What should we do? Should we trade up for a nicer FFH?

[mrobinso8]

Ford Service Engineer took car today for Battery Saver and no start problems. Asked about driving habits. Informed him of them and that the way car is driven is irrelevant. Every car I have owned started when the key was turned until the battery went bad. He is going to keep for several days and hopefully. Loaner a 2014 Toyota Camry. Drives quite well and I am sure it will constantly start, which is a good feeling I have not had in 11 months.

[hybridbear]

We pick up the white FFH tomorrow. The dealer knocked down their financing rate to be close enough to the 1.75% from a local bank that it isn't worth the hassle to arrange our own financing.

 

We'll really like all the safety features. Especially the Lane Keep Assist, rain-sensing wipers and the adaptive cruise control.

 

The benefits of making this switch are that we get a (hopefully) more reliable vehicle, one with no paint chips on the hood/front end, one with new tires and one with more features.

 

The trim is perfect on this one. All the sharp edges that our car has on the chrome trim pieces around the windows are flush on this car and aren't sharp. I've cut my hand open on the sharp trim pieces on our car when washing it. The quality feels much improved.

 

The car feels different to drive, though. I'm not sure what it is...perhaps the 18 inch tires. Perhaps that they're low on air. Perhaps it's just that the PCM in our car has learned how I drive and this one hasn't. I noticed when driving home our black FFH from the dealer yesterday evening that the car responded differently with the new PCM that hadn't learned my driving habits yet.

[GrySql]

We pick up the white FFH tomorrow.

Well how about that, congratulations!

White FFH's are easier to keep clean looking too.

 

 

--

Now both Moderators have purchased two 2013 FFH's.

I noticed jeff_h is a Mod on the Energi Forum. He has two of them at one time, a FFH and a FFE.

Is there a pattern here??

[hybridbear]

Now both Moderators have purchased two 2013 FFH's.

I noticed jeff_h is a Mod on the Energi Forum. He has two of them at one time, a FFH and a FFE.

Is there a pattern here??

You're welcome to join the club too!! ;)

[Riggo]

We pick up the white FFH tomorrow. The dealer knocked down their financing rate to be close enough to the 1.75% from a local bank that it isn't worth the hassle to arrange our own financing.

 

We'll really like all the safety features. Especially the Lane Keep Assist, rain-sensing wipers and the adaptive cruise control.

 

The benefits of making this switch are that we get a (hopefully) more reliable vehicle, one with no paint chips on the hood/front end, one with new tires and one with more features.

 

The trim is perfect on this one. All the sharp edges that our car has on the chrome trim pieces around the windows are flush on this car and aren't sharp. I've cut my hand open on the sharp trim pieces on our car when washing it. The quality feels much improved.

 

The car feels different to drive, though. I'm not sure what it is...perhaps the 18 inch tires. Perhaps that they're low on air. Perhaps it's just that the PCM in our car has learned how I drive and this one hasn't. I noticed when driving home our black FFH from the dealer yesterday evening that the car responded differently with the new PCM that hadn't learned my driving habits yet.

Congrats! I'll be interested to see how your mileage does with the slightly larger tires.

[Erik Strait]

Wohoo! Congrats! Looking forward to pictures!

 

Thanks Erik

[DeeCee]

Good going. Looking forward to your experiences with the new one.

[corncobs]

Congrats on your new FFH! Unfortunately it's winter time so not a good time to start with record breaking MPG #. Hopefully you can teach him some manners even with the 18" tires. This is going to be interesting.

[hybridbear]

Congrats! I'll be interested to see how your mileage does with the slightly larger tires.

Me too. One of my first to-do items is to check how much air is in them to make sure they aren't underinflated and thus lowering MPGs.

 

Congrats on your new FFH! Unfortunately it's winter time so not a good time to start with record breaking MPG #. Hopefully you can teach him some manners even with the 18" tires. This is going to be interesting.

I think that tire break-in is a big factor in MPG in this car since small percentage changes in fuel consumption lead to big MPG changes. I know how I did last winter in the brand new black FFH and expect to do better now because of the PCM update and my improved hybrid driving skills.

 

In the black one I managed 43 MPG driving 60 miles on the interstate at 65-70 MPH with an outside temp of 7^oF. I was very happy with those MPGs on such a cold morning.

[acdii]

At least its another Fusion.

via Imgflip Meme Maker

 

via Imgflip Meme Maker

Edited November 28, 2013 by acdii

[hybridbear]

Driving the black one from Owatonna to my wife's work to pick her up to go to the dealer netted just shy of 50 MPG doing those same speeds. In the afternoon the outside temp was 21 degrees instead of 7. That's truly amazing! 49 MPG at 65-70 MPH!!!! Coming home from the dealer on the city route to avoid rush hour traffic the new white one got 43 MPG. It needs breaking in.

Edited November 28, 2013 by hybridbear

[acdii]

Your black one was saying, daddy please dont trade me, see I do good. :) Good luck with the new one.

[hybridbear]

Pic that my wife took at dealer. Edited with Instagram

[vangonebuy]

Beautiful car.

 

Will we begin calling you Hybrid PolarBear?

[Da0ne]

congrats HB on the new pick up im also debating on trading mine in but i want to get a FFH titanium

[Texasota]

Congratulations on your new 2014 FFH, Hybridbear.

 

In one of your earlier posts you commented on the quality/reliability and your perception that it has improved. With more time and experience with your 2014 I hope you will share more information comparing/contrasting the quality, reliability, fit and finish and trips to the service department between your 2013 and your 2014.

 

After spending much time following this forum I have decided to let it season another model year and wait for a 2015. This feeling was reenforced after a candid conversation with a person involved in the servicing of Fusions.

 

Best wishes for a happy experience with your new FFH.

[corncobs]

Congrats on your new ride hopefully it won't get lost in all the snow you guys are getting.

[hybridbear]

Here is a link to our old black FFH for sale used: http://www.rosevillemidwayford.com/invDisplay.php?recordID=336

[corncobs]

Here is a link to our old black FFH for sale used: http://www.rosevillemidwayford.com/invDisplay.php?recordID=336

Isn't it kinda odd / hard to see your baby for sale?

[hybridbear]

Isn't it kinda odd / hard to see your baby for sale?

Lol, a little bit. I wish I could find out how much they actually get for it. The price they have it listed for is slightly less than $2000 more than they gave us on the trade-in. Considering that they'll probably end up getting maybe $1000 less than their list price to sell it I think it worked out pretty fairly.

 

When we traded in our Accord Hybrid on the black FFH I watched it for awhile on the dealer website. They originally listed it for about $1500 more than our trade-in price, then after it sat on their lot more than a month they lowered the price by about $750. Once they lowered the price it sold fairly quickly.

[Eddie Sessum]

HB, you posted the wrong link to your old car.

 

I may know next week if were going to have a second platinum white MKZh in the family.

[corncobs]

HB, you posted the wrong link to your old car.

 

I may know next week if were going to have a second platinum white MKZh in the family.

No he didn't but his FFH probably already sold and now the link goes to the car the new owner traded in. (Just a good guess) When I picked up my FFH my dealer did the same; the FFH lot # became the HHR lot #.

 

Edit

Not quite true what I just wrote the car is still there but under a different number in the link.

 

I believe this is the correct link

 

http://www.rosevillemidwayford.com/invDisplay.php?recordID=271

Edited December 7, 2013 by corncobs

[Eddie Sessum]

Yea, i glanced and saw his car was still there too was just on my phone and didnt wanna go thru the whole copy paste fighting lol

[hybridbear]

This dealership website seems to change often the "record ID" which is what is in the URL to identify the car. It's quite strange.

[MXGOLF]

I have been following your problems and I hope your new snow queen works out better than blacky. I am really thinking I would not buy another ford personally. I can't afford to trade mine in on another new one and the fact I am still only getting 35 mpg even using non ethanol gasoline is super frustrating. I would love to get a new car but it would not be a ford. This is my first ford since my first vehicle a 64 ford shortbed truck back in high school some 40 years ago. I appreciate all your suggestions concerning my lemon hybridbear very much.