well first off im bored and want some opinions, who better than you guys, sorry for the long post, so here goes...

my buddy ordered a 11 raptor about a week ago, awesome truck, i have always loved the ford raptor, but since he has actually bought one i have been seriously debating if its time to trade my truck in and get a raptor. now that being said, my truck is an 06 with 66,xxx miles on it and will be paid off in august. it would be nice to not have a truck payment but i would love to have a new truck, especially a blue flame supercab raptor. i really love my truck and kinda dont want to get rid of it. although every time i see a raptor i want one bad. there is pros and cons here, what would u do? what do u think my trucks worth? or should i keep my truck add a body lift and new wheels and 38s and regear? and do some other maintenance that i have been putting off (spark plugs) hmm i think if i can get one and have my payments under $550 a month i would do it, even though it would take 8-12 weeks to get it if i order one. any thoughts and input would be great

heres my truck as of today

 

I'd keep your truck. Yours is not overdone, it's done simply and tastefully. I think it's one of the nicer ones on here. A few grand in some new add-ons is better than $600/month for the next 5 years. I'd love to have a new 350, but there's no way in hell I'm paying that much for a truck.

It's taken me awhile to realize I don't have to have the nicest/latest/greatest thing on the street. I'll be glad when I get mine paid off by the end of the year.

 

The raptor is an amazing truck. You have to decide if having no truck payments is worth more than paying for a raptor every month. I don't know enough about your finances or job security to give you a good answer. There is nothing wrong with being grateful for what you already have.

 

thanks ian for the complement and i appreciate your advice, im gonna think it through some more before i do anything

 

If you want a raptor that bad... I'd save for a long travel suspension kit and call it a day. You'd probably really enjoy your truck and you'd have it for much less than a raptor. And I agree as I've said it beofore, you're truck is really well done. Do some PTM stuff though

 

If I were you I'd keep your truck. It only has 66k miles on it, it'll be payed off in August and you'll be debt free. Sure the Raptors are nice but do you really want another monthly payment? The last 3 vehicles I paid cash for, the truck I have now I make payments on and I know I'll be keeping it for a long time because I don't want another vehicle payment.

If I were you (and going to keep the truck) I'd change the plugs now. It really wasn't that bad to do on mine and I did it with 117,000 miles on the clock. Sleep on it for a while. I know I just "had to have" an 04-08 F-150. I'm happy with the truck but looking at it now it does the same thing my 96 F150, 92 F150 and 99 Taurus did without any payments.

 

Think of how much easier you would sleep and the financial flexibility you would have by not having a $550.00 payment hanging over your head every time you laid down in bed at night.

If you really want one that bad, start putting $550.00 away every month and in about three or four years you'd probably have enough banked (plus trade-in on your current truck) to pay for one in cash or with minimal monthly payment. If you aren't able to save the money, then that's a pretty good sign that you didn't really want one that bad after all. If you are able to save the money, then by all means reward yourself for diligently saving the cash and go buy the truck if you still want it.....

 

Funny...I am in the exact same boat as you, almost. I really, really, really, really want a Raptor. I haven't been so 100% excited with a new truck since I bought mine 8 years ago. With every new vehicle that comes out, there's always something I didn't like or something I had to compromise on if I wanted to buy it...not the Raptor. To me, it's perfect. The finance issue is moot for me, luckily.

However, here's why I don't have one and you may (or may not, don't know) or may not relate...I 110% completely love and adore my truck. I would argue from what I've seen around and on here that my truck is by all safe accounts in the top 5% cleanest, nicest, best running, mechanically sound trucks in the country of this model. Pretty ****y statement, I know; but it's a nice truck. My dillema is even though I can afford pretty much any payment, that's a relative term. I can't justify (financially) keeping both trucks or not having a descent down payment. So long story short, the reason I don't have a Raptor right now is because I can't get crap for my truck. And the kicker is it's not that I can't get what I think it's worth, I can't even get what should be considered fair for the truck. I'm too happy with it to just give it away, even if that's based on principle.

So, I guess I'll be driving mine until it falls apart or I find that one guy who wants it more than I do.

 

I agree with truck guy. The reason you want a raptor is because...? They look cool and have FORD in Block letters? Ill admit that is pretty sick but if I had the money I would make my truck long travel and basically have it dominate in the desert. And if you really look at it, the stance of a long travel truck is way better looking than the raptors stance.

Don't get me wrong, the raptor is a very very sexy truck and I will own a black screw one of these days. I'd just do some more mods to what you have now and be debt free. I love that feeling. Its so nice. I can spend more money on other things instead of always having to put aside or save a certain amount to pay something off.

Hope it helps.

 

personally the raptor is cool and all..but offroad vehicle's should be built not bought. so your truck ya go its Good 2 go (put more into existing truck)

 

I almost pulled the trigger on my choice of a limited, Harley-Davidson, or a raptor......all three were sitting side by side on a lot....test drove all three.....waited a week to cool down....thought about it A LOT.....then I came to the decision that there is nothing wrong with my truck and I DON'T HAVE PAYMENTS....until my truck starts to nickel and dime me to the poor house I'm going to keep it then think about trading.....good luck with your decision...

 

IF yours is paid off, and IF you really want a Raptor and IF you can EASILY afford the payments, go for it! Your truck should get enough of a tradein so you will never be upside down in a new vehicle.

 

If you want a raptor for the performance reason of actually using it and not just for looks. Go with a mid travel kit same travel as a raptor be about $3k roughly. Than get some fiber glass fenders for roughly another grand and you will have a truck comparable to a raptor in the desert so to speak. Or if you just want change and can afford to swing it go for it. To me having a vehicle paid off is better than having the newest and greatest thing on the block. As when the next year rolls around something bigger, better, and badder is going to come out. Name of the game and how people get your money if ya let 'em!

 

I don't know about your area, but with the way gas prices are, I think lifting your truck even more and putting even bigger tires on is about the dumbest thing you could possibly do. The pump shut off on me at $75 the other day...and the truck STILL wasn't full. Hell gas $4.20 around here. Eff that! I get ****ty enough MPG with just 35's on, let alone with 38's..

But hey man, it's your money....just expect to pay more often at the pump when you put 38's on...