georgeny

Hi Dan, Thanks for the additional information, yes we have all been hammered this year. I am 35 miles north of NYC starting to look like canyons of snow here. Running out of places to push it. I also travel near you I would think, Somerville, every two weeks or so. On another thread there was a report of a heat / defrost problem by one person. Seems that no one else is reporting that, can I presume you also have no such issues. If I were to wind up stuck in traffic for hours I would really like to be nice and warm at least. If you have no problems in central Jersey this year I can't see that I would have any either. George in nY

Wow, I can finally tell a buddy of mine that I found someone crazier than myself with spreadsheets :) I do medical, utility use and the like on spreadsheets. I'll leave dealer inventories to you haha but more power to ya, one spread sheeter to another. Not many FFH's in NY City northern suburbs. Couple dealers have NONE, others have one, possibly two, none set up the way I want mine should I so decide to get one in future. In fact recent check looks like I will go for the Lincoln Hybrid and did indeed find one exactly as I would want it for only little more than I would have to pay for FFH. BUT do not like BLUE color usually though need to go see it in person. Will do so next week if still there. See I want DO NOT want moon roof or navigation. I do not care about side mirror blindspot warning, but DO WANT memory and heated seats. STANDARD 200A no options Lincoln fulfills that and more for my preferences. There is one option installed, remote start and that is not bad to have in my neck of the woods. George in NY

I also thank you for your information as I am considering possible purchase of FFH or more probably the Lincoln version somewhere in the future. In meantime living in northeast I am very interested in how they handle winter weather. Can't really complain about gas mileage in such conditions, they would be expected to be really skewed like any car in comparable situation. Thanks again George in NY

Dave, You might be surprised about hot wax from car wash. 25 years ago has similar problem with a Nissan Pulsar I picked up new from dealer. Dealer ran it through a local car wash before delivery. I believe hot wax was being improperly diluted when my car went through. TWO years could not remove the coating, tried everything noting worked. Normally you could not see it but in certain conditions lighting wise you could once in a while see the drip and run marks on the glass. NO I never was able to fix it. I traded car with dealer and therefore handed off problem to them. I think that changing the windshield would have been the only solution. And yes side windows also effected but not as noticable since not driving from behind them. Good luck! George in NY

Thanks for the clarification! The oil change etc would not be a deal breaker. Still one must wonder why they exclude hybrid from any coverage. Thanks George in NY

I live in NY but travel to Jersey a couple times a month and was surprised to see that NJ has eliminated car inspections. Pure dollars and cents, saves NJ 12 million bucks. They rationalize but bottom line is NJ is pretty much broke and eliminating as much as possible. From TIMES Tribune: " For drivers in Pennsylvania, the state-mandated safety inspection is a yearly ritual: Check the brakes, the lights, the wipers, pay around $20, take a new sticker and hit the road. In New Jersey, that ritual disappeared Aug. 1, when the state no longer required passenger vehicles to pass an inspection. Only 20 states now require that vehicles undergo an annual or biennial checkup." http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/new-jersey-ends-car-inspections-pennsylvania-safety-experts-say-it-s-bad-idea-1.936784#axzz18qk1Vj3k In NY we still have inspections and in my area suburbs of NYC they charge us more than rest of the state. New cars don't require much of an inspection for first two inspections no emission check. FROM http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/broch/c-50.htm Lights All lighting must be of an approved type and inspected for operation, proper mounting, and broken or missing lenses. Side marker lamps, parking lamps, and additional flashing turning lamps mounted on the side of the vehicle are not inspected. Headlights (low and high beam) Tail lamps Stop lamps Directional signals Backup lights (1969 and newer) License plate lights Hazard warning/four-way flasher (1966 and newer) Directional signal indicator Now it says inspected for operation and I remember back in the day they always checked and aimed headlights, I honestly don't think they do that now. Don;t recall ever seeing them actually check the aiming, just that turned on. George in NY George in NY

Interesting, see the same thing for offers of financing deals or cash backs EXCEPT Hybrid. For offers I can understand it in some ways as still hard to get item here in North East anyway, why discount. But cutting it from longer warranty I think that is bad business. What that says to me is that we expect you to have problems by fourth year and we don't want to be on hook for them. May or may not be the actual case but still says that to me. That is a deal breaker for me simply because I see no reason for it, making warranty LESS than any other you sell!! George in NY

I can agree with that in some circumstances hahaha. Instead of breaking out the spreadsheets we can agree to disagree so that we don't take this too far afield from the topic. The question really is, what is the significant benefit (S) of MKZH versus Fusion Hybrid loaded? I switched from an Acura TL to a Honda Accord ( TL base car ) fully loaded and never looked back. Saved thousands while feeling the Accord was a better feel for me. I am looking NOT to that again, pay more and enjoy it same or less. George in NY

Been fighting this argument for years as someone who trades not one , but two cars every 2.5 to 3 years, and often for a later model of the same car. In recent years Honda Accords. I have gone from Nissan Maxima and Altima ( my car and wife's car ) to Acura TL to Accord. I almost always buy top model, leather etc, of which ever vehicle I am buying. I never lease ( merely another form of financing with no advantage and the disadvantage of having to concern yourself with mileage and damages for return. WHY? After FIRST ( many,many, years ago ) if you get that paid off or buy outright you are all set to take my route if you do average mileage, 15 k a year, and reasonably care for your vehicle. In general it costs me each two to three years ( now three years ) similar to leasing without downpayment or firs/last month payments. I own the car and what I do in future is optional on my part. My key, I never drive a car that is not under warranty! Since I do little mileage not commuting now I will keep cars very close to three years. When I go in and do the deal I usually walk out, MY CAR and 6 to 10 k depending on what I am buying so lets say 8 and my car. A variable for me is that in NY states and local sales tax does not apply to trade value. An immediate savings of over $2000 in my deals. Couple to 3 grand off sticker, dealing top of line highest margin. SO say 8,000 over 36 months always driving new car under warranty cost me $222.00 a month. Routine Maintainence now a days TWO oil changes. First one at my dealer FREE. Entire maintainence during my term 31.95 ( some times I put on a wiper blades at 2 years... If vehicle were to break down call dealer for tow and repair, never happened to me. So compare that to real number of your 10 year hold, remember depreciation car gets wholesaled coming so probably going to cost you what and your car for the new, 20 k ?How much you put into car during the ten years, tires, batteries just routine IF no major problem? If you do actual numbers holding 10 years probably might win IF you had NO problem over the DECADE. If you did then I will bet MY WAY wins. Plus I get comfort and security of driving a car that lost that new car smell but not the feel. I let next guy put on the new tires, belts whatever. I let them worry that power train warranty is ending etc. Now as far as why same car, especially with Accord which sometimes changes little. Good know reliable, comfortable car, get a new color. When tired or something else catches eye then I make change. WHICH is why I am this forum now. Friend recently purchased 2011 Fusion Hybrid and I am considering one in future basing my decision on his experience AND YOURS. I am also considering the MKZ or Hybrid MKZ. My love of cars, laugh if you must, is the dash and instrument panel appearance. That's what I see when I drive, let you guys and my wife concern themselves about exteriors. The Fusion has one way KEWL currently unmatched dash and instrument panel. Now here is one problem I now have following my routine. It was really, numbers wise, a good deal when wife and I both commuted, even when it was only the wife. Now the problem her 2008 Accord EXL is due for timely trade BUT has only 9,600 miles on it. My 2009 has a bit to go but it also has but 10,700 on it and now that we alternate cars for trips we both doing together ( the majority of them now both retired ) obviously both cars doing less than 7,500 miles a year. So trading in cars 3 years old with less than 15k miles. Even I have to scratch my head. The correct answer buy ONE car, whatever we want high end and continue on way we have. Trouble is both of us used to having our own cars and occasionally that is useful. If we stay with two cars then Fusion Hybrid for me looks good in future early 2012 late 2011. If go to one car MKZH looks good ( need memory seat ) for one car family. But let me honest, I can be persuaded to go MKZH in 2 years even if maintain two cars. I now I am a baaaaad boy, so, persuade me please! George in NY

Small print " Not available on Fusion Hybrid. For all offers, take new retail delivery from dealer stock by 1/3/2011. See dealer for complete details."

Wow that is some difference, I can see why removal has to be considered an option.

Eneg, Good luck with new wheels!!! Now it is up to you to convince me I need one, even though I don't :)