BDixon, I'm of the mind that a person should be able to buy what they want and can afford...all the way from a Super Hummer to a Limmo to a Segway.

My wife also loves large vehicles and is very set in her ways. Not too long ago we both swore we'd never drive a compact.
Then gas exceeded $1.00/gallon. (Oh the horror!)
I decided to buy new as my old car exceeded 160K miles and gas was up to $1.25/g.
That was Jan 2004.
We could have bought a large vehicle but the day I test drove my HCH was hooked.
Later my wife drove it and was hooked as well. I've read where most test-drivers of the hybrids are the same.

Efficient drivers do it better.
1003 miles a tank personal record. 74MPG calculated. HCH1 CVT

With the additional info, I'm going from "impossible", to "it's possible". Last summer on I25 near Fort Collins Colorado, I did notice better FE at 5,000 feet. Cruising downhill, that 75mpg could happen, although it would still not be easy...

61.5mpg lifetime - 82mpg in recent months

Best Run >
www.cleanmpg.com

"fanatic" is what the lazy call the dedicated

Sorry to interupt with an on-topic post, but I'm very surprised that nobody has suggested to Brad the option of getting an AWD CR-V or a new RAV-4. They get similar highway mileage to an AWD Escape Hybrid and have more cargo space, and cost thousands less. It might make more sense for all highway driving.

Well in the end she decided she was getting her F150. Gas mileage is gonna be horrible. In the end she just wasn't willing to give up her big truck.

I think once gas shoots up though she's going to want to sell it. She gets X number of dollars a week for gas, food and misc stuff. Once she see's she doesn't have any money after gas, can't go out with the girls or is packing her lunch she'll see just how much she really needed this thing.

Anyway just thought I'd let everyone know. My next car will be a hybrid I'm sure of it. If for some reason I have to replace my hyundai soon I'll be getting an HCH.

Brad

Is renting it an option? That way she can bail out when gas prices go up again.

61.5mpg lifetime - 82mpg in recent months

Best Run >
www.cleanmpg.com

"fanatic" is what the lazy call the dedicated

Well thanks for the final word Brad. It's been quite a ride on this thread.

At least the people at Ford will be happy. Your wife will be happier in the mean time, at least till gas hits $3 gallon again. ;-)

I'm surprised no one mentioned Saturn's new VUE green line hybrid. Not sure when it will be in dealerships or how quickly she had to get her new vehicle but the VUE hybrid has a better EPA MPG rating on the highway than the Escape Hybrids. The Saturn is rated at 32mpg verse 31mpg for the 2WD Escape hybrid, and it's atleast $4k cheaper. Will it get better mpg on the highway in the real world, we'll have to wait and see but I think it would have been a great vehicle to compare against the FEH for her needs(*If it was out by now or if she could have waited). Why pay for the more expensive hybrid system if you don't drive in the city and won't see the benefits of a "full" hybrid ya know.

Sasparilla made a very good point, early on, which deserves repeating.

Force, encourage, suggest, etc. If she's dead-set on a SUV, yet willing to explore hybrids, the FEH or HiHy are both great cars.