F150 Raptor V8 vs V6

[Fats25]

Just thought I would share some thoughts on my comparison.

I drive a 2012 Raptor as my daily, and have done for the past 5 years, and kept on seeing these pesky good looking V6 Raptors that I struggle to keep up with. I had the opportunity a couple of weeks ago to have a weekend test drive of a 2018 loaner from the local Ford dealer. It may have been a mistake, and now I really want one.

The good points

• The cabin is a much nicer place to be
• Lots of toys which I would never use (lane assist, distance control etc) - but the Apple Car Play is nice
• It is noticeably quicker, and quicker to respond for overtakes, and getting into gaps

The bad points

• The wing mirrors are not as effective
• The Fuel economy is worse (I was surprised but I get an average of 18.5l per 100km in the V8 and this was 21l per 100km)
• It is not a V8, and the sound is very "electronic" if that makes sense
• The drivers seat does not sit very low. I like to be low down feeling like driving a car, whereas the seat is high and feels like you are in a truck.

What else did I learn?

• Do not get a white one. Looks awful after two days of driving.
• Do not get the SuperCab. The rear seats, and suicide doors are useless. Get the SuperCrew, or if you don't need rear seats get a 2 door.
• The TC in the new one is way better. I tried driving in some light desert, and it would not move until the TC was switched off.

So what to do?

It will cost me approx £35k to get into a second hand one - 12-18 months old with less than 20k km. Or brand new (2018 model) - will be a £50k upgrade. Is a lot of money for a truck. These new ones really are keeping their value much better than the old ones (the new prices are also much higher too).

Other decision point is that my 2012 is going to be very difficult to insure Fully Comp from this year (there is an unwritten rule on 7+ year old cars being able to be insured here) yet is still worth approx £22k. A lot of money for a car to only be TPFT. On the other hand I throw motorbikes, golf clubs, cycles in the truck without a care in the world. With a £55k truck will I be prepared to treat it the way it should be used?!

Decisions Decisions. I know there are cheaper options from GMC/Chevrolet/Dodge etc - but I think once you have had a Raptor there is no way of going back.

The V6 is the better all round package, and apart from not being a V8 is better in almost every way. But is it £35k better? Anyone here made the switch?

[madtoro]

Interesting, I have the same ish dilemma. Ran a 2012 Supercharged Raptor for 3 years before switching to something else earlier this year. I have taken a Gen 2 off road and its way superior to a Gen 1 in standard form. BUT I just can't get my head round the looks, its way to much like a standard F150. I want back into a truck in the future, however, there is no better truck option out there unless the RAM version actually gets built with the hellcat motor.

[Fats25]

madtoro said:

BUT I just can't get my head round the looks, its way to much like a standard F150

Really? I thought you were going to speak about the engine and the tuning from your comment on previous ownership. Not the looks! I think they are very different - and the Raptor looks so much better.

Standard XLT (or perhaps Lariat?)




Raptor



I've just managed to sell the Camaro I posted about the other day, so now going to test the water with an overpriced advert for my Raptor and see what the response is like.

[madtoro]

Oh I loved the V8 noise and grunt, but being from UK now in USA, I know what can be done with the V6TT, give it a few years and 750bhp will be the norm, so the engine does not worry me.
Overall its a much better built truck, interior is great, much more modern.
But I guess it might come down to where you are in the USA, I'm in Texas and every 2nd vehicle is an F150. The front end of the Gen 2 is good, its got the width, but the back half lets it down. Maybe once aftermarket wider bedsides come out, it will look more in proportion to me

I'll still probably get one in the future, but the Trackhawk is calling my name too.... Its not a truck though!

[Fats25]

madtoro said:

I'll still probably get one in the future, but the Trackhawk is calling my name too.... Its not a truck though!

Ive had 3 mates over here blow the engines on their Cherokee SRT's. All of them full serviced within schedule (every 6k kms here). I don't know if it is the heat here, or the Jeep mechanics and lack of knowledge (and easier for a new engine than fix the issue), but that is a high % (is actually 3 out of 3 - so 100%).

Honestly it has put me off Jeeps, and I had/have a Wrangler itch I wanted/want to scratch