Ford Maverick is Huge next to the Ford Courier

[JimParker256]

I blew the head gasket out on my '81 VW truck at about 80k miles. They were really cheaply made... the window cranks would break, the seats wouldn't push back very far so if you were taller than 5'9" it felt like your knees were hitting your chin. I think the top speed was about 65 or 70 and the heater didn't work very well. If you took a corner too hard, it would threaten to flip over. Nevertheless, I loved it.

I owned a number of VW Bugs, a Karmann Ghia, and one Kombi (VW Bus). Your description is dead on for ALL of them. And like you, I loved them all.

My favorite, however, was the Karmann Ghia. Far less "tippy" than the others, and handled much better. It was fun embarrassing my buddy's Dodge Coronet "Super Bee 6-pack" by running away from him on those Tennessee mountain roads. It really pissed him off that my ±40 hp VW could do that to his almost 400 hp "hot rod."

In truth, his car was WAY faster on the straights, but couldn't take the corners worth a darn... I'd pull away in the corners, and he'd come barreling back on the straights, but never quite able to get past me before the next corner... He almost ran it off the side of a mountain once, trying to keep up with me on a decreasing-radius turn.

It's a miracle we both survived our college days!

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[Timothyd]

Did a bit of research. Some of the numbers look a bit wonky for the Courier.

	Maverick	Courier
Horsepower	191	74
Torque	155	92
Curb Weight	3674	2515
Payload	1500	1400
Length	199.7	172
Width	72.6	63
Height	68.7	61.6
Wheelbase	121.1	104.4
Bed Length	54.4	74.5
Bed Width	53.3	62.2
Max Towing	2000	2000

Y'know, if that Courier had a Super Cab it would be great. With that bigger bed you can do a lot

 

[Joe Kelly]

I owned a 5 speed courier and it looks like yours is lowered. With smaller wheels and tires. Another big difference is the 2 passenger courier vrs 5 passenger maverick. The courier was a truck I would take to the quarry and get a load of rock in I would not do this with the Maverick because of the unibody construction. The courier had a frame. When you read the load warnings on the Maverick you have to be careful not to twist the body. For hauling for heavy bulk material I would use my courier before my maverick.

 

[Joe Kelly]

interesting that the max towing weight is the same

Thanks for the side by side. I know I exceeded the gvw when I went to pick up fire wood and railroad ties. Size wise the Maverick is bigger but I would still like my courier for hauling. My courier was a work truck my Maverick is a wannabe truck. I have not seen a picture of a Maverick with a load of rock, firewood, trash etc. My MavErick will carry luggage, tail gate supplies, groceries and pre packed garden supplies. The courier could carry 8ft 2 X 4 and plywood with the tail gate up. Again the courier was a truck not a wannabe.

 

[athertonbt]

I parked next to one of these bad boys the other day and completely forgot they existed. Can't say I've seen the inside of a 4 door S10, but can't help but think they would sell like hotcakes in todays market.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Wow!! I had a '78 Courier - cannot believe it was that small compared to the Mav.

I had a 67 Datsun smaller than the courier, I think.

 

[dalola]

Well, for sure, by today's standards, the Mav IS a small truck, but it is NOT a small vehicle.

 

[kinkid]

I owned a 5 speed courier and it looks like yours is lowered. With smaller wheels and tires. Another big difference is the 2 passenger courier vrs 5 passenger maverick. The courier was a truck I would take to the quarry and get a load of rock in I would not do this with the Maverick because of the unibody construction. The courier had a frame. When you read the load warnings on the Maverick you have to be careful not to twist the body. For hauling for heavy bulk material I would use my courier before my maverick.

there is actually very little of the original courier in my courier . different frame , suspension , engine, seats, dash, modified back window opening, it's now a unibody, tubbed, transmission, bumpers, rear-end, mirrors, interior lights, modified firewall, modified tailgate. the only thing that is the same I think are the headlights, tail lights, and marker lights. I Certainly wouldn't take my current courier to the quarry

 

[BruceK]

Why would Ford make such a giant truck like the Maverick?

Here is my 2023 Maverick Lariat Lux beside my 1978 Ford Courier.

The first truck I bought new was a 1986 Isuzu Pup. It did alright for just $5,000 brand new, but the Maverick is a far more capable truck in every way. The mileage of the Maverick is not even that far off what I got with the Pup. The poor little 2.4 Liter 4 cyl, 4 speed could just keep up with traffic, and it felt like I had to get out an push going up a big hill, unless I had a good running start. I liked the Isuzu, but I could never ride in those seats for any length of time now. I'm sure i will love the Maverick, for many, many years.

 

[K5Blazer]

Americans love their bloated fat pig vehicles, so that's why Ford builds them. I suspect it's the automotive equivalent of breast enhancement.

Actually, US vehicles have primarily gotten bigger for one reason.
MPG ratings depend on vehicle dimensions. Instead of increasing mpg ratings in the power plants, manufacturers inflate the size of the vehicle allowing the lower mpg ratings.

In other words, if the EPA mandates an increase of, say, 2mpg next year, for a certain size vehicle, manufacturers simply increase the dimensions and sidestep the new regs.

The bigger the vehicle, the less they have to try to increase the mpg rating. Until the Maverick, no mainstream vehicle has ever gotten smaller, only bigger.

Bigger vehicles have a bigger profit margin too so there’s that…

And yes, you are right, Americans love their bloated monstrosities. They themselves are often bloated monstrosities so they need the huge interiors. All part of the wretched excess that America has become.

I love small vehicles, they are more fun to drive than big ones.

 

[shadow76]

I don't remember mine being that small either, but then again, I was 1/2 the size I am now,,,,

HRG

Hopefully you kept the girl.

 

[shadow76]

Actually, US vehicles have primarily gotten bigger for one reason.
MPG ratings depend on vehicle dimensions. Instead of increasing mpg ratings in the power plants, manufacturers inflate the size of the vehicle allowing the lower mpg ratings.

In other words, if the EPA mandates an increase of, say, 2mpg next year, for a certain size vehicle, manufacturers simply increase the dimensions and sidestep the new regs.

The bigger the vehicle, the less they have to try to increase the mpg rating. Until the Maverick, no mainstream vehicle has ever gotten smaller, only bigger.

Bigger vehicles have a bigger profit margin too so there’s that…

And yes, you are right, Americans love their bloated monstrosities. They themselves are often bloated monstrosities so they need the huge interiors. All part of the wretched excess that America has become.

I love small vehicles, they are more fun to drive than big ones.

Don’t neglect the fact the typical American adult has also gotten bigger, sadly.

 

[shadow76]

Yes in 1974 had one like this I can remember driving it all over the Desert in Victorville and in the Mountains of Cucamonga peak, Mt Baldy and lytle Creek California. Good Good memories.

Drove a similar model throughout Europe.

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

Hopefully you kept the girl.

No, I did not.

HRG

 

[Zed79]

My Maverick should be about the same length as my B2000 long bed single cab. Looking forward to a side-by-side photo.

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