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New Ford Escape Hybrid Owners - Give Us Your Report
Introduce yourself and get to know other Escape Hybrid owners here!
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Tblask, here in Marin County; just moved up from San Francisco - in the FEH, 'natch. The warmer weather and flatter terrain are much appreciated by my '05 Escape, and by me as well.
With 6,000 miles logged since delivery in December I'm at the point where
I'll have the first service done very soon. All that city driving, with those wicked hills, certainly qualifies as 'severe service' by any standard - but, really, the crankcase oil isn't very dirty at all; however, we all know there's a pile of metal bits of all kinds just floating and flying around in there. Good riddance, right?
Just popped in a cabin air filter, Motorcraft FP-49, which by the way fits ALL
Escapes, and which we all know is NOT supplied by Bill Ford & Company.
Enyhoo, Big Hello to all you kool cats and Hybirds out there!
O & BTW, the Escape Hybrid is a true delight to own and drive by my lights
(well, in the daytime, too).
Toodles ~ Tblask
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The reason for the purchase is obvious--gas prices. I currently enjoy driving my Toyota Highlander AWD (20 mpg), but to spend nearly $400/month in gas is down right ridiculous. My daily commute is from Grand Haven to Grand Rapids, a brisk 100 mile daily trip . Three months ago I put an order into Ford for my 2006 model. To my dismay, last week the dealer called me and told me my SUV would not be ready until early 2006 due to the lack of cell batteries (I believe I would loose the '04-05' $1,000 tax break if purchased in '06).
I got lucky.
A dealer in Grand Haven was trying to sell on Ebay the exact same vehicle I ordered from the Grand Rapids dealership, except it was an '06. The Ebay deal fell through and the car is mine today, just like I ordered.
How did the much smaller Grand Haven dealer get their hands on an '06?
My hope is that I will be able to cut my gas use by 20-25%.
Can anyone comment on highway mileage?
Have cut my consumptiuon by 33% versus my Volvo XC70 and have realized a relative savings of 12% by being able to use a less premium gas = SIGNIFICANT!
So far I love it. My only concern is the amount of technology. It seems like one giant computer chip with the navigation system, electronically controlled 4 wheel drive and of course the hybrid computers. Looking under the hood and listening to all the servos and valves opening and closing, I have to wonder just how much time I'll have before it is in the shop for repairs. The warranty on the Hybrid components is nice, but it only covers very specific items. Anyone have any experience yet with failing components?
Mileage in hilly/mountainous NM so far has been hovering around 29.5 (4wd).
later,
courtney
I traded in a 2004 Chevrolet escape for the Escape.
I commute 12 miles to work along busy Rte 9 west of Boston. The Blazer got 12mpg; the Escape in getting approx 33-35.
The other car [wife's car] in the family is a Toyota Corolla. It gets 28 mpg, so my Escape is getting better mpg.
I sometimes see one other Escape on Rte 9. Funny thing, usually I am driving the Corolla when I see the other Escape. Someday I hope to wave to the guy in the other Escape from my Escape.
My father told me about these boards. He posts at the Camry forum. If you're reading here---"Hi Dad".
Pleased to be here. Thanks.
More later.
Well it is this year, thus far anyway, even saw a Gopher today outside the Office.
Boy is that Dude going to be in for a shock when we get snow next month.
Any way I have had my little "Green Sprout" since August 2005 and I am enjoying the ride!
It has some quirks but so does every car.
I hope to draw on your help on a few things and provide help back as well when I can be of service.
Anyway time to call it quits for tonight.
Glad to be a part of such a great group of folks!
Cheers!
Looking forward to being green
Have a 2007 FWD w/all options and love the "car". It is comfortable for everyone, even for trips. Only complaint is the nav system. This system is so bad it does not even have my street which is a county route over 350 years old! Ford should be embarrassed by that system.
Getting 29-33 mpg though I only have 500 miles on it. Am looking for a small hitch to fit it and will need to scour this forum for tips. Also would like to add some modest color to the interior. (Car is gray with gray interior). Any sites would be appreciated.
Now my only problem is that my wife doesn't want to drive her car anymore.
But not so good as the Honda system, where the 6 CDs are in the dash, behind the screen of the NAV system. The screen folds up and back to load CDs.
I bought my 2007 FEH/ FWD on Oct 7th.; I am totally in love with my "sweet Escape".
My friends, family, & coworkers were very surprised [read- impressed] that I chose to buy a Hybrid. Probably because I am a 57 y/o,divorced female; and I did not have a male go with me to buy it.
I had read up on the hybrid on the web and liked what I saw about the fuel economy.
I have put a little over 500 miles on it and am seeing about 29 mpg per the info system. (I did not get the Nav system).
I do sit in Houston traffic and part of the route home is thru suburbia, so my little baby gets to use her electric system a lot.
I do have a question about washing the hybrid.
The manual says to be careful not to get water and soap in the back air-vent ( at the back side window for the HV battery).
I prefer to go to a Mr. CarWash or a gas station car wash, rather then to wash by hand, so I am concerned about water spraying in that vent from those types of places. What are your thoughts on that?
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>But not so good as the Honda system, where the 6 CDs are >in the dash, behind the screen of the NAV system. The >screen folds up and back to load CDs.
Honda makes a Hybrid SUV? news to me....they don't even make a FULL HYBRID vehicle.
Mark
I guess you think that only hybrids have NAV systems with multiple CD changers? However, for the record, I have since discovered that the 2007 CR-V with NAV only puts the NAV CD behind the screen. The audio CDs are in the console between the front seats.
I don't recall writing anything about a Hybrid Honda SUV in my post. However, I personally am waiting for the 2009 CR-V with the CDI 2.2 diesel engine. That should be good for 30 MPG city / 40 MPG highway. And it will be better for the environment :surprise:
My only concern is a drop in MPG from the low 30s to around
28-29.
However, maybe I should add a few things.
1. My longest drive is 24 miles RT, takes about 40 minutes (20 each way), and is mostly 35-45 MPH with about 6 stops at lights.
2. I also do a lot of short hauls (errands) in the 3-5 mile range between stops which can number up to 4 or so.
3. Its gotten colder in the last month and this corresponds to the mileage drop. Is there a correlation?
4. I do "baby" the accelerator and can often get it on battery for a few blocks at least.
Ideas and reactions greatly appreciated!
Smitty from Southern Oregon
in bone-chilling weather. 30 overnight and 45-50 during
the day.
If you have the opportunity to garage the FEH overnight that should help.
Also CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE. every 10 degree drop in temp drops your tire pressure by 1 lb/sqin. Low tire pressure will lower your mpg.
Mark.
My wife's the primary driver. We've only put a bit more than 500 miles on it so far, and both of us like almost everything about this vehicle. No buyer's remorse at all.
Nice performance; comfortable front heated seats (although the switches need to be moved to the dashboard); great space/capacity behind the 2nd seats; very smooth transitions between the elec and gas propulsion systems; exterior fit and finish look really great; the interior is familiar when compared to our 2004 Expedition, although most of the non-leather materials are very bland.
The GPS' technology is long-in-the-tooth (using CDs), plus the CD set is two years old. When updates are available every 24-30 months, they'll cost $200+ per set, based upon the mapping company's response to my inquiry.
Above all, this vehicle is fun to drive! We look forward to going through our first winter with this economical AWD. :shades:
The first 5 or so tanks were runnning about 29mpg. Then it started dropping. When it hit about 24 I took it into the dealership-according to them nothing was wrong, and we were told it took 5-6 thousand miles for the computer to "learn". I took it back when it hit 20 mpg and was told again that there was nothing wrong and were told by the service departments only "Tech" (qualified to work on it)that "You do realise that this is not a multidriver vehicle, right?" I was astounded. We hit a bottom of 17mpg and it is now at 20. I contacted the service manager and he said he was baffaled. (Much to the irritation of my wife) The up side is my wife loves it, it handles fantastic in the snow.
Any suggestions?
Thanks , Randy
You also need to read back a few pages as many people have already posted how the cold effects all hybrids and what to do about it.
Mark.
Prius
Camry
Accord
Escape
Mariner
Accord was nice. Camry was somewhat disappointing. Prius was good. Mariner was good. Escape was good.
At this moment you can't find no 4WD Escape Hybrids in dealer stock in Atlanta (or other big towns in Ga.)
Most of the Mariners available are 4WD, and they are loaded up with costly packages. Many have the navigation unit which several owners posting here indicate they are not satisified with. So I found 2 base units. One black MMH 4WD and stumbled into one "sage" MMH 4WD.
The sage colored one was showing up on internet but dealership "couldn't locate it in their inventory". It turned out that they had a "computer glitch" (or human glitch aahaha) and I ended up benefiting from it.
After several calls from me to them they discovered it in their adjacent lot. I drove about 60 mi and tested it. Bought it on the spot. And they did not charge to deliver it that day to my home 60 miles away!
Aside from great gas mileage, the Mariner had 5 miles on it and was fun for me to drive. It's:
a. Handsome style
b. 'Sage' is a dynamite color
c. Entry and exit are excellent
d. Controls ok. (takes a little getting use to)
e. Visibility is great (compared to Element, etc)
f. Noise level is low.
g. Cloth seats comfortable
h. I like the self dimming mirror (standard)
i. 16" wheels look good
j. Bumpers and panels were smooth "sage" color.
k. Roominess
l. Better than expected handling
m. I like tax credits
n. Standard sound system is just "ok"
o. Good environmental image
I bought the base model of the Mariner Hybrid 4WD. I like it. Did the X plan price and saved pretty well off MSRP by paying cash. (And no "Documentation Fees" added in because of using X-Plan)
I'm shopping for vent shades for windows (rain out, air in) and trying to find a set of decent splash guards because areas behind tires will suffer from dirt, tar gravel, etc. over time.
Posting in here because Mariner Hybrid is a cousin to the Escape Hybrid. MMH has no discussion here at Edmunds.
These vehicles are kind of fun and makes you feel good driving them.
Mark.
The service manager and I got into an interesting discussion the other day about the snow tires. I'm going to take a tape and see if the tires are exactly what the originals are.
We aren't depending on the digital but using the old pen and paper.
Running about 20 off and on now.
Also, the snow tires are scrubbing off some MPG due to greater friction.
Mark.
The Good: 28 - 31 mpg in the city or on the highway; pretty good in decent weather. Handling in bad weather is decent.
The Bad: This morning, after dropping my daughter off at school, I looked at the mileage and it posted 19.1 mpg. In the 1.3 mile drive from the school, it dropped down to 18.9 and 18.8 mpg. The "Miles to Empty" gauge dropped from 184 miles to empty to 182 miles to empty in less than a minute of driving! The typically sluggish performance of the truck seems significantly exacerbated by the cold (and admittedly it's really really cold here--although the truck is garaged). Also, I have stock tires--not snows, and recently inflated them. I read that in cold weather, mpg would drop some, but 40%?? That's really bad--my former Audi A6 turbo got better mileage than this. Because of the squeaks that should never occur on a new vehicle (see my and other people's posts about this), the klugey computer that needs to be reset often and doesn't even provide an external temp, and the crummy NAV system, I'm less than satisfied. Ford needs to own known problems (like the squeaking), and has a lot more work to do regarding how to engineer a hybrid in cold weather conditions (should we all just move to Florida?), and I'm seriously considering replacing this with a Toyota Highlander Hybrid, but I don't know how that handles the cold...
Ya the thing that does bug me is that I don't have an external temperature reading, and a few more storage compartments (overhead space is wasted)would be great and just one more gallon of gas in the tank would extend my range considerably.
One thing you have to realize is that on extremely short trips (a mile or less) you really kill the mileage. This is true in most vehicles until they warm up. It may be aggravated a little in a hybrid because the engine runs at a higher RPM to charge the batteries even while stopped. Once you hit the 3 to 4 mile mark it all seems to balance out. The cold obviously has a big effect as both batteries and engines are least efficient when they are cold.
Overall I have been extremely happy with my EH and it has saved me a tone of money in fuel bills compared to the VAN that I was using. Now if they would only put in a diesel then we could be talking real mileage
Mark.
Don't think the guy even knew what he was taking!!
Waiting for my insurance $$ to purchase a new one...was wondering if I should just wait for the 2008...when are they coming out?
Mark.
Well, I guess bad things sometimes create good things..I get a 2008!!
I have had it in the shop several times and they tell me unless they get a check engine light there is nothing they can do because if something wasn't working right they would get a fault code.
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