Salva

Mine is off, especially on the right side. It closes fine. I will talk to the dealer when I bring it for service the first time but, based on previous experiences with other cars, not expecting much.

I think it is possible, but couldn't they rate separately the Titanium Hybrids instead ? Toyota does exactly that with the Camry Hybrid LE (43/39) vs XLE (40/38)

Interesting... All this while, my speculation has been that Ford appears to be dragging their feet on the Hybrid Titanium because it couldn't possibly meet the 47/47/47 mpg claim Ford seems intent to plaster on the Hybrid Titanium windows stickers. But that's because I assumed the Hybrid Titanium on its own (at least a minimally configured one) had to meet whatever what's in the sticker. From what you said, it seems this assumption was wrong. Now, part of the reason I assumed that is Toyota has different EPA ratings for the Camry Hybrid trims (43/39 LE, 40/38 XLE if I recall correctly). So I thought this is what everybody is supposed to do. Aparently, it's more complicated than that. Akirby, care to elaborate how different trims (and, god forbid, options) of a model have to be reflected on EPA ratings? And, would Ford have discretion to mimic Toyota and have a separate rating for the Hybrid Titanium (presumably lower)?

Congrats! I knew you would get the X-plan pricing and it shouldn't be too hard. Not that it makes any difference - I'm just curious about the whole process - but did you ever find out if your X-plan order counts or not against the dealer's allocation ?

It's all a bit academic and it's easy to get lost as the dates change so much.But linked thread(s) was what I was referring to as "official rumour" of production starting Jan 7th. It seemed pretty reliable, at the time. http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index.php?/topic/51746-actual-2013-ford-fusion-hybrid-titanium-production-start-date/ But I am hopeful you'll all get your Ti Hybrids in (early) April. And those who wait will love it. For me it would have been the wrong decision - 3 additional months of waiting for a difference that boils down to a few (nice, I must say) interior features. On the exterior, on balance I actually like the SE with luxury package/wheels marginally better than the Hybrid Ti with stock wheels. At least under daylight. At night, you can't see the wheels and the Ti has cooler looking taillights :-)

Dates have changed quite a bit but for a while (like late Nov) the "official rumour" in these forums pointed to production starting in Jan 7th. With scheduling sometime before that, late in Dec, before the Xmas break. I remember clearly because at that point it was clear I would only get my SE order in early Jan (and, I did, on Jan 3rd) and, for a while, I seriously considered reordering as Ti, since the additional delay could be, with luck, only a month or so.

Those initial tens of miles might affect your "lifetime average" for a surprisingly long time, even though they are otherwise irrelevant. I picked my '11 FFH with 78 miles and a lifetime mpg of 13-14. I reset one of the counters (the "average mpg") at around mile 100. And kept that for a while to track "my" lifetime mpg with the car. They only converged somewhere between miles 5000 and 10000. Similarly with the new one - picked up with 22 miles and lifetime mpg 13-14. This time I reset the counter immediately, at the dealer. 1000 miles later, the "average" mpg(i..e. since I picked up the car) is 39.2. The "lifetime" is still catching up at 37.4 So you can do that (or dedicate one of the trip computers) if at all interested in have an easy way look at "your" lieftime average with the car, in the first few k miles. More importantly, you seem to be off to a great start, so enjoy the car! I know am enjoying mine. Somehow I've been piling up miles quicker than usual :-)

Strange. I just checked mine briefly on both sides and, for the most part, it seems to be glued all the way through. With exception of the very top - as in if you follow your "was connected at be very top" arrow and then go up a bit (like 1/4 inch). That tip seems to be a bit loose there. EDIT - looked again with more time and I don't think it's glued. There are a few attachment points and now I understand betterwhat you said. There are 5 or 6 and all of them are attached on mine. It seems the 2 in the mid-section of your car aren't. Not normal, imo

I agree with that. As far as I remember, every car I've had seemed to believe the "upper half" of the tank was bigger than the "bottom half". The '13 Fusion may just be a bit different in that respect. I also think there is something else going on, based on my limited experience so far (2 fill ups on my hybrid). The first fill up fell below full on the gauge astonishingly quickly - like 3 miles or so (and it was above full as I pulled out of the gas station). The second fill up got to that point with a more reasonable 20-25 miles. Based on that and other calculations, I estimate the tank was about 0.5 gallon fuller after the second fill up. And if I worked at it, I could probably have squeezed in a bit more. In previous vehicles, at least based on "how long does it take for the gauge to drop below full", I was able to get more consistent "fullness" across different fill ups (including a '11 FFH), without really worrying or workin on it. The '13 FFH seems a bit finicky with respect tot the pump and/or yoru technique. Still, not a big deal in my eyes.

Mine is Hybrid SE, not Titanium. There's about 1/4 inch of exposed wires on the mirror end on mine. Those are for auto dimming mirrors, right?

I think the Ti seats are full leather too. They look a tad facier than SE but everybody in the family loves the SE seats, especially the warmers (which may not be popular in CA...). Car looks great! I hope you get it. Love the clear interior but for me, after 3 cars with clear leather interiors, it was time to get black a change (which I am enjoying too).

Congrats! Great car, great pictures. And, of course, love the red...

Congrats raleel! Your car finally made it!I remember when we were all tracking builds and shipments back in Nov/Dec. For a while I thought your car and mine were jumping on the same train from Mexico (actually more like hoping, yours was built a week earlier than mine, if I remember right). But it's here, I'm sure you will love it, and a few extra weeks wait will soon be distant memories. Enjoy! Do post pictures. I don't know where you are in WA, but perhaps we will bump into each other soon. I've seen 5 other '13 Fusions on the road this week.

Plus they get the infamous "dealer holdback", right, X-plan or not? Honest question, I don't really know. If so, I think that turns out to be about $900 more to the dealer, from the invoice the dealer showed me for the car I test drove. I wholeheartdly agree with penny wise, pound foolish. And I actually suspect "long run" is not really all that long. A dealer nearby is already advertising $1000 dealer discount from MSRP on '13 FFH (plus applicable rebates) That's already less than 1000 over X-Plan (X-plan was slightly less than 2k under MSRP). Factoring X-plan spiff, difference is probably 600 or so to the dealer. Between their web ad price and X-plan. I have no doubt anybody can walk in there today and get any of those units (most seem to be in transit) at X-plan. Just like you did with you Titanium (congrats, btw. Hope to see pictures soon, love the red :-) ). 3.5 months ago, same dealer took well over a week to get back to me and confirm they would take my order at X-plan pricing. Consequently, I placed the order at another dealer. Since I don't think it would have counted against their allocation, I fail to understand what they accomplished (or expected to, at the time) in business terms. So, Richard, keep trying. Or wait a bit. At least, that's what I'd do, based on my own experiences.

Yes, I think the orders (or at least mine - hybrid, x-plan) were subject to that verification program. And in my case, that apparently wasn't known to the dealer at the time of the order. They called me back a week or so after the order to sign a "purchase order", saying it was a Ford requirement they didn't know about. I agree with your observation re allocation. I certainly think mine didn't count or else I doubt either dealer would sell at that price.