I flew a Maule or two and they are not that slow. Only those swishey new turbine helicopters are faster, an’ maybe a few of the ol’ ‘copters. I flew mostly floats an’ that slows a feller down a bit also… Th’ Maule could go into lakes that only a 'copter on floats could get into, except when the ice was thick.
I got accused of this in a Citabria too. Gave me a laugh.
Try a 152 into a stiff headwind. Then pull back the power to just over stall speed. Traffic below you will make it feel like you’re going backwards. )
I tell people the only things my Maule does fast is take off and land and climb. But that are the things that can save your life in the backcountry