Louth Motoring: The Ford Ranger Raptor: So wrong, but yet so right

The question used to be asked what car you would buy when you win the lotto. That also included the Euromillions and with the size of that prize you could, in theory, buy the most expensive car in the world.

Well, I’ve set my sights lower and would love to “just” win the Eurodreams prize of €20,000 per month for 30 years. It would allow me to measuredly spend money that I believe should not be spent measuredly and feel like I won the lotto every month. What would be my first car?

Well, I’d have to wait 4 months to buy this behemoth, bundle of fun – the gloriously divisive Ford Ranger Raptor. Prices start at €74,138 and with extras you can see why it’ll take me 4 months to buy.

The Raptor is every motoring journalist’s secret pleasure whether they admit it or not. Peer pressure never goes away no matter what age you are and in these environmentally responsible days what motoring journalist would choose this car over the expected choice of an electric car, and incur comment, wrath and in a very few cases praise? Well readers, this one would.
I first of all am attracted to the sheer size of it. Being a double cab there is ample passenger space to bring people on whatever adventure / commute you have do.

Then there is the covered flatbed which I’d wager has never been used as intended by all buyers of the Raptor. I’ve yet to see one have an aftermarket closed in canopy jobs which would reinforce my belief that they have never been used in anger.

In the previous version I carried two bicycles up a mountain for a bit of cycling which looked simply perfect in the Raptor and a measured use of the pickup area. It has a sliding cover that lock that I managed to get the bikes in under for added peace of mind and security.

Driving the Raptor is a joyous experience. You get that go anywhere comfort together with that bounteous power being the performance model of the Ford Ranger range.

The up high experience was higher up than a lot of other cars I’ve driven and I discovered a whole new world that exists in Ireland. That’s a world above the hedgerows because I could simply see over them. I felt very Gulliver-like as I took the old N4 road from Kilcock to Athlone and saw things I’m sure I never saw before as I passed through the memory-jogging towns of Milltownpass, Rochfortbridge, Kilbeggan, Tyrrellspass and Moate.

Once the motorway opened these went off the traveller’s radar but I was so delighted I reacquainted myself with them on a lovely Saturday morning spin. Next time you are heading to Galway try it – you won’t be disappointed.

I kept the Raptors power well under control and only used it to overtake other similar drivers who were savouring the views at a lesser pace than I was. A quick blip and the Raptor responded instantly from the 3.0l twin-turbo petrol engine underneath that can deliver 292PS via any one of its 10 automatic gears.

You’d need that sort of power to move a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of just over 3 tonnes and get it to 120km/h in 7.9 seconds. The ride, when empty, is not as bouncy as you’d expect with the suspension setup giving a very good car like experience but, and there always is a but, it can’t deliver the refinement you find in a normal car based on the use it was designed to perform - and why would you expect it to?

It’s not annoying in any way and after a while I barely noticed it. On the motorway at legal speeds there was truly little noise to record and it’ll happily sit there all day and it won’t tire you to drive it.

The stated fuel return is 13.8l/100km and I managed 13.2l/100km during my time with it albeit on my own with no payload – which a lot will bemoan but I think is particularly good.

The interior is much improved over the last model with the dash dominated by an enormous Teslaesque 12-inch central infotainment screen.
The seats were superbly comfortable and, I’m sure, play an enormous part in making the ride the best it can be.
I have one piece of advice for potential buyers. Steer clear of the BF Goodrich All Terrain rugged, knobbly tyres.
They look the full Colt Seavers (google it) part for sure but on any of my slow roundabout manoeuvres the rear end invariably slid out if a small amount of excess accelerator pressure was used. Best find a set of good all-weather rubber to shoe this beast with.
I can best summarise the Raptor thus. In the aftermath of any impending apocalypse those who survive will be driving Raptors as the grid will probably not be working.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the invaders had chosen Raptors as the transport of choice to survey their conquests.
I was more than happy to survey Ireland above the hedgerows and see what was previously hidden from me.

Paradoxically the vehicle that allowed me to do that is the very vehicle being blamed for hastening that demise.

I remain unconvinced by that, but certainly I’m convinced by the Raptor, I just need the correct number sequence and win the Eurodreams to buy my lottery winning dream car.