ScubaDadMiami

I have no problem with the post, if the poster would stick around and discuss it. It's the hit and run thing that I don't favor.

I originally rented for 24 hours before purchasing, so it certainly makes sense that there are some C-MAX rental sales going on. I thought that most of the rentals around here have TN tags, but that is just a casual observation in my local area.

That's what I did. You get enough seat time to know by driving. I rented one for 24 hours. I paid about $100 due to the specialty car identification, but it was well worth it. As you can see, I bought after the test drive.

For winter in South Florida, I probably averaged 61 MPG with mostly city driving. I am going to start using air conditioning after my next fill-up (which should be today or tomorrow), because it is getting too hot not to use the air conditioner. I expect that number to drop to about 48-50. In June, I am driving about 4,000 miles on the highway (Florida-New Hampshire-Florida plus side trips and stops); I expect to average about 40-45 MPG. Your real world numbers depend on weather, speed and conditions. After enough experience, you figure out the best blend for your needs, and then that's how you drive. My numbers are based on a stock C-MAX without mods, running factory tire pressure.

I am very picky about my seating in any car. So, don't take my hypercritical stance on things too seriously. As a bit of background, I have made a 2,000+ mile trip in my C-MAX, and I will be doing a 4,000+ trip in June. So, long-range comfort is an issue for me in selecting a vehicle. I test drove a base model C-MAX, and I found those seats uncomfortable. I tried an SEL (though I hate the leather), and it was much better. So, I purchased the SEL. Since purchase, I have added padded seat covers, and I even added some more padding to that. That works pretty well for me on long range drives. Like I said, I am picky about this. Like you, I found that my right knee rests against the console. Honestly, it's not a problem. I wouldn't worry about that. On the driver's side, there is that stupid dead pedal. That's where I have the problem. It sits in such a way that I have to do all kinds of things to finally settle in a position for the highway. WAB, please remove that dead pedal, and post the step by step for people like me that are not brave enough to be the first to try it.

Just six weeks shy of my first year of ownership, it finally happened. I came out of the grocery store to find a scratch on the corner of my rear bumper. Of course, there was no note on my windshield from the perpetrator. The scratch is not particularly wide or long, but it has sections that are deep enough to see black on my otherwise Oxford White vehicle. The black areas do not look like deposits left from the contact. I am guessing that these areas show something under the paint, or that this black is the base color of the plastic bumper. Fortunately, I didn't observe any damage to the actual bumper material. So, touching up the scratch should bring everything back to looking like new. I got Oxford White for a few reasons, one of them being that Oxford White does not have a clear coat. In theory, this makes touching up little scratches and chips the kind of thing that even a non-professional can do with great results. Well, I guess it is time to put this theory to the test. For such a repair, I assume that everyone would suggest using genuine Motorcraft YZ (Oxford) touch up kit. I have used a pen style kit before, and I was satisfied with that. So, I plan to use that type of kit again. In my only previous experience with trying to touch up paint myself, I started by wet sanding (1000 grit) at the direct site of the scratch, to even up the surface and to assure that the touch up paint adhered. I dabbed on from the pen, and then I very lightly and briefly wet sanded smooth after dry. If any experts have any advice to pass along, I would greatly appreciate your input. I knew that this day would come. :sad:

I don't k know anything about oil. Without having to learn the entire history of it, what's the short answer of what is the difference to us? Does the 0-20 get better fuel economy?

First, I was instructed by my dealer not to do that with the Pano Roof. Second, I hear that it's really bad on the fuel economy. Third, that still doesn't change my lack of storage space for the rack and tire.

I face a dilemma about the whole spare tire thing. Personally, I think that Ford should have included a spare with the C-MAX, even if it would reduce fuel economy a tiny bit. I suppose that they will eventually work this out as batteries get smaller. Nonetheless, they didn't include one at present, so I am faced with what to do about it. In June, I expect to take a 4-5,000 mile trip from Miami to New Hampshire (for my daughter's wedding) and back, with side trips for visits, hiking and canoeing with the pooch. I need to make a final decision about carrying or not carrying a spare for this trip. Initially, I was going to install a receiver, and then pay through the nose for a hitch style tire carrier that folds to allow easy access to the liftgate. By the time you pay for the receiver and installation, the carrier and a spare, this really becomes excessive. Also, I have another problem: I live in a high rise condominium. I don't have a garage in which to store the tire and carrier. I really don't want to drive with a spare for my local driving. So, I haven't jumped on that wagon. I've given thought to installing a receiver and carrier tray for a spare. Fotomoto seems to be able to carry a lot of stuff in that carrier he installed. However, I don't want to have to start removing things from the tray in order to open the liftgate, and I would still have to deal with storage of the tray and tire. On the good side, it is less expensive than the tire carrier. I have the extended tire warranty, there is the Ford roadside service, I have AAA, and (since it was super inexpensive as inclusion with my auto insurance) I even have towing coverage from GEICO. I bought a tire plug kit. With all of this, it would seem that I should be able to call someone that I can pay some extra on the spot for plugging the tire. I should only need a tow in the case where the leak is severe and cannot be plugged. I was okay with this third option until someone posted about how a driver could be out of luck on dealerships being able to provide warranty tire service over weekends, especially Sundays. I've already experienced the thrill of having a vehicle problem while on trips over weekends, finding that I had to stay in a motel while awaiting Monday. If Ford allows the extended tire warranty to be carried out by any authorized Michelin dealer, not just a Ford, I could pay extra to AAA to get their farthest towing allowance, and then hope that they can tow me to someplace that would be open after Ford dealership hours, and that will happen to have our specific tire in stock. I don't know if places other than Ford would have our tire in stock. As far as I can see, there is a problem with every option. :headscratch:

Long road trips mean a packed car, in my case.

I wonder if this means that Ford will not absolutely have to replace the parts, but only to inspect to determine if this is required. I can't detect any issue with my seats, so I am going to add this to the list for when I do the 10,000 service, which should be in about mid-May.

Welcome aboard, and :congrats:

Meanwhile, this is probably my last top fuel economy tank. As it warms up north, it gets hot down here, which means air conditioner season has started. When your numbers go up, mine go down. I did my part to help during the winter. It will be up to you guys to keep up our Fuelly numbers during the summer. ;)

While I enjoy having the adjustable steering wheel in the C-MAX, it does not telescope out as far as I would like. In order to compensate, I end out moving the seat forward. This presents the problem of the pedals then being too high. Does anyone know if pedal height can be lowered? I plan on doing my 10,000 mile service within the next 30 days or so, and I will ask the dealer about this at that time. However, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with this kind of thing. Thanks.

We are all only a little jealous! :congrats:

Maybe now that the C-MAX has been out there for a while, more and more dealers are getting up to speed on properly caring for the vehicle.

Now that you mention it, I think it was for HID, not LED.

This was relating to the Thule rack that is sold through Ford. It is the same one shown in the catalog.

Sorry, but I donated them after not getting a response.

If I am not mistaken, I believe that DrDiesel posted that he installed the LED kit for the Focus, and that it worked perfectly.

Too bad! I liked the look of your design better!

Did you change the rear light lenses, or is that plastidipped? Does the light still shine through enough to be street legal?

I'd like to know whether they vibrate, make noise and reduce fuel economy substantially.

My dealer told me not to use the roof rack with the Pano Roof. I was prepared to buy it from them, but they wouldn't sell it to me.

So far, so good with mine, but it does fall at the very end of the build date range. Hoping that everything holds until the parts come in to so the fix. :worship: