As opposed to the previous advertisement feature from DriveTribe, the second one featuring the Ranger Raptor and Richard Hammond says that it’s paid promotion from the get-go, in the ending credits, and in the description. But some things never change, and that’s the delivery throughout the five-minute-long promotional video disguised as a humorous review of the Ford pickup truck.
This time around, Hammond makes a case for a “brilliant family car” for the family man who just turned 50 years old. Despite the Fox shocks and comfy ride quality on paved roads, the Ranger Raptor isn’t all that great on the long haul if you’re seated in the back because pickups are too light back there. The bounciness can get to your head, which is why a crossover or an estate are more adequate.
Speaking of which, have a guess how much the Ranger Raptor costs in the United Kingdom. Exclusively available as a double cab, the starting price including value-added tax is £47,874 before options. To put that sticker into perspective, the Mondeo Vignale Estate is a little more than £31k while the Edge Vignale retails at £46,035 in this part of the world. The question is, so what?
Neither of them can give you the off-road thrills or the sheer road presence of the Ranger Raptor, and that’s where Hammond is right about the midlife crisis appeal of the Ford Performance model. Be that as it may, the British presenter’s teenage daughters don’t appear all that impressed by the blue truck.
Taking his girls to the shops also reveals how tiny a parking space is when compared to the footprint of the Ranger Raptor, which is how things are throughout the United Kingdom and European Union alike. On their way home, Richard decided to take a little shortcut to show off the off-road capability of the mid-size workhorse. As with the first paid promotion, the director didn’t show the girls’ reactions one bit for the entire scene. Editing much, DriveTribe?
For the love of all things holy, Ford of Europe, would you please stop doing this and give Richard a Ranger Raptor to review on his own terms on The Grand Tour? Most of us believe that would be far more credible and entertaining…
One YouTube user said “pimping Hammond and his family for Ford ads isn't brilliant.” Another viewer claims “this video was hard to watch. The scripted sell-out was real.” Want another example of how bad the delivery is before you press play? “This channel just went corporate.”
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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