PapaJ

OK, the C-Max SE is now issuing a loud continuous chime during colder days when the car is placed in "R".  I assume this is a freeze warning but there is nothing in the Ford docs to confirm. Question: can this function be disabled, very annoying.

Don't believe everything you read; although CR claims to be impartial, they have a clear history of favoring Asian brands over American cars.

CR also gives virtually no points for the "fun factors" of cars, where ther C-Max easilly trumps the Prius appliance. Remember also that the C-Max Hybrid is a new model and Ford had a few kinks to work out; our C-Max has had ZERO problems at 7,500 miles, my wife loves it.

Yes, MPGe only applies to plug-ins. With the conventional hybrid all of your propulsion is derived one way or another from gasoline, so MPG is or GPM are correct -- there is no free lunch.

We traveled 350 miles Monday, virtually all of it Eco-cruising the interstate at a constant 75 MPH, A/C set at 73 -- trip computer indicated 40.1 MPG. Two adults, dogs, luggage, etc.  -- I am quite happy with that.

We are leaving Monday for a 350 mile mostly flat interstate trip to FL.

I plant to set the Eco-cruise at 75 and will report back; we'll be delighted if MacGyver's observations are borne out

Well we have 5,000 miles on our C-Max SE now and here is a complete list of all the problems we've had other than the PCM reprogramming and headliner fix:

1......

2......

3......

Great little car.

Well today I just went ahead and bought a Clore portable jump starter even though we have had no problems--   a little extra peace of mind for $75.

Yeah, the C-Max is quicker than people think. Its sub-8 second 0-60 time is very respectable, although the sounds the e-CVT makes under full throttle are not too inspiring.

Post-update our HWY mileage has increased from 40 to 43 MPG -- we take the same freeway trip to church every Sunday with Eco-cruise set at a constant 71 MPH, so I have a good testing baseline. Temps have been in the 70s, so A/C is running. (In Atlanta you can't drive 65 on the freeway without risking your life.)

Have not seen any appreciable change in around-town trips, although my wife recorded her first 50 MPG run into town this week -- she really could not care less about FE but loves her little car.

We took the C-Max in for the PCM update and roof headliner fix, had them look at the buzzy A/C also. They checked oil & refrigerant levels, made sure there were no leaks or kinks in the lines, then did something unusual: we walked out onto the lot and fired up 3 brand-new C-Max'. Bottom line: they all buzz like this on startup if the A/C is on. My theory is that most new owners simply didn't notice it at first since you don't hear it inside the car with the windows up.

So I have stopped worrying about it. :drool:

Same here.

We're taking a trip to FL next month, if you don't drive at least 70 on I-75 you get blown off the road -- most drivers running 80+ MPH.

I plan to to Eco-cruise at 75 MPH, will report FE results (about 700 miles interstate). Hope John Law don't get me.

:judge:

We got the updates last week.

No measurable difference in around-town driving. But Eco-cruising the same stretch of I-75 at a constant 70 MPH, we now get 42 MPG vs. 39 MPG pre-update. Might be that the improvement is due to the fact that highways are not perfectly flat -- you traverse a mix of flat road, inclines and declines. Post-update, as you go downhill the ICE stays off even if you're going 75 - 80, so the net result is your trip has a higher ratio of EV miles vs. ICE miles than before.

Make sense?

I hope someone on this forum can tell me what just happened today. hubby driving, I passenger, going about 40mph on county paved road. when all at once, dash info screen on my-sync goes blank, then message like this: battery saver - system shutting down. A blue line moves across (similar to your computer showing length time loading file). all info screens going blank at driver dash - battery icon showing in red, and NO power steering, but car still moving, engine is on. Turned off a/c, and about 2 minutes later, dash comes back on all info screens normal looking again, and my-sync screen returns to the normal "home" screen. also, two days ago, when we got in c-max, noticed the clock in dash my-sync screen was "off" by about 6 hrs (Ie, clock said 8:30 am, actual time was about 2:00pm). we have no idea if two are related. don't know why today's screen/power steering all shut down? 7200 miles today. suggestions welcome:-). thanks to all! Creeping me out - what if We had been on interstate highway near where we live, on it often, and lost power steering like this / battery saver-system shut down thingy again?

Hi, you do know that to shift out of "P" you have to depress the interlock on the shift knob, right? When my wife first got her C-Max she complained she couldn't get it out of Park...

At the same time, I never expected to make that comparison with a hybrid! This is a very well-mannered suspension, handicapped by electronics.

 

Imagine what the C-Max slalom time would have been without RSC!! Don't kid yourself that it didn't slow the car down...

 

Have fun,

Frank

Well it certainly stomps any Prius... :shift: :shift:

PapaJ, if you don't see a similarity, you haven't driven it hard enough. Granted, it's hard to beat physics, as Ford has finally admitted, so the same 3600 lb. curb weight that gives the Prius an MPG advantage also appliles to the Mini, but in spades at 2800 lb. However, factor in weight distribution, and I stand by my assertion that the C-Max has less body roll than a Mini, if you take height out of the equation. Perhaps not a Mini S... but with the required trade-offs in handling vs. ride quality befitting an "S" variant.

 

The whole point of this thread is that, according to Car and Driver's Mini S review, "By the time you get the tires howling, your passenger will be dialing 9-1-1." C-Max passengers will never call 911, the driver will. That bothers me.

 

HAve fun,

Frank

Hi Frank -- I just think this is a classic apples-to-oranges comparison...a sports car vs. a tall SUV-thingy. I love our C-Max and yes, it handles reasonably well up to about 7/10, but in any objective handling scenario the two vehicles are worlds apart. Edmunds tested both cars in the 700-ft. slalom; the C-Max ran it at 63 MPH (not bad), the Cooper zipped through at 68 MPH.  Don't know why anyone who likes to drive fast would buy a hybrid -- these cars reward SLOW driving, don't you agree?

Funny stuff!

We just sold a MINI Cooper "S" and trust me, our C-Max does not reside in the same universe as the Cooper when it comes to acceleration/handling/cornering -- but then, that's not why you purchase a C-Max, is it?

 Good report, but puzzling --  I drove her C-Max down I-75 to the hospital today, Eco-cruising @69 MPH and got a reported 43.5 MPG.  Took mixed highway/surface streets coming home and got 49 MPG -- and we have not done the PCM upgrade yet. They say the car's computer reports slightly higher fuel economy than you are actually getting.

You guys are hard-core; we live in Atlanta and setting the car's A/C at 78 would never fly with my warm-blooded spouse, she likes it at about 68. Happy wife, happy life.

Not worth SHOUTING about ... :rant: the Prius is a good car with a proven track record. Having said that, I wouldn't be caught dead in one...

Thanks for all the great feedback from the group!  Think we all agree that a happy spouse :wub2:   is way more important than a few extra MPGs, yes?  

I plan to wait a few months and let you guys tell me how the software update works in real life & if there any unintended consequences. We live in the Deep South and you always want to be aware of overheating.

If we had experienced all the battery & MFT problems we might have a different attitude, but since we picked up Linda's C-Max on June 25, now have 1,200 miles on it &  ZERO, NADA, ZIP  problems. Perhaps Ford rushed the car to market in 2012 with a few "bugs" still to be worked out, but IMO they have done a good job of addressing these issues.  Love our quiet, quick, luxurious (yes I said luxurious)  C-Max.

We bought the SE with the base SYNC system -- my wife is a technophobe.  It is actually quite easy to use, if you don't care about Bluetooth et al  just ignore that stuff and listen to your radio. My impression is that SYNC is so integrated into the car's DNA that you would be ill-advised to try to install an aftermarket radio.

OK, really need some help here:

When I drive the C-Max the car gets about 45 MPG, but when my wife is behind the wheel the milage drops into the low 30s! My goal is to have a happy wife AND 45 MPG -- any advice on this subject? ;)

Just an extra layer of protection. Always carried a SLIME kit on the motorcycle.