dalesky

Have my update scheduled for next Monday. Takes under an hour according to service scheduler. Very excited to see the difference. 2 days after the update I am planning a short road trip where I will be running at sustained 65 mph speeds. The highest mileage I have gotten on a "significant" trip (over 10 mile) has been 52 MPH. I also am in the habit of using the remote start before I enter the car, which is for about 1 minute or so. Haven't seen a difference when using that, but I suppose there is a small impact. I just enjoy having cool air coming out of the vents when I sit down. When I then start the car before driving it the AC goes to a much higher fan speed, so obviously it starts on remote at reduced capacity. I wonder if the update will have any effect on that? Anyone else like the remote start?

I would second this idea. I run my air always when it is hot outside (80 or better) and I set it at 73 initially, then up to 75. I do not see much of a drop in mileage, and I DO enjoy being comfortable. I almost always get low 40's for mpg on short trips of 12 miles or less.

It might be a question of how far each is driven, not which one is driven more- right? haha Yeah, sales people are doing a tough job, AND I have met some that are extremely knowledgeable about their cars. Frequently, they don't even come along for a ride, so they miss an opportunity to extoll the virtues of a specific vehicle. I would think that with a hybrid test drive it would behoove a sales person to come along. Honestly, I knew before buying that EPA figures were bogus, so I am completely happy with my mileage. Went from a Maxima which even if driven carefuelly still only returned 24 city. The difference in what you get with this car VS a Toyota, whichever model, is pretty impressive to me.

My sales person didn't say anything about how to drive the car. Kind of surprising, since he has been selling hybrids for a number of years. On the positive side, I have always gotten what I consider to be excellent mileage. Yesterday on a 13 mi trip at between 40 and 60 MPH in stop and go, with AC on, I averaged 51 MPG. On my first trip at a sustained 60 MPG average with 4 adults, AC on, got 42 MPG. Lifetime is just under 40, with almost all city stop and go driving. With all the comfort, ride quality, tech, and room I love the mileage.

last off topic on this topic: I inadvertently left my live trap open and sitting on top of a storage box in the woods behind my yard. Recently found a very young raccoon in it, who looked really afraid. Won't store it open again.

The cost is significant, and trunk space is important for me when road tripping. Have to have enough shoes along! We don't have kids, and don't often carry others, but when we travel we do take a lot of stuff. We have always carried a cooler inside the cabin covered with a white bed spread to keep it cool, but I don't want suitcases in there too, if I can avoid it. Recharging is not easy here either, so it would have to be at home, and with a 220V charger to make sense. Really tho, how much difference is there if I can get over 40 on most of my trips with the hybrid. Today with AC on, running between 40 and 60 for 13 miles I averaged 51. Not much to dislike there for me.

Maybe something for the back window, like those ones you see with a family, sometimes including dogs and cats. Nothing on the bumper. I had to work a long time and carefully to remove the dealers logo from the back of my new Fusion. They aren't paying me to advertise. I won't even put a vanity plate on the front, since I like the way it looks without one. Vista Print is a good company. I like the 1st idea of drive smarter, not faster, then the forum address, minus the HTTP:// since that is not needed to find the site. Matter of fact, I have copied the sample into a Word doc, and will try taping it on the window for a trial.

Nicely done! I love haggling with salespeople. I bought two hondas, 2 years apart from the same person, who did not haggle a bit. Took my price, went away, came back with a contract. I told him the first time I met him that if I gave him a fair price and he did not run back and forth with fake price checks we could deal. Another time I bought a Maxima for sticker, because they had a no haggle policy, and I couldn't believe their price, which was honestly less than I expected to pay. For the Fusion I had to haggle, but after three trips to see the manager (bulls@#t) I told him I would not buy a car if he left another time. I made Ford aware of it also when I got an evaluation to fill out. Then I made sure I got a copy of his work sheet before I left and before he placed the order. Everything worked out well, but honestly it could be such a simple process if they would accept a fair offer in the first place.

The current Motor Week TV show features a test drive of the Fusion Energi. Gives it a nice review, along with Fusions in general

I did in fact have that done on a Mazda years ago. Not only was the AC anemic, but it stank!

Nothing personal, but you would think it might be the opposite, given the smog that is usually there. No idea, and I have not noticed that here, tho I rarely use max AC. Maybe the dealer has an idea.

I always have and probably always will love bugs, amphibians, snakes, and yes even lizards and spiders. I have been bitten numerous times by anoles and skinks when picking them up to show people, or rid the butterfly house of them when I am working there. I have also seen praying mantis and walking sticks, but no fireflys here. My favorite thing to point out to people taking a zoo tour are the large golden orb spiders- beautiful! My next door neighbors brought their 11 yr old grandson down for a couple of weeks and he and I hit if off great. I took him for a zoo tour when I was doing my docent duties feeding some animals, then to the zoo kitchen and in to see the raptors. He loved it! Here (in coastal SC) there is so much wildlife, including raccoons, opossums, fox, bobcats, feral hogs and my favorite the alligators! Keep up the good work, we need more bugs (maybe not cockroaches)

Falling again here, down about a dime most places, to 3.35. Almost always the cheapest state in the union.

Some very helpful observations! Thanks. I sure have seen my MPG drop since it got hot and humid here. I did have the windows tinted, including a strip on the windshield at the top, and I use the window deflector when I park. I generally use auto start when I am about 50 feet away, and think the hit in gas use is worth it here! thanks again

Very nice! Now, if you could just do something about the finger prints all over the screen. I still don't have a screen cover for mine, but maybe I'm getting used to it. I do try to wipe it off with a small microfiber cloth I keep in the console.

Hey Hey! I don't have no stinkin' Winter here to worry about! Let's take it easy about all this Winter stuff. I do make a lot of short trips tho, and since the AC is running a lot more I am getting less MPG, but still it's easy to get over 40 around town at under 60.

Theoretically a software update should or could take an hour or so at most, since the computers will be reprogrammed, with no physical upgrades. When I tune my Mustang here is a sample of what is possible with just a fairly simple flash module: WOT Fuel AdjustmentIdle RPMSpark AdjustmentTransmission Shift PointsAxle RatioFuel Injector SizeTire Size - Rev / MileAir Intake SelectionCooling Fan TempsTraction Control On / OffRev / Speed LimitersTwo Step On / Off RPMI have avoided the dealer so far, and I hope this update will take the 1/2 day or less that I am hearing about. In any event, it's a good thing.

Welcome Bro, and best of luck. Most of us fall in love pretty quickly with our cars. Some are not perfect and some are close to it, but it's hard to beat the way they handle and feel on the road.

Only thing I have found that absolutely removes the spots is a claying. Everything else I tried was only a partial solution.

Nice! Enjoy. VW makes great driving cars. Wish the price difference between regular gas and diesel wasn't so high here. Not cost effective to buy a diesel.

Is this messaging thing like when I roll down the window and say "You can go to hell too!" That's really all I know how to do.

Way to look for the positive! I like the way it pops up too.

Nice List! Now, tell us how you really feel! haha

Been staying under $3.10 here in Myrtle Beach area. Can't complain. Even driving the Mustang a little harder now, due to the 'cheap' gas.

Possibly the fingerprints on the touch screen also, but I've gotten used to that. The ride is still making me smile, and I look for excuses to throw it around a corner a little tighter and harder than I usaully would. Haven't had any tire squealing yet, but it's just plain fun to point and go. Honestly, can't think of anything right now, except that first little ding I got on the passenger rear door. Very smooth and not deep and no chipping.