stevedebi

Interesting you should say that. Our 2014 Passat TDI had people wondering if it really was a diesel. Couldn't tell at all from the engine. As it has broken in, you can tell it is a diesel, but I would not say it clatters, or vibrates excessively. We are right at 20k miles.

Hey, where is that button? I want that. Good thing she never found the extra buttons above the driver seat...

I think sliding doors are fine, they don't affect the styling or aerodynamics anyway, and I don't have to worry about one of my teens banging open the rear door. Just easier access all around.

I believe the initial advertising was 47/47/47, which it was never going to get, not 60 MPG. Your comment on the Escape is interesting. I owned a 2006 Freestyle, which is basically a Flex before it had the boxy styling. It looked almost exactly like an Explorer from the rear, and a lot like it from other angles (intentionally, I think). Ford never advertised the car, and I think it was because it would have stolen sales from the Explorer - if you didn't need towing, it could haul more people and cargo, and got much better MPG. The early models had a CVT that caused some trouble, but eventually it went to a six speed, right before they dropped the box of a Flex on top of the mechanicals. I've sat in both and the interior hasn't changed a lot - it didn't need changes.

Never mind all that - it has a spare! Other than right hand drive, this would sell well over here, without the 2rd seat, but with the extra room. Doubt if Ford is interested, since it might impact sales of other vehicles, and MPG would suffer with the extra weight.

That cooler just circulates air. It does not have any active cooling like in the Fusion.

The large gas tank comes from the fact the C-Max is based on the world wide Kuga platform, which uses gasoline / diesel in other countries. They need the larger tank.

I think they are selling the C-Max and Fusion hybrids (and especially Energi) so that they can meet CARB and California clear car requirements. So it is worth it for them, even though they don't make much money. They need the clean car credits.

I don't know. Honda got dinged big time for their "fix" to the Civic hybrid. The batteries were wearing out too fast, so they tweaked the algorythms such that it got less MPG, but longer battery life. Unlike your experience, it was a very big hit as I recall. I'm not saying Ford did this, but it is a possibility.

It is probably the height. The truck was too tall for the sensor height. If it doesn't pick up the other vehicle, it won't park right.

I'm having a similar problem with my Energi. They reset the nav the first time, but it has happened again. I'll have to take it back in. For me it tends to be off to the right of the car about 200 yards to a half mile. But only sometimes.

Sorry, I don't have a link, but I've seen wireless backup camera set ups.

Here in CA diesel is over a buck cheaper. I don't know why no one has gone for diesel hybrid, except maybe that the engine costs more, and a hybrid already has extra costs tacked on due to the battery. Might not look good for MSRP. And of course the diesel engine is heavier, which is the enemy of fuel economy.

Use your VIN to lookup the window sticker. That will indicate if it came with Nav. http://researchmaniacs.com/VIN-Number-Lookup/WindowSticker/Ford.html

Adrian, I think you are mixing up the posts. The OP has a 50 mile commute on the Interstate. One of the responses was in LA with a 1.5 hour commute. I also second the motion for a Diesel - the Golf TDI will likely get 50 MPG at high speed on the Interstate.

Wouldn't that be a beagle (aka Snoopy)?

When I bought, I hesitated at first because about 10 years ago VW did not have a good reputation - I have no doubt that some mechanics would remember that. But mine has been solid, and they are the number 2 automaker world wide, which means they are doing something right - folks wouldn't buy them if they didn't work. My experience has been that they have to be strictly maintained to run correctly. You cannot skimp on required maintenance - they are engineered to require it. There is a DSG maintenance that will run $350 or so every 40K, for example. I factored the maintenance into my purchase decision. EDIT: I also got the extended 7 year / 100K warranty, but I do that with all new cars so that any major problem is covered while I'm making payments. The wisdom of this practice can be debated, but that is the way I roll.

The radio is designed to mute if other speaker functions are engaged (like if a call is made, you hit the voice button, or the Nav is speaking). I think Ford intended you to simply turn off the power to the radio if you want it temporarily muted. The switch is very conveniently located and I use it all the time.

You cannot leave a C-Max sitting for a month without charging the battery. It will run down, I suppose because the electronics have some draw on the battery (like the alarm, the keyless entry, and the automatic sensors for the power hatch). For some reason dealers never seem to understand this. When I was shopping in 2014, about a dozen of the C-Maxes I wanted to drive had dead 12v batteries. As it happened, the one I bought did fire right up, but it was on the main lot at the dealer and I think it had been driven more. Your vehicle is most likely fixed, but I can understand why you want to get something else.

Yes, it has color coded distances, green, yellow, and red. In addition, it has two direction prediction lines that indicate roughly the path the car will continue on if the wheels remain at the current turn. This last one is neat - as you turn the wheels you see the path of the car. I'm on the 303a package, but I think this stuff is on any backup sensor option with the C-Max.

I'm probably through with Ford (after 40 years of driving the brand) due to their decisions on cutting capabilities with the 2014 (specifically daytime running lights - another story, if you like it is on the Energi forum). The HR-V will be on my list because I had a CR-V about 10 years ago - excellent car - and I need CUV height for the tall curbs at my house. Plus I want something small. It will depend on the seat comfort. My Mother in Law has a Fit and the seats are terrible. I don't know, I may just buy my Energi at the end of the lease, that is also an option. Depends on timing and the deals available.

Depending on your model, the reverse sensors can be disabled on the dash (only stays active for this particular power on session and has to be redone each time). I'm not aware of any backup beeper that goes on all the time. If yours is doing that, there may be a problem with the reverse sensing system. I'd get it checked out.

At the moment diesel is a full dollar cheaper per gallon than RUG here in Los Angeles. I would order one in a minute if I had any choice. My next vehicle may be a VW simply because they offer the diesel. Well worth the premium in my opinion.

I think it is available as a diesel instead, although I know there are some Dutch C-Max Energis out there because they post on our forum. I think they sold 1K of them in the Netherlands. I'd much prefer a clean diesel version over a hybrid C-Max. It would be a slam dunk as an Energi as well, because it would get great highway mileage AND in town with the electric.

Man, if Ford had sold a million of these, that Factory in Michigan would have been expanded, not moved to Mexico!