- First Name
- Bill
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2022
- Threads
- 2
- Messages
- 760
- Reaction score
- 815
- Location
- Metro Atlanta
- Vehicle(s)
- '23 Maverick Lariat FX4
- Engine
- 2.0L EcoBoost
- Thread starter
- #1
I brought my Atlas Blue '23 Lariat FX4/4K, SIBL, etc., home exactly 1 year ago today. Mileage this morning as I pulled into work was 12,190. Time for the 3rd oil change this weekend. Zero mechanical issues. Rotated tires once and they still look new. Long term average fuel economy burning various 87 octane fuels is 27.5MPG according to the vehicle. Hand calculations are typically a little lower. I've taken 3 road trips and averaged 31+ MPG on the highway. Overall, happy. It roughly matches the economy of my previous Touareg TDI, but with regular fuel prices instead of diesel.
Accessories purchased: Muslogy mudflaps, Vgate vLinker to use with FORscan, chrome tailgate letters (from Amazon), a Mabett Trash Can (with initial promo), and black Gorilla Lugs to match the wheels.
Big purchase last summer from Real Truck for a combo deal on a hard rolling tonneau, T-slot rails, and their Elevate Rack system. Somewhere along the line, I also grabbed a Raceface T2 tailgate pad which works fairly well, although it is a bit time consuming to take on/off. I don't leave it on. Same with the Elevate Racks. I roll normally with just the Sentry cover on the back and everything closed up nicely.
I did also purchase some Morel component door speakers, and Kilmat to deaden the vibrations, but I still haven't installed any of it. At first, I didn't think I could make it through the summer with the stock stereo. However, after some adjustments (forward fade, bass/treble, driver focused, and turning off the auto volume control, I find that it actually is liveable. I'm sure many will argue, but with good quality V0 MP3 playing back from a USB, the sound is better than some stock stereos I've had in the past. I'm not someone who doesn't appreciate HiFi, in fact, I would probably be classified as an audiophile based on the effort that I've invested in time/money for my home stereo and home theater systems. I may still go ahead with the upgrades if time allows this spring.
I also bought one of the ultra cheap self dimming mirrors from Hyundai/Kia based on the lenghthy thread here. I started to solder up the wiring harness and ran into some difficulties. It is still sitting on my workbench 8 months later. I know, that's pathetic, but I don't drive at night much, and I only have a single garage door, so keeping a remote clamped to the visor is working fine for me. I don't keep the truck parked outside, so its not a security risk IMO.
Anyway, my only gripe after a year, is the infotainment system. It is the only thing that gives me any frustration. I get frequent lockups. Random pops/cracks (about one time per drive I'd guess). I don't like that the USB needs to re-scan everytime the vehicle is restarted and often looses track of what was playing previously. The browsing of songs is not easy compared to other vehicles that I've used and it takes a lot of effort to create usable playlists, which is the only way to make USB playback less frustrating (unless you just play randome all the time or have a very small music collection). Browsing while underway is also locked out by default, although, I have found the workaround with FORScan. For the most part, if you only used Android Auto or Apple Car Play, you might not have as many complaints, but I still think the random pops/cracks would happen, as well as the hard lockups that happen occasionally. The radio (FM) quality is horible by the way. It is ok for talk radio, but for music, it as an over compressed ringy sound IMO. I can listen only for a few minutes before it irritates me.
The truck's practicality is perfect for me. I normally drive alone or with my two teens. The space is perfect for us. The bed hauls just about anything I need it to. It fit all my camping gear and coolers, chairs, stoves, tents, totes, food, etc. for me last summer and I could still close the tonneau cover. 9 foot Christmas Tree fit with the tailgate at half position and the tonneau closed. Nice to not have tree sap to clean off the roof. Bikes fit, kayaks fit (with the Elevate racks), paddles, etc. This is my first pickup after years of wagons/SUVs, and the best thing has been the ability to put my son's stinky/sweaty lacrosse gear in the back and not have to put up with the pungent stank!
Accessories purchased: Muslogy mudflaps, Vgate vLinker to use with FORscan, chrome tailgate letters (from Amazon), a Mabett Trash Can (with initial promo), and black Gorilla Lugs to match the wheels.
Big purchase last summer from Real Truck for a combo deal on a hard rolling tonneau, T-slot rails, and their Elevate Rack system. Somewhere along the line, I also grabbed a Raceface T2 tailgate pad which works fairly well, although it is a bit time consuming to take on/off. I don't leave it on. Same with the Elevate Racks. I roll normally with just the Sentry cover on the back and everything closed up nicely.
I did also purchase some Morel component door speakers, and Kilmat to deaden the vibrations, but I still haven't installed any of it. At first, I didn't think I could make it through the summer with the stock stereo. However, after some adjustments (forward fade, bass/treble, driver focused, and turning off the auto volume control, I find that it actually is liveable. I'm sure many will argue, but with good quality V0 MP3 playing back from a USB, the sound is better than some stock stereos I've had in the past. I'm not someone who doesn't appreciate HiFi, in fact, I would probably be classified as an audiophile based on the effort that I've invested in time/money for my home stereo and home theater systems. I may still go ahead with the upgrades if time allows this spring.
I also bought one of the ultra cheap self dimming mirrors from Hyundai/Kia based on the lenghthy thread here. I started to solder up the wiring harness and ran into some difficulties. It is still sitting on my workbench 8 months later. I know, that's pathetic, but I don't drive at night much, and I only have a single garage door, so keeping a remote clamped to the visor is working fine for me. I don't keep the truck parked outside, so its not a security risk IMO.
Anyway, my only gripe after a year, is the infotainment system. It is the only thing that gives me any frustration. I get frequent lockups. Random pops/cracks (about one time per drive I'd guess). I don't like that the USB needs to re-scan everytime the vehicle is restarted and often looses track of what was playing previously. The browsing of songs is not easy compared to other vehicles that I've used and it takes a lot of effort to create usable playlists, which is the only way to make USB playback less frustrating (unless you just play randome all the time or have a very small music collection). Browsing while underway is also locked out by default, although, I have found the workaround with FORScan. For the most part, if you only used Android Auto or Apple Car Play, you might not have as many complaints, but I still think the random pops/cracks would happen, as well as the hard lockups that happen occasionally. The radio (FM) quality is horible by the way. It is ok for talk radio, but for music, it as an over compressed ringy sound IMO. I can listen only for a few minutes before it irritates me.
The truck's practicality is perfect for me. I normally drive alone or with my two teens. The space is perfect for us. The bed hauls just about anything I need it to. It fit all my camping gear and coolers, chairs, stoves, tents, totes, food, etc. for me last summer and I could still close the tonneau cover. 9 foot Christmas Tree fit with the tailgate at half position and the tonneau closed. Nice to not have tree sap to clean off the roof. Bikes fit, kayaks fit (with the Elevate racks), paddles, etc. This is my first pickup after years of wagons/SUVs, and the best thing has been the ability to put my son's stinky/sweaty lacrosse gear in the back and not have to put up with the pungent stank!
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