Why do so many gear heads HATE the maverick....?

[Timothyd]

I date back to the middle of the last century. I used to set the timing on my VW bus with a flashlight bulb to which I'd soldered two wires. I've owned it all. I've done a lot of wrenching, but I was never a true gearhead. A true gearhead can walk a classic car show and talk you through every feature on that car. A gearhead can spend hours debating which 50 year old engine was better and throw out reams of data to justify their argument.

I'm just a car guy. As a car guy I appreciate that I don't see abandoned cars at the side of an interstate the way I did back in the sixties. I don't see people changing tires at the side of the road. I don't have to open up the hood and spray something in the carburetor to get it started. I step into the frigging vehicle, it starts every time, goes without breaking (unless maybe it's a Maverick hybrid), and lasts way past 100,000 miles. The tires rarely explode.

When BEVs really arrive for the masses (in 5 years?) - I won't need gasoline. I won't need to replace mufflers. I won't need oil changes. I won't need air filters, or a hundred other parts that fail or wear out. It won't even need to start because starting is not a thing it does. It'll last a half million miles. It'll be (already is) faster. It'll be (already is) cheaper to run and by then cheaper to buy. I'll never have to visit a gas station unless I want a snack. I won't have a manual transmission or an automatic or cvt transmission because there is no transmission.

So as a car guy but not a gear head, I welcome modern cars, and I look forward to the BEV future. But a little part of me will always miss winding out the little engine of my three Miatas or my RX7-R1 as I shifted my old manual gearbox the way I saw fit. That'll be a memory new generations will never have.

The Maverick's place in the story of the automobile? It's nothing special. Absolutely not special in any way. The concept has been implemented several times by several makers, across several continents (see: Ute). It might be that "small" trucks (except the Maverick is a bloated porker compared to early small trucks) have come back. Maybe we can all zip our know-it-all lips for now and check the market in 5 years to see how it all went down. Might be the Maverick is the next VW Beetle. Might be it's a niche car with an early sales surge that kind of faded over time. May we all live long enough to see the answer.

For better or for worse I was 15 in 1971 and I was dead set on getting my driver's license as soon as I turned 16. The times were good and life was forever different. I had a mini bike but the car forever changed life. The times were good, the draft was ending and we pretty much had total freedom due to the automobile. We could buy $50 cars, fix them up, drive them into the ground and move on. There was always a motorcycle too. The first one was a mid sixties Triumph basket case. Had a '71 F150 that was pretty nice too. Somewhere I have a few old titles I've saved. Now I haven't bought a used car in 40 years and I'll probably never kick start another motorcycle (they're all electric start), still have the '91 Miata but thinking of selling it.
Am I going to have to work on the Maverick? Hopefully not. The hybrid powertrain is pretty cool but needs dedication. Don't think I want an EV. Yeah, they're supposed to be coming but we'll see. Florida is supposed to be underwater, wars are over and hunger was solved by now. But shit happens.
Damn but it's taking a long time for that Mav to get here, is it gonna be a '23? I have a lot of work for it, waiting.

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[Stealth Raccoon]

I've had nothing but compliments, and most people that say something had no idea what it was - they like it though.

 

[garnermike]

I date back to the middle of the last century. I used to set the timing on my VW bus with a flashlight bulb to which I'd soldered two wires. I've owned it all. I've done a lot of wrenching, but I was never a true gearhead. A true gearhead can walk a classic car show and talk you through every feature on that car. A gearhead can spend hours debating which 50 year old engine was better and throw out reams of data to justify their argument.

I'm just a car guy. As a car guy I appreciate that I don't see abandoned cars at the side of an interstate the way I did back in the sixties. I don't see people changing tires at the side of the road. I don't have to open up the hood and spray something in the carburetor to get it started. I step into the frigging vehicle, it starts every time, goes without breaking (unless maybe it's a Maverick hybrid), and lasts way past 100,000 miles. The tires rarely explode.

When BEVs really arrive for the masses (in 5 years?) - I won't need gasoline. I won't need to replace mufflers. I won't need oil changes. I won't need air filters, or a hundred other parts that fail or wear out. It won't even need to start because starting is not a thing it does. It'll last a half million miles. It'll be (already is) faster. It'll be (already is) cheaper to run and by then cheaper to buy. I'll never have to visit a gas station unless I want a snack. I won't have a manual transmission or an automatic or cvt transmission because there is no transmission.

So as a car guy but not a gear head, I welcome modern cars, and I look forward to the BEV future. But a little part of me will always miss winding out the little engine of my three Miatas or my RX7-R1 as I shifted my old manual gearbox the way I saw fit. That'll be a memory new generations will never have.

The Maverick's place in the story of the automobile? It's nothing special. Absolutely not special in any way. The concept has been implemented several times by several makers, across several continents (see: Ute). It might be that "small" trucks (except the Maverick is a bloated porker compared to early small trucks) have come back. Maybe we can all zip our know-it-all lips for now and check the market in 5 years to see how it all went down. Might be the Maverick is the next VW Beetle. Might be it's a niche car with an early sales surge that kind of faded over time. May we all live long enough to see the answer.

 

[garnermike]

Totally agree with you. I love my Mav, but, in the grander scale of timelines and as a hybrid pick-up, it's nothing but a transitional vehicle, i.e., between wholly ICE trucks and E trucks.

 

[MavChris]

I'm in SE Michigan and have had my Mav since Jan of this year. I have experienced no hate what so ever while driving my truck. I drive it everyday and get very little attention and that's fine with me. I do find other drivers taking a look at stop lights, but for the most no additional attention positive or negative

 

[Maverick#]

One thing I think is they are tying to compare it to a regular size truck. I have seen that happen on some of the reviews on Youtube. They don’t understand it is a small truck and not made to pull or haul heavy loads. And that it dose not have the power but it is a four cylinder not a v8 so wake up guys.
My wife and I really enjoy ours we got It just to haul small things we live in town and if a need a big thing hauled I got a couple buddies there to help me..

 

[Maverick Grabber]

I live in Michigan...tons of car cruises, shows...when I go to them...NOT showing my maverick or anything, just driving it there and parking...Why oh why do all the gear heads HATE the maverick....? They all have the small peter syndrome and drive giant beefed up trucks...the haters are just ALL OVER against the maverick. I love the bugger, everything about it...but god almighty, the assholes out there that bad mouth it...they can't even contain their hatred in your presence. ok...rant over.

We need T-shirts that say Maverick driver's don't compensate for small packages

 

[Montana]

Well, I'm a "gear head" and it's half the reason I chose the EB over the hybrid. Previously had an Escape Hybrid and I wasn't sold on it's reliability or being able to work on it. I don't do warranties and I don't enjoy letting others service my vehicles unless it's something major I can't do - like transmission work. But I did enjoy the hybrid overall, especially at the pump, and couldn't care less what your personal preference is or why. There is just a whole lot that worried me in terms of longevity and services. Instead of one system, you have two. Some people feel this way about 4WD/AWD compared to FWD... It's totally personal preference.

So far, I've done everything to the Maverick. All your typical services. RDU, PTU, Tranny, etc etc and the only complaint I have is that mine won't go into brake service mode. Literally no fix for it, which sucks and I hope it gets addressed but it's doubtful. You need it because of the electronic parking brake. It is an SSM, but since Ford knows majority of people take their vehicle in for service, I'm not hopeful on an update for a fix. Which means either investing in FDRS or allowing someone with it to service my brakes. Since it's a $1k program, it's not worth it for the life of my vehicle just for rear brake pads. I guess I'll pay the $100 and supply my own pads every time - and only the rears. I can do the fronts without service mode.

The rest is straight forward and I'll have no issues maintaining it for the longevity of ownership. I've covered every single service in the service manual and made sure it's something I can do without the need for external assistance. Unfortunately, the transmission filter is also not serviceable without dropping the entire tranny, so it'll get a flush every 30k. Stuff like that is expected on newer vehicles - and maybe that's where the hate comes from on the gear head side? It's understandable, but not enough to keep me from owning one, that's for sure.

As for the "hate" from other drivers. It's no more/less from any other vehicle I've owned I guess. I dunno. Those kind of drivers just get ignored by me anyways so it doesn't concern me. It's pretty bad where I live in Montana. I'm in no rush, I don't care how fast you want to go, and you don't fill my tank. But again, I've never had any altercation with "judgement towards the Maverick" specifically so I couldn't care less what people think. I've driven everything from lifted trucks to economy vehicles and owned both at the same time. I really don't care what other people drive one bit. Just do it safely.

Maybe those who have experienced this mentality is from people who assume it's an EV or something? Like the hate that Teslas get? Or from people that have issues with economical purchases on a depreciating asset? Could also be the way you drive? Owning a Maverick doesn't exclude anyone from doing the same stupid stuff on the road. Just drive safe and don't acknowledge ragers or haters. Maybe it's just the whole "not a truck" thing? Again, couldn't care less... I have no issues driving a ute of any kind.

But there are plenty of gear heads here to prove the theory in the OP wrong. Lots of love from wrench turners of all kinds.

 

[2lbgill]

I live in Michigan...tons of car cruises, shows...when I go to them...NOT showing my maverick or anything, just driving it there and parking...Why oh why do all the gear heads HATE the maverick....? They all have the small peter syndrome and drive giant beefed up trucks...the haters are just ALL OVER against the maverick. I love the bugger, everything about it...but god almighty, the assholes out there that bad mouth it...they can't even contain their hatred in your presence. ok...rant over.

Some only have gears and no engine.

 

[Steve Urquell]

Best to not ever call it a truck. Guys with small penis syndrome can't take you comparing it to their 10mpg behemoth that they made unusable with a huge lift and oversized tires put on for no other reason that making it look "sick".

I caught crap on a tractor forum for my Tacoma from the F350 guys. Always bashing it for "not being a truck" when I never even compared it to anything else.

Just avoid calling it a truck and avoid douchebags in general and enjoy the Mav. I hated to admit it but my wife's Maverick is so much more comfortable and fun to drive than my Taco it's not even a comparison.

 

[Jowdy]

Yessir. Well said, with a clear eye on the past

I date back to the middle of the last century. I used to set the timing on my VW bus with a flashlight bulb to which I'd soldered two wires. I've owned it all. I've done a lot of wrenching, but I was never a true gearhead. A true gearhead can walk a classic car show and talk you through every feature on that car. A gearhead can spend hours debating which 50 year old engine was better and throw out reams of data to justify their argument.

I'm just a car guy. As a car guy I appreciate that I don't see abandoned cars at the side of an interstate the way I did back in the sixties. I don't see people changing tires at the side of the road. I don't have to open up the hood and spray something in the carburetor to get it started. I step into the frigging vehicle, it starts every time, goes without breaking (unless maybe it's a Maverick hybrid), and lasts way past 100,000 miles. The tires rarely explode.

When BEVs really arrive for the masses (in 5 years?) - I won't need gasoline. I won't need to replace mufflers. I won't need oil changes. I won't need air filters, or a hundred other parts that fail or wear out. It won't even need to start because starting is not a thing it does. It'll last a half million miles. It'll be (already is) faster. It'll be (already is) cheaper to run and by then cheaper to buy. I'll never have to visit a gas station unless I want a snack. I won't have a manual transmission or an automatic or cvt transmission because there is no transmission.

So as a car guy but not a gear head, I welcome modern cars, and I look forward to the BEV future. But a little part of me will always miss winding out the little engine of my three Miatas or my RX7-R1 as I shifted my old manual gearbox the way I saw fit. That'll be a memory new generations will never have.

The Maverick's place in the story of the automobile? It's nothing special. Absolutely not special in any way. The concept has been implemented several times by several makers, across several continents (see: Ute). It might be that "small" trucks (except the Maverick is a bloated porker compared to early small trucks) have come back. Maybe we can all zip our know-it-all lips for now and check the market in 5 years to see how it all went down. Might be the Maverick is the next VW Beetle. Might be it's a niche car with an early sales surge that kind of faded over time. May we all live long enough to see the answer.

 

[emu_missing]

Jerks in oversized pikuptruks are NOT gearheads. Real gearheads IMPROVE their vehicles with modifications. The 'Bro Dozer' crowd take an already bad vehicle, then spend thousands to MAKE IT WORSE.

Cause 'MERICA!!

I agree and would add that many people, mostly men, want to express their identity via their highway vehicles. I want mine to blend in and be comfortable for the wife.

Practical ways I express myself; Home Improvement, accessorize bikes, custom lawnmower….

 

[Gonzo chris]

I live in Michigan...tons of car cruises, shows...when I go to them...NOT showing my maverick or anything, just driving it there and parking...Why oh why do all the gear heads HATE the maverick....? They all have the small peter syndrome and drive giant beefed up trucks...the haters are just ALL OVER against the maverick. I love the bugger, everything about it...but god almighty, the assholes out there that bad mouth it...they can't even contain their hatred in your presence. ok...rant over.

Guy I work with, who drives a 1 ton GMC diesel, couldn't believe I was thinking about getting one. He started listing all the things it can't do ( plowing snow , towing 10,000 lbs etc...) all things I wouldn't be doing but apparently I should pay 80k plus for a truck to do all the imaginary things I do..

 

[Gonzo chris]

yes, I love my hybrid as well....and have a bronco...and have had tons of vettes, GTO, superbee's etc...but many many many of the gear heads...are all about HP, fuel, NOS, blowers, and HATE anything that has to do with electric/hybrid cars...especially in Michigan. I'll be at the fall rod run in Pigeon forge next month, the monster trucks are about 1 out of every 3/4 cruisers nowadays....and they really hate the maverick. Size maybe? Hybrid maybe?

Ya it's a weird "cultural" thing. I know guys who start having convulsions and seizures if you start talking about EVs

 

[Gonzo chris]

LOL

if you show up at a major car show like PF and expect people there to swoon over a new Maverick, hybrid or not, you are not being realistic.

Those shows are 97% about their target audiences as they should be. They are there to celebrate that era....... NOT a new Maverick and Maverick Hybrid.

When I was asked to judge a large regional car show I was forced to judge a then brand-new, un-modified, Mustang. I scored it a 5 out of 10 (should have been zero but I gave him the benefit of the doubt). After the awards he actually approached me all pissed off because he didnt win anything or get a little trophy...

I had my number's matching, all original virtually perfect 1970 BOSS 302 Mustang car, uniquely a very high optioned car and sold out of Vel's Parnelli Jones Ford in Torrance CA and proven to be a demo car driven by Parnelli (their Ford dealership on the same grounds as the race shop) at the same show.

When I went in to the show i told the guys at the gate I did not want my car 'judged', but I was roped into judging other cars.

Coincodently, that was about 10 years ago, and the last "car show' I attended. LOL


.

Probably some space between swooning and crapping on

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