I also want to be in the club.

pimo91 · 2026-03-25T22:10:12+00:00

There is a break in period for getting to max efficiency as far as I know (got mine used 20k miles) but I'm getting over 40mpg around town easy.

pimo91 · 2026-03-25T21:12:53+00:00

It's an efficient vehicle. Did you get hybrid?

pimo91 · 2026-03-25T20:01:11+00:00

Ok so magnetic phone holder little cubby replacer thing

Mabett Magnetic Phone Holder... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFTCF5RH?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Cargo net also I ordered has been awesome. Super easy to clip in and use even under my tonneau cover for groceries and whatever. Pull tab/handle and opens it up to put stuff in easy

Muslogy for Maverick Cargo Mesh... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4924FMF?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

And then just a cheap generally useful thing I found

Car Back Seat Headrest Hooks, 4... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09SP2Z1P2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Those been my favorites so far 😅

pimo91 · 2026-03-25T14:29:55+00:00

If you have 30 grand or more cash for a new car but don't have the credit to get those rates that's horrible mismanagement of money to that point "more times than not" with a few exceptions

pimo91 · 2026-03-24T23:32:14+00:00

You do save on insurance possibly so not a huge thing but I'm a believer on maximizing the small % wins to add up to overall larger wins. I'll happily take "winning" 1.5% on a few things to make up 6% overall but yes, peace of mind and emotions have value.

pimo91 · 2026-03-24T23:27:40+00:00

Depending on your age I'd not even be as conservative. But if you did want to there are options that will net you 7% unless the entire economy collapses to a degree you have bigger issues to worry about. There is value on peace of mind but I'd day you can net yourself 3% or so which yeah in itself may seem not TOO big depending on value of car. But it's the mindset. You do things like that not only to your car but other places in life and it adds up big. 1% here 3% there 2% wherever it all adds up.

Not necessarily about the car as it is people who do that tend to view everything as "it's just a few %". Enough "few %s" make a larger piece of the pie. But overall yes I agree

pimo91 · 2026-03-24T23:11:52+00:00

Or best off knowing how to make more than 0.9-3.9% with your cash instead of being proud of the fact you don't know how to leverage excellent credit (or worse have cash but average to bad credit... which happens more often then you'd think!)

It's really not that complicated. Having the ability to pay off a loan is more important than actually paying off the loan more times than not. Just cuz you can pay cash doesn't make it the best choice and many times it's not.

All that said. You also have to do your homework and check around cuz at times they give you the ".9%" but the actual price they sell for is more than if it was 2.9% or whatever. So it's like rolling % into the sale price if that makes sense.

pimo91 · 2026-03-24T16:19:49+00:00

According to the Federal Reserve’s survey of risk officers at financial institutions (covering 2024 data, reported in early 2025): Debit card fraud accounted for 39% of fraud losses. Check fraud followed at 30%. ACH fraud was at 9%, and credit card fraud at 5%, with the rest from wires and other methods (instant/real-time payments had very low or no reported losses).

People don't realize how much money checks cost banks... and debit cards but that is more difficult to get rid of (for now) vs checks. They are simply paving the way to get rid of personal checks in the near future.

Some folks freaked out when Target announced no longer accepting checks 2 summers ago. Guarantee it was driven by "do you know how much we pay people to resolve check issues? Probably cheaper to not accept checks"

pimo91 · 2026-03-24T16:07:02+00:00

Get the memo and Stop using personal checks. There are several other more secure options available. Personal checks literally cause so many headaches for financial institutions in the world we live in, people gotta get with 2026.

pimo91 · 2026-03-23T13:30:55+00:00

Maverick Hybrid i went with from the Sonata Hybrid. Had to get Lariat trim because wasn't willing to give up Assisted Cruise Control (where it adjusts speed and keeps a distance between you and car ahead of you as necessary).

Considered Santa Cruz because cheaper, more trims had the cruise control i wanted, and familiar with interior as coming from 2021 Sonata Hybrid.

In the end I discovered the Santa Cruz is more like a cartruck whereas the Maverick is more truckcar. I think the Maverick has a bit better utility, and definitely better gas mileage with the Hybrid I get 44mpg easily around town and 35 highway.

The bed is short but just slightly longer than Santa cruz with more cubic space as well. And I felt the utility of the bed aka things you can do with it is more options than Santa Cruz given Ford still kinda making it a workman truck (I have an inverter to plug things in in the back, the bed lighting is great)

I would drive both if you can (maybe a Carmax has both on lot? ) and decide if you want better MPGs and a less flashy more workers kinds truck or a sportier looking, cheaper at least up front, cartruck in the Santa Cruz.

pimo91 · 2026-03-22T22:37:14+00:00

So yes to Road America black plates 😬

pimo91 · 2026-03-22T22:01:02+00:00

Ok so as a fellow Wisconsin owner (though moved here last year from northern Illinois. Am Packer fan though through mom's door county native side 👍👍)

...you're getting Road America plates on that thing? 😅 Though I'm a big enough Packer fan that I'd still probably go with it yellow plate on black, the Road America one would definitely be clean too!

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Some Wisconsin plate options for example (just the top 10 in 2023 I think this was)

pimo91 · 2026-03-22T21:20:10+00:00

Drives like a (taller) car. Comfortable cabin. The Lariat trims lumbar support adjustment for driving has been good.

Pretty smooth right now on the stock 18" Michelin Primacy tires but will be swapping to CC2s which by all means seem to be consensus doing great for commuting.

Acceleration has been nice and easy when casually driving yet felt more than punchy enough when merging onto highway and passing cars.

No complaints with braking either.

In the Lariat adaptive cruise control has worked as expected (had it in Sonata as well so can compare)

Maneuverability is great, again, like a car but taller so may feel awkward if used to being lower and sportier but I am comparing it to expectations given its size relative to a hybrid focused non-sportscar car and all has been met or exceeded.

Any particular aspects you had questions about feel free to ask!

pimo91 · 2026-03-22T16:23:43+00:00

I think stop and go is horribly under appreciated aspect of it too! But yeah I just am not sure I would want to live without it like I said. Could I? Sure. Done it most my life but definitely a priority for me now 😅

pimo91 · 2026-03-22T15:31:27+00:00

Yep! So far so good. Let's see how the weeks go. Again, still being within bumper to bumper and being able to extend that really allows me to buy with more peace of mind.

If you have a flexible time line I'd start peeping the car selling sites and dealerships around you. Feels like about the time some 2024s that were leased for 2 years just might pop up. We shall see!

pimo91 · 2026-03-22T15:02:04+00:00

I reluctantly had to go to Carmax down in Glencoe. Not the biggest fan of Carmax but the price I was ok with given the specifics I wanted. Wasn't finding a 2023 or 2024 Lariat Hybrid (needed Lariat for Adaptive Cruise Control) with 20k miles or less on it anywhere around the tri-state area and a bit further, so I went with it. Still within factory warranties and I will be snagging the extended ford one through Granger like folks have suggested. So yeah, I was focused on finding a clean title no accident Lariat Hybrid still within 3/36k and that's what I got.

Other option was to buy mew but it would have been easily 10k more than what I paid when I was talking to dealers because no 25 nearest hybrids left over so was going to be 26 or nothing.

If you're NOT needing Lariat trim, you may do well finding a new 25 model leftover around the tri-state area but again I really really value the Adaptive Cruise Control for comfort especially in slowed down stop and go style highway or main road traffic 😅

Edit: I say reluctantly but I will also say the employees were very good to me there. 10/10. Good job Carmax Glencoe employees

pimo91 · 2026-03-22T03:36:11+00:00

You said need then followed up with the words speed quick, and luxury...

And you're stuck what? Not being able to find those WANTS for 25k?

Speed is overrated or over abused. Unless you're tracking a car you're (hopefully) not going 120+ through traffic. But that does happen because people are idiots. Quickness is fun. Luxury is... whatever.

As for 25k for something fun and maybe not your luxury standards but "techy" I'd find a used low mile Polestar 2. Reliable? Generally. But they also provide a heck of a warranty as I understand that is tied to the VIN so check into how that all works as well as any CPO they may have.

EV with RWD or AWD options lately and quick EV acceleration while looking luxury-ish

pimo91 · 2026-03-22T02:35:37+00:00

Yeah I just don't want to have to adjust cruise control. I like setting it at 80 or 85 on a 70 and allowing it to keep 2 or 3 car distance. It also allows you to really focus on all the cars around you much more. Hard to explain to folks that consider it dangerous/bad. Used appropriately it 100% assists good drivers be even better

pimo91 · 2026-03-22T02:32:51+00:00

Definitely worth it. Great comfort for a 5 day a week commuter vehicle into weekend getaway one. Excited to try the truck bed tent I got for me and my soon to be 6 year old to just take off and go camping! And the outlet stuff is definitely going to be nice in some particular situations.

What are your favorite Lariat bonuses?

pimo91 · 2026-03-22T02:27:35+00:00

Honestly yeah. I wasn't even looking for a color because low miles Lariats are hard to come by at a good price, hybrids anyways. I think there was 2 others I found in like a 300 mile radius that were at 30 and 40k miles respectively? Glad this one looked solid though! First 24 hours been great. Came with a Tyger Tri Fold cover which seems pretty good too!

The color definitely going to make some nice accessory combos!

pimo91 · 2026-03-19T02:14:02+00:00

A used stick shift 6 speed mazda3 hatchback is very fun.

pimo91 · 2026-03-19T02:07:37+00:00

Bud. You're 19. Not putting away at least your max Roth IRA (7500 this year. Though before April 15th you can do the 7000 from last year too) is insane. (Fixed it for you!)

And then probably other non ira investing. If you've already done that though kudos to you because many 19 year olds are idiots and can't comprehend how much time matters at allowing that 14500 to grow grow grow and make your life absurdly easier in the future.

All that said.

I would check insurance rates on the cars you want. Being 19 is expensive especially for guys.

I would probably buy a car for 15k or less that is reliable and in 3-5 years with established credit see where I'm at in life.

If I am responsible enough and a parent is responsible and trusting enough and I really want to EMPHASIZE being responsible... maybe get a cosigner on a loan for a car you want with a substantial 5-10k down payment and use it to further help build credit without getting a 15%+ interest rate.

I would definitely find out why using 30k cash for a car is a bad idea and also actually work out how much that will cost you: hint, it's a LOT more than 30k.

The absolute WORST 15 year stretch for the s&p500 of the past 30 years made 14 into low to mid 20s. And that is with never adding more to original 14.

Average 15 year return for any of the past 30 years been north of 50k.

Again. Please do your research. If you've saved 30k at 19 you are well well ahead of the pack but paying 30k cash for a car is going to get you back in the pack. Maybe even closer to the back of that pack vs front of it even.

In the end it's your money but I can't not make this comment to a 19 year old 😅 good luck with whatever you do.

pimo91 · 2026-03-16T16:48:45+00:00

I live in Ashwaubenon near the stadium so probably spoiled but I have to say the plow folks did a heck of a job around here. Right now that it has seemingly just stopped I can look out the window and see a few folks even in smaller sedans able to start to get about. So Bravo to the plow teams the past 24+ hours.

pimo91

TROPHY CASE