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The story of Sylvia.. my FFH...

Discussion in 'Ford/Lincoln Hybrids and EVs' started by coach81, Oct 9, 2018.

  1. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    So a few years ago (2013-2014).. I saved up all my pennies and got the car of my dreams.... you see I wanted a Prius but my wife and friends told me I could not have it... it was too ugly... and it was a "wussy" car.

    So out came the Ford Fusion Hybrid.... it was a hybrid car- but pretty!!! My prayers were answered!!!! I negotiated my local Ford dealer down to what I thought was a good deal, and I ordered my new car. When it came in... and the first time I drove it... I felt complete... I was so utterly happy.... it had everything.. a smooth ride, fantastic state-of-the-art technology, and the fuel efficiency I so dearly wanted... and it was STUNNING to look at. For two blissful years....All was right with the world...

    Then one night, I parked it along the curb, and not in my yard due to friends parking.... and it happened. The neighbor backed into my Sylvia and severely dented the door!!!! OH THE HORROR!!!

    But they were good people, and actually contacted me, and gave me their insurance information, and I got her fixed.. good as new... or so I thought...

    About a week or so after my door was repaired, I come out to take it to work and.... it is dead... completely dead. So I get some help, and take it to dealership, they charge me for a new battery and all is well, I thought.

    3 weeks later... she's dead again. I take her to dealership, they "fix it".. get her back.. rinse and repeat.. this continues for about 3 months at least 8 trips to the dealership and they "fix it" get it back... dead again...

    So by this time I've sadly come to terms that my Sylvia has a terminal illness, and I have to say goodbye. The last time I brought her back to a different dealership, they said that "something is really wrong with this car, it is dead, we gonna have to get a Ford engineer down here to look at it". I said forget it.. just jump it off.

    I took her to my local Nissan dealership, and traded her in (got about 8-9K for her I think) for a brand new gas guzzling '16 Altima SV for 22K flat which is now paid off....and running fine.

    Lessons learned..

    1. Never will I ever buy another Ford vehicle.
    2. Nissan has never let me down.
    3. I should have just bought the Prius (which is what I'm waiting to do now)

    Thanks for reading my story.. I welcome any comments, questions or feedback.
    Coach
     
    #1 coach81, Oct 9, 2018
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    sad story, i hope you find something you will love as much.

    odd that a dented door could mean the end of a fairly new vehicle, your neighbors must feel awful.
     
    #2 bisco, Oct 9, 2018
  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Could have jarred something loose or created a short somewhere.
     
    #3 Trollbait, Oct 9, 2018
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    too bad nissan doesn't have a phev
     
    #4 bisco, Oct 9, 2018
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  5. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    That is exactly what my wife and I think. I suggested as such to the dealership... to no avail... *sigh*
     
    #5 coach81, Oct 9, 2018
  6. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Very well could be something in a 'black box' with no way of detecting the problem by the usual means. Friend nearly lemon lawed a Pontiac for a similar issue with the car just stranding him places. It was finally fixed when GM broke down, and okayed the replacement of the main computer module.
     
    #6 Trollbait, Oct 9, 2018
  7. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    I still think about her... I wonder what ever happened to her. No doubt Nissan sold her to someone else.. too bad...
     
    #7 coach81, Oct 10, 2018
  8. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    I have a 2013 ford c-max hybrid SEL with 130k. I've done 33k miles in 11 months. Not one hiccup. Doesn't drink a drop of oil. More solid than my last 3 Prii. Amazing car. This has the same drivetrain as the FFH.
     
    #8 Aaron Vitolins, Oct 10, 2018
  9. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    I don't blame you, getting rid of it though. Totally understand. Not all ford hybrids are bad. Some are amazing! Like my brothers FEH. Never had one problem with 228k miles. Way under maintained too! Haha
     
    #9 Aaron Vitolins, Oct 10, 2018
  10. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    The Ranger once stalled out on me, and luckily restarted are a couple of tries. After a week at the dealers of trying fixes, they replaced some computer module, and never an issue since.

    Electronics allow the monitoring and control that make hybrids and high efficiency engines and transmissions possible. When they are the thing that breaks, it can be a chore finding what part is actually broken.

    Ever been in a car with intermittent dash lights? That is usually a wire that has rubbed its insulation off on a piece of metal, and it is now occassionally grounding out on that metal. Would you want to pull apart the dash to find the problem wire?
     
    #10 Trollbait, Oct 10, 2018
  11. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    NO Fair!!!! I wanted an experience like that!!!!
     
    #11 coach81, Oct 10, 2018
  12. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    Don't we all! It's run up and down steep windy mountain roads daily too. Insane little hybrid. What type of mpg did you get in your FFH (while it wasn't in the shop :) )
     
    #12 Aaron Vitolins, Oct 10, 2018
  13. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you didn't get hit in the door though.:cool:
     
    #13 bisco, Oct 10, 2018
  14. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    Very true. Knock on wood!
     
    #14 Aaron Vitolins, Oct 10, 2018
  15. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    As I recall 46 mpg+ I drove it like a paw paw, didn’t run the a/c, and pampered it. I loved driving all electric!!!
     
    #15 coach81, Oct 10, 2018
  16. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    Thats great! I get about 41, but it's mostly highway. Mine runs all electric all the way to 85 mph. But I hate that it's always draining the battery at highway speeds. It makes it sooo inefficient :(
     
    #16 Aaron Vitolins, Oct 10, 2018
  17. coach81

    coach81 Active Member

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    Wow... all electric... someday....
     
    #17 coach81, Oct 11, 2018
  18. Shane Burns

    Shane Burns Member

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    Sorry about your car! Must be a lemon :\ I bought my 2014 FFE (Ford Fusion Energi) to replace my 2010 Prius with blown head gasket in 6 month back. My car have the same drivetrain in FFH and Cmax Hybrid... just a larger battery which took the half space in my trunk! I like this car a lot but I was hoping to get little more MPG than what I currently get. I get 39 mixed driving and highway is 41 to 43mpg. I have to keep telling myself my car is not a Prius!

    Anyway, the American hybrid cars such as Chevy Volt or Ford Escape Hybrid is pretty solid! Unlike their normal gasoline cars.... I find it funny that their Hybrid is much reliable than their ICE cars... I read some articles that Ford Escape Hybrid is running strong at 500,000 miles and some Escape need new transmission at 200k! Or a Chevy Volt rolled 450,000 miles and starting to show sign of wear! Amazing!
     
    #18 Shane Burns, Oct 30, 2018
  19. Aaron Vitolins

    Aaron Vitolins Senior Member

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    I had to keep telling my self the same! It's not a Prius... It's not a Prius.... But you're right american hybrids seem really solid
     
    #19 Aaron Vitolins, Nov 1, 2018
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  20. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Most brands are much better today than they were in the past. Electrical problems are just a pain to track down. Just read a car has 11 pounds of wires in it today. My bet is that Sylvia had a motor/switch for the window of locks, or even just a wire, damaged in the crash that was causing a constant drain on the battery.
     
    #20 Trollbait, Nov 3, 2018
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