Come on Desert Dawg, the Air Force will be around everyday... the opportunity to check out that raptor was once in a lifetime, destiny, meant to happen yesterday I am hunting one orange and one black screw raptor where I live to see if they will let me check them out, maybe take me for a ride. It's hard to find these mythical beast owners, I get a fleeting glimpse at the worst moments (when I am least available) and they are gone.


The ol'lady is all in on the raptor, she knows all about F150's and fords in general because that is all I ever seem to talk about. Raptor this, Raptor That... PSD this, PSD that... I throw in a few mentions of the edge sport edition because that is what she wants I am not against a new FX4, heck its a new truck with all the bells and whistles; but you guys are right my heart lies with the raptor, 100%.

I am going to stick it out and see what I can come up with in the coming months, she has a list 1 mile long of things 'we' want/need for this kid already... sheesh. The turd already has a new house and directv in the room to come home too, that is more than I ever got growing up I have a thing about houses, about like Desert Dawg has with going through trucks. I am already planning the next one to be built within 2 years, hopefully with some acreage this time. Not that I like moving, but I enjoy the process of building houses and incorporating the latest and greatest.


on a side note, I also was dissapointed in the truck trend.. they hyped it up as a nice article, but boy was I let down. I flipped through and never saw it, went through slower and only barely caught the 1/4 page it takes up ... I don't have any need for the things they are 'talking' about for 2012 so hopefully when the time comes some 11's will still be around optioned like I want.

this will help wett everyone's appetite, I never get tired of watching this vid... Plus the blue flame is just plain BA in this video. The ending of the video will make you want to run out and buy one NOW!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aT8g91a-e8


Minus the "which model did you buy" thread, we have the highest viewed thread in this section right now... something like 3600 views... interesting

 

You know what that means with locating and test drivin? Signin and buyin! LOL. That's my downfall is I test drive or look I seem to buy. This month has been real hard on me from not going down and driving away in a truck. That is awesome your lady is all for it! Wish mine would be, she told me today are you serious. You have a chat thingy on the Internet where all you talk about is trucks? She doesn't get me sometimes yet she keeps asking for a new truck herself lol. That mile long list will grow each and every year until they are 80! and than grow some more! But all the enjoyable, memorable moments are worth it and wouldn't trade one of them for anything, yes even the oops ones lol. I am with you on houses FX I have purchased a few and flipped them and have a hard time not to do that monthly! I plan to pay off this house in 5-10 years, rent it and go to the next one, each time going bigger and bigger. It is a sad, sick, expensive addiction more so than vehicles and my problem is I can't get enough of it at all. Not until I have my dream home built!

After watching that video, two things came to my mind. First I need to currently build up my truck and ford needs to cage the raptor. That is my draw back on it. As I would want it caged, than I would want more suspension, than horsepower and before ya know it a race truck for the streets and a extremely upset misses lol.

 

Yeah....I love it when that happens because I could easily eat up a day talkking about cars....but not very productive.



Hehe...no lie. It just gave me a chuckle while supposedly listening to my business partners.


Well, we car/truck enthusiasts sure put our better halves through the ringer with our passion. It would not be so bad except this passion can get very expensive....lol.

Man, "houses" is another big passion of mine and my wife. She is a Realtor already (just got her license but already sold a few). I actually design and construct custom homes under another business we have. Designed and built 6 homes last year but the crash has really slowed things down to nothing. Of course I have designed my own homes too. My favorite is my sprawling Santa Fe styles home along the Rio Grande (the one where I am renting out to the guy with the Ferrari...lol).
I dunno....between new kids and houses that new Raptor may have to wait?


Very cool video!

Yeah, I am surprised how this thread took off generally. I think I hit a nerve with a lot of folks (even got some PMs) who stress over things like this...lol. But that is a good sign when a car manufacturer has that many good offerings. But I am settling back in to my original choice....Raptor all the way!

For now.

I am with DR on that one. I think that is why I have so many vehicles too! I go test drive one, decide I like it, and just naturally start trying to see what I can get it for....lol. My wife hates it. What she hates more is when I get her to go with me (which is rare because she knows better), have her sit in the car/truck, and proclaim "wow dear, you look fabulous sitting in that".....lol.

DR, having a caged Raptor would be hardcore. Of course, I can't believe they didn't just include better grab handles for those "oh shoot" moments.

 

thats because we are waiting on yall to buy one already!! HURRY UP!!!

 

I am gladly accepting down payment donations!

You guys want a caged raptor check out the 99k non street legal Raptor R!


Desert dawg, I am glad we are not the only ones this crazy

 

hehe...no kidding. You'd think we were trying what to name FX4life's new kid.


Well, if we could drive that beast on the street, it might be an option!

Speaking of options, I was thinking about doing something really different to make my Raptor unique. I am toying with the idea of buying a black Raptor (which apparently can't get right now due to supplier issues in Japan) and repainting it. I was thinking of these two colors:


So take this:




....and paint it Pure Copper (like this example) with black trim:



....or paint it Jeep Rescue Green (with black trim):



Picture both of these with afternarket black wheels. Thoughts? Am I off my rocker totally?

 

You have officially gone off your rocker, and almost to the deeeeeep end


It would be unique as heck, but with that kinda coin would you be looking at keeping this one a bit longer than usual?


I have seen 3 raptors today around town just today... 1 black scab, 1 blue scab , and another black scab with ballistic jester's... I have officially gone from wanting, needing, now DYING to have one... Everyone I saw on the road was breaking their necks to check them out... and yes I am an attention ***** when it comes to my vehicles, the more the better. Hence why I loved doing car shows. Its a sick addiction..

 

Want a caged Raptor? Torchmate racing made a cage for there own, I bet they would sell you the piping for it. It looked pretty freaking awesome if I do say so myself!

 

I was afraid you were going to say that. I usually get these crazy ideas in my head and try to visualize them. I am going to get my brother who is photoshop and computer animator whiz to work those colors to see how they look on the Raptor.

Yeah, I have it bad now too after seeing one yesterday and all the recent video clips that folks have been posting. It's almost to the point where I don't care about responsible planning or commitments....I need one, now!


I thought the cage would be a lot more intrusive, but it doesn't look like it took up much room at all. However, I am surprised that it doesn't extend to the front as well:

 

Dawg I like the green route! Definitely a different route all together and would get people to triple look rather than do the double take with raptors, LOL. Also, I am soon going to venture out and do the same with custom homes here shortly(engineer also). Heck we all need to collaborate and have a buisness of custom homes venturing from Vegas to West Texas! I have my realtor license, buy homes for cheap and than flip them. That is starting to slow down a lot, I do it as side work here and there when I want a project/challenge from time to time. Plus the money made off of them isn't bad either.

On the cage I would do it myself and tuck it along the body lines. Mostly what the guys did above in the pictures, if done right can look like it is farily stock. Yet, than when I cage it I would want to upgrade the suspension more and then more power. Before you know it I have way to much money in it over a regular truck.

The Raptor R is a slick rig, yet a huge price tag and not street legal. For that price I could build a truck for less that is equal or better for the same to less money. Or get a class 1 buggy that will do better than the raptor on the race course.

On the most views, we will let a lot of people down when we post pictures of the Hybirds we bought instead!

 

Cool...I always loved that color since I first saw it on the Rescue Concept Vehicle, and thought it would look great with the Raptor's lines and contrasted against the black fenders, trim, and aftermarket wheels.

I may still get the blue, but with as much money I throw on mods I thought it might be an option to consider.

That's cool you are looking at home building although the timing isn't the best right now. I have also done some home remodeling which was a bit more stressful in that you have to really work the homeowners on what looks good or works best for the price they are willing to pay...doesn't always align...lol. My first major was in Architecture, and having an Engineering degree sure has been helpful too, but I really rely on my creative bent and that seems to work out well for me and my customers. I have flipped several houses too, and did the landlord thing (still doing that actually), but it is the design and construction of new spec homes that I have the most fun with. Very cool to hear you're an engineer too....I kind of like the idea of having that West Texas/New Mexico/Las Vegas home building business thought. If the market was better (especially in Vegas), we might have something there but good thing I keep my day job!

 

sorry guys, I can't contribute to the 'engineer' love in here... I am a project manager... I normally have to come back to engineers and explain why the heck this is NOT working in the real, physical, material world :o


on a side note, a beautiful picture like this is what keeps a Blue FX4 in the back of my mind... It's no raptor, but the blue looks great!

 

I like it, people go with black anymore makes me sick. They can not stand out and be different anymore seems like. You plan on keeping this one a while, 3 years or so? Than I say go green, if not stick with the blue. Be roughly $2-3k for a quaility paint job and depends on if you feel like dropping the coin for it.

You are right with the timing, there was maybe MAYBE 20-30 custom homes built lasy year if that. The residential cookie cutter homes are grossly slowing down too sadly. I know the feeling on homeowners half way through the change their mind for the thousands time all to go back to optio/drawing 2, insert bang head here. That is my plan is to get my Architect degree for designing with my Engineering degree. I like doing the flips, just wish I could find a person wanting to buy the house prior than flip it to their needs and sale it. Would make the process a whole lot less stressful and not having to worried of they potential buyers liking it or not. I love being creative and doing new, different things to wow the people. I want them to remember it for along time. I hate seeing the same thing time adn time again, branch out take a stab at new things. be bold and different, people seem scared espeically in this economy. I mean honestly what is the worst that can happen? It is not like you only have one option. It has been and will be a dream i would like to accomplish is mass home building for the West coast, one day! I hope the market bounces back, it does not look good for the next 2-3 years though sadly. Good thing I can do more than construction,



Crack jokes all ya can, we are very stressful people in the few/short hours we "actually" DO work.
Just kidding! I have met a few engineers, where in all honesty they should have picked a different profession. I try to get the guys the cheapest rate possible, for the lowest price, with thinking everything through for easy, cost effective, and "actually" working in the real world. Working on getting my contractors license, tiresome of working for the man.

 

Amen! I am recent college grad and am already growing tired of it.

Self Employed=

 

I have been tired of the man since I was 8 helping my dad and grandpa. As soon as I can I plan to go self employed ~2 years or less is my goal.