Accelerating in the 2013

[hermans]

OK, go figure this. My wife and I were out today and on a road our '13 Fusion had never been on and about 40 miles from our house. The EV+ came on twice and was good for about 2 miles each time. This was a 100 mile trip and we got 48 mpg. 50 degree weather, about 50% city and 50% highway.

[GrySql]

coming from an EB Flex and EB F150 it feels lethargic.

Well, I still have my GT and am familiar with what 'fast' is but in reference to how I'd been putting around with this FFH it was a nice change to let it air out the single exhaust pipe.

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BTW, B25Nut, thanks for the welcome. Nice folks around here.

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hermans, these computers have a mind of their own sometimes.

My going home EV+ just showed up after 1800 miles, I'll watch that closer to see if it has other favorite destinations.

I wonder if it uses the Nav addresses I've entered as familiar waypoints.

I'm learning something new almost every day as I crawl thru the Owner's Manual for the 7th (or 11th) time.

[B25Nut]

GS: I think you are right. The two other daily EV+ locations other than my home are addresses I entered into the Nav system just to get familar with using it.

[coach81]

ahhh haaa!!!!

[shaggy314]

This is going to take a LOT of getting used to doing things differently. I have a manual now and kill the engine at long lights, coast when I can, use brakes only when I have to... this burst and coast seems interesting. I think I'm going to need Eco cruise and the adaptive cruise control at first.

Edited February 6, 2013 by shaggy314

[Steve]

Yeah I cant drive like that for very long, took all the patience I could muster to keep it at 2k.

You know it kind of makes you wonder if all of this is worth it?

Sure your mileage is a ton better but our driving habits have to change "big time".

 

Maybe it would be better to just get a "4 banger" and by pass the whole "hybrid thing".

Don't get me wrong my heart is set on getting a FFH in September but these strange driving habits.....wow.

Half the people cheer this car and the other half scream that they are not getting 47 miles to the gallon with every trip.

 

Me, I'll just be happy getting between 38-42 mpg.

Just thinking out loud..............

[acdii]

 

Me, I'll just be happy getting between 38-42 mpg.

Just thinking out loud..............

 

ME TOOOO!! this 32 MPG crap is getting old! I can just drive my 2010, no special anything and get 35 or better.

[B25Nut]

"You know it kind of makes you wonder if all of this is worth it?

Sure your mileage is a ton better but our driving habits have to change "big time"."

 

Steve - You do not have to change very much to get great (but not 47 mpg) mileage. If you already have good habits with braking (coasting periods before lightly applying the brakes for most situations) you'll consistently get regenerative braking scores of 95%+. This is a major factor for good MPG on the FFH. Accelerating to 3 mph above your intended speed (when below 63 mph) and then immediately letting off the gas pedal to let the FFH loose that 3 mph will (most of the time if the car is warmed up) put it into EV Mode. This becomes second nature very quickly. You're going to love driving the hybrid. The FFH is my first Hybrid. See "Why Choose the Hybrid" in the Lounge section.

[jeff_h]

This becomes second nature very quickly. You're going to love driving the hybrid. The FFH is my first Hybrid. See "Why Choose the Hybrid" in the Lounge section.

 

Just go over to your dealer and ask to take a test drive, that you want to see what kind of MPG you can get out of it since you've heard differing stories -- with a new car on the lot and no miles on them, you won't get great MPG, but you can at least get a rough estimate from the drive. And then pick out a route with some fast/slow speed limits, get some flat parts and some hills, then measure your MPG on the way out with driving like you want, and then check the numbers and drive like a miser on the way back and see the numbers difference (maybe small difference, maybe huge difference).

[B25Nut]

My opinion would be to not even be concerned about MPG in any vehicle that you're taking a first drive in. One drive very likely won't give you a true MPG picture anyway. There are too many other important factors you need to focus on when driving anything new to ensure you have a safe first drive.

[acdii]

Actually, it can. Had I paid more attention to the MPG on mine, I would have thrown up a red flag. I had test driven a Cmax right before the Fusion, Same roads, same speeds, same everything and got 38 MPG. I got 34 in the Fusion. Had I gone for the Cmax, I probably would be very happy in it, and be paying nearly $70 a month less. 38 is right on the money for this car in cold weather and strong winds.

[fusionTX]

You know it kind of makes you wonder if all of this is worth it?

Sure your mileage is a ton better but our driving habits have to change "big time".

 

Maybe it would be better to just get a "4 banger" and by pass the whole "hybrid thing".

Don't get me wrong my heart is set on getting a FFH in September but these strange driving habits.....wow.

Half the people cheer this car and the other half scream that they are not getting 47 miles to the gallon with every trip.

 

Me, I'll just be happy getting between 38-42 mpg.

Just thinking out loud..............

Driving a hybrid to squeeze out every MPG can certainly get old. I've had a hybrid since mid 2006, and I started out like most do, trying to get the best mileage possible. I stopped that long ago, but some of the practices needed to improve mileage, without going overboard, stick with you. So it is possible to still get very good mileage, without having to over-think every scenario. You will find some things become second nature, and you can still get great MPGs while driving normally. By normally, I mean the little things you can do that improve your mileage and require little effort.

 

So yes, it's probably worth trying to squeeze out MPGs at the beginning to figure out how it all works, and then to settle into the practices that best suit you.

That has worked for me, and I am looking forward to owning my second hybrid.

[GrySql]

The question here is whether it takes cautious/careful driving and the total distraction of looking at displays to get decent mileage (38-42 mpg was mentioned) in a FFH.

My opinion is no, a properly running FFH should do that, after a decent break-in period, without undue babysitting. (acdii, I said 'properly running')

I am a first time hybrid owner and didn't know what to expect, so spent the first month orientating myself, which did include driving slow, watching displays, etc.

Once you learn the cars technical distinction from a normal ICE vehicle you can relax and let the car's systems help you without too much fiddling.

 

Steve, I live not far from you.

I drive the FFH in a casual manner now and have no trouble getting this 3600lb car to provide between 38-40mpg, even driving at the crazy speeds on the freeways around here.

Today I did a 150 miler to Seal Beach and back (highway 15/91/55/22/405) with ECOcruise set to 75mph when I could, or whatever traffic was doing, you know the drill.

I got 38.7 mpg for the RT and I have no doubt that the car could have done much better, but time is money and I choose not to putter in the slow lane.

I do admit that I probably go slower in this car than my other car, mainly because they are very different type vehicles.

The difference in this car is that I personally arrive in better condition and happier after a trip.

These are nice road cars that are easy to drive and while 47/47/47 may not be universally achievable it is still a heck of a lot of car for the money.

Like many, I have no regrets.

Edited February 7, 2013 by GrySql

[acdii]

38.7 is respectable at that speed! As far as driving, I dont fiddle with my 2010, I just drive it, and got 39 last night, in 34* temps. I usually dont go much over 60 since these are all rural highways and not interstates. The one thing I don't like about my 2010 is the seat, it makes my left leg ache, otherwise its a great car. Though a little puzzled why my last fill was only 34 when the trips have all been so high. Eh, no worries, still getting expected mileage even if its showing a little different than actual.

 

I had to take my 13 today because of the freezing rain, and just drove it, didn't care about RPM's EV or any of that. I got 37. It is in the 30's though, so that helps a little bit. Do think it can be much higher, so just have to wait and see. It would be great if it is just a bad thermostat all this time.

[tr7driver]

I've found that since driving my 2010 Milan HY I have picked up better driving habits, and now get better MPG out of both my Mustang GT and my Toyota highlander.

[GrySql]

I've found that since driving my 2010 Milan HY I have picked up better driving habits, and now get better MPG out of both my Mustang GT and my Toyota highlander.

Perhaps you are right, I am more conscious of the loud pedal in the GT now.

We drive it so infrequently since we got the FFH that when we do it is like a time warp.

As you know these cars don't have the FFH's 'silent start', I suppose that translates to a bit more aggressive driving.

The GT has one huge difference from the FFH - the top comes down when the sun comes out and it becomes a different kind of driving fun.

Yin and Yang in the garage.

[fusionTX]

I've found that since driving my 2010 Milan HY I have picked up better driving habits, and now get better MPG out of both my Mustang GT and my Toyota highlander.

It's amazing, while coasting to a stoplight, how many people you see accelerate and pass you only to slam on the brakes at the light. Edited February 9, 2013 by fusionTX

[terryb]

It's amazing, while coasting to a stoplight, how many people you see accelerate and pass you only to slam on the brakes at the light.

+1 and I try to give them enough room and time so that we don't have to swap paint. Actually my friends and I that moved here from Corpus Christi between '98 and '03 feel like traffic is better mannered here than it was in CC.

[coach81]

I still look forward to playing the "max MPG game" for every trip!!!!

 

 

BTW I'm STILL on my first tank :rockon:

[GrySql]

I still look forward to playing the "max MPG game" for every trip!!!!

 

 

BTW I'm STILL on my first tank :rockon:

Come on! You've had that car a month!

That's not playing fair. ;0)

[acdii]

Come on! You've had that car a month! That's not playing fair. ;0)

If he keeps that up he may come out one morning and find a blue one in its place :happy feet:

[neod192]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="acdii" data-cid="42216" data-time="1360446960"><p>

If he keeps that up he may come out one morning and find a blue one in its place :happy feet:</p></blockquote>Love the blue!

[fusionTX]

I still look forward to playing the "max MPG game" for every trip!!!!

 

 

BTW I'm STILL on my first tank :rockon:

Good for you! How many miles have you gone?

[coach81]

Come on! You've had that car a month! That's not playing fair. ;0)

 

:)

If he keeps that up he may come out one morning and find a blue one in its place :happy feet:

:drop:

 

Good for you! How many miles have you gone?

You probably won't believe me....

[GrySql]

:)

:drop:

 

You probably won't believe me....

Ah, the suspense is building. :stirpot:

 

Can we have the envelope please, and the winner is......