And my FFH Journey has begun

[inco]

Tuesday night, it was a dark and stormy night, well dark and extremely cold at least, when I bravely went out in the world where I had never gone before, in a Hybrid at least. :thumbsup:

 

Yup, took delivery just after the sun set and so I wandered home in my new car and immediately had my first crisis as there were no lights on the dash. Talk about being prepared eh? I hit a button here and there and at least got the defrost working and made it home. :ohsnap:

 

Now I know I have the chance to set the lights for automatic operation. And the sales rep reminded me I could. But I got that wrong and had the button turned to the opposite side which meant no lights - dummy me. Welcome to my world. :read:

 

Since then the learning curve continues. First morning I go to use the remote start - it won't. Hmmm maybe this little Mexican tamale doesn't like our really cold weather. :drop: Ok - insert key and away we go - well not really as all the windows were frosted and had to wait until they were clear. Then away we went.

 

Had to venture downtown and I'm watching the dash like a hawk with all these new things going on. Little circles telling me I'm good or bad and I quickly learn how to get 100% - yay! I'm a winner - watching to see what EV miles accumulate and all those other things that I have yet to comprehend. But I have made progress and as I head into the parking lot after pulling off the highway, I have my first exposure to run silent, run deep - no engine sound - wow, what a rush. I like it. :happy feet:

 

Yesterday was still cold as I headed out and the remote would still not cause ignition. My Atlas rocket booster failed lift off again and I was prepared to go to plan B, insert key and wait. And then the sky opened up and a voice from above said - try it again dummy, and so I did, and at that point I realized you don't hold the button down after that second push. :doh: Mission accomplished - it did what it was supposed to do and started. Oh Happy Days are here again....I know, it was the operator and not the car. Yup dummy didn't do it right.

 

Now I'm getting used to it and vice versa. The Explorer has a softer ride. FFH is a little stiff, which is good and you sense the control, so it's not all bad. And the bottom line - I used less than half the fuel I normally do! Life is better and I know it will improve more. I'm happy. :victory:

[Aquineas]

Welcome! Glad you're learning the ins-and-outs about your Fusion. I too had the automatic headlights backwards at first.

[corncobs]

Happy FFH driving!

[acdii]

We picked ours up last night after they replaced the wiper motor, and my wife drove it home. As we are going down the road this morning, I couldnt understand why the high beams would not stay on when I flicked the lever forward, and also why the dash was so bright.

 

Dummy me forgot I have DRL, so did my wife, she drove it home last night with no lights on. Dealer switched off our headlights. Switched back to auto, turned on fogs, and bingo, high beams worked. DOH!

[hybridbear]

inco - how have the first couple days been?

[inco]

Thanks for asking HB. Yesterday was a stay at home and play house day. Actually I started organizing my taxes so you know there had to be something bad going on and there was. Here we just had very high winds and slight drifting snow but the 401 highway that runs to Montreal was closed Friday and Saturday with multiple car accidents from blowing snow and almost zero visibility. So staying home was 'warm'. It was also just above 0 on your F scale. Right now it isn't any better, -4 F. Crispy. :ohsnap:

 

As for Black Barb - hereafter called BB, we did some running around Friday. Half the mileage was using the ICE as I was on the highway (401 safe part) and then coming home I decided to take a city route and had a chance to run EV only. Quite an experience and if you didn't know it could, I can see how drivers unfamiliar with the car would wonder why it didn't start. Really impressed with that and happy with my decision.

 

On the Explorer I had the back up sensors and ordered them on BB because they made reversing very safe. BB has that and the camera and that's a little freaky getting used to watching that panel to see what it sees. I can see a danger if people rely on it to make their move - however the sensors prove their worth and warn of things the camera does not see. Great combo.

 

Eventually I will experiment with all the other toys - er options that the car has - Navigation for one and the different screens and settings, but for now with the cold, I hate the thought of sitting in the car engine running in this weather.

 

So far the best part of this experience was the finding of this web site. Reading through all the different posts and problems and solutions as well as tips, has eased my anxiety. Well, to be honest that really isn't true. I can hardly wait for my first "BS" moment and all the fun that might bring. Just kidding because I know it won't happen - BB and I already talked about that and she understands. She's a good listener. :hysterical:

[acdii]

 

 

As for Black Barb - hereafter called BB, we did some running around Friday. Half the mileage was using the ICE as I was on the highway (401 safe part) and then coming home I decided to take a city route and had a chance to run EV only. Quite an experience and if you didn't know it could, I can see how drivers unfamiliar with the car would wonder why it didn't start. Really impressed with that and happy with my decision.

 

LOL Already have her named! :)

 

 

When I had that "other" car, forever known now as Blue Devil, it was in the shop and I had a loaner Focus. I was sitting at a light wondering "why is the engine running?". :ohsnap: It is SUPPOSED to be running! Thats a good thing :) You get so used to the silence that it feels weird driving a regular car.

[inco]

Yikes. I might have to change her name from Black Barb to Snow White. There was a black car in my driveway yesterday, but its been replaced by a white one. Pictures later IF it stops snowing!

[inco]

_{Yesterday I did my volunteer run into the city (I drive folks for treatment once a week) and covered 98.8 km's and used 5.lL/100 km. Now I don't have half a day to do that conversion into US mpg, so I'll just say that the Explorer would have been 12 or 13L to do the same trip. For those of you that are NOT mathematically challenged, I'll let you do the math and tell if that's good or not. :shift:}

[corncobs]

You are doing excellent it turns roughly into 46 MPG.

 

A good website for a quick conversion would be

 

http://calculator-converter.com/l_100km_mpg_convert_mpg_to_l_per_100_km.php

 

I use this all the time.

Edited January 29, 2014 by corncobs

[inco]

Wow, thanks CC. :worship: And to think that I got over 46 US mpg and it's right out of the box - well a week old. So my challenge now will be to see if I can get it over 50. Now I can come back here and check. I'm happy/happier/happiest! :happy feet:

[dalesky]

Welcome Inco. I'm enjoying your posts. Have had my FFH for almost 8 months, and it still seems like a brand new car. I'm fortunate to not live in a state with real Winter, and I am impressed that you are getting 46MPG!

There are a lot of options, and this forum is a great source of info. Most guys only read the manual, for almost anything, as a last resort, but for this car it helps a lot.

[inco]

Thanks Dalesky, life is short so I figure I will have some fun and enjoy it. It may come across as a weird Canadian sense of humour, but I blame that on our cold weather and clean (usually) air. As a cancer survivor (of 15 years) life takes on a different meaning and being me is all that I have left so I'm going to enjoy each and every day and opportunity. :hi5:

 

I have said it before and I hope it doesn't get boring, but you get out of life what you put into it. I came here and noticed a lot of like minded people who offer their views, share their experiences and seem like genuine people - except Acdii and his snide comments about stealing my wheels!--- Just kidding AC - I like it. :sneaking:

 

What I have learned from this group is invaluable and I'm grateful for all of it. I will offer my opinions when I can, but you do need to know I'm a very shy person. Stop laughing, I'm serious. Why is it that nobody believes me....Anyway I am me and thanks for the likes along the way and one final note about yesterday....46 mpg - pfft. In Imperial mpg that's 55. tada. :runaway:

[hybridbear]

Thanks Dalesky, life is short so I figure I will have some fun and enjoy it. It may come across as a weird Canadian sense of humour, but I blame that on our cold weather and clean (usually) air. As a cancer survivor (of 15 years) life takes on a different meaning and being me is all that I have left so I'm going to enjoy each and every day and opportunity. :hi5:

 

I have said it before and I hope it doesn't get boring, but you get out of life what you put into it. I came here and noticed a lot of like minded people who offer their views, share their experiences and seem like genuine people - except Acdii and his snide comments about stealing my wheels!--- Just kidding AC - I like it. :sneaking:

 

What I have learned from this group is invaluable and I'm grateful for all of it. I will offer my opinions when I can, but you do need to know I'm a very shy person. Stop laughing, I'm serious. Why is it that nobody believes me....Anyway I am me and thanks for the likes along the way and one final note about yesterday....46 mpg - pfft. In Imperial mpg that's 55. tada. :runaway:

Congrats on surviving cancer. A good friend of ours has survived cancer twice and she is still going strong as she approaches 70 yrs old now. Glad you're enjoying your new toy :play: so far and I hope you continue to enjoy it for a long time!