So,
We picked up our 08FEH on Friday 07/06/07. We had ordered the truck we wanted and waited about 6 weeks for it to arrive. The deal went as planned with the exception of a rebate period expiring during the waiting period, so the dealer reduced the selling price to make the numbers work as originally quoted.

We spent at least an hour at the dealer going over the truck and features blah,blah. I felt as if I already knew the truck inside and out thanks to this site and the manuals I had already obtained while the truck was on order.

Anyways the truck had 9 miles on it and the tank was almost completely full. We ran the truck with the AC on during the whole time the salesman was showing us the features and helping me get the NAV system disc installed blah blah (it has been in the 90's).

My wife and I drove around town for a little, just enjoying the truck. This was mixed electric and gas... I was learning the modes blah blah. The mpg showed 34.8 avg. I don't like the bar graph thingy, it's too much to look at. I like the avg mpg and the "inst cons" helps you along "live time".

Someone gave me two NASCAR tickets to the Pepsi 400, so we took the truck to Daytona yesterday. It was a 212 mile trip each way. We got there on the original tank of gas and it still had 68 miles to empty. I drove about 78mph, varying speeds between 70-80 with the AC on the entire way and the temp set at 74.

The truck drives great and steers well. The ride is acceptable and it does not appear top heavy. I also noticed the truck is very "sure footed" and is not blown around by drafts when passing T-T's or by the wind. Most impressive was the LACK of interior noise on the highway. (wind noise).

I have heard many complain about the nav system, but imo it works FLAWLESSLY. The sound of the sat radio, FM radio and cd's is impressive. Very good quality audio, and I like it at higher volumes (especially on SR "big hair band" channel lol)

The mpg showed 29.6 when I arrived in Daytona, I was very impressed that the hwy mpg almost matched the window sticker. Not only because the poor truck is brand new, but also because of my 70-80mph range with the cruise control.

I filled the truck up and calculating my mpg I got 28.79 using the gallons I put in. I filled it up so much the gas spilled out of the neck a little. I'll have to stop after the first "click" on this truck I guess.
I am thinking the extra gas (loss in mpg) was due to running the truck so much at idle at the dealer and in my driveway playing with the Nav. Also I think I probably pumped more into the tank than the dealer did.

On the way home (212 miles back) I drove 70mph religously. I pulled in the driveway (3am) and showed 32mpg avg. this includes driving thru town alot on electric to get to my house.

Things I noticed and I am wondering if they are "normal".

It seems when the truck is on electric and the battery is charged, at 30mph it drains the battery in about 1 mile. Then the ice turns on even with minimal or no pedal pressure.
Should I be getting more distance out of the battery?

I am very impressed with the way i can manipulate the cvt. at 70, if conditions are right, I can get the engine to run at just over 2k rpm and almost lock in there (maybe 2200-2300). I am not sure what is actually happening there on cruise but the rpms move up and down just a little as if the software programing is actually performing the pulse and glide. While the truck is doing this, the inst cons is moving in sync between 28-38ish.
This is while cruising on a flat surface, very interesting.

It is also interesting that as long as you don't push too hard, you can keep the rpms very low for your vehicle speed. It's almost as if "don't let it slip" or "keep it where it is grabbing". What is this that I am feeling in the cvt?

All in all, what a great time we are having so far with the little suv from Ford.

Oh, there is a catch... my wife likes to have some heat on her back while riding. We noticed that the seat heaters DO NOT work. The seats never got hot, and the seat heater(s) are supposed to shut off after ten minutes but the light on the switch never went out.

Hopefully that is NOT going to be a big problem for us.

Thanks for reading and I will keep you all posted.


08FEH