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While has pretty much nothing to do w/ the vette world, I was so impressed w/ my new Raptor I figured I'd have to share some info purely from an auto enthusiast standpoint. Long story short - always been a "GM" guy for the most part - as was my dad - owned 3 GM trucks as DD's over recent past & the last was a '15 GMC Sierra All Terrain w/ 6.2, crew cab, 4x4 - had bilstein leveling shocks/33"s/2.25" rear blocks/gibson exhaust - nice truck but had its issues - then I hit a deer doing 70 on the highway head on (jumped over guard rail hit it mid air had no chance to do anything) - luckily I was fine but the truck was totaled, every single airbag went off & significant front end damage.
I originally intended on getting a leftover "new" 2018 Denali as GM is discounting the heck outta them trying to get em off the lots to make room for the completely redesigned 2019's - well I also drove GM HD's w/ the Duramax, Cummins Ram, Ram 1/2 tons, Ford 1/2 tons....disregarded the Raptor initially even though I've always been interested in it b/c a) was skeptical of the 3.5 ecoboost but started to open up to it since its been used extensively now going on 10 years including fleet vehicles/police etc. & b) its already a very expensive truck & common knowledge had been that dealer were asking & getting markups over sticker regularly.
Well turns out they're starting to discount somewhat now, especially on 2018s - I wound up in a 2018 Raptor supercrew & I while I've always like driving a truck in terms of the seating position, road view, "reliability", versatility, 4x4 etc. - I can't say I ever ENJOYED the driving experience the same way I did in a sport sedan like my old G8 GT or a stick shift accord coupe etc., until now. This Raptor nearly gives me the same pleasure as my C5Z. The 10 speed tranny is flawless - but if you wanna bang through the gears using the real magnesium paddle shifters on the wheel it'll rip through em faster than a C7 vette - for sure. Somehow despite the huge heavy AT tires, the offroad long travel fox shocks, the heavy weight/size of the thing in general Ford has designed it to still be able to "hook up" & use that power even in 2WD - the power comes on differently than a V8 but for a tt engine its nearly seamless. The suspension can soak up pock marks & potholes easily w/ minimal jarring in the cabin @ slow speeds......at higher speeds you don't even feel whats happening w/ the progressive rate suspension, I went down a rutted unpaved logging road in Maine few days ago & tore down it @ 50 mph - its surreal.
If you took a range rover SC, an HD truck, a 1/2 ton, a Ford lightning & a polaris quad & put em in a blender this is what you wind up w/
First Ford product I'm really enamored with - lastly, while I find it embarrassing the Ford GT supercar uses same 3.5 ecoboost just w/ some enhanced cooling/ECU mapping/intake & forged internals, I find it AWESOME that the Raptor shares it - the forged crank/top end etc. is unique to only the GT & Raptor
You can get another 30-50whp & 50-80wtq from a tune only.
Tune + intake + larger intercooler add another 50
downpipes? even more.
MPG aint that bad I'm averaging 14.8 mixed - take ANY 1/2 ton, put on 100 lb per corner 35" LT tires, lift it 3.5", give it 4.10's & bump the power somehow to reach 450hp/510tq stock and guess what? Aint one out there that would do any better, in fact they'd pretty much all do worse.
Its really an engineering marvel for this thing to be a vehicle that can be bought off the lot w/ a factory warranty.
I looked at those Fords recently since I can get special pricing as a retired affiliate from both Ford and Chrysler. My long term opinion is that "there is no substitute for horsepower". I wasn't ready for a little motor with a turbo and a label like "Ecoboost" but I test drove one anyway. Ended up with the Ram 1500 Hemi (my forth one). With the new 8 speed automatic I recently got 24.5 MPG going 75 MPH over many hills between Florida and Vermont some 1,700 miles each way. I get 15-16 MPG in town. 390 horsepower and runs great on 87 octane fuel. Besides obvious performance another important consideration was the Ram was much less money and had dealer incentives. I like the look of both vehicles but Ford cannot compete with the price/performance of the Ram Hemi with long time proven reliability. They are not the biggest truck company but recently have grown faster than others.
As for GM I have owned over 100 vehicles and never ever had a Chrysler motor on my engine stand. Then there is those Chevys I owned. Started with the 283's eating camshafts, 350's and 427's eating rod bearings, Iron Dukes needing timing gears and 2.8 V6's needing crank shafts so I walked away from them except for a few Corvettes.
Nice, pretty good review. I love me some Raptor, but have never driven one. I drove a rental XLT with the 3.5 and that thing hauled for a truck. Liked the little turbo whistle youd get occasionally. 2.7 eco was no slouch, but not sure I would have bought a 2.7.
Price was always the turn off with the Raptor, but man did Gen 1 hold value. Could have bought that new, drove it 5 years, and sold it for the same amount.
I ended up with a great deal on my 14 Silvy LTZ from my father in law, so that was the way I went.
Id like to get in Gen 2 Raptor one day, but assumes depreciation like a normal vehicle.
I picked one up about 4 months ago. Love it so far.
I haven't had the chance to put the electron blue and lightning blue next to each other to see how close they are. It appears to be very close though.
I know what you are saying here, I have a REBEL, tho it is not a Raptor i know the feeling you speak of, trucks are nice.... faster trucks are nice too... lifted faster trucks are really nice! congrats on your purchase
”Ram” and “reliability” do not belong in the same sentence!
I've owned four, 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2017. Traded for cheap money when I wanted an upgrade. My first truck has a sticker for $34,505 and I bought it for $22,900. Traded my 2010 with $6,000 for a 2013 after 32,000 miles costing me only $167/month for a new performance truck. Never bought tires and maintenance other than fluid changes. So where is your data to support such a claim?
Nothing more annoying than a forum topic cop. Where someones posts something does not affect you in any way. Mind your own business and let the mods handle it.
Tried to talk myself into a Raptor last year when I owned a 2017 F150 with the 3.5 ecoboost and 3:55 gears. Test drove the Raptor and it was slower! I had it in my mind it was faster but didnt realize it had a huge weight penalty over a F150. No denying the Raptor was not more capable off the road but since I rarely do that stayed with my F150.
Still, they are sharp looking trucks
Tried to talk myself into a Raptor last year when I owned a 2017 F150 with the 3.5 ecoboost and 3:55 gears. Test drove the Raptor and it was slower! I had it in my mind it was faster but didnt realize it had a huge weight penalty over a F150. No denying the Raptor was not more capable off the road but since I rarely do that stayed with my F150.
Still, they are sharp looking trucks
a lot of Raptor owners are surprised when they find out their truck isn't the fastest. Realistically a 4x4 XLT can do most of what a Raptor can do in most situations but the same can be said for a Camry and a Camaro. Ha.
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16'-'17-‘18-'19-'20-'21-'22-
'23-'24
Originally Posted by Dark Sarcasm
a lot of Raptor owners are surprised when they find out their truck isn't the fastest. Realistically a 4x4 XLT can do most of what a Raptor can do in most situations but the same can be said for a Camry and a Camaro. Ha.
Tried to talk myself into a Raptor last year when I owned a 2017 F150 with the 3.5 ecoboost and 3:55 gears. Test drove the Raptor and it was slower! I had it in my mind it was faster but didnt realize it had a huge weight penalty over a F150. No denying the Raptor was not more capable off the road but since I rarely do that stayed with my F150.
Still, they are sharp looking trucks
Yes it does way a little more depending on configuration, that's not the real reason it may seem slower (or actually be slower? MY understanding it was fastest 1/2 ton 0-60) - I think the biggest reasons for "slower" than anticipated performance/gas mileage would be the overall drag/width/height/ground clearance + 4.10 gears + extremely heavy 35" LT rated tires. The Raptor so far has been averaging 14.5 in mostly city driving, and is brand new.....if you took ANY other 1/2 ton, gave it 4.10s, the same tires, lifted it 3-4", & got the power numbers bumped up through mods to 450hp/510tq and they'd ALL get equal or worse mileage & have worse acceleration all while chewing through all the driveline/suspension bits that weren't originally engineered for that type of use in the process - w/o a warranty. That's what makes the Raptor special I guess.
The engine is NOT the same as the 3.5 ecoboost in other Ford vehicles, they WILL start offering the "HO" high output version of the 3.5 ecoboost on the "regular" F150 in the highest trim levels as an option, not 100% sure though if even that application will be the "same" as the Raptor. If you're thinking of tuning an ecoboost, the advantages held by the Raptor are actually significant:
HO 3.5 has both direct AND port fuel injection - helps fine tune fuel ratios even better + cleans back side of valves prevents buildup
Raptor HO has better flowing revised heads w/ 15% larger port side manifolds
The compression ratio is different
The turbos are different - 51mm vs 48mm, different design, noticeably larger inlet/exhaust piping
Has higher volume oil squirters to cool pistons
revised piston design
Has a forged crank shared w/ the Ford GT (Ford GT has 58mm turbos - BIG reason for the higher power output, + compression ratio - has same heads as Raptor)
That's what I know so far about it, very tunable powerplant & very VERY smooth tranny/throttle response overall. Still getting used to the turbo ecoboost world.
beautiful truck. I was discussing these with a friend at a party a while back and he was claiming that Ford dealerships are charging over sticker for these meaning that fully equipped they can run upwards of $100k. That didn't seem right. If you are willing to share any information about what you paid for the truck it would help me settle an argument with a friend on these.
03-01-2019, 01:16 PM
off topic - bought a Ford Raptor
I love my Denali
