Help with a hybrid buying decision...

[garymkrieg]

I need some help with a car buying decision we are about to make. The situation is this, we have driven exclusively Lexus for the last 15 years. Our next car can not be a Lexus since it can no longer be towed behind our motorhome, tried the dolly and trailer not going there again. We want to get a hybrid and are looking at a new Lincoln MKZ or the Ford Fusion Energi. Since I can not buy both and keep the one I like I need input from people who have experience with these cars. Price is not an issue with either car, the issue is if we go the Fusion we can get the Energi, with the MKZ that is not an option. I think with our life style the Fusion Energi would be a better choice than a straight hybrid.

 

If we went with the Fusion Energi, coming from the Lexus, would we be happy with quality, noise level, ride, comfort, etc? My assumption is that we would probably be happy with the Lincoln. I realize that this is not the Energi forum, but I respect the people who post here and would value their opinion. This may not be able to be answered but I thought I was better off asking the question anyway.

 

Gary

[GrySql]

Here are a couple Topics that comment on some of your concerns.

 

http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/9101-mercedes-cls-550/?p=85176

 

http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/9060-towing-a-fusion-titanium/?p=84656

[Easy Rider]

This may not be able to be answered but I thought I was better off asking the question anyway.

 

 

The part of the question that you emphasized probably IS impossible to answer because how you "like" a vehicle overall is such a subjective thing.

You need to take an extended test ride.......or two......in each vehicle before you decide.

 

Why do you think a plugin would be better for you ? Do you take a lot of short trips and/or always have access to plug it in ?

 

Don't overlook the Fusion Hybrid Titanium. I actually like it better than the MKZ.

[acdii]

Depends on which Lexus you had. The Upgraded Camry, or one of the actual Lexus cars. If the ES3whatever, the Fusion will be a better car. Yes you can tow it behind a motor home, there are several here who do it. As far as quiet, you really can't get much quieter than the Energi, If you hear anything it will be the soft whine of the electrics. I found the Fusion to be a very quiet car, and after a while you get used to the grr the ICE makes under load, which goes away after you reach your destined speed. I found that the most ICE noise I am hearing is actually the Active Noise Cancellation. Strange, but I can detect the low frequency countereffect in the car over the ICE itself.

[garymkrieg]

Current car is a 2007 RX350, not really concerned about going from an SUV to a sedan. Yes, most of our trips are shorter and we will be able to plug it in while parked at the motorhome, we live in the motorhome.

Edited August 8, 2014 by garymkrieg

[hybridbear]

 

The part of the question that you emphasized probably IS impossible to answer because how you "like" a vehicle overall is such a subjective thing.

You need to take an extended test ride.......or two......in each vehicle before you decide.

 

Why do you think a plugin would be better for you ? Do you take a lot of short trips and/or always have access to plug it in ?

 

Don't overlook the Fusion Hybrid Titanium. I actually like it better than the MKZ.

Why would you discourage someone from getting an Energi? Even if someone takes a lot of long trips the Energi is still a more efficient option. Just ask Jeff_h. He drives many miles a day, I think close to 100 round-trip, and he is able to attest to the savings of the Energi even on those long drives versus the hybrid.

 

Current car is a 2007 RX350, not really concerned about going from an SUV to a sedan. Yes, most of our trips are shorter and we will be able to plug it in while parked at the motorhome, we live in the motorhome.

Sounds like the Energi is a perfect fit! We find the FFH to be one of the most comfortable cars we've ever sat in. It's very quiet on the freeway with much less tire noise than other cars. The FFH is heavier than some of its competitors (i.e. Camry Hybrid) and part of this is because of the additional sound-deadening materials used in the Fusion. Many who have come from other luxury cars have commented that they are very happy with the FFH. We had one member who came from driving a fairly new BMW 5 series and he has been very happy with his FFH (http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/topic/8024-has-anyone-gone-from-a-5-series-bmw-to-a-ford-fusion-energi-titanium/). Here is another thread where some owners talked about what they drove before and their comparisons of previous cars to their FFH.

Edited August 8, 2014 by hybridbear

[Easy Rider]

Why would you discourage someone from getting an Energi?

 

I am not discouraging anybody from anything.

 

I am asking questions and trying to expand the discussion.

[hybridbear]

Why do you think a plugin would be better for you ? Do you take a lot of short trips and/or always have access to plug it in ?

 

 

I am not discouraging anybody from anything.

 

I am asking questions and trying to expand the discussion.

Your questions, quoted above, imply that the only people who should buy PHEVs are those who take a lot of short trips and who always have access to plug it in. That is simply not true. If the trunk space is not an issue & the price is not an issue, then everyone should get the PHEV because your operating costs will be lower and you'll do less damage to the environment.

[B25Nut]

"If the price is not an issue, then everyone should get the PHEV"

I personally don't have friends to whom, like me, price would not be an issue.. With the price of our electricity, the Energi doesn't make economic sense for me, and many others. Once the charge is used up, the Energi gets "only" 38 mpg. It will also be a heavier vehicle to pull behind a motorhome, which is an added cost compared to the FFH.

Also, I think it is time to call a truce with ER.

[talmy]

"If the price is not an issue, then everyone should get the PHEV"

I personally don't have friends to whom, like me, price would not be an issue.. With the price of our electricity, the Energi doesn't make economic sense for me, and many others. Once the charge is used up, the Energi gets "only" 38 mpg.

 

The calculations sure get tricky. Not only do you have to consider the relative cost of gas versus electricity (here electricity is relatively inexpensive to most of the country and gasoline is expensive), type of driving and miles per year, projected depreciation, time value of money, value of any local incentives, and potential differences in maintenance costs.

 

Seven years ago I went crazy with this when we were considering the purchase of a Camry Hybrid versus a gas (only available) Fusion. For us the break even point was four years if everything went well -- while Toyota had years of Prius experience the Camry Hybrid was new with a different power train, and any serious problems would cost in maintenance and depreciation.

 

Luckily it all worked out and we have had three years saving money overall. That made it easy to buy our 2014 Fusion. We didn't even consider anyone's gas-only car and only looked at hybrids.

 

PHEVs add even more dimensions to the decision problem. In our case the reduced trunk was the killer -- the Energi trunk would not hold all the gear we carry when traveling. Lucky maybe, since doing the financial calculations is even more daunting!

[Easy Rider]

 

 

Your questions, quoted above, imply that

 

then everyone should get the PHEV because your operating costs will be lower and you'll do less damage to the environment.

 

I implied nothing; you inferred.

 

Unlike you, I don't think that any single vehicle is the right choice for "everybody".

 

You seem to leave little room for opinions that differ from yours......even if they don't really.......so I think it's a good time for me to bow out of this thread.

Edited August 15, 2014 by Easy Rider

[machoman1337]

Coming from an RX? You'll definitely find that the Fusion Hybrid is no-compromise in terms of ride quality and quietness.

 

If you were coming from the LS, you'd probably have a different opinion :P (source: my dad after trying out my FFH).

 

However, you have to keep the trunk space in mind, even more so with the Energi. Take the FFH for a test drive and inspect the trunk carefully. Although it's not that small, the "hump" caused by the battery pack can be a huge hindrance when it comes to loading luggage. If that's a concern, consider the Chevrolet Volt, a car I almost chose over the FFH.

Edited August 15, 2014 by machoman1337

[acdii]

Did you know you can fit a large cooler in the trunk? I didn't until this morning when my wife stuck it in there. I have "stuff" already in the trunk and it still fit. Pack properly and you can fit enough stuff for 5 people for a 4 day trip.

[hermans]

I recently transported a complete Sleep Number bed in my FFH. I had to fold down the seat backs to make all the foam pieces fit, but I did it. Also all the luggage for a 6 day trip over 2100 miles. I may have been the first to put an entire SN king size bed in their FFH.

Edited August 15, 2014 by hermans

[garymkrieg]

As I mentioned in the first post this car will be towed behind a motorhome. My wife and I actually live in the motorhome and at least 6 months a year we would not be paying for electricity, it's included in the campground fee. So that makes the calculation about operating costs a little simpler in my mind.

[gf2020]

If I'm spending your money then I would get the MKZ Hybrid with the Preferred equipment group.

[darrelld]

The nice thing about towing the Energi behind your RV is the abundance of 240 charging at the RV parks you probably visit. I had a Lexus IS350 and I would rate the Fusion as quiet and a better ride quality.

[nv rick]

Coming from an RX? You'll definitely find that the Fusion Hybrid is no-compromise in terms of ride quality and quietness.

 

If you were coming from the LS, you'd probably have a different opinion :P (source: my dad after trying out my FFH).

 

However, you have to keep the trunk space in mind, even more so with the Energi. Take the FFH for a test drive and inspect the trunk carefully. Although it's not that small, the "hump" caused by the battery pack can be a huge hindrance when it comes to loading luggage. If that's a concern, consider the Chevrolet Volt, a car I almost chose over the FFH.

I don't know if the FFH has fold-down rear seats, but on my MKZ hybrid, we folded down the rear seats, slid two carry-on sized cases onto the top of the battery shelf, closed the rear seats and still had the remainder of the trunk to use. We have the cargo container with the cooler that fits inside it, and so we had plenty of room to take orange juice, chips and soda, along with other things we would have had to buy on arrival when we went to Lake Tahoe for a few days.

The trunk may be a problem if traveling with more than two or three people, but for the wife and me, there is more than enough room for any trips we take. In a pinch, we could fold down the rear seats if we need more room on our monthly trips to Costco.