Observations from the road

[Iwejun]

From June 22nd to July 21st I have been able to log some serious highway miles covering from Dallas to northern Wisconsin, back to Dallas, down to Fort Myers, Florida, back to Dallas and then back to northern Wisconsin. In total about 5600 miles and so I got to know the car pretty well, some things I've noticed.

Dead man pedal is too narrow, I wear a size twelve shoe and I have to take it off or it gets uncomfortable over time on the out side of my foot, 3/4 of an inch wider would work.

My drivers side seat cushion could be more plush we're talking runs of up to 12 hr driving sequences, had to be at these places in two days at most.

Contrary to what I hear people say there is a blind spot on these cars, don't reply that I don't have the mirrors set correctly because I do. More than once since I've owned this car a car has sidled up beside me with blind spot not showing and nothing in the mirror especially if it's a down ramp situation where they are coming off the highway. The last time a guy going a little faster than traffic almost got his passenger side shave when he came up as I was changing lanes. I would take the standard mirrors with the convex mirror built in.

Maps could be better, I would like it to label the secondary roads without zooming in all the time, it would make unfamiliar cities easier to navigate if you could see the next intersection name no just the main road.

Goods?

Mileage at 72-73 mph was great averaged 37.2.

Damn quiet most of the time.

Environmental controls kept car cool even in gulf coast humidity.

Held all our luggage in trunk for three dudes and a cooler for a weeks stay.

Last I hate the fuel gauge, can't trust it. Thanks for the space.

[Hybrider]

...

Maps could be better, I would like it to label the secondary roads without zooming in all the time, it would make unfamiliar cities easier to navigate if you could see the next intersection name no just the main road.

...

 

+1 on this ^^^ So far that is my only complaint about the Nav.

[lolder]

There's no blind spot. You have the mirrors set wrong. You should barely be able to see your car in the side mirrors.

[md13ffhguy]

There's no blind spot. You have the mirrors set wrong. You should barely be able to see your car in the side mirrors.

I'm not going to say that, because he asked not to, but I haven't experienced such problems. I use my mirrors and maintain an awareness of what's around me. An occasional head swivel doesn't hurt, just to be sure...

[lolder]

I'm sorry.

[hybridbear]

Dead man pedal is too narrow, I wear a size twelve shoe and I have to take it off or it gets uncomfortable over time on the out side of my foot, 3/4 of an inch wider would work.

I agree! I wear size 13 shoes and I usually extend my leg all the way out between the brake pedal & dead man pedal to get comfortable.

 

I'm not going to say that, because he asked not to, but I haven't experienced such problems. I use my mirrors and maintain an awareness of what's around me. An occasional head swivel doesn't hurt, just to be sure...

Contrary to what I hear people say there is a blind spot on these cars, don't reply that I don't have the mirrors set correctly because I do. More than once since I've owned this car a car has sidled up beside me with blind spot not showing and nothing in the mirror especially if it's a down ramp situation where they are coming off the highway. The last time a guy going a little faster than traffic almost got his passenger side shave when he came up as I was changing lanes. I would take the standard mirrors with the convex mirror built in.

I find the same thing. When merging onto the freeway or having someone merge toward me the BLIS system will not illuminate the light. Even if you have your mirrors set correctly, as lolder described, cars merging from off to the side (or cars on the highway when you're merging) are beyond the view of the mirrors & the BLIS system. In the Focus Electric we have the little spotter mirrors and it's much easier to merge in it since I can look in the little mirror while coming down the entrance ramp & see cars on the highway. In the Fusion I cannot lean forward enough to do this in the big mirror and must turn my head and take my eyes much farther off the road in front of me. With the Focus with the little spotter mirror I barely have to lean forward, I just have to focus my eyes on the small spotter mirror.

[GrySql]

I agree about the narrow dead pedal, too small for big feet! This is something rarely mentioned and am glad Iwejun brought it up.

This is probably my biggest complaint about the driver's comfort on long trips, around town I don't notice it very much.

Edited July 29, 2015 by GrySql

[md13ffhguy]

In the Focus Electric we have the little spotter mirrors and it's much easier to merge in it since I can look in the little mirror while coming down the entrance ramp & see cars on the highway. In the Fusion I cannot lean forward enough to do this in the big mirror and must turn my head and take my eyes much farther off the road in front of me. With the Focus with the little spotter mirror I barely have to lean forward, I just have to focus my eyes on the small spotter mirror.

Yep. Got those little mirrors on both Fusions and they're perfect. Once I got used to them, I was glad I didn't spring for the BLIS.

[storksb]

Having BLIS does not mean a driver should not be looking over their shoulder when making lane changes, it is an aid not a fail safe. Ford says as much in their BLIS literature.

 

I had the spotter mirrors on my previous 13 FFH and now have BLIS on my 15 FFE and with both make quick visual check over the shoulder. Maybe this is the way I was taught to drive but it is ultimately the drivers responsibility to drive with due care and attention.

[GrySql]

Having BLIS does not mean a driver should not be looking over their shoulder when making lane changes, it is an aid not a fail safe. Ford says as much in their BLIS literature.

 

I had the spotter mirrors on my previous 13 FFH and now have BLIS on my 15 FFE and with both make quick visual check over the shoulder. Maybe this is the way I was taught to drive but it is ultimately the drivers responsibility to drive with due care and attention.

Well said...

[corncobs]

Well said...

I agree!

[Cobra348]

I'm not going to say that, because he asked not to, but I haven't experienced such problems. I use my mirrors and maintain an awareness of what's around me. An occasional head swivel doesn't hurt, just to be sure...

Properly adjusted mirrors and head swivel covers it nicely. I have little to no blind spot - with the standard mirrors/spotter combo but always do a quick actual look before moving to the side. My Little Fiesta is the same ... virtually no blind spot.

[Cobra348]

Yep. Got those little mirrors on both Fusions and they're perfect. Once I got used to them, I was glad I didn't spring for the BLIS.

<chuckle> Me neither ... my Fiestas broke me of the need for the BLIS. They're standard with the spotter mirror setup and I simply stayed with it on the FFH.

[usererror]

What's a deadman petal? :finger:

[GrySql]

What's a deadman petal?

:) It's the footrest, also called a dead pedal, for your left foot as you drive, since almost everyone who drives a car with an automatic transmission uses only their right foot.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_pedal

[murphy]

It's a dead pedal, not a dead man pedal.

 

A dead man pedal or handle or switch is a control in a railroad engine that the operator has to keep activated at all times. If the control is released the train comes to a halt.

[Iwejun]

Yes I was wrong in calling it a deaman pedal, and after 38 yr. two speeding tickets, neither exceeding 10 mph over and no vehicle accidents I'm glad that someone wants to school me in looking over the shoulder to see drivers side approaching traffic and implying that I am a slave to a very young and still experimental tech for cars. Btw, I am at 11,681 mi. of travel in this car since June 22nd of this year, lumbar could be better but this ICE is willing and able to travel interstate speeds all day except for some annoying rattle around the paasenger side A pillar it's all good.

[sschnath]

...except for some annoying rattle around the paasenger side A pillar it's all good.

 

I have the same rattle. Took it to a dealer just today in a second attempt to have it resolved and both times I have been unable to reproduce it with a service tech in the car. It's driving me crazy. Of course, it did it on the way to the dealer today but once there, nothing.

 

It has something to do with a certain harmonic that is generated by the ICE and I think the tires because it seems like quality of pavement comes into play. I've never had it happen when running on battery only. It seems to happen most often around 35-40 mph with the engine running at 50%.

 

I want it fixed in the worst way because it is very annoying when it happens and now my warranty has just expired. Will Ford grandfather this? I've had 2 NPF's now but it's definitely still an issue. If anyone else is having this problem perhaps we should start a new thread?

 

Other than that, I love the car (but also dislike the foot rest).