My Ford Escape Hybrid Has Arrived!
Created January 28, 2005, at 12:17 am by Anonymous
I picked up my FEH at 5:15 this evening. I paid MSRP for a fully loaded 4WD at Capitol Ford in Carson City, Nevada.
I had a 30-mile drive home, and I averaged an impressive 37 mpg (combined city/hwy driving). On the highway my mpg was actually higher -- 40 mpg. Can only hope this keeps up!
The car drove well, and the Navigation/Radio/Fuel info system is great! As some of you know, my SUV has been on order for 4 1/2 months. Glad I received one of the first off the line in 2005. By the way, Jones West Ford in Reno called me last week. They have (had?) one on the showroom floor if anyone is looking.
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7 years ago
Thats great! Did you baby it to get that kind of mileage? Still waiting for my FEH. I saw a white FEH with the apearance package for the first time on EBay. It looked alot nicer than one I saw that had the standard gray bottom. I called to see if I could change the color from green. I was told that my car had been serialized and they could not make a change at this point. Does anyone know anything about that issue? The Dealer is saying the unit will be here by the 2nd week in Feb. It was ordered Nov. 11.
7 years ago
Kim, great news - congrats.
Gary, the unit cannot be changed after it has been serrialized. It will be built just like it was accepted into the production system cycle.
The arrival date has very little to do with the order date. See other threads on allocated vehicles.
7 years ago
I didn't baby it from my traditional way of driving. I've always had a "lightfoot". I remember back in the late '70's "test driving" a Union 76 machine that told you what type of mileage you'd receive, based on your driving behavior. Even then I had the same type of result -- very high mileage. About that same time I enjoyed getting 50 mpg in my new Datsun 210.
As of today, after a full day of "city" driving, the average is down to 30.5 mpg.
7 years ago
Duane, read the other threads. Are you saying being serialized does not mean its about to be built? I don't know if I was 1st or 2nd on the two Dealer allocated units. If I was second, does that mean it could take 6 months longer than the first unit? Thanks
7 years ago
Kim, sounds like you have good driving habits, I don't. Trying to change by buying a FEH. Sort of like joining AA I guess. Had 11 Mustang Muscle cars and street raced my '67 GT 500 (427cu in - 10 sec 1/4) in the '70's. At 50, I still have a heavy foot. Good news is, I found myself after ordering and reading about HYBRID's, challenging my heavy foot and turning off the climate control when not needed. I'm getting better MPG already! Started feeling good about myself! HYBRID's may be starting a trend here. Anyone else care to confess and clean up your act?
7 years ago
Gary - based on what we know now, all 2005's should be delivered by June. If you are serialized, you are scheduled to be built - no more than 3-4 weeks out at most.
7 years ago
A little more information. Dealerships get updated production status on Thur. evenings. Call on Fridays to see if the production or delivery information has been received on your vehicle.
My point about time of order not meaning much was that many factors influence which orders are scheduled in which sequence. Higher priorities (lower numbers assigned by the dealer) will be built before other units if commodities are available.
For example if the dealership is to get two units and I order in Nov. with a 25 priority, and my wife, (who they like better than me) comes in and orderes in December and they put a "10" on it (because she is a "10"). Hers will most likely be built first.
Also, if they can only build 400 units with Nav. systems for the month but the orders include 1,000 Nav units, some will be postponed. Ford will attempt to schedule retail units before stock units,
7 years ago
Thanks Duane, based on what little I know about Ford and sales, I think you are a straight person and give great info.. Am I correct in saying that retail are sold cars and stock are still for sell? Thats the way I see it but others don't deal with those terms. Stock to me also means factory installed. That's why I bring this issue up. You must be in sales, am I right?
7 years ago
Gary, you are correct that retail means that the dealer has a customer order for the vehicle and stock means for inventory. I'm retired Ford (parts marketing and service areas). I've been gone since '99 but try to stay in touch through my dealer buddies. My last 10 years were in the field as a Dealer Operations Manager.
Now you know why I am so Pro-Escape Hybrid.
7 years ago
I've been reading Duane's comments regarding stock vs. retail. I ordered my HEV (2WD with no options, the first ordered with priority = 10) through a dealership in Greensboro, NC back in July (I know the order wouldn't have been submitted until later since they would not have been able to order it in July.) The dealer told me their mechanics had the required training, but I was wondering how a dealership in Raleigh, NC, could get 6 stock and 1 retail HEV (I know this because their inventory is online and I talked to a salesperson there) and yet my dealer has no idea when they'll get their first one, i.e. mine! If anyone can give me some idea of what might be going on, I'd appreciate any thoughts. Ford seems to have a very bizarre distribution philosophy. Thanks.
7 years ago
I am not sure how Ford determined the total allowable Hybrids per dealership (usually based on prior sales of the vehicle line), but the ordering and scheduling system is fairly simple. Ford production looks at what they can build and goes into the order banks and selects vehicles to build. The date of the order is considered, the priority of the order is considered, the commodities available for build is considered, the dealership allocation and retail vs. stock order is considered.
I am surprised that they have told you that they do not have any idea when your unit will be in. Perhaps the salesperson doesn't know how to check the Vehicle Order Processing Center or hasn't asked the sales manager for the latest status on your unit.
Ford updates the production scheduling system each Thursday evening. On Fridays, they will get (and usually print out) the latest information for each vehicle scheduled out for the next few weeks of production.
I've seen no commodity constraints (other than Nav. which is resolved now I believe) so your unit is most likely scheduled, produced or on the way to the dealership. Call and ask them to check VOPC or their Friday scheduling run to see where your unit stands.
7 years ago
About mileage, I have a FWD FEH with 2000 miles on it now, and I consistently have gotten 25-27 mpg around town, and 27 mpg on the highway (even over stretches averaging 80 mph). I am disappointed in the city mileage, nowhere near the 36 mpg EPA rating.
I checked around the web, and found Consumer Reports got around 28 mpg overall on a 600 mile or so long term write-up.
Around town, I noticed the engine doesn't shut off at all stops, even when it's warmed up, it will often stay on. I do try to drive 25 mph or below on residential streets, so I'll be in electric "golf cart mode"
Anyone else with actual mileage numbers?
John
7 years ago
I picked my 4WD FEH on Dec 20th and have just over 2000 miles mainly to and from work. (Only one off-road excursion) and have 28.7 mpg recorded on the vehicles system. However, I also checked the mileage between each tank of gas and calculate 29.1 mpg, with best tank recording 30.4 and the worst tank 27.8mpg.
7 years ago
Duane - I checked with a sales manager. They say that they check with the VOPC on a regular basis. According to them there's been no indication of anything happening (serializing, scheduling, etc.) with my order. Is there anyone whom I or the dealership can talk to to find out what's going on? Is anyone else having this problem? Thanks again for any info.
7 years ago
Very cold weather, mostly short trips, and lots of hills have made my initial MPG rather disappointing: about 17 MPG. On warm days and on the high way things are much better: about 29 MPG. This is for a 4WD FEH.
7 years ago
John, I drove my FWD over 100 miles checking this FEH out for the the second time. I live in South Florida with no hills and today was about 77 degrees. I have heard that the FEH would operate on elec. up to 25mph. I could do 31mph and set the cruise control and stay on elec for miles at a time. I was also able to get up to 35mph on elec with a light foot. I'm very pleased with this but does anyone think this is odd? I did have the A/C on and I am thankful for the mode that circulates the cool inside air when just the elec. drive is moving the FEH. Letting outside air in FL. would heat the Escape interior fast. I could except the amount time with the windows up before the gas engine started up and started the compressor for more cooling. I know when summer gets here I'll be using Max A/C alot more.
7 years ago
CB -- Check out the December 2004 thread titled "Ford Escape -- On order, but no ETA". As you'll see, I was having the EXACT same problem. In the thread I describe my conversations with Ford regarding my vehicle's ETA. As you'll see, I finally got an answer from them. Feel free to e-mail me offline, if you'd like more info. Kim
6 years ago
My wife and I brought the FEH 6 weeks ago. We ordered it in late jan. Tthere was not waiting list. As we live in southeast michigan, we brought the 4 wheel drive version with all of the options and paid 31,700.00. The dealership had it in feb. We could have picked it up then, but we wanted to sell our other car first. After the first 1000 miles the mileage began to rise from about 25 mpg to a current number of 30 mpg. This is a wonderful ride. Ford has built a very flexible and enjoyable hybrid.
6 years ago
I ordered my FEH in Nov 2004 and it arrived May 2005, where Ford listed it as "clean" (having all parts available) and priority 10 for a couple months. However, the fleet orders have priorities 1-9, possibly a reason for delay.
Only have 650 miles to date, getting average ~30MPG ... however, the FEH Owner's Guide states that you need to get past the engine break-in period (1000 miles) before achieving the best MPG. It goes on to say that a more accurate measurement for FEH fuel economy will be after 2000-3000 miles. The FEH Yahoo group posts support that their MPG increased over time.
Also I have found, as many other FEH owners posted, that my driving habits have changed to increase MPG. It is enjoyable to see how long I can stay in stealth mode (EV) by accelerating slower and keeping steady speeds.
6 years ago
I purchased my front wheel drive FEH in August. I was fortunate to find one that was ordered by another party that got tired of waiting and purchased a standard escape instead. I have a long commute to work each day. (110 miles round trip.) The trip is about 70% highway and 30% city. My mileage is currently at 31.3 mpg average. This is after 4500 miles. The avg. mpg is still increasing at about a rate of .5 per week. I am hoping to achieve a final average of about 33 mpg which is double my prior vehicle. I was very lucky to find this escape and feel that the mileage is as advertized.
Bob from NJ
6 years ago
My 30 minute commute is 100% under 50Mph and 20% in "stealth mode". I average 38Mpg with a peak at 41.2. I have not passed the 1000 mile threshold so hopefully the mileage will improve. My wife is certainly happier about my improved driving habits. Do hybrids have fewer accidents than their gas-only counterparts?
5 years ago
I'm 22 and I can honestly tell you that if the Hybrid market were bigger, meaning more selections, (mainly cheaper selections) then I would personally pick one up. I have been big into drag racing my whole life and I am more than willing to pick this up as new technology. So I can relate in a way. I'm glad I found this forum also btw. My first post. :)
5 years ago
Welcome Slidingby
You just responded to a post a few months short of being two years old. Yes, that was me you quoted. Got my FWD FEH in Feb '05, and have saved a ton of money on gas. I have over 30,000 miles on it and I could never go back to gas hogs.
Like racing for fun, saving gas is not only fun, you save much more money than racing. I've been able to push 70.3mpg on a 20 mile round trip in the FWD FEH EPA rated at 36mpg city. My tanks are averaging mid 40's now and when it gets cool here in So. Florida, I expect to be in the low 50's. It's like racing for Fuel efficiency, and you win by not stopping for gas for about every 600 miles.
If you can, get a hybrid before gas goes back up after the elections. I have a feeling the demand for hybrids are going to go up soon. For the price if that is the factor, the '07 Honda Civic Hybrid would be your best bet with lots of options that are standard.
GaryG
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