Please post any questions or problems you may have about the new Ford Hybrid SUV. I will try to answer them. I have gained a wealth of information during the time I have owned and driven this great car. I enjoy communicating with owners of other hybrids. I think it helps the entire community to learn more about all of its vehicle segments. At my disposal I have technical manuals, some Ford contacts, and many friends who also want to pass on what we have learned. Mike
Thanks for offering your 'services' Mike!! I'm sure Danny will want to take advantage of you when he gets the EscapeHybridChat.com up and running.
Yes, Mike, thank you for joining us here on PriusChat. I look forward to your involvement on the site! Danny
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome! From one person who is trying to make the world a little bit better to another We hybrid driver's have to stick together. The more the merrier. BTW, What is your gas mileage like in the Escape? Do you have an MFD (Multi Function Display)? How does it handle compared to the non-hybrid version? Take care, Tisza
My wife and I came up behind a Honda Civic Hybrid. I accelerated and changed lanes to come up on their side. Unfortunately, they must have thought I was trying to be a prick because they accelerated also. Unfortunately, our turn came before I ever got on their side. Point is, I wasn't trying to be a jerk. I just wanted to do a Prius wave from one hybrid owner to another. :wave:
Thanks Tisza. [BTW, What is your gas mileage like in the Escape? Do you have an MFD (Multi Function Display)? How does it handle compared to the non-hybrid version? ] My mileage has been well above that reported by others and the EPA. I live in the High Desert near Palm Springs and drive to school downhill 2,000 feet and then back up again over 40 miles. I use many of the tips given to me by Prius owners (braking regen, coasting, anticipation). My last 7 tanks have been over 30 MPG and currently I stand at 34.7 for the week as the weather here gets warmer. I have the Visteon Audiophile Navigation System and love it because it gives me instant feedback on making decisions on how to max out mileage. I have not driven the regular Escape but both should be about the same except the additional several hundred pounds of rear batteries. The car handles very smoothly on corners. The electric-assist steering is very responsive and smooth. The drive-by-wire accelerator and brakes were not hard to get used to. Mike
Hiya Eak354 - I went to the U of H in 1964. Loved it back then! [how much was your Escape Hybrid and we'd love to see pics of the dash or display!] I ordered mine back in September '04 for MSRP and it was delivered in late November. It is the AWD (4WD) model with Appearance Pack, and Nav System. There were not too many options available. I added Aires step sides from the after market and spend months trying to get a hitch installed before finally hooking up with Curt Manf. and Hitch.Com to modify a hitch assembly. I use the hitch to pull a drag maintaining my dirt road. The total price, including tax was about $34,000. There are better pics of the Nav Display at the Ford Hybrid site but when I get home I will try to upload a couple of mine. Mike
how would the escape respond to a heavy foot? its obviously an art to get the best milage possible, but what if you drive hard? what kind of MPG would one get? how is the build quality? does the interior creek and rattle or is it pretty solid? what aspects of the car would you change, have there been disappointments?
See Mike, I told you the need for a document (like the Prius User-Guide) would rapidly grow. Keep updating the notes you have in the works...
[How would the Escape respond to a heavy foot? What kind of MPG would one get?] The mileage definitely goes down. I would guess an overall MPG of about 25-27 or less with aggressive driving. Not long ago I met another member on this forum and he gave my wife and I a drive in his 2004 Prius. Even though he was aggressive his mileage did not decrease as much as the Escape does, minute to minute. [How is the build quality?] I was impressed. It is still tight after 7,000 miles. I do have a rattle from the ball insert into the hitch and sometimes I can feel bumps from the suspension. [What aspects of the car would you change?] I complain about being unable to run the defroster and also stay in EV. Also, the sun visors are not long enough for tall people. I think the computer instructions could be a bit looser and allow better mileage in the first few minutes.
Mike, First off welcome aboard! While I personally have no need for an SUV hybrid, I'm certainly for anything that helps make our impact on the planet - and our pocketbook at the pumps - minimal. I was very glad to hear that Ford was using 'similar' technology to Toyota. I really think this is a big step Ford is taking, and it's do or die time for the Big 3. Unfortunately it looks like GM and others aren't as interested as Ford is, but that's their loss. I take it from your last post that you haven't driven a Prius. If you have though, would you say it's fairly similar handling/accel/braking? Also, the Prius seems to have a noticable break in period that produces better numbers once it surpasses the 5-10k range - have you noticed this (yet) on the Escape? Finally, does the hybrid system carry a similar warranty to what Toyota offers with the Prius? (8yr/100k miles) Thanks again for joining us here, and I'm certainly one of many Prius owners who hope that Ford hits a home run with the Escape and moves on to make more of their vehicles hybrid (the focus is perfect!) -m.
Gee - Trying to keep up with all these posts while trying to also entertain and teach 20 seven and eight year olds is tough! I have not driven any other hybrid but have ridden in them so please take what I say as anecdotal. I cannot compare the handling because they are different types of cars. I can compare the FEH with my old '89 Bronco II. Turning radius is less even though it is a longer wheelbase. I certainly do not miss the steering wheel lurching back and forth in tight turns in 4WD. Very smooth now. On rough terrain the ride is bumping like a truck but not too bad. Ford uses 16 inch Continental tires which are hard and loud. I can accelerate with anyone off the line or onto the freeway but the gas is really sucked up. Braking is exceptional and I often ride the regen portion of the brakes whenever possible. It is hard to decide whether the mileage is getting better because of total miles or better weather. I thought I saw a change at about 3,000 but that is strictly a guess. I believe my car does not like cold or wet weather. The warranty is California mandated the same as any other SULEV. Whoops - in walks the Principal - Back to work. Mike
Hi Mike, Thanks for offering to do this! My question is about the EV mode: is there a switch where you can turn it on or off? Or is it like the Prius (at least, a US Prius without a 3rd party EV switch), where the car decides when EV mode should be entered or left? I am impressed with the Escape Hybrid, and with Ford, from what I've seen. I have no use for an SUV myself, but I know a lot of people who do; and it appears that there will be two (or more) good hybrid models available for sale soon.
There is no manual EV switch although many people would like to have the option of making that decision. The firmware decides based on a multitude of inputs.
there's a new hybrid in the familyyyy, yes its true. a silver escape w/appearance, safety, leather and nav packages. 30mpg so far!
