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Madison Motorsports
First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - Printable Version

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First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - D_Eclipse9916 - 09-17-2019

Skip to the end for purchase.

After months of research, test drives and back and forth negotiations; I have come to the conclusion there is no one best truck anymore.  They are all fantastic buys depending on what you want.

Why a new truck?  The diesel had done 8 years of hard duty, but now served as my only vehicle.  It didn't fit in the garage, my wife wouldn't drive it, and I knew at 200k miles it would start having more issues.  Since I now have 2 kids, the risk of getting stuck with a broken vehicle increased (it never left me stranded but it was inevitable).  I don't have time for a race car, a truck and a street car.  When I sold my fun street car, I didn't miss it.  So here is my attempt at getting a truck that could be fun, while still having all the practicality that I have loved in a truck.

The contenders:
Jeep Gladiator
Ram Rebel
Ford F150
Toyota Tundra
GMC Sierra AT4

Missing from this list is the Ridgeline, it has too low of a tow rating. 

Toyota Tundra Crewmax TRD Pro:
[Image: b8c61198a765a348790e8192a0901f66.jpg]

Shortest of the test drives.  I did not even leave the parking lot.  This truck is handsome from the outside; and the reliability aspect is the reason I went to test drive.  However, it stickered at $54k and had "faux" aluminum trim over every surface, call it the plastic fantastic.  Interface from 2009 and abysmal gas mileage from a not very special truck.  Still, reliability and a solid motor?  Mayyybe.... Until I sat in the seats.  These are easily the worst seats I have ever sat in my life.  Flat, unsupportive and ugly.  Since I have 2 herniated discs; instant knock out.

GMC Sierra AT4

[Image: 2019-GMC-Sierra-AT4-30.jpg]

GMC Fanboi right? No, my truck served me great but the GMT900s that came after were horrible.  I love the Duramax, but I wanted a smaller truck so a diesel was out.  I think this Sierra AT4 is gorgeous and I test drove the blue color.  Gorgeous.  I drove this right after the Tundra, so jumping into the interior did not make me gag.  It actually was simple, intuitive and decent.  Sea of black and I love that.  The orange in the seats is a little offputting, but the seats are comfortable and supportive.  The multi-function tailgate is not a gimmick, and is extremely useful. At $60k+ MSRP with the 6.2L; you can expect more than $10k off sticker.  This truck is a solid choice, but resale is going to be brutal.  Combine that with a huge interior refresh coming and spotty reliability on the 6.2L; I had to pass.

Jeep Gladiator
[Image: 2020-jeep-gladiator-first-drive.jpg]

Admittedly this was my first choice when I looked at specs online. I really liked the idea of taking the roof off as I love convertibles. It is also small so it fits in the garage and around town easily.  The Rubicon ends up in the same price ($60k) but can be found for $54k.  Towing ability of 7700lbs, a rugged interior to deal with kids, and the awesome UConnect were huge pluses.  On the test drive I found a couple surprises.  With the roof on, its a really tight interior bordering on claustraphobic.  The roof is also bare fiberglass and you sit very closely to your passenger.  However, resale value is bound to be incredibly high. If you were to run this with the roof always off, this is a REALLY cool truck.   The likelihood of my wife letting me take the kids and or/her in it withe roof off is very low. I think I liked the idea more than the implementation.

Ram Rebel
[Image: ?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcars.usnews.com%2Fsta...40x420.jpg]

The magazines rave about the new Ram.  I have always hated Dodge Rams (now just RAM), as I think they were always the 3rd choice of the big 3.  However I went to test drive the new Rebel with open eyes.  Great looks in Rebel trim (not a big fan of the chrome front ends of non-rebels) with a nice V8 and tons of tech features.  The Rebel comes with a multi-colored red interior that is too much red :gag:.  I did find that a 12A option added their 12" Uconnect and blacked out the seats.  This made the interior extremely impressive with beautiful gauges, a massive and useful center console since the shifter is on the dash; and that great panoramic roof.   Other cool features?  RAMBOX.  I would have specced mine with a Rambox no question.  With the rambox you have 4 feet of width still in the bed, and the Ramboxes providing basically trunk storage with automatic truck locks, lighting and even power plugs within the boxes.  Despite my random RAM hate, this truck ended up being a fairly close second.   
Pros: Good looks, good ride with the coil springs (no need to spec the air suspension if you wanted to save money), decent seats, good tech, and a price that came in substantially cheaper than my final choice.
Cons: FCA reliability and FCA service centers.  I also worried 5 years down the line how the "black plastic fantastic nose" treament is going to age and just look cheap.  Lastly that gorgeous black 12" Uconnect attracted dirt and fingerprints on my test drive alone.  I would be driven nuts by those smudges; and I cant imagine how dated it will look in 5 years.

Wait what?  Isn't only the Ford on the list?  Don't you hate them since they ride like dump trucks and have the worst seats known to man like sitting on concrete?  Yes.  So why isnt the F150 immediately off the list?  Didn't I also say I wanted special?  Yes, and after realizing I did not want a fun sporty 3rd car anymore; I wanted something that I could still have fun in.  What does Ford make that's practical for room, but also fun?

Ford Raptor
[Image: 8548213439853bd286d2271fcb0d3c3e.jpg]

The Raptor ditches the stock Ford F150 suspension for active Fox shocks, curing the dump truck ride of an F150.  In 2019, they also introduced an option for the "blue accent interior package".  Blue? Ew, oh wait, these are Recaros!
[Image: 2019-Ford-F-150-Raptor-front-interior-seats-01.jpg]

  I sat in these seats and debated the merits of a blue interior with Jake, but man oh man these seats are comfortable to the Nth degree.  I also debated if I could really live with a twin turbo shitty sounding six in the Raptor.  Well after test-driving all the other trucks; I realized I didn't truly miss the sound in a truck. Shocker, yes to me too.  The amount of room in the SuperCrew Raptor sold me as well.  No other truck save the Ram came even close to the amount of room.  With 2 kids, a dog and always going on small adventures with guy friends; having the available room was a big plus.

I debated for a while about what to do.  This was more than I planned on spending, but I just had been given the deposit for my M3 race car, my diesel truck was sold and both got above what I initially had expected. I looked used and realized quickly for this vehicle it didn't make sense.  After lots of email chatter back and forth with about 12 dealerships, I found one that would do a 2019 order for a couple hundred below invoice.  Saving me more than $6k off MSRP where a lot of dealers though they were doing me "favors" not having a markup. So I went in and put my order on a 2019, since every in-stock Recaro specced car had the graphics package ($2k WHAT??!?!), and the ugly beadlock wheels ($2k).

802A Package
Blue Interior Accent Package (Recaros and CF package)
Twin Panel Moonroof
Rear heated seats

Two weeks later I get bad news. 
 1. Ford refused the build, I guess it was too late in their cycle for a 2019.  
2. 2020 Raptors wont be available till January 
3. Price would go up due to 802A now including the "tech package" and MSRP slightly jumping. 

I again hmmed and hawwed for a week and then decided if I was spending this money; I wanted exactly what I wanted.  I chose to wait and now have till January to get my truck.  However, this time without a truck has reaffirmed my decision.  I miss my truck far more than I miss any of my other vehicles, so spending the extra coin and time is worth it.  Did I need a fancy truck? No, but ya just gotta live every now and then.  Hoping this lasts me at least as long as my diesel truck did.  Is it the right truck for everyone? No, it hogs fuel; is massive in a parking lot and is flashy. It's interior is also slightly dated to the RAM; and the RAM kept creeping up when I had the setback of a 2020 order.  At least getting a new truck also includes a day at the Raptor Assault School!

TLDR, bad decisions were made, but hoping to have a lot of fun with this truck that also serves family duties well.

First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - JPolen01 - 09-17-2019

Love it! I think it will definitely be worth the wait. Can't wait to see some shenanigans in it. Where is the raptor school?

First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - GTBrandon - 09-17-2019

Oh now this is absolutely badass, congratulations!

RE: First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - Apoc - 09-17-2019

Is this the most expensive vehicle purchase to date for MM?

All purchases here lately have been wagons, CUV/SUV, or truck. This is what happens when MM has kids. Well, except Polen, I think.

First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - Sijray21 - 09-17-2019

FINALLY. SOMEONE WILL HAVE A RAPTOR!

I didn't expect this at all. I love the decision because it's not mine and I can live vicariously through DJ. Shouldn't lose much value if you're getting it at invoice.

First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - JPolen01 - 09-17-2019

(09-17-2019, 06:29 PM)Apoc Wrote: Is this the most expensive vehicle purchase to date for MM?

All purchases here lately have been wagons, CUV/SUV, or truck. This is what happens when MM has kids. Well, except Polen, I think.


We already have A CUV and I think I talked the wife out of upgrading right now. And we, and everyone on here, forgot submit the new Passport. Getting really good reviews and doesn't have the useless 3rd row so it's on the distant radar.

First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - Senor_Taylor - 09-17-2019

Wonderful! We all hounded you to get a raptor so much that I expected it not to happen.

Rear heated seats? Who would own a truck with rear heated seats???

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - D_Eclipse9916 - 09-17-2019

(09-17-2019, 08:22 PM)Senor_Taylor Wrote: Wonderful! We all hounded you to get a raptor so much that I expected it not to happen.

Rear heated seats? Who would own a truck with rear heated seats???

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk


It was a $125 option, why not for the kids when they are older. I liked it in my old Yukon Denali. My wife is stoked about the ventilated front seats that are alcantara instead of leather.

Still don’t have a VIN yet, they told me January but said it was worst case. I am really really missing my truck and this wait is killing me.

RE: First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - Beej - 09-17-2019

I was gonna say, I know you have an outlet for fun car stuff with racing, but man I couldn’t do a truck for a daily.  Glad you picked something fun!

Write up was a decent summary of some of the truck talk nonsense in the group chat too, which was nice.

RE: First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - rherold9 - 09-17-2019

Holy shit he bought a Ford. When's the appointment with Flim Flam for a tune?

First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - Senor_Taylor - 09-17-2019

I have heated rear seats too. Just giving you a hard time.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

RE: First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - HAULN-SS - 09-17-2019

Hmm interesting. I am thinking about pulling the trigger on a new truck pretty soon after also hemming and hawwing about it for a while. I sat in the back seat of my colleagues 2019 F150 King Ranch, and it's crazy how much room is back there compared to the crew cabs of the old 2007 Silverado my dad has.

Curious what you got for the 2500? I really wanted to just get an LBZ and save a bunch of money, but everyone wants stupid money for them and I just can't seem to spend 50% on a 12+ year old truck

First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - davej - 09-17-2019

Congrats! Hope it gets delivered sooner than expected. I'm not sure you could have gone wrong with anything on your list, save the yota seats and Jeep headroom.

[Image: 34fba189b15f26f42a32e1234beeff47.gif]


But just to be clear, this could have been had for about the same monies.
https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/d/temecula-2006-dodge-viper-1012hp-91/6973178263.html
[Image: 54f392aeb7dd1d39ca3e7f75a3327a90.jpg]

First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - Sijray21 - 09-18-2019

I'm more excited about this purchase than I should be. It's the anti-ridgeline purchase I wanted to make, but didn't.

I'll be looking up sweet jump locations in your area.

RE: First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - NTIman - 09-18-2019

Nice! I've been interested in a Raptor for a while. No reason to get one though. Also I'm poor.

You're right about the Tundra seats. I hate driving those trucks because they're so incredibly uncomfortable. They are pretty damn reliable though.

RE: First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - ScottyB - 09-18-2019

[Image: giphy.gif]

IT FINALLY HAPPENED!!!

i'm so excited.  good man DJ.

RE: First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - V1GiLaNtE - 09-18-2019

GOD FUCKING DAMN DJ

[Image: source.gif]

RE: First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - Kaan - 09-18-2019

[Image: giphy.gif]

RE: First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - Goodspeed - 09-18-2019

Well hot damn that's a great buy. I think I love the blue interior more than the truck itself, but a Raptor is totally awesome in it's own right. Nice!

RE: First New Vehicle Purchase and 1/2 Ton Truck Review - BLINGMW - 09-18-2019

Great reviews and pictures, lots of hood scoops.
I'm going to ask a dumb question, how are these trucks only rated for a 1/2 ton? We are talking about payload capacity right? ONE thousand lbs? The payload capacity of my farm use '97 Tacoma? 1 motorcycle and 2 fat guys? HALF the capacity of my 4cyl Metris? 
I don't understand. The truck is overweight with 4 people and nominal trailer tongue weight.