jmckinley

In almost all the displays (my view, engage, empower, inform) it shows the Lifetime MPG along with the other information. I like those displays, but would prefer to show Trip 1 or Trip 2 MPG instead. Has anyone figured out how to do this?

Ditto on the heated seat backs. On my SEL they are definitely heated. In my opinion, I'd rather have too much heat than too little, as long as it can be turned down. I used to always get Chrysler Minivans as company cars so got a new one every two years. I remember one which had really good heated seats. The next one was barely warm and after my complaining the dealer said there had been a problem with seat fires and Chrysler subsequently reduced the heat level. He replaced my seats anyway, but it didn't help.

I have a couple of questions. 1) Did mileage accumulate on your odometer while towing? I'm pretty sure it won't, as that was the case on the Escape Hybrid and the earlier Fusion Hybrid, but I'm curious to know if it works that way on the C Max. 2) If you don't mind telling me, what did they charge for the base plate installation? I'm considering doing it myself (it's winter, so what else do I have to do) but might consider letting a Blue Ox or Roadmaster dealer do it. Installation instructions are available online and it doesn't look too bad, just a lot of fiddly work with all those plastic fasteners holding the body parts on.

Picked up my C-Max last week, 12/6/2012. Just as we were leaving home, got a call from salesperson informing us that the Synch system needed a software update and they hadn't done it yet so did we want to wait a day to pick it up. We decided to go on and pick up the car and get the update later. I'm suspicious of this upgrade. As delivered, our MPG, like everyone else's, sucks. Avg 36.8 since delivery, tough to get instantaneous of 40 mpg at 65 mph on level ground. Dealer says the update takes 2 hours. Everything I've read says the Synch update takes 1 hour. I wonder if the "Update" includes more than just the Synch system. Like maybe major changes to the Hybrid system computer programming to tweak it to something more optimal for normal driving instead of to show big numbers on the EPA cycle. This would make some sense. Ship all the cars with EPA optimized programming just in case the EPA buys one off the floor for testing. When cars are sold to private owners, reprogram with something more optimized for real world driving. This makes sense since my car was built last week, so if there was new programming, it should have been in the car unless they were afraid the EPA would buy it. Will report on this after I get the car back later today. By the way, I know mpg is supposed to get better after break in but I doubt it will ever get to 47/47/47 unless I only drive downhill all the time.

Picked up my SEL yesterday, only 5 weeks after order was placed. As we were leaving the house to go pick it up, salesperson called to say the Synch needed the update and did we want to wait a day so they could do it. Decided to go on and pick it up and do the update later. Should have waited. The phone stuff just plain doesn't work. Otherwise everything else is great. Will get update next week, probably.

I think all you have to do is put it in neutral, then push the button. It goes into a sort of "Accessory" state where the engine and most stuff is off. I think after a few minutes, everything shuts off and you're good to go. Just got mine last night so haven't fully checked it out. Let me know what you find out from Ford.

Update, Car is at the dealer!! Build date was supposed to be 12/3 but showed up at the dealer this morning. We're about 230 miles from the plant so I doubt it was really built two days ago. Scheduled session tomorrow with Resident Geek Guy for a tutorial on the Synch and MFT. Makes my head hurt just thinking about it and the 456 page owner's manual. Here's the revised time line: Model: C-Max Hybrid SEL Date Ordered: 10/31/12 Promised Delivery time: 6 to 8 Weeks VIN Available: 11/11/2012 Window Sticker Available: 11/27/2012 Scheduled Build Date: 12/3/2012 Actual Build Date: Unknown Released from Factory for Shipping: Unknown Estimated Delivery Date: 12/17/12 Actual Delivery Date: 12/5!! (Order to delivery 5 weeks) State: Ohio (southern)

Bulls--t.

Maximum pressured on the sidewall is "Maximum Cold Pressure". It is the pressure to set when the tire has not been driven for a while. It allows for expansion of air in tire with heat which increases pressure. Having said that, however, it is not generally a good idea to run at max pressure. Big pressure means tire gets rounder across the tread surface, decreasing contact area and therefore decreasing traction. Also tends to wear the center of the tire. At high pressure, Tire is also more susceptible to bruise failures such as hitting the edge of a pothole. Recommended pressure on the door frame is not a guess, it's the result of testing to determine the best compromise between handling, fuel economy, tire life and ride quality. If you have different priorities than Ford, then you can go higher (never lower) to improve handling etc. but you should stay away from that Maximum Pressure.

Or you can buy a $125 Garmin GPS with Lifetime Maps and Traffic which gets free map updates four times a year, shows traffic and automatically routes you around backups. Ford system costs $200 per year for updates.

All good suggestions. I like "It's European", that should confuse them. I used "Tall Focus", but that didn't seem to register. I also got "Never buy a first year car. Too many problems". Tough to argue with that logic, but I tempered it with, "It's built on the proven Focus Platform and the hybrid drive train has been around for ten years since it sprung from the Aisin/TRW design used in the Prius so there really isn't that much new stuff." I neglected to mention the dead batteries, sticking doors, malfunctioning foot tailgate, etc and the everpopular Sych/Touch mysteries.

Every time I mention to someone that I have ordered a Ford C Max, I invariably get "Whut the H--- is That?" Then they look at you like you're stupid, or insane, or both. Absolutely no one, but no one has heard of the C Max. Not even the Prius owners I know. I'm going to stop mentioning it, it's just too irritating. Now if I can get DW to keep her mouth shut, I'm all set.

How are you guys tracking your cars? Are you using Cyberman or some other method?

My guess is that Ford totally optimized the CMax for the EPA test, with no concessions to ordinary driving. If/when the EPA does their own test I would bet that it will confirm Ford's 47/47/47. Ford is not stupid and would not have fudged their test. When I worked for Ford and we were testing brake performance to federal standards, corporate policy was to design to outperform the standard by 10% just to make sure every car built would at least meet the standard.

Update. Just got Window Sticker Model: C-Max Hybrid SEL Date Ordered: 10/31/12 Promised Delivery time: 6 to 8 Weeks VIN Available: 11/11/2012 Window Sticker Available: 11/27/2012 Scheduled Build Date: 12/3/2012 Actual Build Date: Released from Factory for Shipping: Estimated Delivery Date: 12/17/12 Actual Delivery Date: TBD State: Ohio

Model: C-Max Hybrid SEL Date Ordered: 10/31/12 Promised Delivery time: 6 to 8 Weeks VIN Available: 11/11/2012 Window Sticker Available: Not Yet Scheduled Build Date: 12/3/2012 Actual Build Date: Released from Factory for Shipping: Estimated Delivery Date: 12/17/12 Actual Delivery Date: TBD State: Ohio

Thanks for the link to the Tire Rack article. I've given up arguing this issue with neighbors, people on the motorcycle forums, people on the motor home forums, et al. As Tire Rack says, the only possible advantage would be from a hopefully drier gas without water vapor. My guess is even this benefit is suspect since it is highly dependent on the installer thoroughly flushing the old air and vapor from the tire/wheel before filling with nitrogen. And, if they're using a nitrogen generator, it could introduce moisture of its own. It is almost a certainty that your friendly, $10 per tire dealer will simply let the air out, pump in something that may or may not be pure dry nitrogen and install the tacky green valve stem caps. Like they said, save your money, check tire pressures often, fill with the driest air you can find, preferably from your own compressor which is drained regularly.

Air is 80% nitrogen and is free. $40 for nitrogen is an incredible ripoff and does nothing for your car or your tires. Check it out on any of the tire manufacturer's websites. The all say it won't hurt anything except your pocketbook but it won't do any good either.

After reading the posts about Spandex seat material on the console side, I got in my wife's Mazda Tribute yesterday (really a Ford Escape, just different badge) and discovered it has the Spandex too. We've had this car ten years and never noticed it.

They use non leather on the sides of the seats because leather is expensive and really doesn't work well there where there is a lot of flexing. It's been that way on most everything for 20 years or so. Datsun got in trouble for this back in the eighties on the 280Z and lost a class action suit because they didn't say "leather seating areas" in their publications. Had to pay off a bunch of owners. Since then, you'll see the disclaimer posted in all written material regarding leather seating by all OEMs.

The Prius guys who are fanatical about mileage are very careful to no use gas with alcohol content. They claim, correctly, that it will reduce gas mileage by several mpg. This is due to alcohol having less energy per gallon than gasoline. Sometimes the 89 stuff will not have alcohol when the 87 does. Other times you need to know what companies carry real gasoline.

Don't underestimate the drag from that roof box. It could easily take off 10 mpg. Just removing the crossbars on a typical minivan roof rack will add 1-2 mpg. I verified that on my van. So you can see what a big effect something as big as a roof box could have.

Model: C-Max Hybrid SEL Date Ordered: Oct.31, 2012 Promised Delivery Time: 6-8 weeks Actual Delivery Date: TBD VIN: TBD

Ford website says if you have Navigation System, you can play movies on the DVD player when in park.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a gadget guy too and I'm looking forward to playing with the new toys. But it is sort of sad/scary that someone built a car that requires cue cards and Geek Guys etc to learn how to run it. Is this an answer to a question no one ever asked? I've got a BMW motorcycle with a radio that is so incredibly non intuitive that I had to make a cue card which I still use today, after owning the thing over ten years. And a motorcycle is no place to have confusing controls. There is an old engineering saying that goes "Why make it simple when it's so easy to make it complicated." Anyone who has owned a German car will probably agree that this is the BMW/Volkswagen/Audi motto. And by the way, while I'm ranting, what the heck is wrong with good old metal ignition keys? What's the deal with this pushbutton thing? And, I guarantee you I am not looking forward to trying to teach my Dear Wife how to use enough stuff so she can operate the basic functions.