Questions before i make the purchase

[Kelly Trusz Urban]

Hi everybody. First post.

 

I've loved the Fusion's looks since they first came out, then when i read about how good the hybrid is, I'm very close to buying. Going to drive one Saturday, only driven the SEL so far. I've read this forum and reviews online. I still have questions.

 

-My typical "commute" is about 1.5 miles each way all 25mph zone over pretty flat roads. That is the ideal situation for fully electric mode right?

-I know about the battery warranty and it may be too soon to judge reliability, but there is a chance I could be stationed somplace quite cold. How will this car hold up to Alaska or North Dakota for example? I think I'll be OK with FWD only but worried about the battery performance.

 

-Also, are people generally happy with the 12 speaker sony system? I listened to this system on a regular Fusion and though it had plenty of bass and clarity.

-Lastly, i read one thread about lint attracting seats...is leather a must or is the ":eco" cloth just as nice?

 

Thanks, and looking forward to hanging out with you all soon :)

Sorry my username is funky, i joined through facebook lol

Edited September 17, 2010 by _8797

[lolder]

Hi everybody. First post.

 

I've loved the Fusion's looks since they first came out, then when i read about how good the hybrid is, I'm very close to buying. Going to drive one Saturday, only driven the SEL so far. I've read this forum and reviews online. I still have questions.

 

-My typical "commute" is about 1.5 miles each way all 25mph zone over pretty flat roads. That is the ideal situation for fully electric mode right?

-I know about the battery warranty and it may be too soon to judge reliability, but there is a chance I could be stationed somplace quite cold. How will this car hold up to Alaska or North Dakota for example? I think I'll be OK with FWD only but worried about the battery performance.

 

-Also, are people generally happy with the 12 speaker sony system? I listened to this system on a regular Fusion and though it had plenty of bass and clarity.

-Lastly, i read one thread about lint attracting seats...is leather a must or is the ":eco" cloth just as nice?

.

 

Thanks, and looking forward to hanging out with you all soon :)

Sorry my username is funky, i joined through facebook lol

The 1.5 mile commute is the worst for a hybrid. It will not go into EV mode until the very end or at a stop. The advantages of a hybrid diminish with cold weather. The engine has to run more to keep it and you warm. The battery performance is satisfactory and not an issue in cold weather, the car just wont use it much. The car works fine and is reliable in cold weather, you just won't get hybrid type mileage. That being said, non hybrid mileage in cold weather is even worse

Edited September 17, 2010 by lolder

[xmech2k]

I have standard fabric in a SE, but maybe someone can chime in, I think the hybrid has some other kind of 'green' material?

 

Anyways, if it's the same as the SE, it's been no problem, and after over a year, and 18K+ miles, my (Sandstone) seats still look great. I've never experienced the lint attracting the other poster mentioned.

[Kelly Trusz Urban]

i must not understand how EV mode is triggered. Why would it run on engine power at low speeds short distances? I read even the AC works when in electric mode.

[tmdata]

There are number of reasons that will cause the engine (ICE) to run;

 

Too low an ambient temperature – to heat the cabin and the HVB

More power required than the HVB can provide – pulling away from a light

Low HVB battery charge – start recharging the HVB

High electric load; headlights, A/C & drive power

 

These are detailed in the owner's manual go to

 

and select Ford Fusion Hybrid and the Owner's Manual can be downloaded.

 

 

Edited September 17, 2010 by tmdata

[lolder]

i must not understand how EV mode is triggered. Why would it run on engine power at low speeds short distances? I read even the AC works when in electric mode.

This forum has a lot of discussion about how hybrid cars work but it's getting so big it's hard to find. Some facts: All the energy comes from gasoline. EV mode is generally LESS efficient than ICE mode. There are more power losses in generating, charging, discharging and motorizing the wheels than if an ICE drives the wheels directly. At low speeds and power demands, however, the ICE is not very efficient. The EV systems assist acceleration, store energy when braking and at low speeds allow duty cycling of the ICE; typically 1/2 mile on and 1/2 mile off. When the ICE is on, it's propelling the car AND charging the HVB. You'll typically see only 30 mpg during this period as the ICE is being run at a higher, more efficient level. When it shuts off, you're in EV mode using no fuel. Even though the EV mode has more losses, this is more efficient as it allows the ICE better efficiency. Efficiency in an ICE is measured by Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC, see a Wikipedia entry) and is in lbs. of fuel per horsepower-hour. A low BSFC is the Holy Grail in ICE's. Whenever you need significant power in a hybrid, you want it to come from the ICE. The computer does this for you. As you gain experience driving a hybrid, there are little tricks to improve efficiency. The difference in fuel used between 40 and 45 mpg is, however, minuscule. For various emissions and wintertime heating requirements, hybrids run the ICE most of the time the first mile or more and the slow speed duty cycling of the ICE does not occur. If the HVB is at it's nominal 1/2 state of charge (SOC), the computer will only allow a little more charge above that and therefore doesn't load up the ICE efficiently. Ford expects the HVB to last indefinitely with the shallow charge/discharge range allowed, typically from 30-80% SOC or less. This is NOT an electric car. It's a gas powered vehicle that uses EV components to optimize the thermal efficiency of the ICE. It is very elegant in design.

[Kelly Trusz Urban]

does sound elegant....thanks for the help gang :)

 

my commute although not ideal for EV mode, should still see upwards of 30mpg which beats the 9 my car gets now. likewise, this car will become the new family truckster as we have lots of family within about a 6 hour drive.

 

although i may not run EV much, i think the hybrid is the better choice than say the 4cyl? for all its elegance its not that much if any of a price premium.

 

peace

[Kelly Trusz Urban]

i drove it briefly yesterday, 500A. i'm about to get more serious now with longer drives and more time listening to the stereo. i need at least the 501A, i am still unsure about leather.

 

anyway, i read the how much are you paying thread....and where its nice to see the actual $ amount, i'm more interested in how much over invoice/at invoice people are getting deals for. any thoughts? thanks.

Edited September 19, 2010 by _8797

[hondaconvert]

Hi everybody. First post.

 

I've loved the Fusion's looks since they first came out, then when i read about how good the hybrid is, I'm very close to buying. Going to drive one Saturday, only driven the SEL so far. I've read this forum and reviews online. I still have questions.

 

-My typical "commute" is about 1.5 miles each way all 25mph zone over pretty flat roads. That is the ideal situation for fully electric mode right?

-I know about the battery warranty and it may be too soon to judge reliability, but there is a chance I could be stationed somplace quite cold. How will this car hold up to Alaska or North Dakota for example? I think I'll be OK with FWD only but worried about the battery performance.

 

-Also, are people generally happy with the 12 speaker sony system? I listened to this system on a regular Fusion and though it had plenty of bass and clarity.

-Lastly, i read one thread about lint attracting seats...is leather a must or is the ":eco" cloth just as nice?

 

Thanks, and looking forward to hanging out with you all soon :)

Sorry my username is funky, i joined through facebook lol

 

 

I have the '10 SEL AWD, so I can't comment on the battery, and I have leather, so I can't comment on cloth. The Sony system is very good. It suffers when listening to Sirius radio because their signal is so compressed. In that case, it's better to listen in stereo rather than surround sound, but for your CDs or ipod, it's great.

 

In the cold (and probably snow and/or ice) you might want to think about all-wheel drive. The car handles great, and I feel incredibly confident driving in sloppy weather of all types.

 

One last thought: From the description of your present commute, get the car anyway, of course, but it might be far more eco-friendly to bike to work. Just a thought.

[Kelly Trusz Urban]

I have the '10 SEL AWD, so I can't comment on the battery, and I have leather, so I can't comment on cloth. The Sony system is very good. It suffers when listening to Sirius radio because their signal is so compressed. In that case, it's better to listen in stereo rather than surround sound, but for your CDs or ipod, it's great.

 

In the cold (and probably snow and/or ice) you might want to think about all-wheel drive. The car handles great, and I feel incredibly confident driving in sloppy weather of all types.

 

One last thought: From the description of your present commute, get the car anyway, of course, but it might be far more eco-friendly to bike to work. Just a thought.

cool, thanks.

 

on the eco note, i definitely could bike to work and may do exactly that in winter....but i wear a uniform and live in the deep south so biking to work right now is simply out of the question! sweat runs off you just walking to the parking lot. :)

[funny]

 

my commute although not ideal for EV mode, should still see upwards of 30mpg which beats the 9 my car gets now. likewise, this car will become the new family truckster as we have lots of family within about a 6 hour drive.

 

 

Hello and welcome to the forum. The Fusion is a great car and if you do a significant amount of driving outside of work, then definitely consider the FFH.

 

However, depending on the amount of traffic and stops during your commute, you may not see even the 30 mpg that you are hoping for. From a cold start (even in warm weather) I usually get a little over 20 mpg for the first few (city) miles then it gets much better. That said, BECAUSE you have such a short drive, it really doesn't matter much, cost-wise, whether you get 9 vs. 30 mpg ... the higher figure would amount to a savings of just 60 gallons of gas or less than $200 every year which is not enough to offset the several thousand $$ premium.

 

Also, you mentioned taking the car on road trips. Although the FFH does very well for me on the highway (40 mpg or more is not uncommon), the trunk is pretty small and trapezoidal so be sure to take that into consideration. Based on the info you have provided, the 4-cylinder non-hybrid Fusion may be a better alternative. Good luck.

[Kelly Trusz Urban]

Hey gang.

 

Poured over the car for an hour today. The trunk works for our needs, the safety ratings are great, the 12-spk sony system rocks, so it really fits me.

 

Dealer said the regular I4 SEL and the hybrid are essentially the same mileage over 35mph and was cheaper, then we pulled up a SEL and Hybrid together and the price diff was only 700. With the expected highway miles I'll be driving I hope I can beat the I4.

 

Anyway, I have 2 dealers looking for an '11 red/stone or grey/stone 502A and they cant find any! Am i going to have to drive 6+ hours to find one?

[eneg]

Anyway, I have 2 dealers looking for an '11 red/stone or grey/stone 502A and they cant find any! Am i going to have to drive 6+ hours to find one?

 

I don't think that there are any 2011 Sterling Gray w Med light Stone +502A Package.

At least not anywhere that I have looked!

 

I ordered one on Sunday. Should have it in 6-8 weeks.

 

Good luck to you. . .

[rfruth]

Also the hybrid runs cleaner http://www.hybridcenter.org/hybrid-scorecard/models/ford-fusion-hybrid.html (I know thats low on the priority list for some) but you may have to work to get one

[gene]

Also the hybrid runs cleaner http://www.hybridcenter.org/hybrid-scorecard/models/ford-fusion-hybrid.html (I know thats low on the priority list for some) but you may have to work to get one

Are insurance rates higher for a hybrid than a sport fusion?

[bbf2530]

Are insurance rates higher for a hybrid than a sport fusion?

 

Hi gene. :D There are too many variables to answer that question. Your particular rate would vary by Insurance Company, the State/region where you live etc.. Therefore what is true for me may not be true for you.

 

In addition, since both vehicles are relatively new models with little to no accident/repair record (yes, the Fusion itself has an established accident/repair record, but the Hybrid and Sport are different models with different rates), what is true this year may vary next year when more accident/repair statistics are compiled. Your best bet would be to ask your Insurance Company/agent. They can give you the correct answer for your particular circumstances.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

Edited September 23, 2010 by bbf2530

[akirby]

Hi gene. :D There are too many variables to answer that question. Your particular rate would vary by Insurance Company, the State/region where you live etc.. Therefore what is true for me may not be true for you.

 

In addition, since both vehicles are relatively new models with little to no accident/repair record (yes, the Fusion itself has an established accident/repair record, but the Hybrid and Sport are different models with different rates), what is true this year may vary next year when more accident/repair statistics are compiled. Your best bet would be to ask your Insurance Company/agent. They can give you the correct answer for your particular circumstances.

 

Good luck. :beerchug:

 

Not to mention that it also differs from insurance company to insurance company. One may have the hybrid higher and the other vice versa.

[Kelly Trusz Urban]

hey gang, put a deposit on an 11 FFH, silver/gray, 502A plus remote start. Got 2K off MSRP, couldnt resist.

Going hopefully tomorrow, its on their lot.

 

But here's my question. Fordvehicles.com notes a $500 military rebate, but dealer says he cant find it in their system.

I read to have them check VINCENT or something. Why arent they seeing it? I doubt Ford would just pull that. I want my 500!