SnowStorm

About the scariest thing I've had was this idiot vehicle that "locked" me in the left lane. They stayed just a bit behind so I couldn't pull in front. I sped up, slowed down, multiple times, above and below the speed limit - they stay in the same place. Finally got away somehow (or they might have turned off). Couldn't figure out what they were up to. The "other irritant" is the constant barrage of high beams (or mis-adjusted lights) behind you, tailgating or not. I'm about ready to remove all the mirrors and install video cameras. Would cut wind resistance to boot - better MPG!

After 3 days at 85 degrees that's one great suggestion - heat does weird things to ya... But I do intend to make the club - have done 500+ in the Fit.

Jus, I just figured out that our car will be in the 600 club as soon as we pick it up at the dealer! It goes from Wayne, MI to Baltimore (so I understand) and then to my dealer. That's 676 miles - and on less than one tank. So, its in the club from the start. OK? Any objection? :hysterical: Just want to get off to a good start. SS

Hooray - here we go! Just checked ETIS site and the build date is 10.04.2013. Hadn't checked for window sticker for a while and its there too (and everything looks correct). Date at bottom of sticker is 04/11/2013. Our baby is on the way! It seems silly getting this excited over a car - you guys are rubbing off on me!

Welcome and congrat's on the grand baby! My wife and I have a C-Max on order and have our 1st grand baby coming. We too want plenty of space for those trips with extra family on board.

When spotting, don't get fooled as I did. Its been sooooo long since we ordered ours that I think I've forgotten what they look like! Was just driving into work this morning when I saw a red "C-Max" just ahead. I parked quickly and hurried back to talk to the driver before he got away. I'm thinking: "Yes, he's still there - probably checking his mileage, brake score, etc - " "Why are the wheels so different (really like the C-Max wheels)? He must have after-market ones - maybe I can get an old one for a full size spare - " "Can't quite make out the name yet, - oh - , its an Escape." Hadn't seen the front yet - that's quite a give-away - and the wheels. I think we've seen two on the road but its been some weeks back.

Been waiting now for weeks but is it too late to cancel our C-Max order and get a B-Max instead? That thing is just adorable. Why does Europe get all the cool little cars? Last time we were over there we had one bad case of small car selection jealousy. Honestly, if Ford was selling both right now we might have gone with a "B". Is there going to be an Energi model? (Ok, the larger C-Max may still have won out.) I see the doors are fully framed so you can't roll down the windows and have it open front-to-back like the "hardtops" of old. It should have been possible since the sliding door is tracked at the bottom.

Off "down south" (the trip that's just begging for a C-Max!) to do some more carpentry and yard work. But we did get out for a walk in the beautiful weather. By the water (guess who's getting better MPG!): and to see what's blooming. SS

Even without a car I have a palindrome, its "0". And I've used "0" gallons so my MPG is 0/0 = 47!

And I drove a Ford Econoline van out west for 10,000 miles without realizing you could adjust the steering wheel (pull up on the turn signal stalk). Always thought it was kinda high and flat until it came back from a test drive by the prospective buyer with the wheel at a more normal angle. Finally looked in the manual! There was plenty of storage space in that van though!

No, it fizzled - only a few flakes on the ground this morning. I understand there are many further north who just get too much but I'm with Jus. "Snow is good", snow is cool, it feeds the ground water, its romantic and magical. I might be nuts but I've always loved the stuff - just remember, we don't get that much here. Only had the snow blower out once in the past two winters.

Any ham radio operators out there operating mobile from your C-Max? Share your stories or pics.

OK Rachel, that does it. I'm off to start a topic on ham radio in the C-Max! After all, doesn't the C in C-Max stand for the speed of light? I'm a ham too but a very bad one - been off the air for years. Hearing about your dad has got to get me going again. Ham radio really is better than the Internet. I too had a serious woodworking mishap but, thankfully, didn't loose anything. No competition on the food side though. I tried making some kind of quick bread the first time my wife-to-be visited my folks and messed up the baking powder - single instead of double acting or some such fool thing. Flat as a pancake. Things worked out anyway! Fuelly? If I wasn't still "waiting in the Shenandoah", I would put some numbers out there!

I agree with Riddley to check both SE and SEL for seats. We did, and I thought there was a bit of difference in overall feel. I preferred the feel of the SEL and they have more adjustments including lumbar and that's always nice. In the end though, we went with the base SE as we didn't want to pay for SEL which included stuff we didn't care about. The back-up plan is to have the seats recovered in leather (about $1000 locally) if there is any issue, and have the shape adjusted then. I have a back that complains if the seat shape isn't right. I doubt there is going to be a problem though. Also, my wife and I both preferred the center dash layout on the SE. That little "shelf" was perfect for our GPS. A lot of this stuff just comes down to personal prefference but its hard to sort it all out on short test drives.

Oh boy, its snowing again - right now!

I want Ts too. Or at least a patch with that logo. We could bring our own shirts (matching car color of course) and just slap them on.

Oh snap! This is awesome. I grew up with the guys in my family being rather into this stuff - major "milestones" (duck) like 100,000 or all the same digit. Of course in the days of 5 digit mechanical odometers the big event was when it finally "rolled over" to all zeros and, viola, you had a "new car"! Jus-A-CMax, I must admit that I had to look up what palindromic numbers were and by the definition it looks like you have missed 1000 or so of them! But just going with all the same digit works for me. VirginiaRick, I like the computer numbers too. Using binary, Jus-A-CMax has only gone 31.5 miles! Or we could go with stringing together letter positions in the alphabet and get CMAX = 31412.4 (not using tenths would take too long!). Anyone have CMAX miles on their CMAX? Unfortunately, I can't post a picture yet because I don't have my C-Max yet!

But do you remember the "8 tracks"? And the radios with big mechanical pushbuttons? Glad to hear you like the car. Our "White Platinum" should be here in a few weeks.

...which is quite distinct from "Northern Virginia"! Sure am looking forward to these mountain roads when our C-Max gets here.

Ecodad, I'm glad you pointed this out. This Ford 47 mph topic has become quite an interesting issue. Here are my thoughts. A second test is all well and good but I doubt it will do much to clear up the "controversy". Why? He plans to "drive it as I think any normal, reasonable person would drive". That makes sense as a comparison to "normal" people and driving but the EPA tests (especially highway) are anything but normal. There are two main highway tests and they both average 48 mph! Very few people will consider 48 mph "normal" on a highway (OK, I can think of a few!). The so called "high speed" test even has 7 stops (or near stops) during the 8 mile run. With the start/stop at the beginning/end that's one every mile! Really! Who considers highway driving "normal" when you stop at each mile post! Today you go to 65 or 70 mph, set the cruise, roll on for two hours and hit the rest stop. That's 130+ miles non-stop. But, the points will be raised that: 1) "we all know that", 2) "the EPA data is adjusted down to compensate", 3) "the tests are for comparison purposes" (one car to another - not to real world - "your mileage may vary"), and 4) "other cars get real world mileage that compares well with EPA values". The problem is, those points only hold until you start building a really good hybrid. That is, one capable of doing a lot of driving in electric only (EV) mode. The C-Max can go to 62 mph in EV mode which should allow it to go through a significant portion of the EPA tests without the gasoline engine running. Which is exactly as it should be. Its not just "designing to the test". The "better" the hybrid, the more the EPA test will disagree with "real world"! Gasoline engines are terribly inefficient at light load. You only want to run them upwards of half throttle and several thousand rpm. That's a lot more power than you need to go 48 mph. So, the stronger the electric motor/battery combination are, the less you need to run the gasoline engine. And when it does run, it will be a lot more efficient. Summary points, IMHO, are: 1) The C-Max's EPA highway millage may exceed your "real world" values because its a better design! 2) Standard cars and "mild" hybrids have a better EPA to real world match because the system has been adjusted to those technologies. 3) Ford didn't inflate the numbers or test incorrectly. We'll find out for sure if the EPA re-runs the tests. 4) We need to stop making comparisons to those companies that messed up on their tests. The situation here is different. 5) Ford's desire to work with the EPA to create a better rating system is precisely what needs to be done. They should be commended for this position. 6) The EPA tests were probably designed for emissions tests originally and just adapted for fuel economy (rather than run additional tests). 7) Other cars may do a bit better real world due to less weight and, possibly, less wind resistance (a longer car can generally be more aerodynamic). 8) The industry needs to get over this 47 thing and get on with making better rating systems, batteries and aerodynamics. Now my C-Max just needs to get here so I can put some numbers where my mouth is.

Well, if our car would hurry up and get here we'll all find out! One things for sure, I'll be "geeked out" on the gauges. But I really don't want the C-Max to get the same "reputation" that seems to swirl around those other cars. I intend to have fun (and I don't want to annoy other sensible drivers). As far as driving habits go, there are a lot of others that are much worse! Except, perhaps, that Prius driver with no lights until it was nearly pitch dark - a real safety hazard. Why don't they stop turning the steering wheel too! Power steering takes energy.

March 28 - Got VIN! Come on window sticker. Still don't have the order number though (I thought it came before the VIN).

March 4th - Ordered our C-Max SE, white platinum, winter package and panoramic roof. Expected delivery of 6 to 8 weeks. March 5th - started the long wait! March 26 - dealer received notice that it is to be built "mid April". If so, expect deliver around the end of April or 1st week of May.

We debated the tri-coat for a LOOOONG time and decided to go for it due to the stark whiteness of oxford (dealer called it "truck white"). We also thought it would not ding as much. People here are careless with their car doors and runaway shopping carts (we're in a hilly community). Also, we got the roof! I am really excited about it since it will let in more light on a gloomy day, can see tops of tall buildings in a single pane (superman?), and it's great for mountain, Blue Ridge parkway driving, etc. Our baby will be born mid-April. Hope this helps.

Nice pun!