In Tune
Stories and Songs on today's free French CD, with The Times
Navigation - link to other main sections from here
Ford Maverick
When in the early 1990s sales of 4x4s started to boom, Ford, the biggest car
brand in Britain, was in an awkward position. While Vauxhall, Honda,
Daihatsu and Land Rover all had off-roaders to offer, Ford had nothing.
The company had a choice: develop a new 4x4 from scratch, which would be
time-consuming and costly, or plump for a “quick and dirty” solution by
working with another manufacturer to launch a model with dual badging. The
decision was simple and the result was the Ford Maverick and its thinly
disguised brother the Nissan Terrano.
Launched in July 1993, the Ford Maverick was available with a choice of two
engines, a 2.4 litre 122bhp petrol unit or a 2.7 litre turbodiesel producing
98bhp. Stories of heavy fuel consumption on the petrol model started to
spread and soon most buyers were opting for the diesel.
Revisions to the engine line-up came in 1996 and coincided with a revised
front grille and some enhancements to the list of standard equipment. The
diesel gained a 25% boost in power, nudging it to 123bhp, while the 2.4
litre petrol engine bizarrely suffered a power reduction to 114bhp. So if
you want a diesel get a post-1996 model but if you want a petrol get a
pre-1996 one.
The later vehicles have a chrome front grille, round headlamps and an air
scoop on the bonnet.
The five-door Maverick is the most popular second-hand, thanks to a third row
of seats that transforms the vehicle into a seven-seater — expect to pay
about £500-£750 more for an equivalent five-door than for a three-door.
The Maverick comes with serious off-road potential with a limited slip
differential, selectable four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer box and
automatic locking front hubs. With this in mind it’s important to check a
used Maverick for signs of off-road excursions. Signs are scuffed sills,
scraped exhaust boxes and mud-filled underbody cavities. Check that the
vehicle drives straight and doesn’t pull left or right under braking — an
indication that steering and suspension could be damaged.
On the road the Maverick is a reasonable drive. It feels a little agricultural
compared with more modern 4x4s, but while it’s certainly no Land Rover
Defender the good visibility and high riding position give the impression of
authority. Reliability is pretty good but an abused Maverick can bite back.
It’s essential that engine oil is changed regularly, especially on diesels.
In 1999 production of the Nissan-derived Ford Maverick ceased. By the time the
second-generation Maverick arrived in 2001 it was something of a white
elephant and the absence of any diesel option was tacit acknowledgment by
Ford that it was going to have a short life. So the original Maverick
remains something of an oddball — a Nissan with a different name. Perhaps we
should thank the Maverick for encouraging Ford’s investment in Land Rover
and Range Rover — without it we would never have seen the new Discovery or
Range Rover Sport. And that would have been a shame.
Clutch Pull away in third gear and the car should stall. If
it doesn't then the clutch is slipping and needs replacing, a seven-hour job
on a Maverick and a big bill to follow
Turbo Diesel engine is turbocharged so check for blue smoke
when accelerating: a sign that the turbo needs replacing
Transmission Drive slowly on a good road surface to listen
for transmission whines and groans, check the two-speed transfer box engages
easily
Facelift 1996 facelift included chrome grille and bonnet
scoop. The post-1996 diesel models are the most desirable
Security Ford did not fit alarm or immobiliser as standard
Servicing Diesel engines need an oil change every 5,000
miles. Anything less is a false economy and will shorten the life of the
turbo and the engine
Air-conditioning A desirable option that many owners chose
when the Maverick was new
Safety Side-impact protection beams standard
Front wheel bearings Tend to wear quickly so listen for
grinding noise that changes as the vehicle quickens up
Long wheelbase Makes the Maverick a more practical
seven-seater and improves the vehicle's looks
Brakes Check front discs for signs of pitting, grooves or
ridges
VITAL STATISTICS
Model Ford Maverick 2.7TD GLS 5dr
Engine 2663cc, 4-cylinder turbodiesel
Power 123bhp
Transmission Five-speed manual
Fuel 26.9mpg (combined cycle)
Acceleration 0-60mph: 16.7sec
Top speed 96mph
THE ONE TO BUY
Ford Maverick 2.7TD GLS five-door 1998 R registration with 60,000 miles. Pay
£5,875 from a main dealer or £5,000 privately
OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY
1996 P-reg Nissan Terrano II 2.7 TDi SE
1997 P-reg Mitsubishi Shogun 2.8 GLX TD
1997 R-reg SsangYong Musso 2.9 GSE
1998 R-reg Land Rover Discovery TDi
1998 S-reg Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.0 TD
Values: Ford Maverick 2.7TD GLS five-door
Three-door models worth £500-£750 less than equivalent five-door ones.
Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. ‘Trade’ is
what a dealer would pay to buy your car; ‘Retail’ is what you would pay a
dealer
i have a maverick 2.4 brakes were a bit dodgy when bought at auction but sorted now after service and repair,are brakes a fault with mavericks.also-have ford stopped making parts,i am told by dealers.
john mcginty, whitton, england
i have had a 2.7gls swb 1998 R maverick for 3 and a half years now and it has been the best car we have ever had and it would tow anything.myself and my wife love the car but with the stupid greedy goverment putting so much tax on fuel (and everything else)we cant afford to run it .we have a caravan and love holidaying in this country(the goverment say they want the british to spend more time in this country hoildaying)how can we keep affording the fuel to take the hoilidays in britain if it just keeps going up and up.(sorry for sounding like a t..ser but im not a happy chap)because we now have to sell the maverick and go for something that does more to the gallon to get the cost of our holidays back to normal.
if we had any choice we would never let this car go until it drops to bits.
paul rice ilkeston derbyshire
paul rice, ilkeston, uk
I own a 2004 3.0 Maverick, bought in 2007 from a Ford dealer with 18,000 miles on the clock. I have driven it for 4,000 miles now without a moments trouble. It is a perfect size (not too big) yet is large enough to intimidate careless drivers belting down the lane towards me.
It has almost everything you could want. Air con, auto box, leather interior, fast acceleration, quiet running, reasonable comfort and 6CD autoplayer. On a long motorway trip I could use something a bit more luxurious but it's fine for journeys of under one hour. The quiet 3 litre petrol engines returns around 24mpg which I think is OK.
I can go away and not use the car for a month and on my return it starts right away. I have found it 100% reliable and excellent value for money. Typical Ford qualities really. After four years the car still looks nearly brand new. There is nothing wrong with the last Ford Mavericks and, in due course, I will be sorry to trade it in.
Chris, Heathfield, Sussex., England
My wife has just purchased the 2.7 td, I am trying to find out the actual pulling capacity for this vehicle. My wife intends to pull a horse box with house and kit, but i am stugggling to find information on the stated towing weight.
can anyone help
I am in the same situation as the gentleman asking the question above, can anyone help?
Thanks
Alan Sutcliffe, Nottingham,
chris from st austell its my car! It has never had a roof rack, the screw just needed screwing back in to door handle! How do you know its a second turbo? You saw the car for two months! The wheel bearings are very easy to change (im female an me and my friend did it with limited tools. Towed chris car with a chevette and motor bike on a big trailor from reading to cornwall fine, diesel usage good to in journey, never re-put on bump stops since had, Many sellers on ebay selling nissan torrrano parts that fit cheaper than places than mill autos, but can be found cheaper in a good garage. Im happy with it soon as it cost me 1500, 5 door, chrome bumper on front and modified bonnet, just remember if you buy one cheaper you expect to do some work on it.
jess, st austell, st austell
The maverick ive got managed to pull a large trailor, chevette car with tools in back an a large motor bike from reading to cornwall, well with good diesel consumption.
jess, st austell, st austell
My wife has just purchased the 2.7 td, I am trying to find out the actual pulling capacity for this vehicle. My wife intends to pull a horse box with house and kit, but i am stugggling to find information on the stated towing weight.
can anyone help
Graham nicholson, London, England
hi, i own a 2.7 94 model maverick glx,many problems realy,rattly sunroof fixings ,inner driver door handle sheared off,gearbox whining at 120000,4 wheel drive damaged but has never really been used,alloys have severe corosion,brake pads will fall out if worn very low,poor under chassis sealing/paint,on its 2nd turbo and blue smoke again!,weak front wheel bearings,electric window problems,steering racks dont last long either,clutch good for 1400000 miles.will do about 30 to the gallon,tow hitch to low to tow anything with any weight!!! quite poor realy,over complicated front suspension,poor drive shaft setup on front WHY??? bump stops prone to falling off,limited braking traction in dry,scary in the wet,and you have to change the oil at a un-heard of 5000 miles!,parts over expensive.vehicles of this nature should be simple and efective,not over complicated
chris, st austell, uk
i have a 2.7 td gls S reg with 60000 miles on clock and I am impressed with the fuel consuption even when I' ve been pulling very large trailer with a boat / depending how it is driven i've got over 30 to the gallon yes over 30 to the gallon. Very reliable would be very reluctant to sell
malcolm grant, mansfield, england
i have 2.7 td glx maverick 1995 (n) i purchase it from the car auctions for £2000 WITH 13800miles. i think they r fab but i have just put into garage for a service and it needs a new fuel tank. it pulls my 1973 horse trailer with 2 horses in and has no problem i think that they r ace
j caddock, merseysdie, cheshire