Car Fanatics Forum

Car Fanatics
Photo credit: Michael Stuart
June 11, 2012
By: Michael Stuart


Returned the Frontier this morning and picked up this monster:




Here's the sticker price. Needless to say I'm driving it VERY carefully!:



Initial impressions are that it drives pretty easily for something as capable as this truck. When maneuvering slowly, you feel every knob in those tires twisting on the pavement, but once up to speed the ride is nice and smooth. It still shudders when the rear end hits bumps - something which I think is unavoidable with pickups when the bed is empty.

The interior is fantastic, right up there with the SHO:





Sorry about the flash in the shot, but we thought this graphic was pretty cool on startup - it also does the 'built Ford tough' graphic with the metal hitting the concrete on the centre of the instrument cluster:



Huge interior space - your crew will very much like this crew cab:



I was worried it wouldn't fit in my driveway, but despite seeming much larger than the Frontier in all dimensions, it doesn't seem to be any longer.

The mileage currently shows 18.1 litres/100 - which is 13 MPG. Thank god it takes regular as I read somewhere it takes premium. Not so, according to the owners manual.

The ride height is crazy, feels like driving a locomotive in traffic (and I've driven a locomotive, no kidding!) There's actually an unintended intimidation factor to this thing. People who 100% have the right of way will wait for you to go ahead of them at stop signs.

I'm attempting to schedule some 'light off-roading' for Saturday, with pics so I hope it all comes together. I'll post my impressions through the week, but as always, if you have questions, let me know!

I have a question. How the hell did you get so lucky?!?!?!?!??!??!??

I would love to drive one of these

MOPAR74;211742 Wrote:I would love to drive one of these

I'd love to drive it too--Mostly over and through things though.

I can't wait for the offroading pics.

This would scare all the douchebags in my school with their Benzes and BMWs that their mommys and daddys bought I want one now.

Me jelly.

Someone can't park...::

^^ no kidding. I'm still getting used to the turning circle of these blasted trucks.

The motor is wicked - makes all the right V8 sounds and can really hustle this thing when you want it to. Tranny goes for the highest gear with real tenacity though - acts like it's allergic to 1st gear.

Well, just think of the mileage you would get if it didnt!


there is a reason its rated at 11/14

I'm thinking those tires also have a huge amount of rolling resistance. However, if you can afford one of these, you most certainly can also afford the gas.

of course... you pay to play!




Off topic..... Mike, is your Grand Prix a GXP?

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edit, nevermind


I just found it

Jeebus! Now I know why Canadians are affectionately known has "hosers"... because you guys are getting hosed on prices. That same Raptor here in the US carries an MSRP of $55905.00. And since the Canadian dollar has the same effective value as the US dollar (Bank Of Canada has today's exchange rate at 1.03 CAD = 1 USD), the price disparity makes no sense.

Which sucks for you guys, eh?

The 'Burg;211840 Wrote:Jeebus! Now I know why Canadians are affectionately known has "hosers"... because you guys are getting hosed on prices. That same Raptor here in the US carries an MSRP of $55905.00. And since the Canadian dollar has the same effective value as the US dollar (Bank Of Canada has today's exchange rate at 1.03 CAD = 1 USD), the price disparity makes no sense.

Which sucks for you guys, eh?

What it really comes down to is a market that is 1/10th the size of the U.S., spread over a huge geographic area (higher costs to distribute), and saddled with higher costs to market (everything has to be in English and French) and produce (have to accommodate metric and possibly different crash standards). However, there's still nowhere else I'd want to live!