aaronj1159

While I haven't had TOO many issues with my '13 FFH, it's been a major issue trying to get the ones I've had, fixed. The dealer I bought the car from had a great sales dept... but I couldn't go to their service dept for several reasons: 1) Constricting and non-ideal hours of operation. 8-4 on weekdays only is not good for a guy like me, who spends 10 hours a day driving to/from and at work during the week. 2) Long wait times. You pretty much have to stay and wait for the car at this dealer, because if you take a loaner/shuttle and go elsewhere, they're going to take 2-3 days to do anything to your car. And as my point above illustrates, I can't wait for 3 hours in a car dealer during the week without taking a vacation day, which I won't do. 3) They broke something new on my car just about every single time they had it. Clips on the sunglasses holder, one of the handles hanging from the headliner, warping one of the "A Panels". I found grease all over my car upon return one time. They just did not take care of my property. SO. I decided to go to the other Ford dealer in the area. At first, all was fine. They had better hours that I could work with and they haven't broken anything new yet. However, they seem to have a lot of communication breakdowns within their own department. Some things never get done that should be, they aren't familiar with my car (couldn't replace the cabin air filter when I asked them too because they didn't realize how long it'd take and I couldn't leave it overnight), among other things. And the real kicker, on my last visit they were supposed to call me when the car was ready (it was just a 30k service, should not be more than a day's work, they even said this). I dropped it off at 8AM. Around 2 I start getting concerned and wondering when I could have my ride ready to drop me off again. So I called. No answer. I get online to the Ford chat reps and ask what the heck is going on. She pretended to be from that local dealer but I knew she wasn't. Shortly after that interaction, the dealer's Sales dept. calls me and asks why they were requested to call me. Turns out the service guys all leave at noon on Saturdays! Who knew! So I go down there and the Sales guys track down my car and paperwork. Work was done, but they never called. Luckily they were able to process everything without any of the service guys around. I was very close to taking my spare key to just take my car (parked outside) and leave them a note saying the can give me my key and have my payment when they decide to call me. But I'm not that confrontational I suppose. It really just seems like pulling teeth to work with Ford dealers, from my experience. I've worked with 3 different Volkswagen dealers (moving around and whatnot) and never once had any of these issues. Why are they capable of treating customers and their cars so much better than Ford?

I too have this issue on my '13. I almost avoided posting in here because I see a member attacking the OP, but I just wanted to join in and say I have this issue with my left turn signal. Sometimes I can even have the signal on and NOT MOVE THE WHEEL, and yet the signal will still shut off for whatever reason. After re-engaging the signal, it generally stays on. When it happens when I'm beginning my turn from a turn/straight lane (if that makes sense) with oncoming traffic, I get nervous that someone opposite me will assume I'm going straight and turn into my destination lane (rather than keeping to the "slow" lane). I don't know if any of that made sense. Bottom line, the problem exists.

26,500 miles in a little over a year for me. It's a bit more than I had expected but not by much. The fuel savings are huge at a lifetime 46 MPG.

I'm still living in an apartment so I'm not comfortable getting a dog yet, but I fully agree with you on the rescue front. It's not exactly the same but that's what I've done with my cats. I got my first one as a kitten at an overloaded shelter (and I've taught her to fetch and to sit on command so she's basically my dog), but the second one I found on the side of the road. I think she'd been tossed out as a 2 year old cat. She's still a little skittish but she seems really happy to be in a warm home with people to kindly pet her a lot.

I did this in Richmond last weekend. I think I sat in and thoroughly explored all the hybrid/electric vehicles there (there were no Teslas... or Acuras oddly, but I think most other production cars were there). My favorite without any test drives or research was the Lexus ES300h. Obviously there's a significant price bump for that car. I also wouldn't be able to handle the lack of folding rear seats. I really wish GM would get into the game here. I'd love to drive a hybrid Malibu or Impala. They are really sharp looking cars right now. And one of my favorite cars, the Buick Regal, would be even better if it was a true hybrid, and not this e-assist stuff. Not sure why Subaru made the new Crosstrek with a hybrid option. it's like a 2MPG bump for a $3000 price increase. Maybe for tax break reasons?

My salesman tried to go through and show me a lot of the features on the car. I, like GrySql, didn't expect him to know everything in that car though. Heck he had barely been around the FFH from what I could tell, but he did make an effort and offered to pair my phone, get memory seats set, etc. I, for the most part, turned his offers down because I knew how to do most of these things on my own through prior research and wanted to do them alone at home. I can see where some people would want this assistance but personally I do SO much research before buying most things (not just cars) that by the time I get them I feel like I know how to use them. And I'm certain that I paired my phone faster than my salesman would have. That's not a knock on his abilities. Not only was he working at a Ford dealer with many models on the lot, but it was at a large dealer with many makes that would rotate the salesmen to different brands periodically. Not sure why they do that but I could tell he was fairly new to Ford.

I'm pretty close to your 75% highway estimate, though the highway I'm usually on is at 65 MPH, so it may not be exactly the same... However in the winter, I averaged just around 42-43 MPG. In the summer, 47-48. I'd say your estimate is fairly close but you might also learn some little tricks or habits along the way that'll improve your results as well.

Well, I did end up going to this event. Didn't take my car, as I saw they had a C-Max Hybrid and a Fusion Energi on their facebook prior to leaving for the show, but I kind of regretted that when I got there (I carpooled with someone else into town). They didn't have a whole lot of vehicles set up. The local Ford dealer did bring in the two cars I mentioned, but I don't think the Toyota dealer decided to be included. Someone brought their Nissan Leaf but he left as I was getting there. Now, for the neat parts of the show. In addition to the Fords, there were 2 other vehicles of interest to me. One was of course the Tesla Model S. I didn't realize how much room that car has. Since all of the battery is everything is down below the car essentially, it has basically 2 trunks, one in front, one in back. I'm telling you, if I had a ton of money and a safer place to put it, I wouldn't hesitate to get that car. It's even more impressive up close and personal than it is driving by. Also, the Virginia Tech Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team had their competition car out for display. It was a Chevy Malibu that they had stripped out and put their own tech in. I got the feeling by talking to one of the members that also interns with GM that GM is involved with a LOT of these projects around the world. Makes it even more interesting that they haven't put a viable hybrid sedan into production yet. The intern basically scoffed at the whole "e-assist" thing that GM is doing these days. The city of Roanoke provided a couple of their parking enforcement and parks and rec maintenance vehicles. Nothing too exciting there, but it's nice to see them using electric vehicles rather than Gators or something along those lines. Lastly there were a few trucks and cars that were modified to run on Propane. This wasn't too exciting for me but I got to talk to a guy who knew a little about this: http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/01/07/3126921/toyota-unveils-hydrogen-powered-fuel-cell-car/ which is always fun to talk about. I did some research and papers on the hydrogen-powered vehicle idea in my senior year of college. Been waiting on something to come to fruition, because I knew they were getting close.

Hey everyone, been stalking the blogs still, but haven't been posting lately. I wanted to drop by and let you all know about a really cool event happening in Roanoke, VA this weekend. The Virginia Tech Hybrid Electric Vehicle Team (HEVT) and Virginia Clean Cities is co-hosting an alternative fuel vehicle car show this Saturday. If I can, I plan to make it there (I may even offer to exhibit my own car as they're looking for owners to do so and vouch for their experiences owning the cars) and get the inside scoop on a lot of these different hybrids and electric vehicles. The initial bulletin about the event states: The link is here: http://vthevt.blogspot.com/2014/03/innovation-under-hood-roanokes-green.html If I can go, I'll definitely update the community on anything I learn or find interesting.

I have, and I thought that was certainly it at one point. The piece behind the handle is in fact loose. However I've held it in place myself while someone else drove and still had the rattle happen. Seems like it's in behind that piece somewhere inside the panel. In my case, anyways.

Nope, no luck here either. I don't have the Sony system, but my rattle seems to be coming from the same area as yours.

Yeah that happens on mine from time to time. Not sure if it affects anything but I do notice what you're describing.

Broke back into the 50-range for MPG this morning. Temps have raised to around 40 Deg. and it was raining a little the entire time so I was a little surprised. If I can keep it above 40 MPG on the way home it'll be a nice boost for this tank.

The way he worded it is odd to me: I can't really tell what he means by this statement... it's pretty vague. I'm wondering if he's talking about the instantaneous fuel economy for part/all of this paragraph. And when he talks about the grocery store trip, he says the way to the grocery store was almost all downhill. So what did he get on the way home, which is probably the direction that his Jeep burned the most fuel "round trip"?

Turned into my local Kroger the other day, right behind a white Tesla Model S. Keep in mind, there are very few hybrids/electric vehicles in this area relative to some other more urbanized areas. I followed him around the crowded parking lot and managed to get a spot near him. Got to look at it a little more. Love them.