Is the Ford Maverick Lariat Worth $40k?

[Darryl]

By that logic, there isn't justification for buying the upper trim of ANY model. A Raptor is just a dressed up $35K F150 ... a GT3 RS is just an upgraded 911 at more than double the price ... etc, etc

But the lowest model is always a stripped-out version. So the ONLY maverick worth buying is the base FWD 2.0? If you want the hybrid, AWD, 4K tow, ACC, lane centering, sunroof, etc you're just wasting money? I don't agree. There are buyers who want only the absolute lowest trim and price, and that's OK but there's also an argument for the upper trims if you want or need the extra features.

Otherwise you'd be comparing a Maverick Lariat vs a stripped base Ranger, price-wise it works but they're completely different animals. I probably could've bought a Ranger for the price I paid, but I don't WANT a Ranger at all.

Again if you want a higher trim (Lariat?) Ranger for some extra features, logic would be to just buy a base F150. But again, it's a completely different beast

We love our Lariat, we'd be miserable in an XL and the money saved wouldn't matter to us ... Different strokes!

I've got a mantra that's served me well : If you want something better, and can afford it and can justify it (within reason), then just get it. If you buy the cheap version, the features you wanted but didn't get will still bug you a long LONG time after you've forgotten the price difference

Either that, or you'll be adding the items you want and didn't come with your vehicle after the fact one by one and end up paying more in the long run. And sometimes they won't be as well integrated. I remember before power windows became a standard feature across the board there was an f150 XL with aftermarket power windows that came to our dealership for repairs. . They worked ok. But it was obvious they weren't factory. And when they malfunctioned it was an adventure finding repair parts because no one knew the original source. In the past, we've installed a Ford accessory remote start to a vehicle. It was a pain. If I'd purchased an XL, I would have purchased aftermarket or Wheels to replace the factory steel wheels

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[kidshelleen]

I watched this thread with some interest before deciding that Lariat was a no-brainer over the XLT/Lux package (hybrid/4K tow) I'd been planning to buy. The Lariat MSRP was only marginally (smallish) more. I paid sticker for the inbound Carbonized Gray when it landed, mostly because I'd been spending a lot of time looking without being able to find one with the characteristics I wanted.

The dealer money guy spent a couple of minutes trying to talk me into an up-front 10yr/100k extended for $4,300, but if I decide to add one it will be from the Granger web site for $1k less, and probably not quite that length.

I'm annoyed with the 19" Lariat wheels, as I want bigger AT sidewalls, but will wait to see how the '25 CV axles do before I upgrade with Flatout GR Plus and 2" lift and fit 17x8 wheels and AT tires. I'll probably keep the factory wheels/tires for highway driving. I've seen 45MPG with them so far, and they are _quiet_.

The B&O audio system is underwhelming. I'll be upgrading, but it's certainly better than the base audio.

The seat cover material is actually pretty good looking, but it's sitting on plastic. I'll be looking seat some seat pad/cover thing that can provide a bit of air circulation when planting a hot sweaty ass on the seat.

The lane keeping assist is kind of half-baked. It doesn't have enough hysteresis to deal with really gusty wind, so makes kind of abrupt, frequent steering changes to try to keep the line in what it thinks is the center of the lane. I'm looking forward to see how it does with long drives on the interstate in non-stormy weather.

I haven't calibrated the tow assist for my boat trailer yet, but am looking forward to having the truck back itself under the trailer hitch. I'm coming from a 2008 Honda Ridgeline without a backup camera, so this is a big deal for me. The knob-steering for trailer backup will be interesting, but with a backup camera that's just a gilded lily.

I've been getting into AI/LLM assistant stuff lately (I'm a professional geek), and I haven't sorted out how to get Google Gemini (the Google AI LLM) working optimally with Android Auto and the Mav. I may set up my laptop in the truck and have Gemini on the laptop talk with Gemini through Android Auto (from my Google Pixel Android phone) to help to figure out what it can do today. There are pretty frequent updates to the various Gemini models available in different modalities, and they have conflicting ideas about what each other should be able to do (all that probably only makes even the slightest sense to computer geeks).

I've been trying to restart some of the conversations one of our past members had with the aftermarket CV axle manufacturers. I've also started a new on with Trakmotive, who make Xtended Travel axles (with shafts that can dynamically change length with a sleeved shaft design). I'll add to the previous CV axle posting/thread shortly to get it going again.

So... is the Lariat worth $40k?

For me, yes. It was a no-brainer with what I gave me over the XLT/Lux. As has been said on this thread many times, that is a personal value decision. I didn't want to pay for a moon roof, would have preferred 17" wheels, and would have preferred cloth seats if I could have them without the garish blue or orange interior accent colors, but my personal cost:benefit function solution clearly said "Lariat".

This thread is silly...

regards,
k

 

[Darryl]

I have the Hybrid XLT with AWD ,sunroof, black appearance package, 4k towing, the upgraded co-pilot 360, if I'd gotten the luxury package, it would have put the price just below Lariat territory. At that point springing for the Lariat would have made sense for the adaptive cruise control. I could take or leave the simulated leather seats. I'm not really a fan of leather (real or simulated) I can take it or leave it. But the upgrade to adaptive Cruise would be worth it. I would have gladly eliminated the Black appearance package and saved a few dollars and gotten a different color such as the Blue or Green.

 

[JonP_Maine]

By that logic, there isn't justification for buying the upper trim of ANY model. A Raptor is just a dressed up $35K F150 ... a GT3 RS is just an upgraded 911 at more than double the price ... etc, etc

But the lowest model is always a stripped-out version. So the ONLY maverick worth buying is the base FWD 2.0? If you want the hybrid, AWD, 4K tow, ACC, lane centering, sunroof, etc you're just wasting money? I don't agree. There are buyers who want only the absolute lowest trim and price, and that's OK but there's also an argument for the upper trims if you want or need the extra features.

Otherwise you'd be comparing a Maverick Lariat vs a stripped base Ranger, price-wise it works but they're completely different animals. I probably could've bought a Ranger for the price I paid, but I don't WANT a Ranger at all.

Again if you want a higher trim (Lariat?) Ranger for some extra features, logic would be to just buy a base F150. But again, it's a completely different beast

We love our Lariat, we'd be miserable in an XL and the money saved wouldn't matter to us ... Different strokes!

I've got a mantra that's served me well : If you want something better, and can afford it and can justify it (within reason), then just get it. If you buy the cheap version, the features you wanted but didn't get will still bug you a long LONG time after you've forgotten the price difference

You aren't wrong. I was looking at this purely financially as I mentioned. Live is too short. If something gives you joy, you should so what makes sense for you.

 

[kidshelleen]

You're probably aware of this already, but a short press on the steering wheel's voice button calls up the truck's voice assistant which can adjust temperature, set defrost and control other truck functions
A long press on the same button will call up your connected phone's voice assistant (in your case, probably Gemini). I'm not sure why you'd need an instance of Gemini running on your laptop in addition to that but I hope it works out the way you want

I hadn't known about the short/long press. Thanks! I was wondering why I sometimes got "Ford" and sometimes got "Gemini".

Gemini models are different, with different capabilities, depending on the context (and using a Google work account, what has been enabled by the Workspace administrator). For example, I want to use Gemini "Live Chat" in the truck. That's a mode in which one can have an ongoing "natural" conversation with the model without prefacing each prompt/utterance with a wakeup word or pushing a button. Imagine a long solo drive in which the model is tasked with ensuring that it keeps you awake.

Gemini also has a "deep research" capability that can do extensive web research and compile reports, and that allows progressive refinement through additional prompts. Being able to do this while driving would be better than great for getting work done.

I don't pay for the fancy sort of Gemini. I get it through work. But it's still the second-string version (and has features pending approval by our security department). It's told me about stuff that it says I _should_ be able to do in the truck with Android Auto that I haven't been able to get working yet. It's worth noting that my phone _on its own_ can do stuff that I can't get through Android Auto, and likewise, Gemini through gemini.google.com through Chrome seems to be able to do stuff that Gemini from my phone can't.

I'd like to get the two instances of Gemini in direct conversation, with me prompting the more capable gemini.google.com version to help figure out what the Android Auto-channeled Gemini can do.

But I've only had the truck since Tuesday, and haven't been able to spend much time on this yet...

-ks

 

[Darryl]

You aren't wrong. I was looking at this purely financially as I mentioned. Live is too short. If something gives you joy, you should so what makes sense for you.

True. Our decisions in life are always a balance between financial responsibility and doing and getting things we like regardless of whether they make financial sense. Balance is key. If we only do things that are 100% financially responsible, then we can miss out on enjoying things. Part of the reason we make responsible decisions is so we can sometimes gets the things we enjoy. On the other hand if we always get what we want without considering whether it's financially responsible or not, it's a recipe for disaster. And we won't be able to do the things we need to do, much less the things we want to do. It's okay to "throw away money" on occasion. But just don't do it too often or beyond what's financially comfortable

 

[Suzukiridr14]

HOMELINK! Put the keypad back on all Mavericks.

 

[Darryl]

Many of us were kids or teens when you could get a 1974 LTD Brougham (my parents 1st brand new car) for $5,500 , a Lincoln Continental for $8,000, or a Mark IV for 10,000. So NO VEHICLE is worth $40,000 in our minds. But in 2025 when the Average transaction of a new vehicle is almost $50,000 , paying a bit over $40,000 doesn't seem that bad of a proposition. As I stated before, if I could have afforded it, I would have gotten the Lariat vs the XLT I ended up getting. And I wouldn't have regretted it

 

[Escapologist]

Straight inflation $5,500 is about $36,000 today, which was my pretax price converted to USD. However, it was 30 ounces of gold then, when 30oz buys you a really gussied up F150 now, 120k worth.

 

[Darryl]

Straight inflation $5,500 is about $36,000 today, which was my pretax price converted to USD. However, it was 30 ounces of gold then, when 30oz buys you a really gussied up F150 now, 120k worth.

to put things in perspective, that 5,500 car that my parents had the optional engine, a 400. Ac, an FM AM radio, the nice material cloth seats.. but it did not have power seats ,power windows, or power door locks. And it had a front bench seat with a center arm rest. I think that the Brougham package what's more trim stuff and nice hubcaps. And vinyl roof. Today's economy cars come standard with most of the features that were optional on Ford's Mid trimmed Full sized cars in addition to some that weren't even available back then. The Maverick XL come standard with power windows, power door locks, and Am FM satellite capable radio with features not even thought about back then.. in addition, it comes with automatic AC,. That was a high level option back then.

 

[Suzukiridr14]

Obviously i voted Yes. i bought one and i do not regret it. i do understand that Lariat is not for everyone, for example after the test drive....i have never used the cruise control that i paid for.

We're in the same boat, I also went with a Lariat in order to get things I wanted (push botton start, non cloth seats, and safety items) Living in Florida, I don't need all the heated things, but maybe the next owner lives up north. Also they say the avarage new vehicle is now $48K, so paying $40K for a Maverick is still a good deal.

 

[dbbii]

Quote: "I've got a mantra that's served me well : If you want something better, and can afford it and can justify it (within reason), then just get it. If you buy the cheap version, the features you wanted but didn't get will still bug you a long LONG time after you've forgotten the price difference"

I like this!

 

[Merrick]

Obviously i voted Yes. i bought one and i do not regret it. i do understand that Lariat is not for everyone, for example after the test drive....i have never used the cruise control that i paid for.

Learn to use the adaptive cruise control. I was dubious at first, scared that it wouldn’t stop when the car in front of me did, but it performed beautifully. The only time it is a little wonky is when the car in front of you makes a turn it takes a few seconds to recalibrate.

 

[Darryl]

Learn to use the adaptive cruise control. I was dubious at first, scared that it wouldn’t stop when the car in front of me did, but it performed beautifully. The only time it is a little wonky is when the car in front of you makes a turn it takes a few seconds to recalibrate.

I think adaptive cruise control is one of the best safety features out there. I think that it should be the default setting. I hate that my XLT doesn't have it. It's great for safety. It's also prevents you from having to reset the speed or disable the cruise control when the driver in front slows down. I know some people hate the Nanny aspect of it. But we humans sometimes do human things no matter how perfect we think we are. Having the additional safety devices don't prevent us from being vigilant. But I appreciate extra help

 

[matt123]

Not a chance. If I could do it again I would have gone base. The Mav is a decent cheap truck, but it is built like a cheap truck. Rattles, road noise, and all that fun. I would keep cost as low as possible. With the deals right now if I was going to drop 40k I would go get a full size all day. Much better quality.

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