Donaldo

Having tested the roof strength of an '07 FEH in a multiple rollover accident, I would say that carrying capacity is based on the plastic roof rails. For example, if you removed the factory roof rails and used Thule's feet, they're rated at 165lbs capacity. However, Thule doesn't have a recommended fit I could find for your model year without using the factory rails. Yakima does list a 125lb capacity with their Q towers and clips that fit your Escape. Obviously you can save some cash by using the factory roof rails and crossbars, but if load capacity is really important, you'll want to ditch the factory rails. I stripped mine off over a year ago and no problems/leaks yet.

I know gas is expensive in San Diego, so your 'hybrid payoff' scenario will be better than most people. Also with the FEH, you're getting the e-CVT which is a really nice shift-free transmission that needs no regular maintenance and has similar or better economy than the other transmissions. The FEH has been proven in extreme duty (taxi service in San Francisco/New York, beach lifeguards, etc.), so Ford isn't really making you their guinea pig for buying one.

Don't worry about not having the nav/energy flow screen. You still can get the same MPGs as everyone else does. The flow screens can help you learn how to adjust your driving to maximize MPG, but after a few months it becomes automatic anyway. Your FEH will have a text-based Message Center that displays most of the critical info you'll need. If you want more info than that, you can get a Scangage.

Does anybody know if this will trigger an increase in production of the Tribute hybrid? Mazda should only be a few hundred vehicles into their 60,000 limit at this point.

When the hybrids end up sitting on lots for months waiting for customers like they did a year or two ago, expect to see a lot of color options like the other Escapes and Mariners have. Since that isn't happening now, you can expect Ford to limit options to maximize profits. Right now if they offered just the monotone color varieties of black, white, and gray/silver in hybrids they would still have no problem selling.

Don't worry, about 99% of people complaining about hybrids don't own one. They are performing very well on the road. Have fun with yours!

I work for a police dept. and we would snap up at least a few hybrid Panthers. They would be an excellent alternative to the $50K Tahoe hybrids we're already in line to buy. Not all public safety/government vehicles are for pursuits. Even better would be a CNG powered hybrid that would cost much less to run and out-'green' the competition.

I'm curious, will Ford argue that the '09s new standard rear drum brakes will increase efficiency?

I live in a moderate climate, but bought the 4wd mainly because I liked its handling and it's fun in the dirt. I would suggest you test drive both thoroughly to see if you could take advantage of the 4wd and if its poorer acceleration and mpg are worth it to you. Many 2wd drivers have been successful in snow or other challenging conditions, especially with more aggressive tires.

I think you will find very positive reviews of the Escape hybrid among owners. For many owners, the hybrids have proved to be far more useful than anticipated. In my experience, they're great for cross-country trips and even better around town when their mileage increases. The '09s should have even better MPG than '08s, and the gap between them and the non-hybrids may increase as well. Hybrids offer other benefits besides MPG that often aren't mentioned. 10K mi oil change/service intervals and reduced brake wear are two of them.

There is a rather complicated wiring harness/controller that goes into the factory nav system to allow it to read the battery output, so installing one would not be a simple. I'm using a portable Garmin on my hybrid, and enjoy it a lot. The frequent map updates and points of interest are handy!

I think what you are thinking of is the display to show electric motor assist as well as torque distribution between front/rear axles. I don't know of any AWD systems that display F/R torque distribution, as it happens so fast (small fractions of a second) that your eyes would have difficulty seeing it at all. The electric motor assist can last minutes, so it is easily visible. Which is probably what you were getting at in the first paragraph!

Don't worry, it doesn't work on any AWD hybrids (yet). Since Ford's hybrid AWD doesn't have a separate rear electric motor like a Toyota, there isn't any hybrid function related to rear axle power to display.

There should be some dealers that would be willing to take an order from you late next month. That way you can save up some money and get exactly what you want. The dealer should give you a decent price since their costs are lower. The key is finding a fleet salesperson and not a retail one that stands around the lot most of the day. Another plus besides what you've already mentioned is that the 09s will have definitely have better resale value down the road, especially if they get better MPG.

Maybe these same people also own a business and 2-3 houses to park all of their rides. You never know, some folks are really smart!

Yes, the current generation of hybrids can be somewhat disappointing in terms of price/economy. However, the next generation (lithium-ion) plug-in hybrids will double the mileage of the current generation. 60mpg+ plug-in Escapes will make the current hybrids look like Model Ts, which they are in a sense. Also, technology that hybrids have (electric steering and A/C, CVTs, etc) are becoming more common in non-hybrids.

If you pay attention to the 17" tire size, you can match the diameter of the new rims and wheels to the stock dimensions. Just make sure you get the tire pressure monitor bands so you don't get an error message. The stock hybrid tires are big for 16", so there shouldn't be much of a penalty as far as mpg. I believe hybrid folks have done this on other forums already with no issues.

Vista Blue is a really nice color, I wish I still had mine! Since you clearly know what you want, I would recommend ordering from Ford. Get an X-plan PIN on this site so you can get a decent price too! If you can live without a factory moonroof, you can get the leather package and the nav system as single options and have a 'premium' truck. There are aftermarket companies that do moonroofs if you must have one. Actually most of the stuff that comes with option packages can be bought in the aftermarket for similar or less money. Happy shopping!

The gas engine always runs at startup. It will run longer at cold temps than warmer temps. If you live in a cold area and take short trips, you may experience electric-only operation only in summertime.

FWIW, the Escape hybrid has a 'normal' A/C mode that does allow the electric motor to drive...only the 'max A/C' or 'defrost' settings kill electric-only operation. For me the 'normal A/C' mode has been plenty cool up to mid-80's temps. Many pre-'08 hybrid drivers have bought trucks without the NAV system or ditched the factory NAV system and installed an aftermarket one which have all the fun features you're looking for. With the money you save, it might be worth looking into. If your area has any '07s left, you might like their steep discounts.

Definitely test drive both and see how you like them. Personally, I liked the more responsive handling of the 4WD Escape, even though I live down here in SoCal where I use it even less than you would and they're much harder to find on dealer lots. P.S. When I bought my truck early this year, the dealers in Reno and Carson had tons of 4WD Escapes in stock, but they were hard to find in most of CA.