My first day at work in the C-max----Long post.

[slampro]

I drive and help blind piano technicians. There is a little bit more information about that on my profile.

 

I spent from 7:30am to 5:00pm at work with the C-max. I drove 200 miles. Following is my impression. Sorry for no pics, I forgot to charge my phone last night.

 

It won't be technical, I can't keep up with all that stuff( I just drive). I am not now, and probably never will be a hypermiler. I drive with safety as my first priority, always have mostly doing the speed limit +/- 5ish. The way I see it, the guy behind me that sped up to ride my bumper, and wants me to speed up so he can be in front of the person in front of me, is not paying my ticket. Tickets are incremental, and the 5mph bracket is half the cost of 10+, 20+. etc over. I try to avoid other's road rage, and do what I can to not contribute to it.

 

I get in the car in the morning, full tank from dealer. Reset everything, car has 38 miles on the odometer. First thing I notice(yes this might disgust a few)--I can't find a stable spot for an ashtray. I could use the top of dash, but..no, not gonna happen. I could use a cup holder, but I need one(reserved constantly) for my cup(or can).  I have learned to never put an ashtray that close to an open drink, besides my passenger needs a cupholder too. The ones in the door are just too deep to be useful to me as a cupholder, and I need it for something else(more on that in a bit). So, I have the little cupholder version that came with the F150 and it has a flip open/close lid. Small enough to fit on the parking brake when parked, and while driving it fits nicely between the a/c controls and the gearshift. Problem solved(temporarily, I need a better way-I'll figure something out) . The F150 had so much room, I almost forgot a couple items in it before trade. The Escape has much more storage around the driver than the C max. I have stuff all over the Escape, but it looks like it might be somewhat of a challenge for the Max.

 

Now where to put the phone? Hmmm door..no good can't really get to it, weird charger routing. Little space by parking brake----occupied. Definatly not on the ledge with the MFT screen. Hmm, oh hey, this little ledge in front of the CD player, yeah I rarely use CD's anymore. Done.

 

Now...This one I got be able to reach in a hurry should the situation call for it. For as long as I can remember, before I even drove a cab, as a courier or pizza driver, I have ALWAYS carried protection in my cars. I leave a few blunt objects handy(big wrench, maglight, small bat, etc.) and some mace in my cars. I also carry a tazer, that fit very nicely in the door, as I have usually kept it in a door pocket(and it is almost always within reach). I like to feel safe, and like to know my wife has these items(and knows where they are) when I am not in the car. Ok....defense set. Now we go.

 

I pull out of the drive and head for the interstate, it's rush hour. Granted it's El Paso rush hour(that means normal traffic compared to most places), but still rush hour. It's about 3ish miles to the interstate, 40mph limit, about 5 lights or so. First on ramp, backed up- not moving. Follow the frontage road to next entrance. Backed up but moving decent. On the hi-way, doing 60-65ish, that was nice and quick..eco cruise powers activate. I drive and watch the car go in and out of EV mode. The Escape can only go about 40 tops in ev mode, and that is not easy to do. Me likey!

 

I drive about 18 miles at 60-65ish. Then I exit and go about 2 miles to pick up my bosses. I get to their house and was at 48.6 mpg. GREAT!

I pick up the woman of the couple, and we head to Las Cruces(40ish miles). We get to L.C. and I turn off the car get out, get her tools and .... :doh: . I didn't even look, what the hell is wrong with me? UGH..habit I guess..just doing a job.

 

I leave her at the University(they have to have 9 pianos tuned by the end of tomorrow), and I have to head back to El Paso for another customer. I get back to bosses house, at this point I looked at my phone...dead. MPG after return was around 38ish. I pick up the completely blind man, and we head to customers house. GPS was flawless, once I started to spell it right. Lot's of Spanish street names here, and frankly, I struggle to pronounce a lot of them. Spelling it...NO chance! The auto-fill, as in the Escape, I like. But this is a much, much upgraded system. Even the voice is more pleasant. Car never wandered off the street on the map, I used GPS all day, but this was the only place I needed it for.

 

 I, again just instinctively opened the door, didn't even look. I keep forgetting that it automatically keeps track of current trip and shows you when turning off. Never had a car that did that, like this. I get him set on the piano, and head out to the car. I start the car, have a/c on auto 73, and listening to the radio. Knowing he will call in an hour, I dig out the cable from my "put in car bag", and plug into the USB in the armrest. Boom..phone charging. I start cycle through menus and stuff on the dash and on MFT. Let me say this....MFT...0, nada, nothing, nope, not one issue. Worked PERFECTLY!. No problem touching the small center buttons, no severe lag, no _____________!  

 

After about 10 mins or so, I turn the phone on. Not much charge but enough for a phone call. I sync my phone, and BAM! First try, easy as could be. Worked perfect, as my wife :wub2: called about 5 minutes later.

 

There I sat idling for about 1 hour and 15 mins. I noticed it didn't kick the engine on much. Not even half as much as the Escape. Now this is really why I like the hybrid.

This is what makes the hybrid such a great car for a delivery driver. Which -- really(in one way or another(from pizza to human transplant organs))-- is what I have done for work for half my life(I considered driving a cab as being a delivery driver, just very fragile, irreplaceable, and precious cargo). I like where this is headed.

 

1 and 1/2 hours later(Car on the whole time)

Ring, OK he is done. I go in, and bring him back to the car. Now we head back to the university in L.C. When I got mad at myself for making the same boneheaded mistake a 3rd time, I decided I wasn't even going to try and look at the auto trip data. Because I tried to late too many times...LOL. No MPG report.

 

I take him to her. They were off to do what they do. I head back to the car to wait in the parking lot. Car on. Radio, auto a/c set at 73, outside temp 96(according to car). I'm not hot, so I turn the a/c to 75. After about 1/2 hour I got hot, a/c back at 73.

 

2 and 1/2 hours later they come out. 6 pianos done, time to go home. I look at the avg mpg on dash sitting at 36.2(since reset in the morning) NICE! Three 40 mile interstate trips and 4 hours idling. Escape would be about 28ish, F150 15-17(when I traded it in it read17.6).

 

Back to El Paso. After making a stop at the grocery store, I take them home. MPG is 38.4(I think, I really need to get better at this).

 

Drop them off, head to my home. Typical interstate traffic, busy, but moving at speed limit. Couple crazies come flying by at what must be close to 80(65 limit). Typical, no biggie. It always bottlenecks around my exit. I see it coming, and exit a couple exits early. Continue on surface streets for about 7 miles. Home. I turn off the car, and since I am now off work, I notice the display. It says 49.6 mpg on the trip home. :happy feet:  :rockon:  I opened the door, grabbed my phone and said "Dumb__s". No :camera:  but phone was fully charged.

 

Initial response is that I could use more reachable storage area around me. Cup holders in the back, besides the armrest ones, would be a +. Opening the roof, great view! While open it got a little hotter, not too bad. When closed, didn't feel the heat hardly at all. I was very comfortable all day. Driving and sitting for a while. It drives great! The man said he thinks it could ride better. He stopped a bit shot of saying the Escape had a better ride. I think the Max rides better, smoother.  I kinda don't like not being able to see the front end, but I can get used to it. I used to have an old Chevy van, couldn't see its' front either.

 

The kick gate. OH THE KICK GATE! I :love_shower:    I carry their tools. Each bag weighs at least 20-30 pounds. OH the kick gate! Sometimes there is 3 or 4 sets of tools. Pianos require a lot of specialized items and tools. The string bag weighs 50+ pounds. Did I mention the KICK GATE?!?!? When we have to take the keys and action to their shop. It requires two of us.  I have to balance a up to $20,000+ piano part, and open the door in the Escape... :worship:  KICK GATE!!!! Less cargo area than the Escape, but it holds what we need, and that's what matters.

 

My bosses both really got a kick out of it ;)  They both kicked it open. It hit him in the nose(very gently, not hurt at all) I told him to move back.  He :lol:. Anyway, when it hit him, it stopped. He liked that.

 

She is a tall woman, 6 foot. She sits in back, as it's easier for him(completely blind) to get in the front. She said she liked the backseats, and was comfortable. She commented that she liked the way it "Is kind of like a bucket seat".

 

This got long, and I'm tired of typing.

 

All in all. I like it a lot! It performed well. There are a few things that I don't like and I find that in every car I have ever had. But they are minor, I will adjust.

 

Oh one thing that is going to annoy me, and in fact already is annoying me. My biggest complaint. Outside of no spare(which I knew).

 

BUT...WTH is up with the wipers???? The passenger side only wipes half the window. I don't like it. :nonono:  It does not look like a bigger blade would work. They cross and it would hit each other. I know it's a big windshield, but I really don't like that wiper. HMM,  gonna have to get used to that, Good thing it rarely rains here, and I mostly use them with the washer.

 

 

This car is going to save me money at work, just as the Escape has. Driving the F150, I spent half my pay in gas at times.

 

If you made it this far........Thanks for reading my nonsense!!

 

Maybe too long. Maybe not detailed enough. Maybe a bit incomplete. I'm tired and wanted to get it out while I still remembered. I know there is more to say, but this'll do for now.

 

I have 1/2 tank of gas for tomorrow, and will likely enter my first fuelly report sometime after work.

 

[ScubaDadMiami]

Sounds like you like the kickgate!  :lol: Glad you are enjoying.

 

73F seems to be the sweet spot for not getting hot and not burning fuel. 

 

You can see you last numbers by turning on the C-MAX in accessory mode (don't put your foot on the brake pedal when hitting start).

[slampro]

Sounds like you like the kickgate!  :lol: Glad you are enjoying.

 

73F seems to be the sweet spot for not getting hot and not burning fuel. 

 

You can see you last numbers by turning on the C-MAX in accessory mode (don't put your foot on the brake pedal when hitting start).

Yep, I knew that I forgot that. ;)  I read that before.  I have such a habit of just turning a car off, and getting out. Maybe next time I will remember to do that.

[Jus-A-CMax]

Damn, if I knew the post was this long, I would have made some popcorn and settled on a nice comfy recliner. NIce post, glad its working out for you. Those wipers are VERY effective, been in some storm and also snow with them, they plain work - trust me on this :)

[slampro]

Damn, if I knew the post was this long, I would have made some popcorn and settled on a nice comfy recliner. NIce post, glad its working out for you. Those wipers are VERY effective, been in some storm and also snow with them, they plain work - trust me on this :)

Yeah, I shoulda added "Popcorn time!"  LOL.

 

You know the car as well as, if not better than anybody. If you say they are effective, I don't doubt it.

[salsaguy]

congrats slampro. nice non tech write-up. good to know about the negative as well as the pros. how it saves you lots of cash.

enjoy the new car smell.

[fotomoto]

Now where to put the phone? Hmmm door..no good can't really get to it, weird charger routing. Little space by parking brake----occupied. Definatly not on the ledge with the MFT screen. Hmm, oh hey, this little ledge in front of the CD player, yeah I rarely use CD's anymore. Done.

 

 

On a recent road trip with the wife, we had both phones going and I, too, found the CD slot to be a nice spot for my phone since it was paired and thus I didn't need to view it all that much.  It didn't slide at all due to the protective rubber case on my phone; however, that spot does get a lot of sun so I won't use it for day to day operations.   OTOH, my wife used this:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Bondi-Unique-Flexible-Quality-Silicon/dp/B007650ZNY/ref=sr_1_2?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1377095548&sr=1-2&keywords=cell+phone+holder+bondi

 

I got it as an office party present and nearly tossed it but gave it to her instead.  She LOVES it and now I can see why.  The bendable/pliable frame allows it to mount or hang just about anywhere.  She rotated the hook 90 degrees sideways and hung it from the center right vent.  She could see it and it didn't obstruct any controls.    In her car, she hangs it around the shifter for closer access.

 

I also suggest getting a 12DC charge cord for your phone; WAY faster than the USB and there are two up front.  I use the one in the center armrest and leave the cord hanging out and it doesn't get it the way much when not in use.  

[Noah Harbinger]

My bluetooth pairing is working well, so my phone always stays in my backpack. But yes, the general lack of nooks and crannies can be inconvenient at times.

[Laurel]

Slampro I enjoyed reading about your first day.  Smoke away lad.  It is your car.  I get tired of political correct weighing of words before we say anything.

[slampro]

congrats slampro. nice non tech write-up. good to know about the negative as well as the pros. how it saves you lots of cash.

enjoy the new car smell.

Thanks. My wife called dibs on the new car for today, so I drove the Escape for work. Not really a lot of negatives about the Cmax. She likes it, but had a bit of a time with all the fanciness. 

 

On a recent road trip with the wife, we had both phones going and I, too, found the CD slot to be a nice spot for my phone since it was paired and thus I didn't need to view it all that much.  It didn't slide at all due to the protective rubber case on my phone; however, that spot does get a lot of sun so I won't use it for day to day operations.   OTOH, my wife used this:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Bondi-Unique-Flexible-Quality-Silicon/dp/B007650ZNY/ref=sr_1_2?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1377095548&sr=1-2&keywords=cell+phone+holder+bondi

 

I got it as an office party present and nearly tossed it but gave it to her instead.  She LOVES it and now I can see why.  The bendable/pliable frame allows it to mount or hang just about anywhere.  She rotated the hook 90 degrees sideways and hung it from the center right vent.  She could see it and it didn't obstruct any controls.    In her car, she hangs it around the shifter for closer access.

 

I also suggest getting a 12DC charge cord for your phone; WAY faster than the USB and there are two up front.  I use the one in the center armrest and leave the cord hanging out and it doesn't get it the way much when not in use.  

 

My phone has a nice case with the rubber outer layer, so it doesn't slide around. I had a 12v charger with me, but it was an older one and wasn't working. I thought about the sun hitting it on that ledge. But it really is only up there while in motion. When I am waiting in the car I am usually using it. I don't think it will be an issue for me, it seemed to work well. But the phone is the easy thing to find a spot for, heck I could just put it inside the armrest.

 

 

Slampro I enjoyed reading about your first day.  Smoke away lad.  It is your car.  I get tired of political correct weighing of words before we say anything.

Thanks. I too tire from "political correctness", but that's a whole other topic.

[ScubaDadMiami]

I installed a ProClip mount for my phone.  I think that this is at least the third vehicle in which I have installed the ProClip.  Holds it securely, charges, and doesn't have cords running all over the car.

[rtshinn]

I slip my phone in the gap between the hand brake and the console. Fits just right.

But yeah, very little storage.

Edited August 22, 2013 by rtshinn

[slampro]

My wife called dibs on the max yesterday, so I ended up driving the Escape for work. Today I am off, and the car is at the dealer getting the windows tinted. While there, they are doing the sync update, he even said they would fill it up with gas. When I told him I had used half a tank, he was kind of surprised. I told him about my day, and the mileage, and he smiled.  They gave me an ingot silver se with 1100 miles on it to get home.