08HybridOK

No! Say it ain't so Ford! The Kuga is not a compact SUV, it's a CUV look-a-like that is all ready flooded in the market! Please keep the Escape style, size, and height! If I wanted a car I'd be driving a fusion! I don't want to loose ground clearance & cargo room! Reading posts from those oveseas that have the Kuga say how sucky the sales numbers really are, and the major discounts on new ones on the dealers lots!!! If the Escape is doomed, bring back the Bronco!

I have to hit text then the > button w/in a few seconds. I don't have the nav screen, just the lcd hud, not sure if it's different.

That's exactly what I did, dumped the minivan for the FEH. I drive country roads, mostly 45mph speed limit type roads with a stop sign every mile or 2. I get a consistant 30-32mpg now, w/ or w/out AC on; but only drive 6mi to work So if you can do what you want with a cheaper efficent car, then fine go with a car, but if you want the occasional cargo room you can't beat the FEH!

Did you buy your Escape new? It should have come with cross bars! As far as different than regualr Escape, I can't say, but can't see why? I know the cargo cover is different (shorter to fit around the read AC unit) If you need some, you might check over on green hybrid.com or other hybrid boards, i'm sure people are removing theirs in attempts to increase mpg's a little Sorry keeping mine for that just incase some day (never used any yet in the 8+ years I've had some on all my vehicles tho!)

There is rumored to be molded mudflaps now available for the 08's on one of the site's I frequent, i believe Green hybrid; but no one has taken the plunge and confirmed this info yet. I tried last year, the dealer said yes we have molded splash guards, go to pick them up & they are the inner wheel well linings As for other mods, i'ved added some side moldings (ebay) and Hybrid emblems (eBay) to my doors. Swapped my antenna with a Sport Trac for the silver look, and added the plain flat mudflaps to the front. Still holding out for a clear or chrome bugshield & possible moonroof deflector.

To add to the confusion, the FEH/MMH still get Fed tax credit of what, $3000, the Prius is now at $0 correct? Plus possible state credit (but the big IF you qualify). So if the post above is correct, $28k to $31K, with tax credit they are equal priced. I bought my FEH for the function & mpg's, not just mpg's alone. I need ground clearance living off a dirt/gravel pot holed driveway, and the need to carry some stuff, but I still have my large SUV for the large loads & trailer pulling, but it stays parked 90% of the time now. As to the topic, I figured my payoff to be almost 15 years. I traded a 17mpg Freestar for a net value of $0 (got what I still owed on it on the trade) for a 32mpg FEH. About a 47% fuel savings of ~$1500/yr. Minus Fed & state tax credit I'll break even in 15 yrs! (based on 15000 mi/yr, I only avg 12000 so closer to 20 yrs for me, just using the OP's #'s)

I live in the suburbs, but only have a 5-6mi commute, all country roads (1mi or more between stops & 45mph speed limits) I think I do great, I avg 30-32 (now that I don't fill with E10). You need to add the tax credit (if you qualify, no AMT etc) to your comparrison sheet. If your 2 vehicles are only $5k diff, you get $3k fed back, possibly state? I got $1500 from my state, so $4500 back pretty much was a wash price wise. Now I'm getting a consistent 30+mpg vs whatever a gas escape gets (I would not choose a I4, would have needed a V6). Also resale value (as if that'll ever happen) I all ready see used 08's for sale, gas v6's for ~$18k if you can find a Hybrid, $25-$30k, granted as it reaches 5+ yrs that may drop signifiantly due ti unknown battery life; but I feel as gas stays above $3 and $4 resale will stay high.

You got me seriously concerned, so I dug out my dealer paperwork. Yes the yellow scan is from the Dealer, but the warrenty (seperate paper) is on a white form, says Extended Service Plan in the top right corner, PremiemCARE is Checked and $100 deductible is checked. Looks like I opted for 5yr 60k plan for $1060. The speal the finance guy gave when this warrenty was offered is that because the FEH comes with a 8/100k Hybrid componet warenty all ready, this warenty for the rest of the car is refundable. Of course there's the catch that you have to remember to request that refund yourself when the time is up. And also aparently ANY warenty work at any time is considered Exteded work, therefore voids the refund. So even in the first 3 yrs. So IF I need any work done, I think nI need to request a quote first. and decided if the price is worth out of pocket and hope nothing else breaks, or to use the warrenty.

When I bought mine in May I opted to not get the warantey this time, but the dealer said here's what we have, you get the warrenty, and if you don't use it, it qualified for a full refund! So I did get the 5yr 70k (I think) option for like ~$1000. If I use it, better make sure i get my mony worth, if not, I pocket $1k in 5 yrs! Link to thread w/pic

Exactly the same I use all but the hatch frequently. Usually if I'm putting something in the back, I'm going to be driving at the same time, so then I have my keys

That's what I hear, eiter it's used (frequently) or never. For me, I've had it on my last 3 Fords. I live out in the sticks, and when I'm out in the large yard (acres) I rarely have my keys on me. There are times I need something inside, sunglasses, work gloves, etc, and to lazy to go to the house to get the keys to get inside. On one I keep a spare key inside hidden so if I need to move it, all I do is punch the code and get the key. Handy when I feel the desire to do yard work and need the big truck. Not that I'd ever do it, but with small kids there's always the fear of either locking yourself out of the car, or the kids locking themselves in. I never leave my kids alone, but I could see how you can get somewhere, get distracted (kids) and get out with the keys inside somehow. That's one reason I never lock the doors with the switch, always with the remote! The kids are always forgetting stuff in the car, books, coats, etc. So They know the code so they can get it themselves w/o having to take my keys. So I find them useful, and I know some never touch them.

I have a crack in my side view mirror. When I call places including Ford to get a replacement it's like $150+ The problem seems to be I have the Eddie Bauer which includes heated & signal mirrors. But in 00 (I think from 99-02) the signal is on the housing, not in the mirror like in 97-98. So the question is, can I just get a heated mirror for a 99-02 F-150/Expedition/Navigator to replace my glass, or does it have to be this special one for heated and signal? I havne't had a chance to get to a junk yard and start measuring yet. Thanks

It doesn't many any nose there, noise either It can still be reached easily buy kids and adults and doesn't obstruct any views. It almost got stuck on the roof rack.

Thanks Wife didn't want black on her color coded door! Guess I could post my pic/mods page since I havn't posted here before: Pics

$44 to wire under the dash, and computer, would be a great deal, but the keypad is just sticky taped to the door. there is no cutting, drilling, wiring. It's programed like a spare key then stuck to the door. Or in my case since the body color cover was not an option on the older style, I stuck it to the triangle plastice on the window, behind the mirror