Raptor very good, but they missed Great

Discussion in 'Generation 2 Ford Raptor News' started by Guy, Jan 27, 2017.

  1. Guy

    Guy Full Access Member

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    So I just ticked past 1000 miles...

    I've had enough seat time to make some semifinal impressions.

    The raptor is very good. They missed great. They missed outstanding. It's not a game changer. Their hype engine was and is superior to the product.

    Do I enjoy the truck? Absolutely. Can it do some things other factory trucks can't? Absolutely. So here are my issues.

    The interior quality falls short. It has the interior of a $40,000 car or truck. It uses A lot of plastic, cheap looking grills and lacks soft touch materials. It's adequate. The radio is not up to snuff for a premium vehicle. See my prior posts. It too is adequate but would fit better in a $40,000 vehicle.

    I could probably overlook these items if the real world performance wasn't less than I expected. On paper this thing should demonstrate a screaming beast on the road. On the road, this thing isn't in a class by itself. Similarly weighted vehicles perform similarly. The vortec 6.2 in the Yukon Denali XL is smoother and puts down more controllable power. My 5.7 hemi in my jeep grand with 8 speed was by far a more usable power spread with much bett on responsiveness. These vehicles are all in a similar weight class. I can give more examples if needed. I'm a gear head with a lot of resources and have had access to many vehicles. I'm not trying to be a jerk. I'm just being honest.

    So what falls short? The transmission logic is poor. Shifts are sluggish and there is at times very noticible throttle lag. The transmission in sport mode is better but it still suffers similar flaws. The truck does well from a dead stop 0-60 and is capable of quick shifts, but in real world rolling starts it can't get of its own way. I'm not sure I'm sold on the twin turbo 6. I'm not convinced that some of this performance deficit isn't a byproduct of turbo lag. It is a poorly responsive performance vehicle. I haven't driven a gen 1 Raptor. I'd be curious to compare. I have had experience with a new Toyota TRD pro and there is not near the performance gap that I would have expected.

    Am I being overly critical? No I don't think so. I'm just being honest. I should have known when TFL reviewed the truck and Roman said, wow... this is good but it's not great. The old raptor was great. This was in reference to stomping on the throttle. I assumed he meant the engine sound. Now I get it. It is good... but it's not great and not in a league of its own.

    Sorry to be a downer!
     
  2. Gdog

    Gdog Full Access Member

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    Guy
    First off you are entitled to your opinion. Im not sure what your level of expectations is from a raptor but I will tell you as a long time raptor owner since 2010 this truck will go anywhere and do anything I ever asked it to. yes I have had chevy and Toyota trucks and there is no comparison! As for a dodge wouldn't own one if you gave it to me. I have not experienced turbo lag or poor shifts! As for being a"poorly responsive performance vehicle" as you stated, remember its a multipurpose TRUCK not a one sided family hauler like the jeep grand something. As for the engine sound WHO GIVES A SHIT IMO!! this truck is the coolest truck on and off the road period!! sorry if im being not so objective but Im only speaking from real world raptor seat time since 2010. Ive been thru feet of snow up mountains and towed with my gen 1 not to mention several hunting and fishing trips along with pulling several chevy and Toyota's out of ditches because they didn't know how to drive it the mountain's during the winter. So is this a great truck? hell yes it is
    sorry to be pro raptor but it is a raptor forum
    G
     
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  3. blackhole

    blackhole Full Access Member

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    lol since i may never get mine as promised by dealer not sure if this makes me sad or glad. If it is lacking in anything one word "aftermarket". Customize it the way you want it. They can't make every vehicle unique to everyone's pleasure. They can't even get them off the assembly line as it is.
    If you don't want yours you can sell it to me for 40K or whatever :cheers:. I'll be on a plane today to come get it.
     
  4. Guy

    Guy Full Access Member

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    I hear you. I'm not so sure you're right, but I hear you.

    For a similar price a supercharged factory modified truck from SCA Is most likely going outperform it in most situations for MOST people. Will it keep up at 90mph during a BAJA run? Maybe not... but I live on the east coast and like me... most people are not blasting wide open through the desert.

    Ford had an opportunity to match the engine to the chassis. They missed the boat. Could a reflash of the transmission help? I think so. Will it fix it? I'm not so sure... if it could be fixed that easily I think Ford engineers would have. I am betting that's why they had to reflash the transmission once already. It did not perform up to expectations and It's as good as they can get it.

    If you push the truck up towards 600 ponies would it alleviate some of the problems? Probably... it'll probably mask the sluggish transmission. Will that take another 15 grand? Yep.

    Would I buy the truck knowing what I know about it? Yep. I still enjoy it. I just wish it was a little more like what it could have been.
     
  5. Gdog

    Gdog Full Access Member

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    The Shelby f150 is a mere 105 k. That may be the truck for you! Too rich for me tho
     
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  6. wparish81

    wparish81 Full Access Member

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    I say the same thing about my old lady sometimes...
     
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2017
  7. Raptorenvy

    Raptorenvy Full Access Member

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    You are a brave man my friend. Lol
     
  8. wparish81

    wparish81 Full Access Member

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    Haha.. She's put up with me for nearly ten years now and made it through two 15 month deployments. Which is more than I can say for many others..
     
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  9. Gdog

    Gdog Full Access Member

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    You got a good lady there my brother!!
     
  10. Vikes91

    Vikes91 Well-Known Member Military

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    Well I now have 1800 miles on mine.

    I would agree that the transmission seems a little slow at times in normal. But in sport I would disagree with you.

    The radio is good. Not sure why or what you are looking for. If you want a stereo that knocks the window seals out out then go get an aftermarket one.

    Same goes for the interior. I've owned BMWs and wouldn't say their interior is any better. I will say that a top end Cherokee has real good interiors. I've never owned one, but I'd say this Raptor is on par from what I've seen. I also need to agree with G, they made this for multiple purposes. I know the Jeep is suppose to be off road ready, but not like this thing.

    But those are my opinions just like you have yours. But a 40k car.
     
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  11. Guy

    Guy Full Access Member

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    I like hearing all of your opinions as well. I can be picky. I won't deny it. I'll also be honest. I'm very lucky in that I've been behind the wheel of very expensive vehicles that technically are in another league all together. What I will say though is that dollar for dollar the interior is far less appealing than many other vehicles I've driven in a similar price range. Do they have a fully boxed frame and a race tuned off-road suspension mated to 35 inch tires? No.
    Can they drive through 2 feet of snow? No. So are you sacrificing interior beauty for capability? I suppose you could argue that. But did they HAVE to? Maybe? Maybe not... Maybe that's how they kept the truck more affordable...I can't answer that question.

    I suspect in a couple of years you'll see the quality of the interior improve and the transmission quirks worked out.

    They'll hit the great category before the end of the product cycle.
     
  12. wparish81

    wparish81 Full Access Member

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    Side bar.....

    As I have not received my truck yet and own both a BMW X5(2015), in addition to a Grand Cherokee Overland(2014). I have to say, this thread has been a source of great interest for me.
     
  13. Greg

    Greg Full Access Member

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    Ditto for me. I own a 2011 BMW X5 (wife's) that was pretty loaded and has brushed aluminum and walnut trim. It was a great interior for its time.

    My work recently bought me a new work truck, a 2016 F150 screw XLT that stickered for about $52k. The interior of the XLT is pretty nice I'll have to say. It's obviously not $70k nice, but will be interested to see how my raptor looks in comparison!
     

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