New Hybrid!

[acdii]

So with CR reasoning, avoid buying a first year model car! Wait until there are reliability records for that model before buying one so you dont have to waste your money on a warranty for a first year model car.

 

Sorry but I dont care much for CR. For a car as advanced as it is, any little thing that can break will be expensive to repair. Getting a good deal on a warranty is that little peace of mind that is well worth the cost for after the factory warranty runs out, especially if you are a high mile driver like me, and a few others here.

A better solution is to shop around and pay for it up front, and then you have that peace of mind that its designed for. Also shop around and compare different warranty plans to see who has the best coverage, and is recognized by all dealers and also third party shops.

[tr7driver]

Wait until you see the price for a LED tail light replacement

[Texasota]

So with CR reasoning, avoid buying a first year model car! Wait until there are reliability records for that model before buying one so you dont have to waste your money on a warranty for a first year model car.

 

Yes, CR explicity and frequently recommends not buying a first year model car. In the March 2013 issue (where they tested the Fusions) they had a section titled "Teething Pains" in which they described numerous fit and finish problems with their 2013 Fusions. They concluded that section with this:

 

 

If you want to buy a Fusion, it might be worth waiting a year or two. We hope Ford will sort out those flaws soon.

 

If I had followed CR's buying advice (i.e. wait a year or two) on my 2012 Ford Focus, then I probably would have had a much better ownership experience. Unfortuantely, my daughter acquired the 2010 Focus and I had to replace it with something on short notice. The 2010 Focus (which was the 3rd year for that generation Focus) was the most trouble free car I ever owned during it first year. I never took it in for any warranty work or adjustments. I'm hoping I will have a similar good experience with a FFH by waiting for the 2015 model year.

Edited January 14, 2014 by Texasota

[DeeCee]

I bought a first generation, Job 1 FFH and it has been just fine. Only a few minor issue4s like the wrong shifter which all have been easily corrected. I am very pleased with my vehicle although I will admit there have been others on thius forum that have experienced many problems with their cars.

[Texasota]

...although I will admit there have been others on thius forum that have experienced many problems with their cars.

 

Yes, there are some threads going on in the General Powertrain Discussion where folks are having a very frustrating time. I feel for them as I have been there in the past. Maybe waiting for a 2016 might not be a bad idea... :future:

[Dapicks]

Prior to purchasing the FFH I researched a number of hybrids. My wife and I drove and received pricing on the 'top three'. The FFH was the winner hands down in our minds.

What I didn't research was the dealer tactics that occurred in the finance mgrs. office. After being pressured into buying the ESP and extended warranty I started researching the pros and cons. I have since cancelled both and am waiting for the refund. My follow up revealed that the dealer sets the price and they are all over the board and as much as the finance guy thinks he can wring out of the deal. I responded to my Ford survey and the dealer called and was only upset that I had sent in a bad review to Ford. If your car has LoJack be aware that is priced on your ability to pay apparently as well. The dealer claims he will now give it to me at 'his cost'. Haven't heard from them in a week.

Seems to me that Ford needs to see that the add on products are uniform in quality as well as price. The experience with the finance mgr was a real low point and this was a cash deal.

[Jay Dee]

Prior to purchasing the FFH I researched a number of hybrids. My wife and I drove and received pricing on the 'top three'. The FFH was the winner hands down in our minds.

What I didn't research was the dealer tactics that occurred in the finance mgrs. office. After being pressured into buying the ESP and extended warranty I started researching the pros and cons. I have since cancelled both and am waiting for the refund. My follow up revealed that the dealer sets the price and they are all over the board and as much as the finance guy thinks he can wring out of the deal. I responded to my Ford survey and the dealer called and was only upset that I had sent in a bad review to Ford. If your car has LoJack be aware that is priced on your ability to pay apparently as well. The dealer claims he will now give it to me at 'his cost'. Haven't heard from them in a week.

Seems to me that Ford needs to see that the add on products are uniform in quality as well as price. The experience with the finance mgr was a real low point and this was a cash deal.

 

What was the process for cancellation? The finance manager I dealt with kept insisting I need all the ESP paperwork which would be delivered to me before I cancelled which I thought was BS. He finally relented and asked me to sign the cancellation document. I'm still waiting for my refund which I was told might take 6-8 weeks.

[jeff_h]

Prior to purchasing the FFH I researched a number of hybrids. My wife and I drove and received pricing on the 'top three'. The FFH was the winner hands down in our minds.

What I didn't research was the dealer tactics that occurred in the finance mgrs. office. After being pressured into buying the ESP and extended warranty I started researching the pros and cons. I have since cancelled both and am waiting for the refund. My follow up revealed that the dealer sets the price and they are all over the board and as much as the finance guy thinks he can wring out of the deal. I responded to my Ford survey and the dealer called and was only upset that I had sent in a bad review to Ford.

 

This is not limited to Ford, that's for sure. When I bought my Prius I got the pressure to buy the extended warranty but had been on priusonline.com regularly and so was aware of dealers who would sell online much cheaper, just like with Ford. Finance manager acted like I was the biggest dumbass in the world, told me I was the first guy in his 4 years of working there that had EVER declined the purchase. So when I got the survey from Toyota I gave top marks to the salesman but 'poor' mark to the finance manager and there was place for a write-in comment so I wrote "this finance manager looked at me like I had a hairy eyeball hanging out of my head when I said I was not interested in the extended warranty and did all he could to belittle me into purchasing one, maybe you should discuss with him the importance of valuing a customer." I expect it may be made its way to the dealer, but nobody ever contacted me.

[timf]

The best part of my experience getting the MKZ over my previous Ford was the lack of any sales pitches or finance manager. My salesperson handled all the paperwork signing, and did not pressure me to buy any add-ons. I'm not sure if this is typical of all Lincoln dealers, but the buying experience alone made it easier to justify the price premium over the Fusion.

[Jay Dee]

Update:

 

I had to call up Ford ESP customer service after I still hadn't gotten the refund after 8 weeks. I bypassed the dealer and sent them a post dated cancellation request, but since the date was 8 weeks old I had to get the dealer to sign on it. The dealer finance guy was surprised it wasn't yet cancelled but looked like they never sent the cancellation request. He offered to send it again with today's date, but I had to again argue with him about the date. Eventually he sent it post dated and signed my cancellation form too. I got back the full amount I paid for the ESP and the maintenance agreement minus the processing fee. Never again....

[hybridbear]

Update:

 

I had to call up Ford ESP customer service after I still hadn't gotten the refund after 8 weeks. I bypassed the dealer and sent them a post dated cancellation request, but since the date was 8 weeks old I had to get the dealer to sign on it. The dealer finance guy was surprised it wasn't yet cancelled but looked like they never sent the cancellation request. He offered to send it again with today's date, but I had to again argue with him about the date. Eventually he sent it post dated and signed my cancellation form too. I got back the full amount I paid for the ESP and the maintenance agreement minus the processing fee. Never again....

Glad you got your refund. My parents struggled with this too as the dealer failed multiple times to send the paperwork. Eventually they did fix it.