I got my 2017 FFH Platinum!

[djminfll]

I did a factory order for a 2017 FFH Platinum, expected delivery date was February 2017. Then my dealership called me, there was a Platinum Hybrid in my color (Burgundy Velvet) at another dealership, they were willing to trade him for another vehicle, was I interested? Duh, of COURSE I was interested!

So I took delivery yesterday.

I didn't realize how much of an upgrade it was from my 2013 FFH SE. I've driven it 125 miles since yesterday, and I'm absolutely thrilled with this vehicle. The quality of the leather, the new lights, the air conditioned seats (I'm in Florida, I expect to make a lot of use of them!), the Park Assist, and most of all, the Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go capabliity.

I thought it wouldn't seem like I had really gotten a new car, but this one is so different from the SE, it seems completely new.

 

Edited December 25, 2016 by djminfll

[md13ffhguy]

Congrats to you! This makes me think about trading mine in, but I really need to stay on plan financially. So, please stop posting about your amazing new car.

 

 

 

 

Just kidding... Enjoy! :) I'd actually love to hear more about it, especially performance/mpg impressions and comparisons.

[billford]

How do you like the new shifter knob, instead of the old stick?

[stlouisgeorge]

How do you like the new shifter knob, instead of the old stick?

Saw a commercial for a 2017 Jaguar (Ford). The Jaguar gear shifter knob looks like our Fusion shifter knob. The difference is the Jaguar knob shifter wheel is retracted into the console (flat with surface). When you push the start button (I assume it has a start button -- probably senses the drivers fanny), the knob mechanically "lifts" up from the center console (long with a small dipping sauce bowl of Grey Poupon).

 

On the subject, I know there is an obscure safety feature concerning the shifter knob on the 2017 Fusion (saw a video on Ford I can't find again). They said about 8000 people die each year by a specific driver error. The driver leaves the vehicle in "D" (drive) when they should put the vehicle in "P" (Park). The driver opens the car door and takes their foot off the brake. At this point the driver may get dragged (bad) by a moving car, or a pedestrian in front of the vehicle is run over. They somehow differentiate this dangerous situation from a situation where you want to pick up a burrito on the ground by opening the door and grabbing it off the ground and the car is barely moving.

 

I tried to do this on a test drive and it wouldn't do it (the salesman almost needed a change of clothers).

 

How do you get the safety feature to work?

Edited December 26, 2016 by stlouisgeorge

[djminfll]

After driving the Platinum for the Xmas weekend, I have a number of observations/comments.

1. Substantially more comfortable than my '13 SE. The leather is super plush, and I love the A/C feature.

2. I like the transmission dial instead of shifter gear. It leaves a lot more room on the console.

3. I freaked my Dad out by showing him how it self-parks in vertical spaces.

4. The ACC with stop-and-go is a huge improvement. I actually drove for miles on a non-highway street, and once I activated the Cruise Control, I never touched the pedals again. This is going to make my daily commute in traffic a breeze.

5. SYNC 3 is a huge improvement over MyFordTouch. I haven't learned all of the features yet, but it works much better than the inconsistent MFT touch screen.

6. Ford made minor changes to the steering wheel controls, and I prefer the older one. It's going to take me a while to get used to these changes. The also changed the turn signal stalk operation, and I also prefer the original one to the new one.

7. The Trip odometer has been changed - it no longer shows the estimated gallons used. Again, I prefer the old one.

8. When the car is turned off, there is still a display of data for this trip - miles and mpg. But the second screen that shows cumulative miles/mpg is gone.

9. When I took delivery, the car had 14 miles on the odometer. I'm guessing that while the car was being checked, they must have had the motor running non-stop, because I had trouble getting the mpg over 38. Then I filled up (less than 1/2 a tank) today, and reset the dash computer. I drove another 20 miles after than, and I'm averaging 44 so far, so it looks like the new one is as economical as the old one.

 

Stlousigeorge, as for the transmission dial, I saw a youtube video about the problem when actor Anton Yelchin was killed when his jeep was left in drive. It was demonstrated that the Ford automatically returns to Park. I safely tried it in my driveway, and it worked.

 

All in all, while I'll miss the new car smell when it fades, overall I love the new vehicle.

[Waldo]

 

I tried to do this on a test drive and it wouldn't do it (the salesman almost needed a change of clothers).

 

How do you get the safety feature to work?

 

You need to open the door when you have your seatbelt off and be below (I think) 5mph. And I don't think 8000 people die every year from that, maybe 8000 injuries.

 

Also Ford hasn't owned Jaguar for several years now, all the new Jags are 100% non-Ford.

[stlouisgeorge]

Ahh.. the seatbelt. I will try that.

[mwr]

The quality of the leather

 

Did your 2013 SE have the Luxury Package with leather seats?

[stlouisgeorge]

..I don't think 8000 people die every year from that, maybe 8000 injuries.

You are correct that I was way over on my fatality count sir. Here are the facts from an article from Ford Media. It took me a while to track down my source.

 

December 2016

The Ford Motor Company - MediaCenter

NEW FOR 2017 FORD FUSION: "RETURN TO PARK"

..
According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study published 
in August [2016],  360 people were killed in accidents involving unattended vehicles 
with no driver control between 2012 and 2014 – which is 19 percent of all 
non-occupants killed in non-traffic crashes a year. In an average year, about 
2,000 people are injured in similar incidents.
..

Return to Park" Feature on 2017 Ford Fusion Designed to Assist Drivers and Reduce Potential for Vehicle Rollaways