ok sorry for the hyperbole but lets be fair here...the hyperbole is coming at me at least as much as I'm putting it out...and ya GaryG you got me on not knowing about the defrost. Hey I'm not perfect bud.

But I'm still not convinced. Posts such as the last one claiming mid-30mpgs right out of the box compared to low 20s for others? Weather? Driving habits? Short trips? Defrost and A/C? Not being committed enough to move the family to a flat place with dry air and moderate temperatures?

I bought an FEH because I was led to believe by Ford advertising, by the salesman and by many apparently over-enthusiastic hybrid owners that an average driver under average conditions would average mpgs in the low 30s, not low 20s. If I knew I would be feeding oil companies and justifying more foreign bloodshed and spewing emmissions just like any other suv owner I never would have made this purchase.

And some of you seem to miss the point. Big corporations like Ford, Toyota etc. are making huge profits selling the hybrid concept. In Canada we are paying $8000+ for hybrids over their non-hybrid counterparts. Yes, its true, you can get better mileage faithfully following Garys suggestions for hypermiling but you can do that on ANY vehicle, not just a hybrid.

Next time I think I'll save my money and get another 1991 Honda Civic...oh ya, and learn to hypermile...in the meantime does any one have a paperbag I can wear.