Mike Brewer reviews Ford Ranger Raptor

Our own Mike Brewer reviews the Ford Ranger Raptor pick-up after having it on loan from Ford for a very busy year.

Wheeler Dealers Mike Brewer has driven plenty of cars in his time so how would he fair living with the Ford Ranger Raptor pick-up truck for a whole year? Mike tells us how this brute of a vehicle came just at the right time…

“The past year has flown by and it’s fair to say a lot has happened. Around a year ago, Ford dropped the brand new Ranger Raptor pickup truck on my driveway and this vehicle couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time.

About the same time, I moved my personal workshop space to a new studio unit. My new place needed lots of attention and a complete restructure of the building space. This meant plenty of trips to the wood yard and to the dump would be needed. So the Raptor came into my life at exactly the right time but I’m pretty sure it had no idea of the kind of hard work I’d be putting it through!

I’ve had just about everything in the back of the Raptor from staircases to heavy building materials and office furniture. I’ve also taken everything you could possibly think of to the dump using the load-bed. What makes it so much easier is it can take a full size pallet with plenty of space around the edges.

During this time, I’ve also been busy filming the new series of Wheeler Dealers and I’ve been using the Ranger as my daily driver whilst also sharing the car with my cameraman Nick. The back fortunately has a lockable cover which meant we could carry all Nick’s expensive camera equipment safely and securely.

Making Wheeler Dealers means that I do plenty of miles all over the country and during the past year, I’ve put 18,000 miles on the Ranger Raptor, with its 10 speed Mustang gearbox and it’s 213 PHP engine. It’s an absolute joy to be behind the wheel.

Traditionally pickup trucks don’t offer a smooth ride as they bounce on the rear, but the Raptor has sports suspension all round and not a leaf spring insight! This means that the passenger comfort feels more like a luxury car than a truck.

Inside the cabin, you will find a motor sport derived interior with sculptured sports seats sports steering well and even paddle shifters to flick up and down through that box. Entertainment is provided by an 8inch LCD screen with apple CarPlay and the cockpit offers plenty of space both front and rear for your passengers.

Outside, I love the styling. It’s rugged and handsome and in anyone’s rear view mirror, it shouts get out my way. It comes with huge wheels and tyres, which climb the kerb or plough through any building site with ease. The lofty driving position sits above most SUV’s and gives a commanding driving position.

It’s fair to say I’m a fan, and at £50,000, I think it’s a bit of a bargain as it’s also classified as a passenger vehicle and not a commercial vehicle, which means that trips municipal dump are free! And trust me I’ve used that hundreds of times in the past year.

Thanks Ford for providing this long term vehicle. It’s one of the best cars I’ve ever had and I can’t see myself not having a Raptor in my future as it’s been the most practical vehicle I’ve driven.