Adrian_L

Variable speed limits are a very good idea. There's no justification for flying along in the fast lane at 80 mph in the pouring rain with a 1/2 car length between you and the car in front. It's just as bad in England---if not worse.

Thank you. That's exactly what I meant.

We're Canadian. The speed limit on the highway is usually 68 mph (110 km) so driving 85 could get you a hefty fine. I did drive 85-90 between Vancouver and Calgary to go to a wedding many, many years ago in a Volvo 850. But I was young and dumb back then.

Um........no--accelerating quickly is not safe driving. You tend to tailgate more, you have less reaction time to sudden emergencies (like the guy who doesn't see you because you're accelerating quickly when he wants to change lanes). Obviously driving like a slug is not good either. My only point is that the C-max isn't a sports car--so to drive it like one simply defeats one of the two main reasons to buy one---fuel economy and a comfortable, quite ride.

You can't. Snowstorm was advocating for a button where the HVB doesn't get charged, so he could have an empty battery at the top of a hill.

Being able to turn off the HVB charging (going uphill) just to have the satisfaction of charging it going downhill doesn't seem to be worth the effort, in my opinion.

I agree with obob. It's good that we have these options and different drivers will have different preferences. I do sometimes wonder "why did you buy a C-max"? when I read that people want to drive 85 mph on the highway or drive aggressively in traffic. You use a hammer to pound a nail, not a screwdriver.

Glad you didn't base your name on a VW 181. We traded in a 4.2 Audi A6, which had 335 lovely horses, but a tremendous thirst. It's nice to drive 35 min to work and find out I have used only a pint of gas.

Hold on guys.......... What on earth is everyone talking about? ECO Mode? Do you mean ECO Cruise Control?! The only EV modes on the C-max are those on the Energi (EV now, EV later etc.) and the Hybrid has none. The Eco cruise control is not a mode-- it's a special, economical cruise control and it isn't supposed to be peppy---it's supposed to save gas! Other members will correct me if I am wrong, but if the ECO switch is turned on (green ECO is lit up) and the cruise control is turned off, the car operates normally. It is only when the cruise control is actually ON that the benefit (or curse) is realized. Personally I think the ECO cruise is great -- I use it all the time. But if I need to zip around a slow truck, I turn it off with a snap of my thumb and step on the gas.

Anybody notice a "clunk" sound from the transmission when coming to a stop with the hill mode on?

Might be easier to just pull the headlight fuse.

Should we run all our potential questions past you to see if they meet your approval? If a topic bores you or you have no interest, move on, Dick.

There was an initial (and tepid) marketing strategy to promote the C-max as a "Prius killer", but Toyota's version has always gone farther on a gallon of gas. I have ridden in several Prius taxis and don't really have a strong opinion about them, other than my usually complaint against Toyota---which is an overdose of blandness.

Keep in mind that driving 3000 miles in the C-max will only be about 1300 miles on the ICE---another reason why changing synthetic oil every 3,000 miles is simply a waste of money with no benefit. And environmentally irresponsible.

Mickey Mouse..........on all levels. Come on..... This is up there with the passenger door from a wrecking yard that is a completely different color from the car itself. Nothing wrong with being eccentric, but don't expect thumbs up from everyone.

Horrible. Maybe they should just save some more money and include a tray for one's own laptop?

"Creak" has always meant noise to me. Like an old creaky house, or wooden boat. On my SEL (with glass roof) the overhead console with the light switches makes a slight vibrating sound, occasionally. If you touch it, it stops. It's barely audible, so I haven't worried about it too much.

Thank you, Frank. I'll keep my 47 mpg C-max rather than trade it in for an (allegedly) 47 mpg Malibu, thanks.

isn't it the dealer's best interest to fix this quickly and make the (obviously angry) customer happy? It sounds to me like the problem has been correctly diagnosed and a permanent fix is in the works.

If anyone's wondering if solar panels on the C-max is a good idea? It isn't: https://www.quora.com/Why-dont-they-put-solar-panels-on-the-top-of-electric-cars-to-increase-their-driving-range-battery-life

This is a completely different part of the car, and likely (as nsteblay suggests) it is simply a misaligned rubber seal. Why would you immediately rush to judgement and start talking about lemon law stuff? Let's see if we can find the leaky shingle before we take a bulldozer to the house, OK pal?

I do like Audi's styling, their interiors, and they way they drive. I just wish they were more reliable. We had an A6 that had a succession of components failing, then finally the timing chain slipped ($10,000 repair--no thanks) Mechanics hate them because everything is shoehorned into the engine compartment. Changing a thermostat is a major endeavor whereas in an old Ford it takes 15 minutes. My brother-in-law just traded in his A4 for a Hyundai. It was in the shop every month. Great cars--until they go wrong. Time will tell if the e-tron carries on the tradition.

They make very good deep-cycle batteries but they're really heavy and really expensive. Very surprised the word "C-max" isn't prohibited for trademark reasons. Maybe the Trojan people asked permission.

You guys have way too much time on your hands.

The Sony system is fine. It isn't a "custom" audio system. It isn't top-of-the-line, but it is a decent system that most owners will be happy with. It could do with fuller bass, but overall the sound is crisp and clear. Obviously turning the bass up all the way up and the midrange and treble all the way down will make it sound like crap.