the off-road capabilities I found critical, the Raptor just didn't cut it. No way, no how could a Raptor carry 3-4 hunters, 3 hunting dogs amd their gear for a 5-7 day trip. And don't forget the additional 25-30% MPG, which means I can go 12-15% further off road before turning back to find a filling station.

I had an old Willis jeep that could go anywhere a Raptor could & a lot of places a Raptor couldn't. But it would never get there fast, couldn't go as far with its small fuel tank. And it barely carried enough for me alone, much less a hunting buddy or dog.

For sure any FX4 & most 4x4 trucks with or without a posi in the rear can go anywhere at 5-10 MPH that a Raptor can go & is more likely to get you home than a broken Raptor.

Interesting. I've heard this argument a few times and I've always wondered... what if a Raptor owner added air bags in the rear? For a few hundred dollars, I think they could be added so that they're totally out of the way until needed. And if so, with their addition a Raptor's payload would blow past any lifted (non-air bagged) stock truck on the market today.

As for the cab space, apples to apples. Same cab same chasis, no?

MPG... yeah that's a tough one. I have the 5.4 and love its (relative) MPG. But isn't that too solved by carrying 10 or 15 extra gallons of gas? Something everyone headed 'out there' should probably carry, anyway?

I hear what you're saying, but I think the Raptor is a few hundred bucks bucks away from answering your concerns. Compare that to the few thousand it takes to make an FX4 look like yours, only to still be lightyears away from the Raptor's capablities...

I'm not trying to pick a fight. I respect your build very much. But I don't think its as cut as dry as you say when it comes to which is superior for what purpose.

 

[dabsdb]

So far, a Raptor in excellent condition has not lost much resale value. Snooze, ya lose.

You remind me of myself when I had more money than brains.


There is always someone who needs to sell a toy in bad times, &/or gets bored. Better to pay dealer cost after the "wow factor" wears off, rather than pay dealer "new" plus "wow factor" cost.

 

[dabsdb]

As for the cab space, apples to apples. Same cab same chasis, no?


Same cab, different bed. ~ 10 additional cubic feet of bed space makes a huge difference.

A new Raptor was more than a few hundred bucks, it was ~$3000 more than the FX4 with the extras that make the FX4 more all around capable but just not as good looking fast off-road running vehicle.