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Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan Hybrid

1054 messages,  Last post on Nov 01, 2009 at 2:52 PM

You are in the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan Hybrid Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

What is this discussion about? Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, Hybrid Cars, Sedan


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#824 of 1054
Re: Why hybrid? [fusion_female] by hoyafan
Jun 22, 2009 (4:22 am)
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Replying to: fusion_female (Jun 21, 2009 9:14 pm)

Check out the reviews on Edmunds to see what customers who have a FFH think:
 
http://www.edmunds.com/ford/fusionhybrid/2010/consumerreview.html
#825 of 1054
Re: Why hybrid? [acdii] by fusion_female
Jun 22, 2009 (5:07 am)
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Replying to: acdii (Jun 22, 2009 3:17 am)

I do mostly city driving.  Currently, I'm getting 27.6 mpg.  I read the reviews about what others are getting in the hybrid, but my concern is. . . when will I see that I've saved money by purchasing the hybrid?  Besides gas mileage, where else will I save?  I understand that oil change needs to be done at the same rate (or maybe I misunderstood it!), insurance should be a little cheaper.  I recently read an article that listed how long it took hybrid owners to break even with their hybrid.  They compared many hybrids, but one includes a 2009 Camry vs. 2009 Prius.  It will take 4.2 years to break even and that was the least number of years in all of the results.  Another question I have is when will the battery go bad?  Thanks for responding to my concern-this is the first time I've used a forum!
#826 of 1054
Why hybrid by hoyafan
Jun 22, 2009 (5:34 am)
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I would submit to you that the decision to buy a hybrid is usually based on other factors aside from economic payback. Most hybrid owners I've talked to wanted to: "do the right thing and/or help achieve energy independence". I think the most common sentiment is that they want to do their part...In other words, it wasn't only about the money. If you calculate only based on break-even, I don't think it will work out favorably, particularly if you compare to a 4 cylinder (cheaper) Fusion.
 
With regard to the battery - I believe the warranty is 8 years or 100,000 miles (except in California where it is even higher). I've also read that there are many Escape Hybrids in NYC and SF which have 300,000 miles on them and there has not been a single battery failure.
 
Good luck with your decision.
#827 of 1054
Re: Why hybrid? [fusion_female] by gregg_vw
Jun 22, 2009 (6:40 am)
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Replying to: fusion_female (Jun 22, 2009 5:07 am)

Buy the cheaper ICE 4 cylinder. Buying a hybrid is really not about financial payout. It is getting new technology, using less fossil fuel, and getting some of the latest features (not to mention the best Fusion resale value). How does one figure in satisfaction with having bought a hybrid? I won't go on, but anyone who wishes to "break even" at some point by buying a hybrid is probably not a hybrid person.
#828 of 1054
Re: Why hybrid? [fusion_female] by rogerinvermont
Jun 22, 2009 (7:55 am)
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Replying to: fusion_female (Jun 21, 2009 9:14 pm)

If money is the only reason -- probably not. Others have stated well the reasons.
 
Particularly if you want to lease, there is little financial reason to hybridize. Certainly not with a FFH. Maybe a Honda Insight -- much cheaper.
 
Monetarily speaking, the $64 question is what the price of diesel fuel will be vis-a-vis gasoline. These new diesel engine cars get wonderful mileage, and with the new now sulphur fuel dont stink.
 
The other questions you need to answer to get a better fiscal answer:
 
highway vs city vs surburban driving. Hybrids shine city driving.
 
length and depth of cold weather -- hybrids must run the engine to warm you and the batteries -- less saving in cold weather.
 
I gotta tell you --- the FFH is a wonderful automobile with, for me, the right size.
 
Let us know your decision.
 
Rog in Vermont
#829 of 1054
Re: Why hybrid [hoyafan] by rogerinvermont
Jun 22, 2009 (8:36 am)
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Replying to: hoyafan (Jun 22, 2009 5:34 am)

More specifically, the warranty is 10 years/150K miles if you are in a california emissions state.
 
And it is a full warranty; it is NOT prorated based on the life of the battery.
 
As a purchaser of a new, expensive, high-tech automobile, I have the fear that something post-warranty will die and Ford will demand my children's birthright to fix it. The high-voltage battery is the least of the worries, because of the high-mileage warranty.
 
The five california emission states are California, New York, Maine, Massachusetts, and Vermont.
 
Rog in Vermont
#830 of 1054
Re: Why hybrid? [fusion_female] by cmuniz
Jun 22, 2009 (11:56 am)
Reply

Replying to: fusion_female (Jun 21, 2009 9:14 pm)

My economic analysis indicated that it would take me 42 months to break even on buying at FFH vs a loaded I4 based on gas savings alone. I went ahead and bought one because I really like the technology. It is a very fun car to drive and it continuously amazes how often the engine turns on and off and how the power vs economy vs battery charging is managed by the computer. The enjoyment factor alone makes it worthwhile for me, plus the car can teach you how to drive it economically if you pay attention to the gauges. So I agree that it is not an economic decision, but one based on other factors as discussed above. Of course you never know what will happen to the price of gas, but it is still fun to go over 550 miles per tank. I'm averaging 34.2 mpg so far in the month since we got it.
#831 of 1054
Re: Why hybrid? [fusion_female] by explorerx4
Jun 22, 2009 (4:43 pm)
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Replying to: fusion_female (Jun 22, 2009 5:07 am)

if you are leasing, you don't drive a lot of miles?
FFH would be tough to justify in a normal leasing situation.
#832 of 1054
Re: Why hybrid? [fusion_female] by WyattNichols
Jun 22, 2009 (5:41 pm)
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Replying to: fusion_female (Jun 22, 2009 5:07 am)

I agree with the previous posts that it would be a long time before the FFH would pay for itself.
 
If you didn't buy a FFH, but were looking at a 4 cylinder or V6 Fusion, then I would recommend the 4 cyl over the FFH and the FFH over the V6. Don't forget the tax credit, I believe $1,700, you get for buying a FFH.
 
The FFH does well with city driving. Driving like "a little old lady" (how my wife describes my driving), I easily get 42+ mpg after the ICE is hot and the temperature is below 85F. I haven't had that mpg because half of my driving is at interstate speeds and recently temperatures are 95-100F. A non-hybrid car would get a similar, or worse mpg decrease in hot temperatures.
#833 of 1054
Actual MPG for FFH by WyattNichols
Jun 22, 2009 (5:53 pm)
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Has anyone kept track of their gas receipts and computed their mpg based on the gasoline purchased vs. the readout from the car?
 
I have. At my last fillup, 4673.0 miles, I had bought and thus burned or evaporated 123.91 gals (37.7 mpg), but the readout on my long term dash mpg was 38.9. The difference being about 3.5 gals.
 
I know there are measurement errors all around, but is this within the limits expected for the car's calculation or fuel pumps?

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