DADMAV Build - Who says Base Models are boring? (2025 XL Hybrid AWD)

Dad to an 18-month-old. Once my kid was born, I sold my fully built WRX STI (full bolt-ons, protuned, 500whp on E85) and bought a house. Soon found out that with owning a house, you need a truck. No way I'm hauling dirt in the trunk of my STI. I am now in my Dad phase, where I don't care how fast it is, and I think the Hybrid is awesome. I think I found the perfect household/Dad truck. It can tow our future toys, do my household duties, and haul my kiddo around. Plus, it was less than 35k out the door. Bought it new with a 7yr/100k warranty. It has every option I wanted, just needed to add a few things to make it perfect. I picked up the wheels today. They were the last thing it needed to really bring it together. Pictures are from Day 1 until now. Currently sitting under 4k miles.

2025 XL Hybrid AWD in Shadow Black

Factory Options:
4k Tow + Copilot 360
Ford "Tough" Spray-In Bedliner
SecuriCode Keyless Entry
All-Weather floor mats

Mods:
Tailgate Dampener/Assist
Mickey Thompson Baja Boss A/T (245/65/17)
Liquid Metal Halo wheels (17x7.5 +40)
20% Front Tint + 5% Rears over factory with 5% windshield brow
Garmin Mini 3 dashcam
Ford OEM hitch cover

“ Plus, it was less than 35k out the door.”

My AWD Ecoboost Lariat was $36,000
No 4K, I didn’t need that.

Looking sharp

Cherokee said:

“ Plus, it was less than 35k out the door.”

My AWD Ecoboost Lariat was $36,000
No 4K, I didn’t need that.

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Yeah, well, it's an Ecoboost. I could have gotten a true base model with no options for less than 30k OTD, but I wanted 4k tow, spray-in bed liner, AWD, and Hybrid.

HenrysDad said:

Yeah, well, it's an Ecoboost. I could have gotten a true base model with no options for less than 30k OTD, but I wanted 4k tow, spray-in bed liner, AWD, and Hybrid.

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That's the beauty of buying a Maverick, you have many options to build it the way you want it, and still be under 35K out the door.

Suzukiridr14 said:

That's the beauty of buying a Maverick, you have many options to build it the way you want it, and still be under 35K out the door.

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But the Lobo’s and Tremors in the upper trims are closing in on $45,000

Sweet looking truck - did you keep the steelies for winter use?

Cherokee said:

But the Lobo’s and Tremors in the upper trims are closing in on $45,000

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Well. as they should say....
If you sell it..
They will buy it..

The $25,405 that I paid in Dec. 2022 still sounds like a deal...

Carvana was still offering me, $23,400 last Oct. 2025..

Jerry

ScottyC said:

Sweet looking truck - did you keep the steelies for winter use?

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I did keep them, but I probably won't swap them out tbh. I only drive a little bit per year (work from home), and it's a 2nd vehicle for us. They'll probably take up space in my basement or garage for a year before I decide to try and give them away for $100 lol

Good day @HenrysDad

We occasionally have a child seat installed in our Maverick for when we transport our grand-daughter.

You might want to have a look at where you have placed your child seat, if you ever have someone in the front passenger seat while your child is in the seat.

Reason being, awhile ago I read a thread here where a Mav was rear-ended. As part of the trucks collision mitigation the front seats collapse rearwards and flat...where your child seat is.

This could lead to injuries to either or both passengers in a worst case scenario, and being rear ended these days seems to be all the rage due to distracted driving.

Next time I need to install our child seat I will try to install in the center
..the safest place for a child to travel it seems.

Anyways, thought I would share my observation with you. I know I don't ever want to be in an accident , and my families safety is my job 1.

Your truck looks great by the way, and it sounds like you love yours as much as we enjoy our Maverick!

Have a great day,

Andy

SafetyGuy said:

Good day @HenrysDad

We occasionally have a child seat installed in our Maverick for when we transport our grand-daughter.

You might want to have a look at where you have placed your child seat, if you ever have someone in the front passenger seat while your child is in the seat.

Reason being, awhile ago I read a thread here where a Mav was rear-ended. As part of the trucks collision mitigation the front seats collapse rearwards and flat...where your child seat is.

This could lead to injuries to either or both passengers in a worst case scenario, and being rear ended these days seems to be all the rage due to distracted driving.

Next time I need to install our child seat I will try to install in the center
..the safest place for a child to travel it seems.

Anyways, thought I would share my observation with you. I know I don't ever want to be in an accident , and my families safety is my job 1.

Your truck looks great by the way, and it sounds like you love yours as much as we enjoy our Maverick!

Have a great day,

Andy

Click to expand...

Username checks out!

I agree with the thought to put the car seat in the rear center position if possible. May want to do some further research.

I remember when my daughter was an infant and I had a mid-90's Ranger SC. Had to put car seats in the front RH seat and IIRC turn off the airbag with the key.

KO Stradivarius said:

Username checks out!

I agree with the thought to put the car seat in the rear center position if possible. May want to do some further research.

I remember when my daughter was an infant and I had a mid-90's Ranger SC. Had to put car seats in the front RH seat and IIRC turn off the airbag with the key.

Click to expand...

Yes, our old F150 had the same key-turns-passenger-side-airbag-off system.

Cheers,

Andy

SafetyGuy said:

Good day @HenrysDad

We occasionally have a child seat installed in our Maverick for when we transport our grand-daughter.

You might want to have a look at where you have placed your child seat, if you ever have someone in the front passenger seat while your child is in the seat.

Reason being, awhile ago I read a thread here where a Mav was rear-ended. As part of the trucks collision mitigation the front seats collapse rearwards and flat...where your child seat is.

This could lead to injuries to either or both passengers in a worst case scenario, and being rear ended these days seems to be all the rage due to distracted driving.

Next time I need to install our child seat I will try to install in the center
..the safest place for a child to travel it seems.

Anyways, thought I would share my observation with you. I know I don't ever want to be in an accident , and my families safety is my job 1.

Your truck looks great by the way, and it sounds like you love yours as much as we enjoy our Maverick!

Have a great day,

Andy

Click to expand...

My wife never rides in the truck with our kid in the back; she only did it once to test it, and her knees were against the dashboard. We have a family vehicle for the family trips. I'll take my dog + kid in the back at the most. Appreciate the info though. This is just my truck, and 90% of the time it's me solo, me and the dog, or me and the kiddo.

KO Stradivarius said:

Username checks out!

I agree with the thought to put the car seat in the rear center position if possible. May want to do some further research.

I remember when my daughter was an infant and I had a mid-90's Ranger SC. Had to put car seats in the front RH seat and IIRC turn off the airbag with the key.

Click to expand...

I never have a passenger, so no problems here.

Curious what your process was for wiring your dash cam.