It is possible to buy a high-performance bakkie in South Africa for less than R600,000, provided you don’t mind picking up a second-hand model with a high mileage.
The Ford Ranger Raptor is a rather unique entry in South Africa’s pickup landscape, as it offers all of the utility of a bakkie while also delivering performance akin to a hot hatchback.
While the current-generation Raptor, has an considerable price tag of R1,226,700, it is possible to hunt for a more wallet-friendly option with the previous generation that ended its run in 2022.
Hunting for a bargain
To investigate the cost of a pre-owned Ranger Raptor, we looked at AutoTrader and filtered for results with a mileage under 35,000km, 50,000km and 100,000km.
Thankfully, the process is made easier by the fact that there is only a single specification with no variations in the engine selection, so all of the models listed are comparable to one another.
For better context, the first-gen Raptor was launched in 2019 and features a 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel powerplant generating 157kW and 500Nm.
Prior to its discontinuation ahead of the next-gen models arrival, the high-octane bakkie retailed for up to R999,150, meaning its sticker should have dropped an appreciable amount by now.
These were the three lowest mileage options listed on AutoTrader at the time of writing:
| Model year | Mileage | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 23,399km | R769,495 |
| 2022 | 31,000km | R809,995 |
| 2022 | 18,000km | R849,995 |
Considering that the old units are at least two years old now, and have a much less desirable drivetrain compared to the new Ford’s 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol plant, its impressive to see that the Raptor can still command a price tag around R850,000, suggesting that it is still an aspirational purchase for many enthusiasts.
If we expand our distance allowance to 50,000km, these are the prices you can expect.
| Model year | Mileage | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 49,429km | R649,900 |
| 2022 | 45,000km | R749,900 |
| 2022 | 47,000km | R749,900 |
Interestingly, there was one unit that was R100,000 cheaper than the others, likely because of its model year, as the median price for a Ranger in this mileage bracket was R750,000.
If you are set on owning a Raptor but don’t want to exceed R600,000, you’ll have to search in the 100,000km or above mileage group, as these were the most common listings.
| Model year | Mileage | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 90,582km | R589,500 |
| 2020 | 94,269km | R589,950 |
| 2020 | 91,232km | R598,500 |
Again, you’ll start to see the same price tag repeated over and over at certain mileage points, suggesting that dealerships have an unofficial minimum that they are willing to settle for a vehicle of this calibre.
While it means you’ll have to wait even longer for a truly budget-friendly hot bakkie, it speaks to how well-regarded the badge is that it can still command the price tags that it does.
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