Feeling the Maverick love? Still here. MOT Fail.

[dollywobbler]

I'm still trying to decide which 4x4 to go for next, and one is looking more like the one that makes most sense. The Ford Maverick/Nissan Terrano II.

 

I've always quite liked these, especially when in 1993, a team tried to drive overland from London to New York. They got towed through the Channel Tunnel, then drove across the whole of Russia before using an amphibious machine to try and cross the Bering Straights. This bit failed but the Mavericks were shipped to the US so they could drive down to New York. Pic below, mainly of a Mondeo - these did some of the Russia bit.

 

Anyone got any experience of them? From what I've discovered so far, they're pretty tough, pretty good on the road and quite capable off it.

 

I quite like the original ones, though most of these seem to have rotted to death.

 

This is quite a jolly pic.

 

Woop Woop! This is the sound of the first facelift.

 

Ford dropped out, developing their new, rather pathetic Maverick but Nissan soldiered on with the Terrano until 2005! This facelift is rather bland, but then I can't afford one this new anyway.

 

These seem a better bet than the Frontera, which is a bit agricultural really, though I'm still a fan.

[red5]

Early 2.7's massively flat - later ones much improved.

 

Free wheeling hubs seem to have a tendency to not, and then overheat. Did a lot of both Nissans and Fords - other than that, the usual rot/lack of maintenance iirc.

 

My tuppence worth

[warren t claim]

The Ford Maverick is GR8 4 Brookside lottery WINNAZ!

 

I remember the Ford Overland challenge, I think it was hosted by Nicky Campbell.

[cort16]

I have no real input but I always liked them for their Capri bonnet transplant.

[maxpower]

neighbour has a N reg terrano same colour as maverick above... he has been using it as a daily since the 11yrs i have lived here and he has never had any probs with it

 

rain hail sleet or snow, its started and got him to work and back

[dollywobbler]

Actually, I don't know why I keep looking at reliable Japanese 4x4s. I have this nagging feeling that even if a superb, cheap Pajero or Maverick comes along, I'm going to lose my head and rush out to buy a rotten, well worn Discovery. I just have a thing about them. Especially the original "Mk2 Transit facelift look" ones with a choice of beige or blue interior. Done Defender and Range Rover. Perhaps the Disco is just right?

[Cavcraft]

Pete's Jeep? Decent car, runs on LPG and would seem perfect for what you want.

[Lankytim]

A mates dad had a Maverick for towing his huge caravan, it was shit! Loads of problems, culminating in a front hub breaking. Sold it off for a fraction of its book value and bought a Terrano. Miles better! Better build quality and a million% more reliable, plus its fully loaded with leather and electric goodies.

[AnthonyG]

Funny that difference between the Fords and Nissans as they were built in the same factory in Spain!

[Volksy]

For ultimate shite points, How about the import Nissan Mistral? My Sister had one, which was a total POS! 2.7 Auto, which sounded the same as a London Cab, because it pretty much was.

 

My household has a Nissan D21 Pickup, which is the same chassis I think, it's a tough old thing - if rusty and very slow.

 

I had use of the later Ford Maverick in Switzerland, a V6 petrol one, which was pretty grunty and seemed quite tough, I think they're a Mazda underneath.

 

Here's a pic of it:

 

 

Believe it or not, that's a turning it's trying to get down!

 

US style column gears FTW!

[dollywobbler]

Funny that difference between the Fords and Nissans as they were built in the same factory in Spain!

 

Indeed. The only 'Ford' thing is the badge. I think they did get better though, so a later Terrano could justifiably be better than an early Maverick. Have heard that the auto-locking front hubs can do all sorts of nasty things.

 

Pete's Jeep isn't off my radar, but I think I'd prefer a diesel. LPG systems seem to get in the way and are also another thing to go wrong. I just like diesels, especially when slogging off road.

[dollywobbler]

I'd better bump this one seeing as I've gone and bought one! Saves repeating what's already been said and defiling the News thread further.

 

With winning shots like this and a 74 word description, what could possibly go wrong?

 

EDIT - well, the pic is actually bigger than that! Ebay fail...

[trigger]

I love these Mavaricks but having found the one you've bought off ebay i fear you may have bought one of the more depressing models, at least it's a GLX with better trim.

 

A guy i used to work with in the mid-90's bought and sold tractors and needed a 4x4 to tow them with went out and bought a M reg 2.4 SWB new but sold it 2 years later as it was too juicy and bouncy, He bought a P reg Maverick II 2.7TD LWB brand new instead and that was lovely, I remember the day he got it, it was a great work horse and lasted years, I'd like one even now.

[dollywobbler]

Yeah, I'm expecting a choppy ride. Decided that the SWB would be better for off-roading though. If it proves crap, I'll just flog it again and pick something else. There's absolutely too much choice to be honest, so the only way I can really decide is to buy one, put it through its paces and see if it copes! I don't have any towing plans.

[trigger]

TBH at 500 notes you can hardly worry can you, It's not like your going to lose money on it and it is ideal for the SNOW CHAOS which we will be due in August.

[trigger]

Trig - you reckon he'll still own it in August?

 

What do you think?, I'll put a wager on that there be a Discovery on the driveway before the end of February!

[Father Ted]

 

EDIT - well, the pic is actually bigger than that! Ebay fail...

[hairnet]

why does it look like it caved in under the winda?

[messerschmitt owner]

why does it look like it caved in under the winda?

the obvious answer would be that it is caved in under the window - which I suspect to also be the correct answer.

[Guest Tony Hayers]

[dollywobbler]

If it proves good off road, I suspect the dent count will only go up!

 

Love the Ford story. They certainly didn't contribute much!

[RoadworkUK]

I like 'em. A mate of mine's parents had a SWB and an LWB from new, at the same time. Lunacy.

[CreepingJesus]

Top buy, I do like these. Ford garage I worked at had a 2.4 petrol shortie as a demo. Apparently, it had a slipper diff out the back - it was certainly a good giggle coming out of wet roundabouts, even on its' limited power. But yes, the petrol ones do need to be revved to really get going, but we had a few farmers bought them; some petrol, some diesel, no-one ever really had much bad to say about them.

Mind you, we didn't keep a lot of parts in stock, 'cos we could get them from the Nissan garage nearby. One farmer came back a couple of hours after we'd changed the backbox on his petrol shortie, to complain loudly that we'd put a Nissan branded backbox on his Ford...

[trigger]

I'm sure someone this morning said about the Jurassic Park Mavericks on this thread but it looks like the posts been deleted, Shame as I took this photo back in 1993 when i saw them for myself.

 

Ford Maverick Jurassic Park display car from 1993 Motor Show by Trigger's Retro Road Tests!, on Flickr

[dollywobbler]

It's home. I'm dead chuffed to be honest. I had horrible fear that a £500 4x4 would be a wreck. Not so!

 

We even encountered snow on the way home. Twice.

 

 

Interior's clean too, albeit smells like a smoker owned it (probably because a smoker owned it). I shan't remove the air freshener just yet.

 

Oh, you spotted the mobile phone holder eh? It does work!

 

First impressions? Could probably do with a service but she's a solid ol' bus. Some of the usual rot creeping in around the front right wheelarch, but not bad at all. Feels tight on the road with none of the Range Rover's hideous trim rattles.

 

The clutch is a little odd. The bite is quite low, and from halfway up, the pedal sticks a little before catching your foot up. Seems to bite fine and doesn't slip. Gears are all good, change is tight and there's no crunching. Brakes are a touch soft but work well, steering is free of play and it pulls nicely. Yes, it does need a bootful to get going, but it seems quite torquey, so you don't have to redline it.

 

Issues discovered on the way home were very loud squeaking wipers, non-working rear wash/wipe, heater fan only working on highest setting (very common) and slow electric windows. The wipers have been cured and as I had to remove the trim at the base of the windscreen to access the linkages, the wipers are now the correct way around - any anoraks spot that they were wrong before? Spray grease means silent wipers. Hoorah! Then tried to cure the rear wash/wipe. The wiper works on constant setting, it was the intermittent one that isn't working. Washer fault is due to one-way valves. Not the first time I've had an issue with them on a Japanese motor. Had to stop work due to the dark.

 

On the to do list are a good service, possibly a drop and refresh of the engine coolant (not convinced it's got much anti-freeze in it) and I think I'll have to lob a new timing belt on it as the seller didn't seem to have a clue whether it had ever been done. A good interior valet, a wash and some anti-corrosion wax are sensible next steps too.

[Father Ted]

Loving the autoshite phone holder.

Actually loving the whole thing really.

[dollywobbler]

Thanks FT. Feeling well pleased with it. Ride's a bit choppy, as you'd expect, and I don't really want to push it in the corners, but it's a fine vehicle. Especially compared to some of the useless shit-heaps I've owned over the years!

 

Not sure it has a timing belt, though one problem I'm fast discovering with these is the lack of a Forum-base for tech stuff. I think it's a timing chain. I'll have a closer look tomorrow.

[M'coli]

It does look nice, DW. Win!

[HMC]

Well bought! Looks tidy, and a bit of a rarity, certainly round these parts! Is that a whitewall tyre?

[Captain Mainwaring]

Nice. I've always rather liked these. Might've been Chelsea Tractors back in their day but there's definately a 'utility' look/feel to them, these three door versions especially.