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New guy here...

4K views 31 replies 12 participants last post by  tygate 
#1 ·
Hey gents - new to the forum but glad to be here. I know this isn't exactly the best place to ask this question since you're all probably a bit bias, but I have to anyway...

I currently drive a '11 Raptor but I just can't handle how huge it is. I've had it for a little over a year and to be honest, I've loved it. I just no longer can take how massive the thing is. It's my daily, and just really overkill for it's use.

I'm a car nut and currently have a 'fun' car, so I'm really looking to get into something somewhat practical as a daily. I live in the Midwest so winter is rough, which means I need AWD. I cannot help but look into a SRT as I've always had a soft spot for them. I am just worried, however, that I'll be ticked I didn't get something a bit more comfortable and 'practical'.

As I mentioned, I've got a car that I drive for my adrenaline rushes, so it's not absolutely necessary to have ANOTHER fast vehicle. BUT, as we all know, you can never have too much powa! :)

I'm down to a redline SRT which I've haggled over price for over 2 weeks on, and I'm to a price where I'm willing to pull the trigger. OR, a new '15 Denali. Great looking trucks and I'm sure they'll be awfully comfortable and much more luxury.

Thoughts? Thanks for any feedback and again, glad to be here. :thumbsup:
 
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#2 ·
Hey man welcome to the site. I currently have a deep cherry 14 SRT jeep and I love everyday of it. It's a great SUV. Fun, fast and it feels like the modern muscle car! It's a big purchase so you have to make sure that your 100% into it but I would say pull the trigger. From everyone on the forum we all love ours. Sure there has been some small problems with some of ours but that's every kind of car! Let us know what you end up doing!!! Best of luck
 
#5 ·
our other vehicle is an Audi a7 and this SRT is just as luxurious, just as comfortable for us with two children as the audi a7....but this baby has a demon inside the engine bay and an awd system second to none
 
#6 ·
Great minds think alike. I've got an RS4 that I've had for almost 5 years now. It's an absolute riot, and addresses my adrenaline needs, but hardly practical as a daily anymore after all the mods :D

Thanks for the feedback.
 
#7 ·
I'm a Midwesterner also, I have the go fast toys and had the go fast DD(CTS-V), so I say to myself get something more practical, that's a little different and the SRT fit the bill to the letter. Couldn't be happier.
 
#8 ·
This is interesting to me I think. I currently own a G37 and my girlfriend own a 2014 Laredo which is why I just register here at Jeep Garage so I'm as new as you. What's interesting is I'm interested in a Ford Raptor, I've been going back and forth between the Raptor and the 14' Sierra Denali. I have always loved the SRT8 Grand Cherokees, I saw one a couple years back at a dragstrip and it was absolutely insane and with the new styling I love what it has turned into. I have tried to toy with my G37 as much as I could but unfortunately there just isn't enough in it stock and the aftermarket upgrades I'm looking at are insane in price. Not to mention it's a coupe and is all I have so I need something with a little more utility value so a truck is necessary I feel, but since my GF got the Jeep I won't buy one I see no point in owning two of basically the same vehicle. I love the luxury value in the Denali but I love the ruggedness and aftermarket ability of the Raptor. I also like the way the raptor drives over the sierra, the sierra drives like a box the raptor is much more comfortable in terms of handling and responsiveness. I feel I would love the Grand Cherokee and I could still tow a boat or trailer, but in a sense I have that already with my GF Laredo, that's why I'm looking for the open bed aspect of a truck. I haven't submitted an order for the Raptor yet, but its my choice and before the end of the year I will finalize a build for one, as much as I want to for the Denali I feel I'm losing some of my youth if I go that route, also Raptor has a much better resale value than the Denali.

Interesting to hear you are doing the opposite by getting rid of the raptor
 
#9 ·
Yeah I mean don't get me wrong, the Raptor has been great. I've never been a pickup guy, but I have to admit I've used it way more than I ever thought I would.

It's a supercrew, and literally barely fits in my suburban 3 car garage. The thing is just obnoxiously huge. However, it is VERY comfortable and drives awfully smooth on the open road.

I'm simply at a crossroads as to whether or not I want something more luxury and ultra comfortable, or a performance truck that does everything but is a bit more compact.

Decisions, decisions, lol.

Why don't you just buy my Raptor?! ;)
 
#10 ·
Haha I'm looking for a 2014 and I will probably build it with the Special Edition package.

Like the denali certainly has more luxury value with the way the grille looks but when you sit inside you realize there really isn't that much luxury value, I mean it's not push button start, lol you will still be dealing with a column shifter so no real sport mode, I think the new intellilink system is over hyped, it actually seemed really slow and laggy which is not what you want in a touch screen, in my 2009 G37 I still have way more luxury than what is in the new GMCs. I just wasn't that impressed hopping into it, but I can tell you hopping into some newer Jeeps I was far more pleased and I seat the luxury value of them higher than the trucks and especially the GMC new generation line, like you could buy a new Mercedes for the price of the SRT or the Denali's and have an extreme amount of luxury value, but if your looking like me and you still want that little bit of performance aspect and is in your blood well I think from Raptor to SRT makes way more sense, and if I hop into the Raptor I think I will feel more normal.

I think the Yukon Denali's are extremely top heavy too, I do not feel the SRTs are anything close to them, driving a top heavy vehicle to me would be extremely irritating, i didn't feel that driving the Raptor though because of the ridiculous suspension.
 
#18 ·
hey,
greetings and you have came to the right place.
i own a jeep srt8 2012, audi q7 2013 and porsche cayenne S
i have driven all three but i always tend to have fun with the jeep the most
its my daily driver, to me its luxury enough but the other serves different.

so in sense of practicallity and daily driving i would say go jeep.

i used to have a car for fun, but for the sake of my many tickets i had to sell it.
go srt, u wudnt be sorry.
 
#21 ·
The new Yukon Denali is nice. In My Non Humble Opinion, every bit as nice as an Escalade but without all the attention.

It is, however a tad larger than an SRT.

Why don't you take your Raptor to the SRT dealer and challenge them for pink slips?
Both are definitely 'wheeeeeeeeeeee' vehicles, which does have a certain practicality of its own.
 
#24 ·
Looks great! You won't be sorry!

I came from a much larger truck, too, and while I miss the utility, the SRT is so much better for DD. It feels all the more refined coming from a truck. And, it's not a PIA to get in the garage!

BTW, I've towed a few times with my SRT. Mileage is crap but the 8 speed and HP make it effortless.
 
#26 ·
Congrats! You will not second guess the decision. As others have said, it is a great DD, with snow tires and snow mode grabs like tiger I bad weather and has all the luxuries of a much much more expensive super SUV. Brings a smile to my face every time I get in....

Enjoy and be careful of the mod bug as once it bites, it is hard to get rid of
 
#28 ·
Thanks gents. It's been a rush getting a new vehicle but I'm pretty pumped to have her.

Speaking of the mod bug. Here's a pic or two of my RS:





I hope it's not as bad on the SRT but I'm not holding my breath!
 
#29 ·
good looking RS. I considered getting one a few years back. I was thinking the SRT would stay stock for a little while but 2 weeks in and mods are already showing up via UPS/FedEX... I just think about it like this.... there are worse things to spend money on....
 
#30 ·
good looking RS. I considered getting one a few years back. I was thinking the SRT would stay stock for a little while but 2 weeks in and mods are already showing up via UPS/FedEX... I just think about it like this.... there are worse things to spend money on....
haha, I like the way you think!

Well, shitty first few days of ownership as I had a God awful rattle from the glove box area. Took her in today to get it figured out and of course they're backed up and won't get to it until tomorrow...
 
#32 ·
I realize you already purchased but I thought I'd give my story, too.

I've been a car guy for as long as I could drive. Always had something sporty. In the not so far past, I started wanting something more roomy and more practical so I got our of cars for a short while and bought a Ford F-150 Platinum pick up with the Ecoboost. It was a great truck. No problems, comfortable as heck, plenty of luxury and relatively good performance. I started missing the horsepower and sound of a big V8 and considered selling the truck to buy something like a Corvette, Camaro, Challenger, etc. and a cheap beater to drive daily. I talked myself out of that because I didn't want to deal with two vehicles worth of maintenance, insurance, tags, parking at home, etc. and I knew I wouldn't be happy driving a clunker on a daily basis.

I started looking around at something sporty, roomy and practical that I could drive every day and not be afraid to park at the parking lot where I work without drawing TOO much attention to itself. I had just about settled on an Audi SQ5 before I realized the SRT GC would be perfect for my situation.

After that, it took about a week before I found a deal I couldn't pass up on a 2014 and I haven't looked back since. It's a great vehicle. :thumbsup:
 
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