- Joined
- October 5, 2008
- Messages
- 3,208
- Reaction score
- 449
- Location
- Humid, Damp, and Hot
- City, State
- Houston, TX
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '98 EB, '93 Limited
Been away for a while focusing on my job among other things. Thought I'd update ya'll on what I just picked up yesterday.
That's right, a hybrid. But not any just any hybrid, a hybrid Maverick that can tow 4000lbs!
A little background. I got my toes wet with hybrids 2 years ago when I needed a long distance commuter car and found a gently used '22 Escape SE plug-in hybrid (PHEV) to fill the role. I quite enjoyed the platform and when my commute changed back to normal, I found I could go back and forth to work without using any fuel! Terrific! Plus the 2.5L and e-cvt powertrain were balls of fun in sport mode and other than some annoying quirks in the infotainment, I was quite pleased.
However, the Escape was plagued with recalls. The first one was over an engine fire the could occur if the electric motor was driving and the engine threw a rod through the pan and oil landed on the hot engine. Yikes! However, less than 0.1% of engine were affected; I'll roll the dice on those odds.
Recall #2 happened when the first recall failed to fix the problem, so Ford opted to extend the engine warranty for 100k and replace the engine if it failed due to recall #1. S'okay, still rolling dice here...
So, #3 popped up this week, where a potential short could occur in the high voltage battery and the off venting of the gasses could ignite the battery pack and set the car on fire. Woah, Nelly! Unfortunately, the "fix" for #3 wouldn't be available for 3 months (and it was only to tell if you have a faulty battery that would require replacement. Free from Ford, of course, but based on parts availability) and in the meantime YOU CAN'T CHARGE THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY. Enter proverbial straw and a camel's back and I decided to pull the trigger early on a replacement.
I was already looking at Mavericks earlier and I found out late last year that the 2025 Hybrids were going to be offered as AWD and could tow 4000lbs. Well color me excited! A truck that could A) fit in my garage, B) I could actually tow with, C) useful as a truck with a 1500lb payload, and D) is still be capable of 40 MPG? I'm not seeing a loss here... To note I was also quite enthralled with the Tremor and it was really tugging at the kid in me to go the route of an off-road capable small truck. However, the drawbacks were they were only offered with the 2.0 EB and maxed at 2000lbs for towing. Still quite tempting.
So about 2 weeks ago, I got my big boy pants on and went to a local dealer to do something I have never been able to do, submit an order for a new 2025 Maverick! I have been quite fortunate in the past few years with the company I have worked for and I was now able to do something I had dreamed of doing since I was a teenager. Of course, I was then told this was going to be a 6 month process and with the possibility of tariffs affecting the hybrids (the hybrid is made in Mexico) I instead opted to revisit the search engine of many things and came upon this truck as well as a Velocity Blue Tremor... so tempting.
So, I test drove the Tremor first.
I can't quite say what had me not in love with this truck. It had the big tires, the e-locker, the advanced 4wd, stunning blue trimmed in orange paint scheme. I mean, c'mon. However, I will say that the engine and the road noise were a likely factor in my decision to pass. Not to mention I couldn't justify to myself the loss of fuel efficiency and capacity for a truck I would likely never use to it's full potential. It would have been another toy, and I have two of those already...
On to the hybrid, then.
After settling into the Escape for the 20 minute drive over, I realized how much I liked the powertrain in this crossover. It had great efficiency, still sounded good when pushed, and could put you in your seat if you flicked it into "Sport" mode. I had half convinced myself that I should just head home. Fortunately or unfortunately, I still wound up at the dealership. After the sales guy walked me out to the Maverick, my first impression was "Damn. That truck looks fantastic!" Walking around it, I couldn't believe how well the black set off the 19" machined wheels, the revamped grill, and the LED headlights. Getting in felt natural (after moving the seat back and down a ways, of course) and with the vehicle on, I enjoyed the quiet while getting situated. Then the abrupt startup of the engine slightly startled me as the irregular Atkinson cycle began making its "tick-tack, tick-tack" sound. I felt at home. Well, if home had leather seats and a butt warmer, and since ambient temperature was around 38 F, I was certainly not complaining about the latter.
During the test drive, the truck felt planted, even with wet roads. There was more than enough power and I finally didn't feel like I was the lowest man on the totem pole anymore when it came to seeing around the car in front of me. That plus the other options, was enough to seal the deal.
As my daily commuter and frequent long distance driver, I needed a vehicle that was comfortable, fuel efficient, and capable. A Swiss army knife, so to speak. This Maverick comes the close to this without breaking the bank and I look forward to several years behind the wheel.
Updates will be be a BAKFlip Revolver X4ts rolling bed cover and Rough Country bed mat. Later this year I would like to buy the uprights that fit on the BAKflip for my kayak so I can use the Maverick to take it out to the river.
Also the Job 2 '25 Mavericks came with the smart trailer backup system standard and as mine is a Job 1, it does not have this feature, but I'm working with Bandit Customs on seeing if it can be added.
And finally, if I can get parts for them, I might buy the tow hooks from the Tremor or the fog lights from the Lobo and add them.
That's right, a hybrid. But not any just any hybrid, a hybrid Maverick that can tow 4000lbs!
A little background. I got my toes wet with hybrids 2 years ago when I needed a long distance commuter car and found a gently used '22 Escape SE plug-in hybrid (PHEV) to fill the role. I quite enjoyed the platform and when my commute changed back to normal, I found I could go back and forth to work without using any fuel! Terrific! Plus the 2.5L and e-cvt powertrain were balls of fun in sport mode and other than some annoying quirks in the infotainment, I was quite pleased.
However, the Escape was plagued with recalls. The first one was over an engine fire the could occur if the electric motor was driving and the engine threw a rod through the pan and oil landed on the hot engine. Yikes! However, less than 0.1% of engine were affected; I'll roll the dice on those odds.
Recall #2 happened when the first recall failed to fix the problem, so Ford opted to extend the engine warranty for 100k and replace the engine if it failed due to recall #1. S'okay, still rolling dice here...
So, #3 popped up this week, where a potential short could occur in the high voltage battery and the off venting of the gasses could ignite the battery pack and set the car on fire. Woah, Nelly! Unfortunately, the "fix" for #3 wouldn't be available for 3 months (and it was only to tell if you have a faulty battery that would require replacement. Free from Ford, of course, but based on parts availability) and in the meantime YOU CAN'T CHARGE THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY. Enter proverbial straw and a camel's back and I decided to pull the trigger early on a replacement.
I was already looking at Mavericks earlier and I found out late last year that the 2025 Hybrids were going to be offered as AWD and could tow 4000lbs. Well color me excited! A truck that could A) fit in my garage, B) I could actually tow with, C) useful as a truck with a 1500lb payload, and D) is still be capable of 40 MPG? I'm not seeing a loss here... To note I was also quite enthralled with the Tremor and it was really tugging at the kid in me to go the route of an off-road capable small truck. However, the drawbacks were they were only offered with the 2.0 EB and maxed at 2000lbs for towing. Still quite tempting.
So about 2 weeks ago, I got my big boy pants on and went to a local dealer to do something I have never been able to do, submit an order for a new 2025 Maverick! I have been quite fortunate in the past few years with the company I have worked for and I was now able to do something I had dreamed of doing since I was a teenager. Of course, I was then told this was going to be a 6 month process and with the possibility of tariffs affecting the hybrids (the hybrid is made in Mexico) I instead opted to revisit the search engine of many things and came upon this truck as well as a Velocity Blue Tremor... so tempting.
So, I test drove the Tremor first.
I can't quite say what had me not in love with this truck. It had the big tires, the e-locker, the advanced 4wd, stunning blue trimmed in orange paint scheme. I mean, c'mon. However, I will say that the engine and the road noise were a likely factor in my decision to pass. Not to mention I couldn't justify to myself the loss of fuel efficiency and capacity for a truck I would likely never use to it's full potential. It would have been another toy, and I have two of those already...
On to the hybrid, then.
After settling into the Escape for the 20 minute drive over, I realized how much I liked the powertrain in this crossover. It had great efficiency, still sounded good when pushed, and could put you in your seat if you flicked it into "Sport" mode. I had half convinced myself that I should just head home. Fortunately or unfortunately, I still wound up at the dealership. After the sales guy walked me out to the Maverick, my first impression was "Damn. That truck looks fantastic!" Walking around it, I couldn't believe how well the black set off the 19" machined wheels, the revamped grill, and the LED headlights. Getting in felt natural (after moving the seat back and down a ways, of course) and with the vehicle on, I enjoyed the quiet while getting situated. Then the abrupt startup of the engine slightly startled me as the irregular Atkinson cycle began making its "tick-tack, tick-tack" sound. I felt at home. Well, if home had leather seats and a butt warmer, and since ambient temperature was around 38 F, I was certainly not complaining about the latter.
During the test drive, the truck felt planted, even with wet roads. There was more than enough power and I finally didn't feel like I was the lowest man on the totem pole anymore when it came to seeing around the car in front of me. That plus the other options, was enough to seal the deal.
As my daily commuter and frequent long distance driver, I needed a vehicle that was comfortable, fuel efficient, and capable. A Swiss army knife, so to speak. This Maverick comes the close to this without breaking the bank and I look forward to several years behind the wheel.
Updates will be be a BAKFlip Revolver X4ts rolling bed cover and Rough Country bed mat. Later this year I would like to buy the uprights that fit on the BAKflip for my kayak so I can use the Maverick to take it out to the river.
Also the Job 2 '25 Mavericks came with the smart trailer backup system standard and as mine is a Job 1, it does not have this feature, but I'm working with Bandit Customs on seeing if it can be added.
And finally, if I can get parts for them, I might buy the tow hooks from the Tremor or the fog lights from the Lobo and add them.
