salsaguy

Big Rocco - it looks like you havent updated your user profile info to show you now have a '15 CMax instead of your old '13 CMax. Left hand panel shows "2013 CMax in White Platinum" ;)

Steve, because of the comfort/space/luxury feeling in the Passat ? or because of the regular car feeling? or because of the seating position? Stevedebi said: "My wife is 4'10" and she doesn't mind driving our C-Max Energi. But she much prefers the VW Passat TDI."

This is what Im worried about with my wife (cutie75). Im worried she will find an excuse to not like it (she is already resistant on the "Ford" brand, since she is such a devout Toyota fan after owning her SUV for 17 years now and still going strong). It is very different but I keep telling her its the best choice for her with wanting high MPGs and a high seating position that she loves/is used to from her SUV and with its features and comfort. Time will tell if we end up getting the CMax or not.... Quoted message by Kellytoons:"Now, all seriousness aside, there is some truth to that last one in terms of the C-Max. It just might be this isn't the car she really wants, and even if she can't quite define what it is she doesn't like about it (and thus uses her height as an excuse, even if subconsciously) there really isn't any way around that. IOW, a person of almost any size could drive the C-Max just fine IF that was a car that was a car they wanted to drive (like your own wife, rjam). For someone who doesn't want to drive it... no amount of "fixin'" will do."

Steve, I know what you mean about boxes in the garage. Luckily I still have room for my car (Passat) but its slowly getting overtaken by boxes. Time for major cleanout and reorganization for sure, Its amazing how an empty space gets filled to the max with "stuff". I bet the majority of garages arent for holding cars but instead for "stuff" :) Yeah its good to have a plug next to the garage entrance. Also good to hear you dont have issues charging in the rain

Steve, I know what you mean about boxes in the garage. Luckily I still have room for my car (Passat) but its slowly getting overtaken by boxes. Time for major cleanout and reorganization for sure, Its amazing how an empty space gets filled to the max with "stuff". I bet the majority of garages arent for holding cars but instead for "stuff" :) Yeah its good to have a plug next to the garage entrance. Also good to hear you dont have issues charging in the rain

Yup been watching the X- FIles (glad its back but I noticed its much more violent and graphic in nature when it comes to blood and gore, compared to when it was on last many years ago) and the Ford Explorer is very prominently placed in many of the scenes, to show off the car in all angles. built in advertising. Also if watching the show from On Demand streaming, every single commercial (cant skip commercials in On Demand Mode) had the same "Thuinderstom?: commercial for the Explorer at every single comm. break,

Based on the OP's post #14 in that thread, it seems that SHO owner is a Ford Employee or knows someone high up to get the info to be able to do that and was a 1 off only / demo and not a mass production thing but cool to know it was able to be done

Here's a first drive report on this new e-Tron: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1093607_2016-audi-a3-e-tron-first-drive

The CMax and other hybrid cars are notably not the best cars to get if you live in cold weather cities. Hybrids work best in cities like Los Angeles where its nice and warm in the 65-85 deg range most of the time

Per the owners manual you arent supposed to watch the MPG or find the info valuable for the first 1000 miles as it is learning your driving habits and programming the computer in your car. It will take a while to break in the engine as well and once broken in the mpg #s will start to settle in and be more reliable

Its really sad to see how many dealerships take advantage of older people because they knoiw they can get away with pulling the wool over their eyes. ANd I agree that training is very important for anyone buying a new car these days, even if you arent over 50. SO much tech on these cars can be confusing for even the new generation of people. No one knows/understands the way a new product (car, TV, computer, blu-ray player, game, etc) works as soon as you buy it Even Apple offers training services for their new Mac products. Customer service doesnt mean getting them to get out of your shop and out of your hair as fast as possible, it means getting to understand their needs and make sure they are happy and have a GREAT experience.The customer is NOT the enemy, Mr dealer/dealer rep! The customer is who is paying for your food and house every day. Without customers (and repeat happy customers) you will be out of a job!

Only issue with the slow trickle charger is that unless you can park right up next to your house to be able to plug it in (if you park the car outside and not inside a garage) it will be veru difficult. And if you do park your car outside what do you do if you need to charge when it rains outside? Is it water sealed even when the charge compartment is open or do they discourage you charging in rain?

I love Audi's look and style. They are my fav luxury car if I had the $$ to spend on one. The A6/A5/A8 series is stellar. I used to like BMW but not after they changed the styling to be so ugly. Never liked Mercedes. So I stick with my poor mans Audi... My Passat SEL But its too bad they (Audi's) do have a bad rep for reliability. I knew Jaguar's and Mercedes had a lot of issues. But wasnt aware of so much on the Audi side. As for hard to service, I know all abot that. I used to own a 1995 Ford Probe GT and that was based on the Mazda 626 platform and shared the same engine and they shoehorned that thing in the hood so tight it was a nightmare to service even the spark plugs was a monster. No one outside of the dealer ever wanted to touch it. More and more designers are trying to make cars easier to service as it does add to the time/cost of maintenance, but with so many new safety and tech features being added to the cars these days, there is only so much room they have to work with that it does become a very difficult chore to accomplsh,

Thats too bad. Dont you just hate it when you find something that looks and feels perfect on paper only to have your heart ripped out of you after holding it in your hands and trying it out for yourself! Best of luck finding an alternative. Too bad more car mfg's dont offer better height adjustments. Maybe she can sit on a pad/booster seat?? The CMax really is best bang for your buck hybrid/Plug In EV car out there with lots of tech and safety and style and FUN all rolled into 1 nice package

Wow without the top grille it sure looked like a Focus to me at first glance I wonder if removing the upper grille was only for looks or for improved performance in some category like drag or mpgs? wont that mean the engine bay will get LESS cooling and heat up more? which may be a good ting for those in winter areas that need to get the car warmed up faster to use less ICE and more hybrid EV mode i think I like the 1 grille look better than the 2 grille look for sure wonder if the 2017 model in the US will have this design when will the 2016 be over and the 2017 launch? maybe the 2016 will be a short launch 1/2 years worth and the 2017 and updated refresh model? anyone know?