I went to the local automall last weekend.

I've been in the market for something to replace my '98 LandCruiser as the "practical driver", the thing still runs great but has other little annoying issues all over and I want my weekend project time spent on a car I'm passionate about, like the Coronet. So it was it's time to go!

Anyway I was thinking small SUV or Truck, I go to dealer #1. Besides the candidate vehicle being in poor share for a 2022, the place was a ghost town. The few salesmen walking around seemed to not notice me. I don't want to be hounded in the stereotypical way, but be present for the customer. Anyway screw that place, on to #2

#2 Only grabbed my attention because it had a bunch of cop Durangos and one new Charger. This place had one salesman who walked over and I told him right away I just wanted to look at the Charger. I asked if they are selling well and he unconvincingly said yes. When I said I might get one when the turbo 6 one comes out I could almost hear him deflate. But he tried and was polite and the only salesman I actually spoke to.

#3 and #4 same story just ignored, one place had employees a few feet away behind a window and I looked at this one car for a few mins, no one came out. I really liked this one and may have bought it but they don't want my money.

So went home and got on Carvana, set up a trade in for my Toyota and made my selection. Almost painless.

I call it the RancheroETTE. So far its pretty great for an "entry level" truck.

Dealership greed has finished them, it's their own fault. They've been going downhill for about 25 years now whereI live. In the old days when a dealership was owned by an onsite owner or onsite partners they were much better.

Those are nice little Trucks I went and test drove them a back in January. I really wanted to buy one, but bad dealership experience led me to a different truck.

Is this the Maverick?

Spouse kind of wants to upgrade to a small truck to transport her bike around. We may be a few years away from upgrading (unless we ship her current vehicle to her mother) but we are starting to look around an see what's out there. I would love to hear more about the power train, leg room front and back, and your general impressions of likes/dislikes once you have put a few miles on it.

Someone on FxBO has done a lot of that.

Can't remember if it's here or FABO.

We bought a Maverick almost a year ago. So far we are quite happy with it, although it is my wife's daily driver, so I don't get to drive it that much. We bought the 2WD hybrid. Looks like yours is the 4WD turbo. The interior space is decent for 4 people, and the box is about the same size as our beater Honda Ridgeline it replaced.

Runcharger said:

Dealership greed has finished them, it's their own fault. They've been going downhill for about 25 years now whereI live. In the old days when a dealership was owned by an onsite owner or onsite partners they were much better.

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I agree. I never directly worked at a dealership but I was a contracted security guard for one back in the 90s and have some insight into how they are ran. The business has changed. I also notice right away which cars have a lockbox that was not closed when I walk thru a dealership, I guess that security habit is still there.

r4sedan said:

Those are nice little Trucks I went and test drove them a back in January. I really wanted to buy one, but bad dealership experience led me to a different truck.

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So its not just me.

#41 said:

Is this the Maverick?

Spouse kind of wants to upgrade to a small truck to transport her bike around. We may be a few years away from upgrading (unless we ship her current vehicle to her mother) but we are starting to look around an see what's out there. I would love to hear more about the power train, leg room front and back, and your general impressions of likes/dislikes once you have put a few miles on it.

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Yeap, Mav with the off-road and towing package. I'll update when I drive it more but so far I can say it's great. A little laggy, not so much due to turbo lag, more that EPA tuning has it upshift too soon, but the power is good for what it is. Its probably the quickest car in my fleet sadly. I rode with a friend for awhile and both of us at around 5'11" and not skinny had plenty of room. Back looks roomy but I haven't sat there yet.
Rides a little rougher than my LandCruiser did, but you have better handling in that trade. Plus all modernish cars seem to ride rougher compared to the old stuff IMO.

When you understand that when entering into a dealership, that is the haven for the most foul, despicable scum of the earth. Particularly on the sales side.

I call them lobby lizards.

If car dealers have a special place in hell...

...how big is that room?

Had a 2022 Ranger Lariat Maverick AWD 4 banger turbo, bought for my dad,
loaded, like 23 options leather, sound system, tow pack, roll up alum. bed cover,
built in plug & inverter 110vt. in the bed etc. etc.
It was a rig someone special ordered & never came back to pick up...

Dad, he had to have it, traded in my 2002 F350 4x4 6 speed 7.3 Diesel Dually
the GM at the Ford place wanted the F350, bad 150k-ish, miles

Dad, he didn't end up liking the Maverick AWD, after all,
he said it wasn't comfortable & too low to the ground

I wanted a Jeep/Gladiator (anyway), but this was probably his last vehicle,
so I relented, gave in...
&
2 months later
Then traded it in on a Jeep Gladiator Rubicon Limited Launch edition, loaded
a demo rig, the GM was driving, very low miles & extended warrantee,
for 12k under MSRP
much better truck, for a lil' truck,
with a frame & live axles...


anyway glad you like the lil' truck
good luck

Made a harbor freight run today and on these short drives its comfortable for me, the big test will be when I spent like an hour driving it. Maybe this weekend, if not I have an actual reason to drive out of town in a couple of weeks and really get some seat time.