Re: [MBZ] Ford Escape Hybrid

2011-02-07 Thread Jim Cathey

I can also put a washing machine in the FEH, but not in the SDL.


Dunno why not.  I brought home a dishwasher in the trunk of
the 380SL.  All you need is a rope!


where you breathe on the throttle and the engine takes right off.


I loathe and despise this trait.

-- Jim



___
http://www.okiebenz.com
For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/

To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com


Re: [MBZ] Ford Escape Hybrid

2011-02-07 Thread Curt Raymond
I think my cousin's was also an '05 but I wouldn't quote me on that. In theirs 
we had descended a wet but not particularly muddy two track in the woods which 
the Escape was then completely unable to climb. I'd swear that my 240D would 
have puttered right up.

When I got out and observed what was going on I *think* the cause was too tall 
gearing combined with an AWD system that didn't completely utilize the rear 
wheels as the fronts would be spinning and the rears would just twitch 
occasionally. Probably wasn't helped by the cheap tires my idiot cousins (did I 
mention they're idiots?) had on it. I managed to get some seat time thinking 
the problem was overactive throttle use and thats part of it but his Escape is 
one of those where you breathe on the throttle and the engine takes right off.

I did managed to get the Escape up the hill through a combination of taking my 
boots off so I could feather the throttle better, a HARD left foot on the brake 
and a like dangerously close to the edge of the road where I found some rocks 
but risked ending up in the ditch. After that we stuck to the main packed woods 
roads...

Softroader indeed!

-Curt

Date: Mon, 7 Feb 2011 11:51:27 -0500
From: Tim C 
To: Mercedes Discussion List 
Subject: Re: [MBZ] Ford Escape Hybrid
Message-ID:
    
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

FEH and FE are fundamentally different; they share interior, sheet
metal and the top half of the frame.  FEH is much heavier in the tail
end, for one, and set up very differently; drivetrain is
computer-controlled CVT + oddball gas + electric motor.  Not sure how
the newer version differs in construction versus the FE but the weight
is still quite different.

That said it's not like driving an MB.  Ours has never been offroad
more than a few feet, so I can't speak to that; it's utility, not
sport.  And did I mention it probably needs shocks?..

-Tim
not a risk taker

On Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 3:31 PM, Curt Raymond  wrote:
>
 Not much, I've ridden in both generations of Escape though and don't 
think much of them. They're LOUSY (like my 240D is better) offroad and 
not really all that comfortable although the newer gen is better than 
the first.
> My idiot cousins have a pair of first gens, both are less than 10 years old 
> and both have rebuilt motors...
>
> -Curt


  
___
http://www.okiebenz.com
For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/

To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com


Re: [MBZ] Ford Escape Hybrid

2011-02-07 Thread Tim C
FEH and FE are fundamentally different; they share interior, sheet
metal and the top half of the frame.  FEH is much heavier in the tail
end, for one, and set up very differently; drivetrain is
computer-controlled CVT + oddball gas + electric motor.  Not sure how
the newer version differs in construction versus the FE but the weight
is still quite different.

That said it's not like driving an MB.  Ours has never been offroad
more than a few feet, so I can't speak to that; it's utility, not
sport.  And did I mention it probably needs shocks?..

-Tim
not a risk taker

On Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 3:31 PM, Curt Raymond  wrote:
> Not much, I've ridden in both generations of Escape though and don't think 
> much of them. They're LOUSY (like my 240D is better) offroad and not really 
> all that comfortable although the newer gen is better than the first.
> My idiot cousins have a pair of first gens, both are less than 10 years old 
> and both have rebuilt motors...
>
> -Curt
>
> Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 11:51:53 -0600
> From: Donald Snook 
> To: Mercedes 
> Subject: [MBZ] Ford Escape Hybrid
> Message-ID: <75875091-3db4-47c9-b724-b74919944...@mtsqh.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Anyone know anything about the Ford Escape Hybrids?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>
>
> ___
> http://www.okiebenz.com
> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/
>
> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
>

___
http://www.okiebenz.com
For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/

To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com


Re: [MBZ] Ford Escape Hybrid

2011-02-07 Thread Tim C
Mine's red, is that what makes it a false sense of being "green"?

The FEH has a trailer hitch [in the garage and on the to do list], the
MBs do not.  I can also put a washing machine in the FEH, but not in
the SDL.  It is also worth more than all the MBs I've ever owned,
combined, though I think that reflects more on my transportation
choices than the FEH's value. :)

-Tim
"Green" I guess, since I don't like to dispose of a vehicle before the
end of its useful life.

On Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 5:02 PM, Kaleb C. Striplin  wrote:
> A false sense of being "green"?
>
> On 2/4/2011 11:51 AM, Donald Snook wrote:
>>
>> Anyone know anything about the Ford Escape Hybrids?
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> ___
>> http://www.okiebenz.com
>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/
>>
>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
>>
>>
>> -
>> No virus found in this message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> Version: 10.0.1204 / Virus Database: 1435/3422 - Release Date: 02/04/11
>>
>>
>
> --
> Kaleb C. Striplin/Claremore, OK
>  95 E300, 94 S500, 92 500SEL, 92 300SD, 92 300E 4Matic,
>  91 350SDL, 91 300D, 89 560SEL, 87 300SDL x2, 85 380SE 5.0 Euro,
>  85 190D, 84 190D, 84 300D euro manny, 76 240D, 76 300D,
> http://www.okiebenz.com
>
>
>
> -
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 10.0.1204 / Virus Database: 1435/3422 - Release Date: 02/04/11
>
>
> ___
> http://www.okiebenz.com
> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/
>
> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
>

___
http://www.okiebenz.com
For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/

To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com


Re: [MBZ] Ford Escape Hybrid

2011-02-07 Thread Tim C
I have a 2005 AWD FEH.  We've driven it ~40K (total 107K? ish)
Routine maintenance, one almost-"recall" [battery wiring harness, not
through NTSB], plus a new rear door from the trucking company that
used us for extra braking.  Has retained its value more than any other
used car I've owned, except the $650 Volvo, and maybe the W123 if I
don't drive it to its grave.

I would recommend the FWD for the better mileage and lower entry fee,
but the AWD is not bad.  We were consistently 30-31 MPG on the stock
Continentals, with good tires and very short trips we lost 5 or 6 MPG
(discussion about this a while ago) but the interior is much quieter.
Mileage is worse (3-4mpg) in summer heat and winter cold, 50-80
degrees is the sweet spot; this winter my wife has gotten as low as
22, but when it hit 50 during the day she hovered around 25.  I am
usually 27-28 in spring/winter/fall [little/no cabin heat], 25-26 in
summer > 90 degF, when I get to drive it for a few days.

The ones with navigation have a nice little economy gauge that keeps
history and is pretty reliable, at least according to mileage
tabulating versus the pump, so I don't rely on SWMBO telling me when
and how much fuel she put in anymore.  This is surprisingly helpful
for family harmony.

Mileage-wise, we could do better with a small sedan of some kind, but
the carrying capacity of the Escape is very nice.  I've carried a
compressor and air handler of a 1.5t air conditioner in one trip, a
few tons of sand, lots of lumber, some 12' quarter round, etc., though
to have any significant cargo capacity you have to put down the back
seats.  The two children fit easily, and there is room for a third
with no problem; I have been in the middle of two boosters in the back
and while uncomfortable it's not bad.  Plenty of room for two infant
seats, two boosters and another infant seat, or three boosters.  With
the seat up we have sufficient but not extra room for four people's
luggage and a large cooler, and SWMBO can still see out the back
window.

The 2008 was a redesign: I believe the gas engine is slightly larger,
and you can spin the air conditioner and defroster from the electric
motor; this latter is worth some incremental cash in my opinion.  All
FEHs have a totally different drive train from regular FEs, and I've
read the originals were built on the Volvo XC90 chassis; not sure if
that was true after 2005 or 2006.  In any case ours hasn't had a nice
life (see tons of sand :) but has survived so far with no significant
work done to it.  It probably needs shocks but I haven't done them
yet, and the ride is certainly tolerable as it is.

Our FEH was about the same price as a comparably-equipped non-hybrid
FE, two years after new, but has retained value much better than if
we'd bought the gas version.  Not sure if we got a deal or just got
lucky, there weren't a lot of FEHs for sale in '07. :)  Only problem
is that you pretty much have to use the Ford dealer for hybrid
component service, and they (at least here) are shockingly bad. [I had
to convince the service manager that the vehicle did, in fact, have a
transmission, and that it must be present because it was in the
service schedule - took surprisingly long for him to decide I might
have a point, and maybe he should go look again.  This was the same
trip that they only had three spark plugs, and would "owe me one".
Sigh.]

Anyway the FEH hardware is highly recommended, based on my limited experience.

-Tim
300D, 300SDL: my autos
FEH: her auto
our driveway

On Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 12:51 PM, Donald Snook  wrote:
> Anyone know anything about the Ford Escape Hybrids?
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> ___
> http://www.okiebenz.com
> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/
>
> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
>

___
http://www.okiebenz.com
For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/

To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com


Re: [MBZ] Ford Escape Hybrid

2011-02-04 Thread Kaleb C. Striplin

A false sense of being "green"?

On 2/4/2011 11:51 AM, Donald Snook wrote:

Anyone know anything about the Ford Escape Hybrids?

Sent from my iPhone

___
http://www.okiebenz.com
For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/

To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com


-
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1204 / Virus Database: 1435/3422 - Release Date: 02/04/11




--
Kaleb C. Striplin/Claremore, OK
 95 E300, 94 S500, 92 500SEL, 92 300SD, 92 300E 4Matic,
 91 350SDL, 91 300D, 89 560SEL, 87 300SDL x2, 85 380SE 5.0 Euro,
 85 190D, 84 190D, 84 300D euro manny, 76 240D, 76 300D,
http://www.okiebenz.com



-
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1204 / Virus Database: 1435/3422 - Release Date: 02/04/11


___
http://www.okiebenz.com
For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/

To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com


Re: [MBZ] Ford Escape Hybrid

2011-02-04 Thread Curt Raymond
Not much, I've ridden in both generations of Escape though and don't think much 
of them. They're LOUSY (like my 240D is better) offroad and not really all that 
comfortable although the newer gen is better than the first.
My idiot cousins have a pair of first gens, both are less than 10 years old and 
both have rebuilt motors...

-Curt

Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 11:51:53 -0600
From: Donald Snook 
To: Mercedes 
Subject: [MBZ] Ford Escape Hybrid
Message-ID: <75875091-3db4-47c9-b724-b74919944...@mtsqh.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Anyone know anything about the Ford Escape Hybrids? 

Sent from my iPhone


  
___
http://www.okiebenz.com
For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/

To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com


Re: [MBZ] Ford Escape Hybrid

2011-02-04 Thread Allan Streib
Friend of mine has an Escape (non-hybrid) and has had a series of problems with 
it, mostly engine/drivetrain related.  I generally like Fords but I think the 
Escapes are cheaply constructed.  Have not really looked at the latest versions 
though.

Allan

On Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:18 -0500, "Gerry Archer"  wrote:
> 
> From: "Donald Snook" 
> > Anyone know anything about the Ford Escape Hybrids? 
> ---
> Son bought a Ford Fusion Hybrid and he's very happy
> with it; good handling and good ride.
> He drove from Nashville to Orlando at speeds of 75-80 mph
> and got 37 mpg.  He's a munufacturers rep and puts a lot of
> miles on his cars.
> Don't know anyone with an Escape Hybrid or how similar
> they might be.
> I would like the Fusion because it's larger than most high
> mpg cars and is heavier; about 37xx pounds.
> 
> I drove it to town and back and found that it has adequate 
> leg-room for a tall man (6'4") which can't be said for a lot
> of new medium size cars.
> Gerry

___
http://www.okiebenz.com
For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/

To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com


Re: [MBZ] Ford Escape Hybrid

2011-02-04 Thread Gerry Archer


From: "Donald Snook" 
Anyone know anything about the Ford Escape Hybrids? 

---
Son bought a Ford Fusion Hybrid and he's very happy
with it; good handling and good ride.
He drove from Nashville to Orlando at speeds of 75-80 mph
and got 37 mpg.  He's a munufacturers rep and puts a lot of
miles on his cars.
Don't know anyone with an Escape Hybrid or how similar
they might be.
I would like the Fusion because it's larger than most high
mpg cars and is heavier; about 37xx pounds.

I drove it to town and back and found that it has adequate 
leg-room for a tall man (6'4") which can't be said for a lot

of new medium size cars.
Gerry

___
http://www.okiebenz.com
For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/

To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com


[MBZ] Ford Escape Hybrid

2011-02-04 Thread Donald Snook
Anyone know anything about the Ford Escape Hybrids? 

Sent from my iPhone

___
http://www.okiebenz.com
For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com
To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/

To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to:
http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com