Are labor costs higher than non-hybrids?

[debintexas]

Hi! New member here, having decided my next car should be a 2012 Fusion Hybrid. I've read up on it, and it sounds like a very reliable car. Most of my driving is around town, under 45 mph, so I hope to take full advantage of the electric "side."

 

I tend to drive my cars well past the extended warranty -- I kept a Mercury Topaz 8 years, and have had my Chevy Lumina for 12. One thing I discovered is that the Lumina's engine design means that labor costs are through the roof -- they have to practically take the whole thing apart to fix anything.

 

I expect routine maintenance, like with any car, but hope not to have serious repairs for several years. I plan to sit down with a service rep at my local Ford dealer, but first, I thought I'd ask here: do you find that labor costs are higher on the hybrid than on hon-hybrids?

 

Thanks for any feedback y'all can offer!

[lolder]

The Prii are much lower. There is little or no brake maintenance, there are no starters, alternators, clutches, torque converters. The oil change, tire rotation interval is 10,000 miles and can generally be done for $40. Consumers Reports estimates the FFH reliability to be better than average. Most of the expensive things have long warranty's. There are some expensive parts like the electric AC compressor and power steering and brake controller but they haven't been a problem so far. The early FEHs which had Ford's first generation hybrid system had some problems with auxiliary water pumps that seem to have subsided. The transmission is very expensive but it has a long warranty and a low wear design. The HVB is designed to last "the life of the car" ( Owners Guide ) and is included in the hybrid parts warranty. The government has a FFH on long term test that is up to about 110,000 miles and can be viewed here:

http://avt.inl.gov/hev.shtml

One of the cars was totaled at 75,000 miles.

[debintexas]

Thanks for the feedback!

 

Unfortunately, after going for a test drive, it looks like I will not be purchasing a Fusion of any kind. I'm petite, and the current-government-regulated-safety-headrest-design + Fusion-seat-design was very, very uncomfortable. As I told the very nice, very patient salesman, if the headrest (or head restraint, to be precise) isn't comfortable, it won't protect me adequately in a crash. If I have to drive with my head tilted in a very forward position, imagine what would happen if I got rear-ended? And if I recline the seat to make the headrest bearable, I won't be able to see over the hood. Not safe.

 

Shame … I really liked the car.

 

Time to go test drive cars 'til I find one that fits my small frame.

[lolder]

Thanks for the feedback!

 

Unfortunately, after going for a test drive, it looks like I will not be purchasing a Fusion of any kind. I'm petite, and the current-government-regulated-safety-headrest-design + Fusion-seat-design was very, very uncomfortable. As I told the very nice, very patient salesman, if the headrest (or head restraint, to be precise) isn't comfortable, it won't protect me adequately in a crash. If I have to drive with my head tilted in a very forward position, imagine what would happen if I got rear-ended? And if I recline the seat to make the headrest bearable, I won't be able to see over the hood. Not safe.

 

Shame … I really liked the car.

 

Time to go test drive cars 'til I find one that fits my small frame.

Sorry to hear that but it's not the first time. I think the early cars built in 2009 like mine had more comfortable head rests. Even so, my rear ones are uncomfortable so I raised them with tape around the supports. They are then too high so I remove them when no one is in the rear seats. I hear the newer ones are worse. The new government headrest mandates are a problem with many cars. Hope you can find one that fits.

[majorleeslow]

The Prii are much lower. There is little or no brake maintenance, there are no starters, alternators, clutches, torque converters. The oil change, tire rotation interval is 10,000 miles and can generally be done for $40. Consumers Reports estimates the FFH reliability to be better than average. Most of the expensive things have long warranty's. There are some expensive parts like the electric AC compressor and power steering and brake controller but they haven't been a problem so far. The early FEHs which had Ford's first generation hybrid system had some problems with auxiliary water pumps that seem to have subsided. The transmission is very expensive but it has a long warranty and a low wear design. The HVB is designed to last "the life of the car" ( Owners Guide ) and is included in the hybrid parts warranty. The government has a FFH on long term test that is up to about 110,000 miles and can be viewed here:

http://avt.inl.gov/hev.shtml

One of the cars was totaled at 75,000 miles.

I didn't find any testing on the 2013 model. very interested in the discharge rate and depth of charge after years of use.