Opinions on the new Ford Escape Hybrid??

Question

We are thinking of buying a Ford Escape Hybrid and just wondering what you think of it. It seems like a a good car, gets excellent mpg (which is a plus in an SUV), and is all together a very enviromentally car. Just lookin for some oppinions on the car though, any bad things? Good things? Thanx!

Answer 1

The hybrid costs a lot more than the regular Escape.  Ford dealers are bargaining on the regular Escape but mostly not on the hybrid.  The hybrid has a waiting list.  You'll spend more more for the hybrid than you'll save on gas.  As for the environment, the greenest thing to do is to keep driving the same car.  Manufacturing cars is not an environmentally kind thing.  Don't contribute to that.  Also...the batteries.  They cost a lot to replace and they are hazardous to dispose.  It's not really an environmentally friendly technology.  What else...Hey I know...the new 2009 Escape hybrid has an input on the dash for your MP3 player.

Edit:  One thing to keep in mind about that tax credit noted below...It's for the 2008 model.  They're gone.  Ford didn't make a huge number of these vehicles.  It's time to get in line for the 2009 models.

One more edit:  The Escape hybrid is underpowered...only 133 HP.

Answer 2

To recoup the additional cost of the escape hybrid you will have to drive over 200k miles.  If you plan on driving those kind of miles, then it's great.

Answer 3

If you like it ,buy it.

Answer 4

Usually I agree with Wilton P, but this time he is dead wrong on several counts.

The Escape Hybrid currently qualifies for a $3000 Federal Tax Credit.   It goes a long way to making the Escape Hybrid less expensive than it would have been.  http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id=176...

The Battery is a NON ISSUE.  Ford covers it with an 8-year / 100,000-mile warranty.  If it fails before then (virtually unheard-of), Ford will replace it for you FREE.   Read the warranty for yourself at Ford:  http://www.fordvehicles.com/suvs/escapeh...

Ford will RECYCLE the battery if you are going to junk the car.  They will pay you a $200 bounty to return the battery to them.

Where I am in New York City, the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission has been using Escape Hybrids as taxis since 2005.  The first batch has racked up 200,000 miles (waaaaaaay past warranty) with no major problems.  http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?ne...

If it can survive the legendary abuse of NYC cab drivers on a daily basis, it can survive normal use juuust fine.

Answer 5

Not to be a dream crusher but i dont like Fords period...