Well, today it was hot, and we were hot, so when we got in the truck I turned the seat ventilation on high. The Raptor seats get downright cold after fifteen minutes on that setting, but we were unable to confirm that our seat ventilation was even working. Maybe it wasn’t? I have a service appointment next week, so I’ll add that to the repair list and report back. If it was working as designed, it’s a missing “feature”.
I’ve never heard folks compare Raptors to HD trucks. Raptors are marketed as hot rods, not work trucks. I think some folks, myself included, enjoyed the drive so much they sold themselves on the Raptor being more truck-like than it really is. I should have known better. Years ago my wife had a lifted Tacoma on 35s. Hauling golf clubs or a small cooler was about all that truck could do too, but she loved it.
Other little conveniences I’ve come to appreciate in other makes include:
Auto-dimming mirrors
Fold flat seats
Sunglasses compartment
Upfitter switches
Power adjust pedals
Power adjust steering
Cap-free fuel filling
Good quality stereo
Light(s) in engine compartment
Mounting location for secure cell phone holder (like Bullet
Point, 67 Designs, etc.)
Simple, subscription-free nav system
Multi-drive modes (2 modes only in the HDs)
Limited slip front diff
Full flat rear seat storage
Single switch transition from sunroof tilt/vent to open or closed
I poached most of the above list from another thread and then deleted “panoramic sunroof” which other manufacturers provide (but I don’t like), and then added a couple other things I miss. I have less than 800 miles on my truck, so I may discover more.
Most of these things are insignificant. Few actually matter to me. On the other hand, when the truck has a Monroney sticker over $107,000, it seems reasonable to expect every common convenience, and some of the missing stuff does matter to me — like upfitter switches. OEM accessory switching makes it easy to add accessories without drilling holes, fighting the firewall, or adding new aftermarket devices/panels with double-sided tape. I already bitched about this in a prior thread, so I won’t belabor the point here, but OEM accessory switches provide switched, programmable, fused, power inside the vehicle AND the engine compartment at almost no cost to the manufacturer. Why not just do it? All of the post-purchase alternatives are a comparative pain in the ass to install and they look worse than matched OEM switching in the dash or overhead console.
An overhead glasses compartment is a handy convenience too, particularly for those of us who have to switch from regular glasses to sunglasses while driving. The lined compartments make it easy to swap and stow glasses while driving, and they can be found in Dodges, Fords, Jeeps, Volkswagons, BMWs, and others.
So far, I love my AT4X, and I will eventually find solutions to the little things that bother me. I’ve already started.
1) I spent $2300 to improve the stereo, which is now close/similar to what came stock in the Raptor and my wife’s jeep.
2) I have strapped a case for my glasses to the visor. It doesn’t look as nice, it’s less secure, and it interferes with other stuff of the visor, but it works
3) I can screw or glue an Aux Beam or SPOD switch panel to the center console or a spot on the dash. Like #2 above, it won’t look OEM-clean, but it will work.
4) Suction cup mounts don’t remain stable and secure off road, so we have used 67 Designs and Bullet Point mounts for years. The aftermarket will eventually find a way to securely mount cell phones in the “refreshed” Denali and AT4x interiors, but wouldn’t it be great if GM could either offer such an accessory or provide an interior design that was slightly less vexing?
I know… I’ll get over it.
