Using a clay bar is a lot of work, but, the results make it so worthwhile. I use that and then finish off with Zaino and soon I'll try and do that for the FFH. One key for everyone is to make sure you never wash you car in bright sunlight. Water stains are not your friends not what you want. Some waxes tell you that and it's for a good reason. Same goes for waxing - put it on in sunlight and it cakes and becomes very hard to remove.

I have a friend who does detailing on the side. It takes him five to six hours to do a car right. Lucky guy has a shop where he can also do it with lots of room. Most garages are not quite big enough.

I have done this a few times and the key, as mentioned, is to build up the paint slowly. I use a toothpick to get it to fill and then a light brush stroke to fill the edges. After that a clay bar could be used or a fine polishing compound to level it off. Then if you really want to make it perfect - clear coat it and repeat the polishing. Not a quick job, but not difficult either.

You should know better than trust Al. :) But wait, there's more. That lifetime guarantee becomes void when used of course and it probably says in the very fine small print that you must use low pressure attachments - in other words no nozzles! GrySql got it right with the soaker hose. :yahoo:

Wandered out into the roads paved to Halifax yesterday for a 23 miles excursion and a business lunch. Getting there was going uphill and so my return mileage should be much better. 5.6 on the way there or 42 mpg in US speak. Coming back 4.2 or 56 mpg. Not too shabby eh? :)

The TSB number is 14-0085.

While the transmission is out and apart to fix the leak, it may be a good idea to pay a little extra and get the internal trans filter replaced and clean the magnet. I don't know how much more work it is, but with the new fluid, might as well get the filter replaced at the same time...

I wonder if Ford might not replace the filter as part of the process. It would make sense to do that now or to at least cover the costs of the labour if an owner asks.

The looks of the car after having it done make it very appealing. Does it work and by how much - well the smallest windows (the sides) get tinted and the rear but that big puppy out front cannot be done.

Every car up until now I have had tinted. The last one I did 45% on the front sides and 35% on the rear and I believe it did help reduce the heat inside. By how much - not sure. With my current car I'm not doing it at all. My vision is less than stellar now and may stay that way after recent surgery on the one eye so I'm going to pass.

However you can't beat the sinister curb appeal once done and a black car done right - Yowsa. Yes I have a black car and it hurts not doing it, but.... ;(

They came, I saw and I installed and they really do look good. Now the car is sitting and curing for the required 24 hours. Wish the sun would stay out and help and wish it were warmer, but they are in and no problems encountered. Thanks everyone for your advice and guidance. :happy feet:

You know you have arrived and been recognized when you get your first (of many likely) offer to renew your SiriusXM.

Mine arrived yesterday and served as a reminder that I have this service. I have never used it, nor will I. I don't need or want the extra expense.

But I thought I would share with the rest of the world how special we are in Canada. We have a great offer sent to us - $4.99 MTh plus taxes and fees for three months. Yes that is correct - three months and then the regular rate is $15.99 a MTh plus taxes and fees. There is a lot of fine print there as well, but I'm not going to even try and read that. All I know is that the US gets better deals than us Canucks. Seems fair right? :censored:

Looks very nice. I wanted that colour but opted for the Tuxedo Black that was enroute. Enjoy.

_{Okay I'm trying to wrap my head around this. The tank is 13.5 gallons. That isn't a variable so then the reading at the gas station pumps has to be wrong or another reason as to why the difference.}

_{When gas is more dense and cooler it is more accurate and filling up at night gets a truer reading? When it's hot out and gas expands it should then read less or more? I get confused on this issue so perhaps others can help sort this out. ;( Hey - I'm old. It happens. :sneaking:}

Did the fat lady sing? :cry:

I believe we may be doing things differently in Canada. You will get the best deal. If the deal on signing is better than the deal on delivery, the dealers will honor the signing program. You cannot be penalized by a program change, but they will let you benefit. Consumer protection policies are at work here.

When you accelerate hard, or in your case climbing the mountain, you are using the ICE to do that. When it kicks in you will hear the slight roar and it will stay on until such time as you switch to electric. What you describe I think is normal and the gas engine is doing it's job.

_{Bottom line - Size Matters! :)}

As long as you are happy - it's a good deal. The numbers seem to indicate you did and that is all that matters. Getting the color you wanted and the options will make it very enjoyable. When will you pick it up and of course post a picture? What colour did you want? :camera:

From the time you order your car until it comes in, you will benefit from any program changes that Ford announces. You will never pay more that what you signed for. Dealers are pretty good about making sure they catch these programs and pass along the savings. My program changed from December to January and I got the January program.

When you start to pay for the car depends on what you set up at delivery time. Any deposit to order the car will be credited to your account. If the car arrives mid month and you want to arrange for first of the month payment start they typically prorate the difference and carry forward. So first payment then might be for 45 days and then monthly thereafter. Car arrives May 19th as an example so you pay for the remaining 13 days for this month and add that to your monthly June payment. Or the dealer might just waive that as part of the deal - you can try to negotiate that.

We do not have a Flood Ford discount dealer in Canada, however if you do a search for the ESP program, you might find dealers that will sell for less and use that as your guide for future dealings. There is a dealer in Barrie that I recall was cheaper than Ford when I looked. I simply googled the ESP plan and found that out.

Lots of support here as you have already discovered. Enjoy your ride. :)

Update on the Climate Control Housing Change.

 

I got a call from my SA yesterday, it will be a two man job I'm told. Except one of the team is going for a training class this week, not for the CCH change. So it was recommended I wait a week. These two are a team that handles the bigger repairs and I'm told are the best...so I'll wait for the repair on my SA's recommendation.

 

And by agreeing to wait a week they will move the ambient lighting and reinstall it at no charge. That's fair.

Its hard to believe how good it can get but slipped out to get pizza and ran mostly in electric mode and 60.3 mpg. Now if only I could restrain myself on the highway..

I'm a little surprised here. Your ambient lighting was installed by the dealer and now the dealer is asking if Ford will pay to have it moved or removed. And the lighting is aftermarket and not Ford. Is anyone else surprised that Ford declined.

The dealer was/is trying to provide a decimal insertion here to the dollar equation - ok trying to screw Ford, if I wasn't being clear. :play: The dealer should have, I would think as a matter of good customer relations, just gone ahead and done the work and said nothing. But no they would like Ford to pay. I can see the other side too with Ford having bad parts causing the problem, but moving or even temporarily removing the lighting - that doesn't sound like a big deal. Maybe it is.

As another example and maybe a bad one, but try this on for size. Man buys F 150 and installs camper body in the pickup bed. camper is attached to body, wiring hooked up and whatever else needs to be done and then Ford issues a recall for the bolts holding the bed to the frame. Should Ford have to pay to have the camper taken off and put back on? Don't think so. Any legal eagle types here that might offer a different perspective? :sneaking:

Silly me, I forgot that you like to hang out with horses. :) That explains the music. Dolly Parton fan too?

What's crazy is the song you were listening to at the time. I guess there aren't many good radio stations out there? ;)

I'm sure the best car you can get, is the one you are going to enjoy the most, but perhaps you might stop and sort out the priorities. Also, is this expense all yours or are you being reimbursed for mileage? How long you keep it also is a factor. One or two years would be ideal for resale.

It's been pointed out that the FFH can do the job very well and with the eight year warranty that eliminates that objection. However it is going to be a little more complex and have issues along the way. (Read through here and you will spot some)

With the miles you will be putting on a diesel would get you your best return. They are built to last almost forever and the resale will be better than most cars including the FFH. When I was travelling every week all around the province I had a Rabbit diesel. So cheap to run. Today Jetta is a solid performer as is the Passat, but I would prefer the lower cost Jetta and it can be made quite comfortable with the right option package. A diesel eats up the miles without breaking a sweat.

Yes we all love our FFH's and think you would enjoy it, but....those miles and miles might not be a good decision financially. But then it's your call, your car and your money so do what you want. Just come back and tell us - we are a curious bunch. :)

Another venture into the city and then a quick trip around town got the same results as last time - 50 off hwy and 42 on hwy. Last month my gas bill was $69 compared to the Explorer at roughly $300 a month. Silly question - of course I'm happy. :love_shower:

In your case a carpeted mat that you can easily take out and let dry I think would be a better choice. Weather Beaters would let the water overflow to your carpets and increase the chance of mold forming methinks.

My tires with 23K on them have about had it, thumping like crazy(at least I think its the tires). The traction in snow is horrible, so looking to replace them with LRR tires and thinking of downsizing to 17's. I loved the rims on my Flex so have been looking for something similar.

 

Wheels and Michelin Energy Savers mounted, balanced and TPMS, shipped, $1221.

 

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/MiniWheelSearchServlet?share=true&nonWinter=true&partNum=MD17704BMF&autoMake=Ford&autoModel=Fusion&autoYear=2013&autoModClar=Hybrid&wIndex=92&grid=true&sw=1600&vehicleColorIndex=7

 

 

Tried to post the picture, but it shows stock wheels.

After seeing that I'm getting more wheel locks for sure. It will only be a matter of time before you head north trying for the "right set". :play: