On June 1st, 2005, I took posession of my FEH, and first registered here. I had ordered it a few weeks prior to that, after doing a ton of research (Much of it here), replacing my aging '95 Explorer Sport Trac (Back when that just meant 2 door).
It has definately changed my life. I've gotten a new awareness of issues, both environmental and hybrid (I view them as two seperate issues). I've made some interesting friends in the local Sierra Club branch, and with some fellow Hybrid owners. I've been fortunate enough to become a moderator here, which has been something that I've enjoyed doing, and the FEH FAQ was the first article that I have written that I had gotten paid for. (As an author, it's impossible to forget that.) And I've gotten to interact with a lot of intelligent people who have a similar hobby that I never realized I had, hypermiling.
In upgrading from the Explorer, I got a lot of cool new features, not just the hybrid technology, like the Nav system, which has proven immensely useful. I got to go to the North American Auto Show for free, thanks to fellow board members. Unexpected bonus' to say the least. Not to mention what a conversation piece it is. I've even been lucky enough to meet someone who had read my FAQ online!
I've been keeping track here, at
www.fueleconomy.gov, and in a private spreadsheet my fuel usage and savings. After one year, I have saved $1425.99 (Should've gotten an extra cent somewhere along the line
) by getting the FEH rather than the Conventional Escape I had also looked at. Had I retained the Explorer and not gotten the FEH, I would've spent a laughable $2358.54 in fuel costs. I have not had a single problem with the vehicle, and have learned a lot over this last year about the vehicle and how to use it. All of it enjoyable, a kind of ultimate real life game. Last weekend, I removed the Roof Rack.
Does that cover the $3800 initial price difference? No, but that's hardly an insurmountable difference that the media would have you believe. (And at that rate, by year 3 I'm ahead, let alone by year 10!)
The FEH certainly paid for itself when I went on vacation a few weeks back, when I made a solo drive 5 states away to a city I've never been to. I had no problems getting right to the hotel, around town, or getting down there or back, thanks to the Nav, and I made the trip with only a few fuel stops.
Now, that's not to say that I think the FEH is perfect. As I've mentioned before, I've got my complaints. The arm rests for sure, being hard plastic rather than a covered material, lack of exterior temp gauge, and the rear seats obscuring the mirror topping them. Other hybrid features would be nice, like an ICE off button. However, that's not something that detracts from the enjoyment of the FEH one little bit. It has taken good care of me, as has the GH. I'm putting this out there to let the universe know that I am grateful of its care of me. (And keep giving me good MPGs!
)