Lots of firsts!

[siddhit]

Hello FFH owners,

 

I'm a new member thinking of buying the FFH SE 2015 model. It's not only my first time buying a hybrid but also buying a car and I had some questions:

1. I see lots of threads about having to "get" the high MPGs and thinking about how to drive better. Is this something that substantially affects daily driving? I mean do you reach places later and does it worsen the Ford driving experience? Do you have to spend money installing things to improve the mileage?
2. I live in Michigan, you know the winters there. I read someone say a hybrid has less advantages in cold climes. What's the basis for that?
3. Even with the obvious savings this car gives (even if it's not in 40s) why do only a few dealers stock them? I searched and all dealers had the cars in their "extended" inventory. I'm assuming that means it's not "on the lot". Is this because people are not aware or is it due to the mileage controversy?
4. What kind of price difference will I see if I buy a 2014 FFH SE as opposed to a 2015 one this time of the year (December 2014) and it is worth it?
5. For those who have had FFH that deliver less than 40 mpg, do you get any support fromt he dealerships to imrpove this? Basically what do you do if you get a bad egg?
6. Does using tools like TrueCar help decrease the haggling. I have a friend who may be able to give me a X plan PIN. Does this make the buying simple?

I know that's a lot of questions but I would appreciate the help!

 

Thanks,

Sid

 

[Easy Rider]

How's your financial situation ?

 

I'm not sure that a big hybrid like the Fusion is a good choice for a first car.

It costs more.

 

It screws with your head if, as you seem to be, you get obsessed with MPGs.

Do you really NEED a full sized car ?

 

The mileage that YOU get will depend largely on YOUR driving style and the conditions.

When it is really cold out ALL cars get a little worse mileage; no different for a hybrid.

 

Except for people who are REALLY obsessive about it, the only way you will consistently break 40 MPG is to be driving out in the country where there are few stops and you never go over 50 MPH. Next best is city without a lot of stops and last is highway at high speeds where I sometimes get only 35. Speed is a BIG factor there.

 

If you like to get away from lights quickly and often exceed the speed llimit on the freeways, your results won't be what the published figure is and no dealer in the world can make it better.

 

The term "Your mileage may vary." was coined for a good reason; it WILL.

[jeffo65]

Go test drive a Hybrid.

 

My wife consistently gets above 40 mpg with normal driving. In the winter we drop to 38 - 40 mpg.

 

She drives 20 miles to work each day with 15 of those being on the interstate.

 

You will learn how to achieve a high mpg after driving a hybrid.

 

Go drive one and let us know what you think.

[Texasota]

I can't disagree much with the above posts. I traded my 2012 Focus in on a 2015 FFH last August and have been extremely pleased so far. This is my first hybrid and during the first 4500 miles it was fairly easy to achieve ~44-45 MPG average (actual, not trip computer). About 60% of those miles are highway miles driving around 55-63 MPH. I just filled up two days ago and that tank dropped to 39.1 MPG (actual) because of our very cold Minnesota November. As Easy Rider said, all cars do significantly worse in cold weather (especially for short trips) and that was certainly true of my Focus. But, 39.1 MPG was much better than what my 2012 Focus would have achieved under the same conditions and also much better than what a gas Fusion would have achieved.

 

This forum has numerous members that are serious hybrid enthusiasts and maximizing MPG is a fun and challenging pursuit for them. I have learned a lot from them. But, one might get the wrong impression from some of the threads that extraordinary driving techniques are required to get good results (I am proof that is not true). Some of us also think they may be a little obsessed and could benefit from group therapy. ;)

[Griswald]

There isn't much difference to the driving style, I found that the more gentle you ust the "gas" pedal, the better you will do MPG wise. DO NOT BABY IT, that does not work. Drive normally, but softer.

 

Oh, and Easy Rider tells everybody that you cant get over 40 on highway trips, but lots of us do every day. My last 1400 mile trip averaged 45.

[Waldo]

You'll get great mileage in the hybrid, but the question you have to ask is will you get good enough mileage to cover the premium cost of the hybrid. In my case, I've averaged over 46mpg lifetime, but compared to a 1.6L Fusion that I could have had for about $2500 less, I'm only just breaking even on a montly basis (my lease payment is about $50 more and I save about $50 a month in gas). With gas prices dropping, that break even point gets even further away. That's why you don't see a lot of hybrids on the lot, because people aren't willing to pay up front for savings well down the road.

Edited December 8, 2014 by Waldo

[higheroctave32]

I live in CA so we don't have the extreme winters where I am, yet I am easily able to exceed the EPA numbers on a daily basis, whether or not I take the freeway. I do drive completely different than before I bought this car (my first hybrid). I think I may be one of the ones that have become a little obsessed with getting great mileage.

My only significant change is I have stopped taking the freeway to work and take all city streets. It takes me about 10-15 minutes longer, but is worth it for the mileage boost. It's actually less distance that way and I can enjoy the car more. I live in Sacramento, so there is never zero traffic except in the middle of the night, so my commute has many many many stops, and today I got this in 50 degree weather.

 

 

I was actively watching how I accelerate, regen brake, eyeballing my SOC etc. so it was not a completely casual drive, yet was thoroughly enjoyable because of the car. I normally get right at about 57 on the way in and 52-53 on the way home when it is colder. I made one quick run to drop off a package first thing and the car said 40 mpg when I stopped there, then continued on to work.

 

I don't drive like a little old lady, yet my driving style has mellowed considerably. I do believe that a great part of that has to do with the FFH being just such a nice car to drive, and I did not buy an expensive one. The only option on my SE is the MFT Technology Package.

I looked at true car a bit and had a few dealers trying to get me in, but I ended up just looking at all the options available and found the perfect one at Cars.com at a dealer an hour away that was marked down $2500 so I pulled the trigger fast.

If you can find the right model of 14, I would think that you could get a decent price as the 15's are now fully in stock everywhere and dealers are going to want to move them out.

 

 

 

 

[Easy Rider]

Oh, and Easy Rider tells everybody that you cant get over 40 on highway trips, but lots of us do every day. My last 1400 mile trip averaged 45.

I may have said that a time or two but what I should have said is "If you like to drive fast".

What do you figure your average highway speed was when you got 45 ? I'll bet it wasn't 80 MPH or more.

 

The only time I have gotten 45 on the highway was when I had a 15 MPH tail wind.

 

And then......YMMV.

A few report great mileage, 45 and even above.

A few report terrible mileage; don't seem to be able to best the low 30's.

 

I don't think that EMPHASIZING either of those extremes is necessarily doing prospective buyers any favors.

Most owners fall somewhere in between those extremes.

 

And just because you are lucky enough to have a "good" car or better than average technique does NOT mean that every owner will be able to do that.

Edited December 9, 2014 by Easy Rider

[higheroctave32]

I'm sure the topography matters the most. Here, most of the freeways are not flat, but undulate often, so you can hop in and out of EV and boost your mileage. That's what I do at least and when I'm on the freeway I normally drive about 68.

[siddhit]

Hello!

 

I love this forum! You guys really gave diverse views and it's really helping. I've test driven, visited a couple of showrooms to crosscheck prices (and a few more left) but I've almost made up my mind to buy it. Thank you, all of you!

 

 

@Easy Rider: I'm not in a bad shape, though I daresay I'm a little above budget with this car. But calculating the difference between the FF SE and FFH SE comes to $2300-3000 depending on financing and rebates and this, by my yearly usage, will get covered in 2-3 years (cumulative). So yeah, you have to wait a bit. But my thinking was (and I maybe wrong) that if I'm buying a new car (as opposed to an old one), I'd rather run it down for 12-15 years and that will really show the savings. I took a normal hybrid mpg of 35 for the calculation.

 

The other consideration was that I'm married and I thought the FF was a decent family car. And thanks for the clarification later on.

 

@jeff065: I drove it and I didn't understand the difference. I think that says it all. I'm not randy enough to go more than 10 above the speed limit either. The showroom guy told me to "go for it, nothing will break" but I went only 55 on a 45 road. Basically I'm a boring driver. Hahaha.

 

@Texasota: I think Michigan would fare the same. Not as good as a Texas but I'll give feedback once I buy and drive it.

 

@Griswald: thanks for the tip!

 

@Waldo: yeah I'll have to wait for the breakeven but I plan to keep this my dark horse so hopefully it should make sense later on.

 

@higheroctave32: that mpg is insane! thanks for the tips. I think I'm going to be the same though my wife thinks I drive like an old lady already. I hope I haven't already pissed FFH fans off. Haha

 

And yeah, Michigan seems to be relatively flat so that part should be fine.

 

Again thanks you guys. Will post any upworthy experiences in the buying and driving.

[corncobs]

You have you mind set right and if you start driving during the test drive like you apparently did you will do great in the FFH.

 

You can be called an old lady driver all day long but for most guys around here its releaxed driving and as bonus you get a smile for yourself at the gas station.

[jeffo65]

Our FFH is my wife's car. She is the primary driver and she has no problem keeping the MPGs up. When I do drive it, I can also keep the MPGs up. It is a very easy car to drive and you will understand its quirks in no time. There are many ways to squeeze out out MPGs as many of the members here can attest.

 

Buy iy and you will feel relaxed driving it. You will enjoy it.

[Waldo]

If it's going to be your family car, then be sure to test fit everything you will use in the trunk. My stroller isn't that big and it just barely fits in the back (lower) section of the trunk. And when it's there, it pretty much blocks all access to the front part of the trunk. If I take my time I can contort it sideways and leave more space, but that's a pain to do on a regular basis. If you have one of the bigger strollers, you might have even more trouble, so make sure to check it out carefully.

[darrelld]

There is another economic factor with hybrids you rarely see discussed. Driving primarily city runs the FFH gas engine about half the time. So with 100k on the odometer the gas engine will have about 50k accumulated. Something to consider if you expect to hit those miles before trading.