There are multiple Ford models right now that many thousands of people want but simply cannot buy. Of course, the Ford Bronco is probably the most famous example, but the 2022 Ford Maverick is right there with it. Despite projected wait times up to as much as eight months, the folks at Cars.com somehow managed to find and buy a 2022 Ford Maverick. 

Cars.com says they hid their identity for as long as possible and don’t believe they received any preferential treatment. 

How long does it take to get a 2022 Ford Maverick? 

The 2022 Ford Maverick was available to order as early as Fall of 2021. However, the ongoing supply chain issues and chip shortages continue to disrupt the sales and production of most vehicles. This goes double for anything as popular as the Ford Maverick. 

The hunt began in November of 2021, and just seven Maverick examples nationwide on Cars.com fit the bill for the publication’s requirements. They called all seven respective dealers only to learn every truck was either “sold and in transit or of unknown status.”

This led to the team ordering the Maverick directly from the factory. Unfortunately, the dealership their order went through informed them the truck wouldn’t come for six to eight months. Another dealership quotes the team a wait time of 20 weeks, while another reused to give them a wait time at all, saying there was no way to know how long it could take. 

This is a problem for most people, and it was also a problem for Cars.com’s editorial team. For over 10 years, Cars.com has bought whichever model wins the top spot for the ​​Best Of-winning vehicle. 

Which is the best 2022 Ford Maverick trim? 

Getting the exact spec on the car you want can be tough during normal times. These days, getting exactly what you want is a long-gone and distant notion. Despite the times, Cars.com decided they wanted to shoot for their favorite version, the Maverick Hybrid, a front-wheel-drive hybrid pickup truck that gets 37 mpg. They also found the LT or Lariat trims the most appealing with the Co-Pilot360 safety suite. 

The truck they ordered was a front-wheel-drive 2022 Ford Maverick Lariat hybrid with Velocity Blue paint and both the Co-Pilot360 and luxury packages. Despite picking what they believe is the best trim, the team had to pivot again, this time ditching the hybrid, hoping it would lower the wait time. 

Can you buy a 2022 Ford maverick? 

After calling another 16 dealerships looking for a fully-loaded, gas-powered Maverick, the team only found four. However, these were only XL or XLT models, and one of the four was a test drive model, not meant for sale. So they went back to the factory order route. 

The team returned to the original plan and ordered a custom-built Maverick Lariat hybrid. After more delays, setbacks, and many emails between cars.com and various Ford sellers, the wait time increased to 26-28 weeks in late November of 2021. In fact, by early December of 2021, the 2022 Ford Maverick was sold out, and Ford closed orders. 

How did Cars.com get the Maverick? 

Eventually, the team found a Maverick allotment headed to a dealer in Ohio. The dealer said they had one en route that seemed to be available, a well-equipped Maverick Lariat FWD with the gas-electric 2.5-liter hybrid four-cylinder, Carbonized Gray Metallic paint, Desert Brown leatherette seats, the Lariat Luxury Package, Ford Co-Pilot360, and floor liners. Cars.com reserved the truck and awaited more good news. However, more bad news came the next day. 

“The salesperson told us it was a sold unit ordered back in July, but the dealership was having trouble tracking down the original customer. Our salesperson said they’d just as well sell it to us at a $2,500 markup…” says Cars.com. 

And finally, in a stroke of luck and payoff for perseverance, the dealer couldn’t track down the original buyer, and the folks at Cars.com were allowed to step up and buy the 2022 Maverick for only $2,500 over sticker. 

On January 17th, the truck landed at the dealership, and by January 25th, the truck made it to its new owners in Chigaco. In total, Cars.com paid $34,085 — $31,000 for MSRP and destination, $2,500 in dealer markup, $285 in documentation and other fees, and $800 to ship it to Chicago, minus the $500 deposit paid a month prior.

What does this mean? 

It means there is still hope out there. Hell, remember the lady a few weeks ago who found and bought a new Ford Bronco from a dealership and paid MSRP? It happens. 

Finding the right car today can be tough, but remember always to pay attention and keep looking. Patience, along with flexibility, is key if you want a shot at finding the car for you in this crazy market.