I believe the people that have bad memories of the ford maverick might be based on the 6 cylinder models...and possible the 74 and up with the huge ugly bumpers.
i have good memories of the maverick , my first car was a 72 maverick with 302, a 351w fit right in a few years later when the 302 was worn out and I put a shaker scoop on the car from a cobra jet Torino it was a fun car.
I have no complaints about mine, well except those '74 bumpers. The 302 and 3spd on the floor made it fun. Kinda wish it was a 4 speed, but what are you gonna do?
