fotomoto

Things sound good: FORD MOTOR: May sales were up 14%, the best for that month since 2005. The automaker is continuing to add gas-electric hybrid models to its lineup and, consequently, sold more hybrid vehicles the first five months this year than it it has in any full year, breaking the record of 35,496 in 2010. Gas-electric hybrids use less fuel than regular gasoline cars, but they are more expensive. http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2013/06/03/chrysler-general-motors-ford-sales/2378505/ While Toyota still leads in hybrid sales, Ford is gaining ground, it says. In April, it had 15.5% of US market share. More than 60% of Fusion and C-MAX hybrid sales are conquests — buyers who previously owned another brand — and most of those are from Toyota, according to Ford. “We’re hearing from our dealers they literally can’t keep our hybrids in stock,” C.J. O’Donnell, Ford electrification group marketing manager, said in a release. Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/ford-hybrids-easily-outsell-electric-cars-2013-5#ixzz2VAgvSUw1

I haven't done enough hwy trips to get a firm handle on the distance but a guess is around 10 miles. I do shorter, less than 5 mile legs daily and have recently found keeping speeds below 65 and P&G on EV delivers better mpg. Need more tests though.

Our newest toll road (Tx 130 with the 85mph speed limit) doesn't have human toll booths. If you don't have an EZ pass, cameras :camera: will record your license plate as you pass through the station and mail you a bill. Back in March, I drove it for the first time in my then two week old CMax with paper dealer tags. I have never received a bill so was it even mailed? If so, to the dealer? Loophole? :sing_rain:

Sorry but judging from this photo, I think we Texans came up with it first! :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:44_12_HondoTX_1.jpg In 1930, the local Hondo Lions Club erected the now somewhat famous sign reading "This is God's Country, Don't Drive Through It Like Hell" at the city limits with the intention of slowing down those speeding while traveling through town. Later, in the 1940s the sign was changed to "This is God's Country, Please Don't Drive Through It Like Hell" to satisfy those in the town who were displeased with the tone of the old sign. [1] The sign has been in news and print in many magazines, including on the cover of National Geographic, and in the music video of Little Texas' song "God Blessed Texas."

Recirc without a/c will build up humidity. Was his a/c off? Auto mode will select a/c to clear windows.

Yes, a car is not a pressurized vessel like an aircraft certified for high altitude flight or spacecraft. The chance of CO poisoning or even high levels of CO2 is nearly impossible. Exceptions are well known: running the vehicle in an enclosed space (garage) or when the tail pipe becomes very constricted (parked in snow or mud). A moving motor vehicle running recirculation mode has basically zero chance of dangerous buildup of either gas. A simple plastic flap is put in front of the outside air intake. It's not like it's hermetically sealed or something. No need to believe me because if there was even the remotest of possibilities, lawyers would make sure you'd see TONS of warnings in the owners manual or they would install built in timers. There are none of either.

I think that's pretty much true of any hybrid. After "giving up", I avg. 46-48 in my Prius that was rated 51 for urban driving. My wife who won't even try to drive efficiently avg 39-41 on her hwy commute in it. I've found that practicing P&G enough has eventually become second nature and find myself doing it subconsciously in urban driving.

Welcome to the forum Mike! :yahoo: Sounds like you're off to a great start. If you have any questions, ask away. If you have any tips or interesting tid bits, please share.

Reference please.

2011 Countryman: 24mpg divided by the EPA rating of 28mpg combined=85% 2013 Ford C-Max: 39mpg divided by the EPA rating of 47mpg combined=83% It's your driving style and/or environment. If you're primarily an urban driver, try to use EV as much as possible and not exceed the second bar on the gas engine scale to recharge. If you primarily drive highway/interstate, keep your speed below 70 and strive to get into "high ICE" mode.

Yeah, the rear 3/4 view is especially close. I sometimes need a double or even triple take to tell a difference from that angle. I've learned to check for exhaust outlets cut into the rear bumper.

BSOD=blue screen of death A computer term most often associated with the Windows PC platform when a serious fault occurs. That the MFT system, which is also based on a Microsoft product, is buggy and has been known to freeze makes this especially biting...... ;)

Not that I wanted to wish a long term stay for Maxine but I was hoping if the 3 had the new skyactive drivetrain you'd get to keep it for a week or so and give us a mpg review.

Yeah, I saw that post earlier today which reminded me to finally upload the video for others and post it in a related thread (albeit old). That link of yours is to a CEL/fuel inlet thread which really doesn't have anything to do with this buzz noise. I have no issues or CEL and haven't heard the buzz since.

IIRC, locking the car by touching the black pad and then immediately pulling on the handle to confirm the car is locked will not unlock the vehicle. Pausing even a couple of seconds between the two actions will unlock the vehicle. I believe the OP by moving over to check the rear passenger door handle provided enough of delay. I find watching for the mirror and/or the front/rear turn signals flashing confirmation easier.

I'm pretty familiar with the extra sounds hybrids make compared to a traditional car but this buzzing sound was a first for me. I heard it in my closed garage a couple hours after driving. I became concerned when it didn't stop after a few seconds like most other hybrid sounds. So, I went back into the house, got my camera phone, came back out to the garage, crawled underneath the rear end of the car and recorded a couple of videos about a minute each. It was still going when I went back in the house. I went back out about 10 minutes later to check the 12v voltage and it had stopped by then. Voltage was OK. Sounds like the fuel system doing some kind of priming/purging: Oh, and excuse the grunting. :hysterical: The floor was dirty and I was trying to keep my hair out of it. :baby:

When I'm by myself, I use the interior door switch as I get out. If I'm out of the car and it's noisy, I watch for the mirror puddle light to flash when I push the black pad. When I have my slow poke kids with me, I use the FOB to lock with horn confirmation as I've all ready walked halfway to our destination by the time they pile out. LOL

Update #3: power washed the car last evening and spent a little extra time on the front fascia for bugs. No issues this morning, proper voltage. I'm strongly suspecting my ultra-gauge being the cause of the original drain in my particular case. I have an SEL with fogs.

No, that's not what I meant although those are very important points. There's only .92 of a gallon and 13 miles difference between our trips yet my fuel gauge is nearly 1/4 of tank lower. I'm now thinking the gauge's overall behavior is not traditional and based on a simple float type sensor in the tank. Rather I'm now thinking the digital display will adjust the rate of descent of the scale based on MPG's just like DTE can change based on current FE.

I think you sort of answered this, Did you run the air-conditioner? Some prius owners with scan gauges determined that with light a/c use, it used approx. 3/4 gal per hr while parked so cost wise overnight camping was a very viable option to even the cheapest, roach motel.

Looks like the potential for an epic tank! :rockon:

Less than a gallon difference between posts 139 and 140 but look at the differences in the levels on the respective fuel gauges. :headscratch:

Over the last week, I've been working on my best tank so far in my short ownership. 200+ miles at 50+ mpg! :rockon:

Are you waiting at least 5 minutes or longer between each test? The known issue/update is because the sensor goes to sleep so the first kick usually only unlatches it while the second kick raises it.

Yup, folks that live in large urban areas where traffic is crazy have a tough row to hoe as my grandfather liked to say. Even if you do throw in the towel so to speak, be rest assured you're still getting way better FE than all the other non-hybrid drivers.