Never understood Rancheros or El Caminos until owning my Maverick

[K5Blazer]

Seeing both side by side yesterday made me see how truly small the SF bed is. The Mav looked like a long bed in comparison.

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[Joe Mac]

I owned 3 '70's El Caminos and loved everyone of them.

i had a 1970 El Camino 4sp, if it wasn't for the rust I'd still have it

 

[rknrbt]

Yeah, they were rust buckets. I had a '70, '73 and '77. I liked the car ride and still able to haul light loads, just like the Maverick!

 

[Red Hot Maverick]

Had a 78 Ranchero and other pickups but my 91 GMC Syclone was the most fun truck to drive.

 

[Timothyd]

Ah yes, the Rabbit pickups!

Light duty but they would haul ugly stuff while getting incredible mpg's

 

[BILLNOROVILLE]

I had a 68 Ranchero and a 73 Ranchero. Now I have a 22, super happy.

I already got a few complements on it over the last year and a half.

 

[Montana]

I rode in an El Camino once as a kid, with my crazy aunt and some random dude who, in my older age, I'm now pretty certain was her dealer, and the damn thing got sideways as they were taking me home. I've never had much respect for them, or my aunt, since then

An El Camino violated my childhood.

 

[Ranch]

My first car was a 1969 Ranchero GT that I bought in 1978. It looked close to this.

 

[Hardening2753]

I totally get it now.

Growing up with trucks I dismissed anything that wasn’t a “real” pickup truck. I really didn’t consider any 2WD as a viable truck either.

Later on the Chevy Avalanche, Explorer Sport Trac and even the weird Subaru Brat/Baja completely puzzled me as to why anyone would buy something like that.

I understand the draw now, especially the Ranchero/El Camino genre.
A reasonably comfortable, well handling vehicle for the road that can still haul things impossible to fit in a car or SUV and maybe even haul a** when unloaded.

For several decades I almost always had a 4x4 truck and a (smaller), sportier, car all the time and could pick and choose whichever suited my needs for that day.

Now, being in a position where having two vehicles is not a viable option, a vehicle like the Maverick is wonderful.

Next time I see a Ranchero or Camino I’m gonna see it through completely different eyes.

I love my Maverick.

This is the way

 

[K5Blazer]

I had a 68 Ranchero and a 73 Ranchero. Now I have a 22, super happy.

I already got a few complements on it over the last year and a half.

That’s great!
Now if you could just lose the dealer plate frame….

 

[K5Blazer]

Had a 78 Ranchero and other pickups but my 91 GMC Syclone was the most fun truck to drive.

Syclones 500lb payload limit and no towing capacity kind of ruined it for me. They were quick though.

 

[LSchicago]

Yes had a 85 Toyota pickup was great! Before they got big. The Tacoma is just to big. Had an S10 and Chevy Luv, perfect size. Also a Dakota extended cab that was not to bad Used to have a pickup and a car so I do need the back seat for occasional use. But I have had my Mav for 6 months and never had rear passengers. So I am starting to wonder if I even need that. One reason I got the Mav is the bed is 6 inches longer than the Santa Cruz. In a small bed that counts!

Many people won't need a backseat in a Maverick (I'm one) but accepting of the backseat since it's the only Hybrid small truck.

 

[JimParker256]

I totally get it now.

Growing up with trucks I dismissed anything that wasn’t a “real” pickup truck. I really didn’t consider any 2WD as a viable truck either.

Later on the Chevy Avalanche, Explorer Sport Trac and even the weird Subaru Brat/Baja completely puzzled me as to why anyone would buy something like that.

I understand the draw now, especially the Ranchero/El Camino genre.
A reasonably comfortable, well handling vehicle for the road that can still haul things impossible to fit in a car or SUV and maybe even haul a** when unloaded.

For several decades I almost always had a 4x4 truck and a (smaller), sportier, car all the time and could pick and choose whichever suited my needs for that day.

Now, being in a position where having two vehicles is not a viable option, a vehicle like the Maverick is wonderful.

Next time I see a Ranchero or Camino I’m gonna see it through completely different eyes.

I love my Maverick.

Excellent post. I was kind of the same way. Now, even though we DO have two cars, I simply can't justify the purchase cost (much less the ongoing fuel, maintenance, and insurance costs) of a full-sized truck - nor do I really "need" the larger bed. The Maverick is the perfect size for all the things I haul. And if I ever need "more room" I can rent a utility trailer for a day. Meantime, I'm now averaging around 46-48 mpg with my Hybrid. Life is good.

 

[JimParker256]

Ah yes, the Rabbit pickups!

Wow! That was a blast from the past! I test drove a Rabbit Diesel Pickup once. Wanted to time the 0-60 run, but forgot to bring my calendar for the test drive. That was one slow, smokey vehicle! The gas one wasn't too bad, though. Not exactly "quick" (even by the standards of the day), but it could mostly keep up with traffic.

 

[JimParker256]

Owned El Caminos in the '70s and 80s, criticism was always it's a lousy car and a lousy truck, my feeling was 'it's a better truck then a car and a better car than a truck.
I think the same applies to the Maverick.

I think the Maverick is a better car than a truck, but it makes a pretty darn good car! I can't think of many cars in that price category that I'd prefer over the Maverick!

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