jeff_h

Just what I've seen on the Ford site...

http://www.ford.com/cars/cmax/specifications/view-all/

I've checked all of the dealers in Orlando and found zero - zip - zilch. Maybe I did something wrong?

I checked Orlando and Winter Park and nothing there yet... however Tampa (33614) and St Pete (33713) each have one on the way, if you're eager to take a test drive maybe touch base with one of them.

Well I see the dealer in Richmond that I queried does have one on the way, if you go to the Ford site and search dealer inventory and use zip 23230 it does show one VIN -- however pulling up the window sticker has a watermark on it "vehicle not for sale" but at least I should be able to see one in person soon.

Oh wait also just checked Apple Ford where I purchased once in the past, zip 21045 has 3 on the way.

I always thought that the ambient lighting was a waste of money

I love it, let's you use the cup holder at night and glance down for it, as well as having a nice dim light in the feet area to help see things on the floor without turning on a dome light... so I think it's very useful.

So did it really improve jobs?

Sure, for the designers, suppliers, and assemblers... so now all they need is YOU - the customer!

How long is the commute?

61 miles each way, and my company does not have a place to plug in while at work, I suggested it about a year ago but there is not one yet, not sure if one will be available in the future.

So this makes me think that an Energi would not my much more for me than paying a higher price (looks like $4-5K higher) just to have the newest thing on the block -- but I'm not one who cares alot about showing off the latest gadget, so the hybrid is probably the way to go for me.

Yes, on the Hybrid SE it's included in package 203A, on the SEL and the Energi it's in package 301A (and up) -- at least that's according to the checks I've been doing on the "build & price" function of the Ford website.

The options are now on Ford's site, looks like leather seats on the SEL model, which is great that it's offered.

One thing that is offered in all packages except the base SE is "ambient lighting" which I've found very handy, has a nice little outline around the cup holders so they are easy to find at night... also hopefully it has the ambient lighting down in the foot wells, that is very nice too.

Well they should be able to take orders now, but I want to drive one first to make sure I like it. I have a Fusion hybrid now and when I test drove one of those I hated the cloth seats, but liked the leather seats and went with those. So I at least want to drive either a Hybrid or Energi and see how it feels before I plunk down a bunch of money.

I'm up in the air as well -- would like the Energi but have a long commute where it wouldn't be as beneficial, so maybe taking the lower MSRP and going with the hybrid is the way to go...