Still can't get a straight answer from Ford

[stoptothink]

Unfortunately, basically no new vehicles have a stereo system available, that sounds even half way decent > for any price ! This is discussed, and generally agreed upon, all the time on car audio forums. Recently, a guy was talking about the stereo system in his Ferrari sounding like chit, mostly from the lack of bass. Anyone who thinks a factory stereo in "any new vehicle" sounds okay, just hasn't sat in a vehicle with a high end (or even, medium high end... like in my Prius) sound quality stereo system.
And this seems really crazy to me, knowing how fantastic a stereo system can sound for as little as $1000. Why in the world an auto manufacturer wouldn't put in $1000 worth of gear (which would probably cost them $300) that they could sell for $3000 is beyond me ?

If by "half way decent" you mean a totally overwhelming and disproportionate amount of bass, then yes, there really aren't any halfway decent stock audio systems in cars these days. I've built my share of car audio systems (in the early '00s I had an a pair of Adire Audio Tempests in a custom ported box, ID horns, and ~2000 watts in a honda civic hatch) and the Mark Levinson systems in Lexus are great and the Revel system in my buddies Lincoln Navigator is fantastic, and those are pretty mid-level vehicles. I'm sure the Bentley's of the world have decent options too.

I can't believe you called customer support and genuinely expected an answer for that question. Even if they did have an answer, they wouldn't give it to you for reasons already mentioned.

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[Thrillhouse]

If by "half way decent" you mean a totally overwhelming and disproportionate amount of bass, then yes, there really aren't any halfway decent stock audio systems in cars these days. I've built my share of car audio systems (in the early '00s I had an a pair of Adire Audio Tempests in a custom ported box, ID horns, and ~2000 watts in a honda civic hatch) and the Mark Levinson systems in Lexus are great and the Revel system in my buddies Lincoln Navigator is fantastic, and those are pretty mid-level vehicles. I'm sure the Bentley's of the world have decent options too.

I can't believe you called customer support and genuinely expected an answer for that question. Even if they did have an answer, they wouldn't give it to you for reasons already mentioned.

Adire Audio takes me back. I used to have a 15" Brahma and at one time ran some Koda mids. This was in a 95 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Good times.

 

[DryHeat]

And this seems really crazy to me, knowing how fantastic a stereo system can sound for as little as $1000. Why in the world an auto manufacturer wouldn't put in $1000 worth of gear (which would probably cost them $300) that they could sell for $3000 is beyond me ?

My guess -- it's just a guess -- is that they didn't think there would be enough of a market for it to justify the hassle. I keep reminding myself that this is really a low-end vehicle, price-wise. Maybe they didn't think enough people would want a high-end stereo in a low-end truck.

 

[clippedwings]

While power budgets are tight and special consideration must be taken, Ford advertised this as a "maker's vehicle", adding 12V taps in the bed for lighting and compressors and all the 3D accessory printing "customize your truck" talk. Customization and accessorizing should be an expectation. Custom audio is likely the most established aftermarket modification industry.

Since My truck is still just vapor, I forgot about the pig tails, but that's not the kind of stuff I'm talking about. After having to replace a failed Sync audio module in my Transit Connect with an aftermarket touch screen head unit, I lost some steering wheel functions. I waited almost 8 months for a replacement module (second try - first was incompatible), and when they installed the second one it was still only able to restore half of the original steering wheel functions. After I purchased the TC I assumed I would be able to add my Sirius receiver, and no one would do it. There was no place to connect it into the system.

 

[Fish Chris]

While power budgets are tight and special consideration must be taken, Ford advertised this as a "maker's vehicle", adding 12V taps in the bed for lighting and compressors and all the 3D accessory printing "customize your truck" talk. Customization and accessorizing should be an expectation. Custom audio is likely the most established aftermarket modification industry.

Excellent point Red ! Don't know why I didn't think of that ? Thank you.

 

[Fish Chris]

My guess -- it's just a guess -- is that they didn't think there would be enough of a market for it to justify the hassle. I keep reminding myself that this is really a low-end vehicle, price-wise. Maybe they didn't think enough people would want a high-end stereo in a low-end truck.

And that could be somewhat true for the Maverick, but "most" companies don't seem to ever consider that some people like nice sound in their vehicles

 

[Abraxis]

Adire Audio takes me back. I used to have a 15" Brahma and at one time ran some Koda mids. This was in a 95 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Good times.

Ya I remember that Dan was a regular poster on some of the boards. Good times, indeed.

I still have a home theater box that I built with a Shiva lying around the house somewhere lol.

 

[Fish Chris]

If by "half way decent" you mean a totally overwhelming and disproportionate amount of bass, then yes, there really aren't any halfway decent stock audio systems in cars these days. I've built my share of car audio systems (in the early '00s I had an a pair of Adire Audio Tempests in a custom ported box, ID horns, and ~2000 watts in a honda civic hatch) and the Mark Levinson systems in Lexus are great and the Revel system in my buddies Lincoln Navigator is fantastic, and those are pretty mid-level vehicles. I'm sure the Bentley's of the world have decent options too.

I can't believe you called customer support and genuinely expected an answer for that question. Even if they did have an answer, they wouldn't give it to you for reasons already mentioned.

No that's not what I mean by half way decent. I'm 57 yo. And while I do enjoy a rediculous powerful system for short periods of time... Demo's and such, I can hop into my F150 for that And btw, while my truck makes a lot of bass, it also makes a lot of clean music from mid-bass all the way to the tweeters. Balanced, and crystal clear. Almost no rattles anywhere either.
But I'm talking about something like in my Prius... Or maybe slightly more. I'm running a single 5 ch amp (fused for 100 amps, but probably draws about 30 to 50 under normal use. It puts out 110 x 4, and 450 x 1. My subwoofer is only a single 8", in a custom enclosure that I built, and tuned to 36hz. Very musical. Blends nicely with my mids and highs.

I'm talking about what I'd call a modest little sound quality system.

 

[Fish Chris]

Ya I remember that Dan was a regular poster on some of the boards. Good times, indeed.

I still have a home theater box that I built with a Shiva lying around the house somewhere lol.

Sounds fun
In my F150, I'm running an 18" sub, with two 15" Passive radiators. Out of around 35 enclosures I've built in the last 35 years, it is the nicest sounding yet. The PR setup costs me a few db's but it is just SO musical, and so tight, you would think you were listening to 10"s Oh, this sub is getting about 2700 wts RMS. It's actually only rated for 1600 wts RMS, but I never clip it, and those PR's don't let it do anything crazy
Think I need to go play with it for a little bit right now
Oh and even this system is not "bass heavy". Oh sure it can make some heavy bass, but it make a LOT of music too

 

[jtpc2021]

first off, I'm sorry, but it freaking kills me when I call by phone, to talk to a Ford representative with a technical question, and they connect me with some lady, most likely at home in her living room, and maybe changing her kids diapers, or feeding the dog, while she tries to answer my question on her hands free headset. Of course this lady knows absolutely nothing about my question, or even Mavericks in general, so whatever I ask her, she has to try to find it in her information booklet they give her, while I wait....... and wait..... Urgggg...

But I digress. I'm still trying to get a number... "What is the number of amps I can safely draw from the Maverick Hybrid electrical system" ???

I should say, "From the 12V side". Being able to draw straight from the high voltage traction battery would be freaking awesome ! But I don't think that technology is quite there yet, for the aftermarket scene. That would be kind of a deadly, warranty killing endeavor at this point in time.

Just adjust your expectations from a CSR and stop trying to use your vehicle in a way it wasn’t intended.
If you want an answer from Ford, it would be that you should download the QR code for flexbed and follow some ideas about tapping into the power supply at two points in the bed.
Anything beyond what they show you for DIY ideas there will be at your own risk.
You have to think about liability of a company like Ford.

 

[Fish Chris]

Just adjust your expectations from a CSR and stop trying to use your vehicle in a way it wasn’t intended.
If you want an answer from Ford, it would be that you should download the QR code for flexbed and follow some ideas about tapping into the power supply at two points in the bed.
Anything beyond what they show you for DIY ideas there will be at your own risk.
You have to think about liability of a company like Ford.

Again, it just seems to me that what I'm asking for shouldn't be such a big deal.
Btw, Toyota will at least tell you an "ultra conservative" number, of 30 amps. If Ford would tell me 40 for the Maverick, I'd be pretty happy with that.

 

[jtpc2021]

Again, it just seems to me that what I'm asking for shouldn't be such a big deal.
Btw, Toyota will at least tell you an "ultra conservative" number, of 30 amps. If Ford would tell me 40 for the Maverick, I'd be pretty happy with that.

I’m sure someone there could. Unfortunately, I don’t know how you can get connected with the right person.

If I were you, I’d treat it like a comparable compact sedan, seeing how it is priced like one.
So whatever works with a new civic, corolla, or prius should be fine with a hybrid maverick.

 

[Tbolt]

Sounds fun
In my F150, I'm running an 18" sub, with two 15" Passive radiators. Out of around 35 enclosures I've built in the last 35 years, it is the nicest sounding yet. The PR setup costs me a few db's but it is just SO musical, and so tight, you would think you were listening to 10"s Oh, this sub is getting about 2700 wts RMS. It's actually only rated for 1600 wts RMS, but I never clip it, and those PR's don't let it do anything crazy
Think I need to go play with it for a little bit right now
Oh and even this system is not "bass heavy". Oh sure it can make some heavy bass, but it make a LOT of music too

Im definitely not an audiofile, I was trying to figure out why someone installed a washing machine in their vehicle….

I had the upgraded Sony system in my 2012 F150 which I thought was pretty good. Have the B&O coming in this. Considering half the time I listen to talk radio, fourty percent sports, think I’ll be fine for the 10% I listen to music.

But, yeah, for those into a this kind of modding it’s just too new for their to be relevant info about it. Almost nobody has it in hand yet.

 

[pndwind]

No warranty for you!

 

[stoptothink]

No that's not what I mean by half way decent. I'm 57 yo. And while I do enjoy a rediculous powerful system for short periods of time... Demo's and such, I can hop into my F150 for that And btw, while my truck makes a lot of bass, it also makes a lot of clean music from mid-bass all the way to the tweeters. Balanced, and crystal clear. Almost no rattles anywhere either.
But I'm talking about something like in my Prius... Or maybe slightly more. I'm running a single 5 ch amp (fused for 100 amps, but probably draws about 30 to 50 under normal use. It puts out 110 x 4, and 450 x 1. My subwoofer is only a single 8", in a custom enclosure that I built, and tuned to 36hz. Very musical. Blends nicely with my mids and highs.

I'm talking about what I'd call a modest little sound quality system.

Test drive a Lincoln Navigator with the Revel ultima option and you wouldn't be making this comment. There are many fantastic stock car audio systems, but there are plenty of reasons (electrical requirements, weight, where to put even a small enclosure) really high-end audio systems aren't a priority on lower end vehicles these days.

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