Upgrade my XLT or trade it in for a Raptor?

[markal49]

I have a feeling I know where this will land, but, just for fun, figured I'd try a poll and see what this group thinks. I have a 2024 XLT with FX4 that I have spent a little money on so far (tires, bed coating, tonneau). I test drove a Raptor a couple months ago and thought it was super fun. Not sure I want to spend $58k or whatever, but I could if I wanted to (and my wife is graciously tolerant). Instead of trading in for the Raptor, I could upgrade the XLT with new suspension, the Ford Performance tune (I have the 2.3l engine) and wheels and tires. That would be a heckuvlot cheaper than a new Raptor. But there's a shelter green Raptor available down the road. Thoughts?

Sponsored

 

[Afsigma21]

I am going to give you my thoughts.

1. A tuned 2.3L wont be anything like the 3.0
1B Tuned 2.3 will require 91 octane most likely, the Raptor doesnt REQUIRE it
2. I believe even the rear end is different in the Raptor, not something you can probably reasonably update (3.73 vs 4.10)
3. Do you tow? Raptor has a lot less tow rating due to the suspension and weight of it.
4. Does gas mileage matter to you? You would take a big hit going to a Raptor. (This is the main reason I went Lariat FX4 instead of Raptor
5. Smiles per gallon probably Raptor>XLT

BLATB (Bottom line at the bottom, because I forgot to BLUF it)

Unless you are going to regularly off road, like a lot, an XLT FX4 with lift kits etc will likely have a lesser total cost of ownership over the life of the vehicle and have a larger market at resale time.

again MY OPINIONS/THOUGHTS

 

[Highspeedplay]

Either logical thought keep the XLT add mods. the FP tune is nice, and makes it feel alot peppier but not 3.0L peppy, you use it for more every day driver and cannot offroad that much.
or

F' It drop another 30K its alot more fun but will be able to do more Off road things but gas mileage is down . You're ok with all the extra cost later on when the fun dies down and you're just driving it like a reg truck most of the time.

either way is ok.

 

[VB2.7]

I drove a 2.3 and a 2.7 the 2.7 is the Goldilocks of the 3 as it’s got the towing and the fun factor without breaking the bank I’m leveled on 33s and I have no complaints on the entire truck I have more then enough tq and power on demand I can do anything I need or want with it and it’s going smooth only thing I don’t have that I wish was on the 24 xlt fx4 even if it was a added price is the front locker but as aftermarket comes along I’m sure it wouldn’t be to hard of get. I’d be happy to get a front arb air locker since I have a on board compressor I don’t use now

 

[bigb]

I drove a 2.3 and a 2.7 the 2.7 is the Goldilocks of the 3 as it’s got the towing and the fun factor without breaking the bank I’m leveled on 33s and I have no complaints on the entire truck I have more then enough tq and power on demand I can do anything I need or want with it and it’s going smooth only thing I don’t have that I wish was on the 24 xlt fx4 even if it was a added price is the front locker but as aftermarket comes along I’m sure it wouldn’t be to hard of get. I’d be happy to get a front arb air locker since I have a on board compressor I don’t use now

Can you post a pic of your leveled 24 with 33s?

 

[VB2.7]

Absolutely once I figure it out lol

 

[Bushmechanic]

You'll have the same amount of money in it either way, over time.

It comes down to whether or not you want to tailor the truck yourself, or just get the capability off the rack. In my case, I was just trying to buy as much capability as I could, this time.

I'm not actually much of a locker fan for my use case, but I can't get torque biasing units for anything new, so I wanted three lockers out of the gate. If I can't have what I want, I want the most I can get.

A factory triple-locked vehicle at the Raptor's price point is an exceptional deal. I just wish it had a center differential instead of that 4WD auto silliness. Manufacturers just won't put those in pickups, for some reason, and pickups are a no-brainer application.

Comes down to cost and fuel economy, probably. There is indeed a mileage hit for true permanent 4WD. No way around that, really.

 

[ryanO]

Absolutely once I figure it out lol

May I ask how you leveled it out? I'd prefer to NOT use a puck style.
Also, what offset and tire size are you running?
Beautiful truck!

 

[VB2.7]

Ford Ranger Lifts 3inch kit guy makes some really nice stuff and the design isn’t a puck it’s an overall metal kit that he welds together and sits on top of the shock tower and keeps it all together and pretty nice. Don’t really know the specs on the offset I never wrote it down but I’m running the bronco beadlock wheels I bought off a guy off of fb In cinci. Tires are 285/70/17s ko3s

 

[fordtrks4ever]

From a money view are you keeping the XLT for a long time
because you will never get back the investment you put into your XLT.

I would see what it will cost to upgrade the XLT vs cost to acquire a Raptor.

 

[ryanO]

From a money view are you keeping the XLT for a long time
because you will never get back the investment you put into your XLT.

I would see what it will cost to upgrade the XLT vs cost to acquire a Raptor.

1. I do plan to keep this truck for a long time.
2. I want the tow ability of the XLT (7500 Lbs) vs the (mostly worthless) 5500lbs of the RR.
3. My plan is to do a lift, tires and other lighting upgrades so that my son and I can take our 6K lb Arkto trailer to Tuk, Canada as well as other adventures.

 

[stemplar]

You'll have the same amount of money in it either way, over time.

This seems unlikely. I doubt the OP is looking to spend another, what, $12k on upgrades to their XLT.

As for suspension, I'm intrigued by the recent announcement of the Tremor. Maybe wait until it's released and compare all three, their strengths and shortcomings (as defined by you), then decide? And when the tremor is released I'm hoping the sweet bilsteins will be available for the rest of us to buy, and if the 6th gen tremor is like the 5th gen, it'll have progressive leaf springs which are a very popular upgrade for non-tremor 5th gen ranger owners. If, like the 5th gen, the tremor suspension doesn't impede the ranger's payload or towing then I'm likely going to go for those upgrades.

 

[ryanO]

This seems unlikely. I doubt the OP is looking to spend another, what, $12k on upgrades to their XLT.

As for suspension, I'm intrigued by the recent announcement of the Tremor. Maybe wait until it's released and compare all three, their strengths and shortcomings (as defined by you), then decide? And when the tremor is released I'm hoping the sweet bilsteins will be available for the rest of us to buy, and if the 6th gen tremor is like the 5th gen, it'll have progressive leaf springs which are a very popular upgrade for non-tremor 5th gen ranger owners. If, like the 5th gen, the tremor suspension doesn't impede the ranger's payload or towing then I'm likely going to go for those upgrades.

The Tremor is an interesting trim. Typically they give the Tremors 1" lift over stock so I'm not sure how that plays out. I bought my 2.7L XLT 3 months ago so upgrading to a Tremor is out. Lol
The rear spring set up intrigues me for sure.

 

[ryanO]

I have a feeling I know where this will land, but, just for fun, figured I'd try a poll and see what this group thinks. I have a 2024 XLT with FX4 that I have spent a little money on so far (tires, bed coating, tonneau). I test drove a Raptor a couple months ago and thought it was super fun. Not sure I want to spend $58k or whatever, but I could if I wanted to (and my wife is graciously tolerant). Instead of trading in for the Raptor, I could upgrade the XLT with new suspension, the Ford Performance tune (I have the 2.3l engine) and wheels and tires. That would be a heckuvlot cheaper than a new Raptor. But there's a shelter green Raptor available down the road. Thoughts?

If towing & payload matter at all to you, upgrade the XLT.

 

[Walkman101]

I have a feeling I know where this will land, but, just for fun, figured I'd try a poll and see what this group thinks. I have a 2024 XLT with FX4 that I have spent a little money on so far (tires, bed coating, tonneau). I test drove a Raptor a couple months ago and thought it was super fun. Not sure I want to spend $58k or whatever, but I could if I wanted to (and my wife is graciously tolerant). Instead of trading in for the Raptor, I could upgrade the XLT with new suspension, the Ford Performance tune (I have the 2.3l engine) and wheels and tires. That would be a heckuvlot cheaper than a new Raptor. But there's a shelter green Raptor available down the road. Thoughts?

I traded my ‘21 XLT for a used ‘24 loaded Lariat. 2.3L, FX4 (rear locker, tuned suspension), advanced tow pkg, w/pro trailer backup, spray liner, running bds, splash guards, integrated side steps, convenience pkg standard on 24s. Puddle lights, bed lights, tailgate light. Carbon gray/black leather. Finest vehicle I’ve ever owned. Sticker $52,000, snagged it for $37500. I love the heated steering wheel. Drives like a Lincoln. So smooth & quiet. Shifts 50x better than my ‘21. Dealer was 2 1/2 hours away, they met me half way on a Friday evening, matched Carvana $28,000 trade-in, closed the deal in Walmart parking lot, and took her home.

Sponsored