Is a FFH a good choice for me?

[Wildcat2xx5]

So glad i stumbled on this forum, as I am currently looking into the FFH. Never owned a hybrid before so I had some questions, hoping you can help me out.

 

My typical driving includes a 10 mile roundtrip commute, on mostly residential roads, where i should not exceed 40mph. Furthermore, the highway I frequently travel on I cruise at no more than 63 mph.

 

Reading all the reviews and some of the topic on this forum, it seems to me that the FFH may be an excellent choice. Are there other things that I should be considering?

 

I am worried about trunk space, do we have any golfers on this forum that have experience with 1-3 golf bags in the trunk?

 

How is the cold weather condition handling? Unfortunately the storm preparedness and remidiation is suspect in my region.

 

Any thoughts and insights are appreciated.

 

 

[cwb1183]

Any Hybrid would be a an excellent choice, most of us on this forum are biased towards the Fusion.

I have two hybrids now and would not go back to a regular car.

 

Hybrids would probably be a better choice for 40% of the population but, old habits and lack of a true understanding of hybrids will delay things till gas prices get higher and more of them are out there for the knowledge base to expand.

Edited February 25, 2013 by cwb1183

[fusionTX]

It seems like an ideal car for you. A set of clubs should fit in the trunk without issue.

[acdii]

3 sets wont fit. One set should fit fine though, the trunk is not wide, but deep front to back. If you can get them to fit that way without angling then you could fit 3. If you are referring to snow, the FFH with 18" Goodyear LS2 tires handles snow VERY well. Your distance traveled would vary the MPG a lot though depending on temps and battery levels, some would be high 40's, maybe 50 while some would be in the 20's.

[terryb]

I suggest you look into the Energi version which is recharged by electricity from the grid and has enough range for your commute AND hs full hybrid gas/battery lurking for long range (can you say vacation?). Also consider the cMax with both versions for your golf club carrying capacity.

[B25Nut]

I think getting 2 golf bags into the Energi could be a problem. One could go in the back seat. You'd definitely get the best mileage on your commutes with the Energi, but it is rated at "only" 41 MPG hwy for longer trips when it's operating as a hybrid. You may make back the extra cost of the Energi with better MPG, but I think the jury is still out on that. I feel you should go for the SE Hybrid with the luxury wheels, but I'm prejudice.

[terryb]

I think getting 2 golf bags into the Energi could be a problem. One could go in the back seat. You'd definitely get the best mileage on your commutes with the Energi, but it is rated at "only" 41 MPG hwy for longer trips when it's operating as a hybrid. You may make back the extra cost of the Energi with better MPG, but I think the jury is still out on that. I feel you should go for the SE Hybrid with the luxury wheels, but I'm prejudice.

Remember there is a BIG tax credit for the energi machines. Someone possted that the net diff. is only a few 100s.

[Wildcat2xx5]

Went to the dealer last night to take a look, up and close, and to test drive. I have read most of the major reviews and made sure to check out all the nit picking the reviewers had for the car. My biggest concern is the trunk, acdii, is right, it is not wide and flipping down the seat seems to be the best option for multiple golf bags. I was surprised that the saleman offered, without any questions or comments, that the car would likely not achieve 47mpg, more like 41. Ideally, this car would make the most sense for me if I could operate in EV mode for my commute, and rely on mixed gas and EV for everything else.

[acdii]

Remember there is a BIG tax credit for the energi machines. Someone possted that the net diff. is only a few 100s.

This is a joke. That "tax credit" wont get you back the difference in cash, it will just reduce your taxes by a few dollars. Been there, done that, saw a difference of maybe $70. Why do you think the Volt hasn't been leaping out of the showrooms like the Prius did? You will never recoup the premium of that car with the tax credits. You still pay/finance that difference in the car.

 

If you do like I did and go from a dually diesel getting 16 MPG in diesel to a prius getting 53 MPG on regular gas, you recover the premium very quickly.

[B25Nut]

California dealers show about a $3,700 incentive on the Fusion Energi, so if you can put up with the reduced trunk space, it looks like a winner.

[Wildcat2xx5]

I've seen pics of the Energi trunk and I don't think it would work for me, or my family. And I don't like the idea of putting stuff in the back seat, I know people are going to take stuff if they want, i would rather they go through the extra effort to get into my trunk. another dagger is the extra cost, I don't drive enough miles to make the cost/mpg decision (I did my calcs and it would take nearly 8 years to recoup, while i expect to keep the car at least that long, i would only be re-couping initial cost and not benefitting from mpg increase). Just too much downside in my case. X-plan and the right incentives, would afford me upgrades and immediate fuel savings. Now i just need to convince the wife a FFH is the best option when compared to the Accord and Camry.

[neod192]

I've seen pics of the Energi trunk and I don't think it would work for me, or my family. And I don't like the idea of putting stuff in the back seat, I know people are going to take stuff if they want, i would rather they go through the extra effort to get into my trunk. another dagger is the extra cost, I don't drive enough miles to make the cost/mpg decision (I did my calcs and it would take nearly 8 years to recoup, while i expect to keep the car at least that long, i would only be re-couping initial cost and not benefitting from mpg increase). Just too much downside in my case. X-plan and the right incentives, would afford me upgrades and immediate fuel savings. Now i just need to convince the wife a FFH is the best option when compared to the Accord and Camry.

The Accord is also a good choice. My dad bought one a few months ago and he loves it. He didn't take it back to the dealer for anything yet (how many FFH owners can say that?). I think the Fusion looks wayyy better and MFT is much better than the 2 screen setup in the Accord. The Accord seems like a car an older person would pick, while the Fusion is young, sporty and classy!

Edited March 5, 2013 by neod192

[Riggo]

The Accord is also a good choice. My dad bought one a few months ago and he loves it. He didn't take it back to the dealer for anything yet (how many FFH owners can say that?). I think the Fusion looks wayyy better and MFT is much better than the 2 screen setup in the Accord. The Accord seems like a car an older person would pick, while the Fusion is young, sporty and classy!

 

I don't see why some of the reviews on the Fusion say the interior is boring etc. I find the Accord interior to be extremely ugly. All of the empty space on the sides of the top screen looks really odd in the Accord. To me the Fusion is simple and refined looking, kind of like how Apple designs their products. To each their own I guess.

[Wildcat2xx5]

The Accord looks much better with the Aero Kit, and the interior I agree was rather plain (not as plain as the Camry, that was super boring, however, it had a cavernous trunk)

[B25Nut]

"He didn't take it back to the dealer for anything yet (how many FFH owners can say that?)."

 

In four months, my only trip to a dealer has been to get the MFT updated.

[neod192]

"He didn't take it back to the dealer for anything yet (how many FFH owners can say that?)."

 

In four months, my only trip to a dealer has been to get the MFT updated.

I can only hope I'll be that lucky once I get my car! Here's my wish list:

• No alignment issues (inside and out)
• No paint issues
• Aluminum brake and accelerator pedal covers
• Great MPGs
• Correct Leather-wrapped shift knob
• Windows that open and close with one touch all the time
• MFT with 3.5.1
• Straight, no wrinkles ceiling
• Fuel tank that fills up all the way, all the time
• No wind noise at high speeds (70 MPH and higher)
• Good battery that doesn't cause error messages on my MFT and needs replacement

I'm sure there's more, but that's what comes to mind right now :)

[acdii]

Dont worry the car will be perfect when you get it!