stevedebi

For the following, note that I chose an Energi: It isn't the cubic size, it is where it's located - it really juts into the space. If you need a lot of space, the hybrid is definitely the way to go. However, I've seen a number of people fit a hitch to the rear and simply carry excess back there for long trips. At the time I purchased, the cost of the Energi was within a couple of hundred bucks due to state and federal incentives. That varies by state, of course. For LA commuting, the Energi gets the desired "green" stickers that allow single person HOV access. I believe the stickers have about run out now, but it was a major consideration for me. I would probably not buy an Energi as my primary vehicle, but if you need a second commuter, it is a great choice, especially if your range needs fall within 25 miles or so, and doubly so if you can plug in at work. All depending on the cost of gas and electricity; if you want to consider that, the Energi forums for the C-Max and Fusion have a couple of interesting threads on when it is better to drive ICE rather than charge.

But your Ford built in oil change alert will go on before 23.5, right? Or did you reset it?

Pretty odd to correct a front left squeak by repairing a 12v battery housing in the right rear!

All plausible. It could also have to do with the fact that the Energi can store more energy when driving, for example it will not max out in EV Later like a hybrid will do (assuming a long downhill or decelleration).

Maybe, but they had some definite reason for the different end ratios, and the software is calibrated for the Energi settings.

Why would you want to? The Hybrid has a better final gear ratio.

I just checked KBB. A top of the line 303A package with 36K miles would be dealer value of around 13K. So your dealer may be about right. I'm checking values here in LA, don't know your zip code, and this assumes Very Good condition, which fits most vehicles.

Yep, she has a 24 mile commute, about 4 miles to the freeway, and 1 mile from the freeway to work. I believe we see around 32 in pure town driving.

I would not recommend this. Ford has carefully designed the entire electrical system to work as a whole, including the inverter. The C-Max is a hybrid and the electrics are very complex.

I recommend the new one for only 8K more, if you are planning on keeping the car. If it is a shorter term thing that you will get rid of in a couple of years, then the 2013 is the way to go. I would opt for the SEL personally. The MFT includes a backup camera, essential for a car these days IMHO.

I'm not holding my breath here. It will be very interesting to see what their fix for the Passat will do. But the wife is going to be very upset at any significant loss of MPG or power. She is very proud of her driving, always getting above 40 MPG.

Oddly enough, for books and magazines, I still prefer hard copy.

The data is also stored on my phone and computer, regardless of what happens to the cloud. In 10 years, I doubt I'll particularly care about the mileage and other details of my 2014 C-Max Energi, or my 2014 VW Passat TDI. Well, the TDI may still be in my stable, but probably not the C-Max.

Hey, I don't make this stuff up, I can only pass on what I've been told. I have a Passat though, which alread has urea injection. I suspect they simply used the same software cheat that started in the Jetta (lacks injection). I think they could have made the other models pass fairly easily, but the "cheat" was common code at VW.

Not for me - my data is everywhere I want it to be, all the time, and I don't need to worry about keeping track of a physical log book - or finding the pencil when needed. Plus, I can do analysis on the data using spreadsheets (which I do, calculating MPGe and stuff like that automatically). But I accept that many folks prefer the pencil. I had a log back when I started driving as well.

I keep track of my mileages and etc on a spreadsheet - on my phone. The sheet is on a cloud drive, so I can easily check it from my computer, and yet still fill in data on my phone.

Based on my driving, I stand by that statement. I own a hybrid, and would not attempt to equate the Passat with one. It is far more comfortable, more maneuverable, has a huge trunk capacity, is not subject to MPG loss in colder weather, and at 20% power loss would still outrun a hybrid on the highway. For what it delivers, I think it is superior, and would still be superior with a power loss. According to the letters we have received from VW, the loss will be in high end speed, not MPG or power. But time will tell.

Huh? I've updated to 3.8 and I still have 911 Assist on my MFT. I'm driving an Energi, but the software is the same.

Well, I can't disagree about the C-Max design, but apparently no one notified the highway department when they posted the speed limits, or other drivers on the road. So I go what is posted and safe to match other drivers...

Not sure I saw that exact article. Well, at least the C-Max is mentioned, although not confirmed for any US production. But maybe it will be moved instead of killed.

If the sync bothers you that much, I'd suggest trading rather than trying to swap out the MFT. Ford designed the car around that MFT.

Wow, that is low. I ran flat out near 80 MPH going to Albuquerque from LA and still got a solid 36 MPG. Regularly get 40 at 70 MPH.

I have not seen that they are moving C-Max production anywhere. The news articles said they are shutting down the Michigan plant (actually, I believe they are converting it to another vehicle), and moving the Focus plant to Mexico. I believe it was Focus, but anyway, they mentioned the other car being built on the Michigan line, but did not mention the C-Max.

Thanks for the information. I think we are speaking of different things, and a bit off topic. I was speaking of the actual mileages because that is what my wife is worried about on her 2014 Passat TDI - if the changes will affect the performance and mileage she gets now. I expect the EPA numbers to remain the same. That is why I mentioned actual mileage. But thanks for the additional information. I had not read of the dyno error. I was aware that the manufacturers did the testing; by "signing off" I meant that the EPA accepted their numbers, and approved using the C-Max numbers based on the Fusion.

Wrong? I just told you that I can get those exact MPG numbers. Regardless of what EPA says, that is real world. It may be immaterial to you, but it is the most important thing to me. EPA numbers are based on 55 MPH and done on a dynameter with specific conditions (hence they can be detected by software, to get back to the original theme of this thread). Real world emissions and MPG are key to this topic. They are about as unrealistic as can be in general. I gather you didn't read my posts either; I believe I'm pretty clear on what happened, and in fact I said that they used the Fusion numbers at first, which started the entire thing. And it was the "real world" results of drivers that got the EPA interested in what was going on with the C-Max.