Each store wants a store truck, proper? One thing to run errands, haul components and take the crew to lunch every now and then. And when you’re working a efficiency store… you may as nicely have a cool truck. That at the very least appears to be the Good-Win Racing ethos, and we have sampled a couple of of their store vans through the years whereas visiting for varied Miata tasks.
In truth, our personal Honda Ridgeline remains to be working round with its custom-made, bigger rear sway bar, and to today, it rotates higher than any pickup truck has any proper to.
So we weren’t stunned after they pulled out yet one more cool little truck to play chase automotive for a photoshoot for his or her Fiat 124 Spider: A lifted, four-wheel-drive truck. Meet Good-Win Racing’s Ford Maverick.
What’s a Maverick?
Ford builds a Maverick once more, nevertheless it’s not a muscle automotive. As a substitute, it’s now a compact unibody pickup truck primarily based on a FWD platform.
Boring, proper?
Strive once more.
Its truck define hides fanatic underpinnings which are shockingly nice on paper. Positive, the front-wheel-drive hybrid mannequin is sluggish and contains a mediocre rear suspension, however there’s an accessible turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder manufacturing facility rated at 250 horsepower paired with a multi-link rear suspension and all-wheel drive.
[One week with a 2024 Ford Maverick Lariat Tremor]
Curb weight is round 3700 kilos, and towing capability is as excessive as 4000 kilos, which suggests pulling a small automotive on an open trailer is in its wheelhouse. Pricing is cheap: A base value below $20,000 at launch has now ballooned to just about $30,000, however including the turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive solely strikes that value $125 greater. So positive, the Maverick is an affordable, small truck first. But it surely’s a efficiency cut price second.
Good-Win’s Maverick
Which is why so many outlets with nothing to do with the mini truck scene–outlets like Good-Win Racing–instantly discover themselves constructing Mavericks.
This Miata store additionally has a small truck dependancy, which is why you’ll additionally discover components for Honda’s Ridgeline and Rivian’s R1T buried in its catalog. Store proprietor Brian Goodwin calls the Maverick “the Miata of vans,” which might be why he ordered this 2022 Lariat and waited eight months for it to reach.
Earlier than the odometer hit 50 miles, the store’s crew had reduce off its factory exhaust. A month later, the truck was lowered.
Good-Win Racing’s Ford Maverick earlier than decreasing springs have been fitted (high) and after (backside)
Then, Maverick components began hitting the shop’s catalog, together with a stiffer rear anti-roll bar, decreasing springs, wheels and extra. Three months into possession, and Good-Win’s Maverick seemed like a contemporary reinterpretation of the mini truck craze, although with a efficiency slant.
By the tip of that first summer time, although, it was time to maneuver the Maverick within the different route: up.
Good-Win labored with Progress to design its personal raise springs, ordered some meaty 235/65R17 Falken all-terrains (29s for the off-roaders within the crowd), and lifted its Maverick. Once we acquired off the airplane, it seemed like a teeny tiny Baja truck–although that impression may have been influenced by the San Diego desert surrounding it.
“Belief me,” mentioned Brian, “it’s far more enjoyable within the twisties than it seems to be.”
So we hopped in, caravanning with the Fiat out to the twisty canyon roads we’d be spending the day on. Round city or cruising down the freeway, Good-Win’s truck drives like, nicely, a Maverick–albeit one with a bit extra bump journey and large, soft tires to absorb imperfections. We’d name it a cushier improve to a well-recognized components–and we pitied the poor souls forward of us driving the lowered sports activities automotive out of city.
Then we lastly hit the curves and began laughing maniacally. The all-terrains aren’t going to win any skidpad challenges, so as an alternative they lean over on their sidewalls and howl with glee as you drive the Maverick off its nostril.
It’s not a tail-happy monster by any stretch of the creativeness, however the all-wheel drive and larger rear bar imply it’s not an understeering pig, both. It’s a blast, particularly while you hit reflectors or potholes or the rest and the truck shrugs it off with out even noticing.
It’s even pretty fast in a straight line, which is smart while you evaluate its power-to-weight ratio in opposition to one thing like a S197 Mustang, then add within the Maverick’s flat torque curve and the snappy eight-speed computerized.
Then, we noticed an enormous, lovely rock. And in a lifted truck, you possibly can’t drive previous a superbly good rock with out crawling up it.
We received’t say the Maverick has tons of articulation–it doesn’t–nevertheless it does have fairly succesful manufacturing facility traction management that helped it scrabble proper up the rock for a photograph opp. Even at full compression and full droop, we didn’t spot any harassed brake traces or bizarre clunks–an admittedly low bar, however one many lifted vans nonetheless can’t clear.
So, why does this factor exist? As a result of it’s pretty simple to construct, seems to be cool and surprises far more succesful equipment whereas being a ton of enjoyable. Possibly “the Miata of vans” isn’t such a nasty description, in spite of everything.
What’s Good-Win’s Subsequent Truck?
Good query, and one Ford made very simple to reply: How a couple of Maverick Lobo?
The brand new-for-2025 manufacturing facility package deal sports activities a decrease, stiffer suspension, higher cooling, larger brakes, a brand new transmission and an actual torque-vectoring rear differential. There’s even a drive mode geared toward autocrossing.
Naturally, Good-Win has already purchased one and began modifying it. “We’re engaged on a much bigger brake package and race springs, do you wish to drive it after we’re achieved?”
That is one other simple query to reply: “Completely!”
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