raadsel

No, a hybrid won't help you with a 2 mile commute. Particularly in winter, the ICE engine will stay on until the engine is warmed up (and is needed to heat the car), so the ICE would frequently be on all the way to work. You'll do just as well (and save some money) by going with a Focus or other compact -- or for something a bit larger (though without the hatch), something like the Fusion with the 1.5 Ecoboost engine or the Hyundai Sonata Eco (so long as you drive efficiently, avoiding use of the turbo). A plug-in hybrid would be perfect. Another advantage to the plug-in, you can have the car warm up while connected to electricity, before you go to work, and still be fully charged when you get into drive the car. A new Energi tends to be roughly the same price IF you can use the EV tax credits (your tax bill needs to be as much as the credits) -- and the Energi can be cheaper if you live in a state that gives additional credits. Additionally, depending on what other driving you do, you might go through only a tank of gas per year -- the car will force you to burn off the old gas in the car after a year.

Have you had the CSP 15B04 update done?

One thing I'm noticing in the heat here (currently around/above 100 daily), my hybrid battery seems to be losing some charge while parked for a day. I've only really noticed it twice because the ICE started when I pressed the start button (SEL), the battery indicator only showed 1/10, or maybe less, of a charge. I can't say for sure but I'm pretty sure, when I had parked, that the battery was sitting above 25% and likely in the 30-40% range. Just wondering if anyone else has observed this in extreme hot or cold or if this may indicate a possible issue with the battery? I will say, other than the low state of charge hurting my fuel economy for the first couple of miles (since it is charging the battery the whole time), it hasn't really seemed to effect my fuel economy.

It is actually just about 6" longer, which I think would be really nice to have. I don't think they should do the 3rd row seating in the US, at least other than as an option, as I think it would be too cramped for American buyers. Having those extra inches of cargo room could be really nice in improving cargo space, and the doors would also make things easier both for passengers, but also in getting cargo in the car when the back seats are down. Not to mention you could better hide the battery in the back (wouldn't need to sit up as high) or even put a larger battery in.

Have you tried it out? It looks like something that could be very helpful to those of us in warmer (hot) climates. Just curious how well it works and how well it holds up.

I typically fill my car at Costco, where traffic to the gas pumps is one way, and so I've enjoyed having the fuel fill up on the passenger side. With fewer cars having the passenger side fill up, it makes it easier to find an open gas pump. :)

Actually, the 2013 is missing this nice little additions.

No, unfortunately there is no way to add navigation if it was not installed at the factory.

Yes, the price is a major issue. Diesels already cost more than their gasoline counterparts, by about the same amount more as the extra cost of a hybrid. So a diesel hybrid would likely be another $1,000 - 5,000 more than an equivalent gas hybrid.

If I recall correctly, with no SD card it doesn't actually say Nav -- instead it states "Insert Nav SD card", like this:

I really don't like the sound of this, particularly depending on how the maps are updated. Often, it seems if there is no SD card, maps must be updated by the dealer. Hopefully this isn't true with Sync 3 and, instead, you can get the update from the Ford Owner website or over a wireless connection. Of course, this still may require buying the update directly from Ford -- and makes me think they may have set it up this way to stop the 3rd party sales (such as from eBay) of the Navigation updates.

It seems to me that most newer cars, hybrid or not, likely won't start if it sits a month. I'm sure there are some that might but most have "gadgets", particularly alarms, that limit the length of time a car can sit without being started.

I don't think he understood what the beeping was. Also, as others pointed out, he likely has something covering a sensor that is causing the car to always beep when in reverse.

I filled up today and my mpgs seemed slightly better than normal (maybe 1 mpg), compared to what I've previously gotten at fill up. The one difference today, my computed mpg was only about .5 mpg lower than what the dash read which, if future fill ups stay consistent, would be more accurate than normal. The key here is that it would need to stay this way over the next few fill ups to be meaningful. One difference I am noticing is that I kick into EV mode with less of a battery charge. I'm not sure if this is a programming difference or just from having the "user driving style" reset.

It shouldn't be the reverse camera but rather sensors, the little "dimples," on the bumper. If you have the 302 package, the sensors are only in the back bumper but, if you have the 303 package, you have the sensors in the front and rear bumpers.

It made sense to me when I heard it because my car "forgot" my EV+ locations. I saw EV+ today for the first time since I had the update done a week ago.

Mine has been down but I can't say that the 15B04 effected it. Based on the types of trips I've taken, as well as how hot it has been (feel like temps have been over 100 everyday), the difference is likely for those reasons.

The "problem" with diesels in the US is that they have almost as much of a price premium as hybrid cars do. Combine that with the added taxes on diesel fuel (largely to tax the semis that tear up the roads), you lose most of the fuel savings from running a diesel. The added cost of the diesel engine also appears to be why manufacturers have largely been unwilling to make diesel hybrids. Hopefully as CAFE standards get stricter, it will make more manufacturers be willing to take a risk on diesel cars, and possibly lead to reducing taxes on diesel fuel.

I don't believe, at least overall, that Ford's have the same vulnerability. This system appears to depend on services where you can perform functions over the Internet, such as turning your car on and other commands across the Internet. From what I can tell, Ford does not have that type of functionality built into current Sync/MyFordTouch systems (not sure about MyFordTouch 3). I wish the article had better explained which car makers are most vulnerable -- instead they merely mention all Chrysler products with UConnect and Cadillac. Of course, GM Onstar, Lexus Enform, Toyota Safety Connect, Hyundai Bluelink, and Infiniti Connection are all telematics system (again, Ford does not have this type of system) that potentially could be hacked -- it just depends on what vulnerabilities exist in their software. The comment that Cadillac is among the most vulnerable makes me believe that all GM vehicles with OnStar would be high risk. Worse, these types of systems typically cannot be updated by the owner, so a simple software patch (such as the ones Microsoft does monthly) would likely require a trip to the dealer in the form of a recall for all effected vehicles.

I'm wondering why this is in the C-Max spottings forum? I'm not sure where I saw it, likely in the owner's manual, but I recall reading that it is normal. It shouldn't be as heavy a flow of air, like is coming out of the center vents, but that some air intentionally will at times come out of the floor/defrost vents, even when the flow is supposed to come out of the center vents.

Except this is being replaced under the CSP, which requires Ford to replace them with new parts -- particularly as it appears to have been the dealer's fault. Perhaps it is something the dealer should consider, it may be cheaper to get the used parts now and then replace them with the new (when available) than to pay for a rental car for months.

I took my C-Max in yesteday and had 15B04 and 15E03 done. It took them ALL DAY, I finally got my car back about 6 PM. I was told everything went fine and, beyond the software updates, nothing needed to be repaired or replaced.

Just to be clear, the C-Max has a Lithium Polymer battery instead of the Nickel Metal Hydride in the Prius. While we don't have as much data yet on LiPo batteries, the data that is available indicates that the LiPo batteries should last longer, maybe 100,000 miles or more, than NiMH batteries.

Congrats! Go out and enjoy it this weekend and let us know if you have questions. Also, one recommendation frequently made here, take an hour or so, get in the car with the owner's manual, and as you read the manual play with the corresponding buttons/switches on the car. It will answer a lot of your initial questions and help you get familiar with all your new C-Max has to offer.

I'll agree storage loss is not minimal, as you lose about a quarter of the cargo space, including about half of the space under the cargo cover. It also makes it difficult if you transport larger boxes, since the cargo floor is no longer even with the folded down back seats. And this is on top of many of us wishing the C-Max was a few inches longer (like the Prius V) to give just a bit more space behind the back seats. I sometimes wonder if Ford should have used the body from the Grand C-Max in the US, but not included the third row of seats (again, like the Prius V). The other issue with the Energi is the loss of gas mileage because of the extra weight. While running in electric mode can counter act that, as pointed out, it does depend on the type of driving you do and how frequently you can charge. For example, in my case, I don't have easy access to a power outlet where I park my car. Last, for those who are buying new, the Energi is more money. While some people can make that money back through tax credits, how much you can get back depends on your tax situation as well as where you live (if you have local tax credits). I seriously considered the Energi, and may have even bought one if I had found the right deal. As I mentioned, though, one of the things that kept me from aggressively looking for the Energi is the difficulty charging the car; at home and the fact that my city has very few public charging stations, both based on size of the metro area and the population.