Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - A mean beast with a surprisingly civil ride
February, 2012
By Anthony Murdoch
Spending one week with any truck changes one's perspective on what actually drives buyers to doll out the dollars for transportation that when compared to a small car is simply illogical. For some, buying a truck is a matter of necessity. For others, it's simply a matter of personal taste, much like how a fine single malt scotch can, to untrained palate, taste like the medicine your mom used to give you when you were a kid. There are truck people and there are car people. Here in Alberta, there are a lot of truck people, which explains why during my week with Fords 2011 F-150 SVT Raptor, I got more compliments, questions, and head turns compared to when I drive around in some really fine luxury machines.
This is not your grandfather's pick-up truck. The SVT Raptor is a beast that can chew you up, and spit you out faster than you can say brake. It literally is an F-150 on steroids, or as my brother in-law put it, "testosterone on wheels". It's a truck for guys who want to show a bit of flash (which is putting it mildly with the SVT Raptor) while at the same time having something to drive that can at a moment's notice, out gun, out-off road, and out-noise almost anything else the competition has to offer.
With a mean 6.2: V-8 pumping out 411 horsepower and 434 pounds feet of torque, the massive Ford power plant screams all the way to redline a lot like it would in say a Honda Civic SI or BMW M3. Ford's SelectShift 6-speed automatic does an excellent job of transferring the power to the wheels, shifting smoothly and quickly in a way I've never experienced in a truck before.
The Raptor is loaded to the gills with all the essentials required to justify is $53,199 base price, which is for the standard cab model. The SuperCrew (which is what my tester was) starts at $55,199. I think it's worth the extra space in the back, especially if you want to haul around your friends let alone your kids, which is what I did for the week.
The interior is pretty much stock F-150, but with some flashy appliqués thrown in for good measure. The leather power seats are very comfortable, and I really appreciated the thick rimmed steering wheel. The up-graded Sony stereo was one kicker of a system, pumping out the tunes with force and quality. Speaking of quality, fit and finish was good overall, however some of the plastic trim still feels cheap when compared to what GM and Chrysler are offering in their trucks. Something to work on?
The Raptor is equipped with Fox Racing Shox suspension front and rear. It's got unique alloy cast front A-Arms which give it a lot more suspension travel. Ford mentions that the Raptor was "born in Baja", which is essentially code at letting the public know that this truck can not only move fast on road, but off-road as well.
I was only able to take it off-road for a short time, and then only for a few kilometres. From what I can tell, it soaks up the road ruts with grace. The faster you go, the softer the suspension gets, to cope with the bumps and undulating terrain. Push the "Off Road" button on the dash and it holds onto gears a little longer, helping you better modulate the power when going up or down hill.
A huge engine means a thirsty appetite for petrol. During my time with the Raptor, it guzzled to the tune of 20 litres per 100 kilometres, which is just below 12 miles per gallon. You might be thinking that this was a result of a lead foot, but the reality is this was not the case. Although there were some "happy lead foot moments" for sure, the majority of the time it was easy cruising, albeit mostly heavy city driving.
Overall, Ford's SVT Raptor is a truck for those who want only the fastest, meanest one around. I had fun with it, and it put a grin on my chin every time I took to the wheel. The ultimate F-150? You bet it is, and a really fun one to boot.
By Anthony Murdoch
Spending one week with any truck changes one's perspective on what actually drives buyers to doll out the dollars for transportation that when compared to a small car is simply illogical. For some, buying a truck is a matter of necessity. For others, it's simply a matter of personal taste, much like how a fine single malt scotch can, to untrained palate, taste like the medicine your mom used to give you when you were a kid. There are truck people and there are car people. Here in Alberta, there are a lot of truck people, which explains why during my week with Fords 2011 F-150 SVT Raptor, I got more compliments, questions, and head turns compared to when I drive around in some really fine luxury machines.
This is not your grandfather's pick-up truck. The SVT Raptor is a beast that can chew you up, and spit you out faster than you can say brake. It literally is an F-150 on steroids, or as my brother in-law put it, "testosterone on wheels". It's a truck for guys who want to show a bit of flash (which is putting it mildly with the SVT Raptor) while at the same time having something to drive that can at a moment's notice, out gun, out-off road, and out-noise almost anything else the competition has to offer.
With a mean 6.2: V-8 pumping out 411 horsepower and 434 pounds feet of torque, the massive Ford power plant screams all the way to redline a lot like it would in say a Honda Civic SI or BMW M3. Ford's SelectShift 6-speed automatic does an excellent job of transferring the power to the wheels, shifting smoothly and quickly in a way I've never experienced in a truck before.
The Raptor is loaded to the gills with all the essentials required to justify is $53,199 base price, which is for the standard cab model. The SuperCrew (which is what my tester was) starts at $55,199. I think it's worth the extra space in the back, especially if you want to haul around your friends let alone your kids, which is what I did for the week.
The interior is pretty much stock F-150, but with some flashy appliqués thrown in for good measure. The leather power seats are very comfortable, and I really appreciated the thick rimmed steering wheel. The up-graded Sony stereo was one kicker of a system, pumping out the tunes with force and quality. Speaking of quality, fit and finish was good overall, however some of the plastic trim still feels cheap when compared to what GM and Chrysler are offering in their trucks. Something to work on?
The Raptor is equipped with Fox Racing Shox suspension front and rear. It's got unique alloy cast front A-Arms which give it a lot more suspension travel. Ford mentions that the Raptor was "born in Baja", which is essentially code at letting the public know that this truck can not only move fast on road, but off-road as well.
I was only able to take it off-road for a short time, and then only for a few kilometres. From what I can tell, it soaks up the road ruts with grace. The faster you go, the softer the suspension gets, to cope with the bumps and undulating terrain. Push the "Off Road" button on the dash and it holds onto gears a little longer, helping you better modulate the power when going up or down hill.
A huge engine means a thirsty appetite for petrol. During my time with the Raptor, it guzzled to the tune of 20 litres per 100 kilometres, which is just below 12 miles per gallon. You might be thinking that this was a result of a lead foot, but the reality is this was not the case. Although there were some "happy lead foot moments" for sure, the majority of the time it was easy cruising, albeit mostly heavy city driving.
Overall, Ford's SVT Raptor is a truck for those who want only the fastest, meanest one around. I had fun with it, and it put a grin on my chin every time I took to the wheel. The ultimate F-150? You bet it is, and a really fun one to boot.
