I agree with cbibbs on the curtosy wipe thing 90% of the time, although I find myself imitating it manually on the HCH since the windshield is so raked on that car. However, sometimes it does seem to help.

One thing I didn't mention which may or may not be a selling point for you. Between folks like DesertDog and GPSman1, and Linear Logic's support, you can know almost every possible detail about what is going on under your hood with a Scan Gauge. Go to Linear Logic's site and look at what is available for the Prius (SoC), the HCH (nothing), and the FEH (everything I've ever wanted to know about my car). It is an analytical geek's dream come true!

That being said, I would still pop for the Nav system since the graphics are sometimes easier to decipher than the numbers and raw data from the SG.

Commuter car, grocery getter, and summer road tripper--average 10k miles per year.


Winter road trips and ski trips, bad weather commuter and my wife's "daily" driver--expected average 4k miles per year.

Not true. At least in the '05 - '07's a quick press up on the stalk gets you a single swipe.

I have a keypad on mine, I had it installed when I picked it up, at a very minimal cost. This is an extremely useful feature IMHO, and had gotten used to it on my prior vehicle.

First 4WD Hypermiler

Have you read the FEH FAQ?

Live in Michigan? Let it be known in Michigan Roll Call

Unless I'm missing something, a press "up" for me indicates that I will be turning right. Pushing forward turns on the high beams and pulling back indicates that I'm an asshat and I am trying to pass you.

Edit: it's really disappointing that Ford either dropped the second wiper control stalk, or does not include it on the MMH.

Commuter car, grocery getter, and summer road tripper--average 10k miles per year.


Winter road trips and ski trips, bad weather commuter and my wife's "daily" driver--expected average 4k miles per year.

Push "in" as in towards the steering column is the technique on my '08.

I *thought* I tried that, but maybe not. I'll try it next time I drive the MMH. Thanks for the tip.

Commuter car, grocery getter, and summer road tripper--average 10k miles per year.


Winter road trips and ski trips, bad weather commuter and my wife's "daily" driver--expected average 4k miles per year.

Interesting about the wipers. Our weather in CO requires frequent washer use and I like the extra wipe that gets those trickles that inevitably run up or down depending on speed. BTW, the "mist" function is activated pressing and releasing the washer once. Press once to wipe once. Press and hold to wash, followed by the extra wipe a few seconds later.

Back on topic, I was one of the first in my area with a Gen II Prius in 2003 but I got rid of it after 2 years. It was in the shop too much and I missed the versatility of my old Outback. I do a lot of outdoor stuff and the Prius couldn't handle it. I tried racks and so on, but eventually got sick of not making a trip or having to leave friends and/or equipment behind. Plus all the service problems. I hear this is not the norm, but it's what happened to me.

Anyway, I dumped the Prius in December 2005 and got another Subaru. I kept looking at the FEH and the HiHy, however, partly because I wanted to stay hybrid and partly for the $5K+ in tax credits. I passed on the FEH due to the cheap interior and annoying, noisy ride. The HiHy was too much $$; plus the V6 is overkill and defeats any hope of exceptional mileage. For me, unless I was towing at least 5 times per year or using the 3rd seat regularly, the HiHy is just "too much car".

A year ago February I saw a 2008 Escape as I passed a Ford dealer and was intrigued. Ford built a lot of hybrids at first, so dealers all had them. I did some test drives and was impressed. The old jiggly ride and road noise was gone, and it went way further and faster in EV than the Prius or the HiHy ever did. Unlike the gen 1 FEH, it was a vehicle I would consider spending over $25K on. I went back to Toyota and researched, both the then-current and then-upcoming next gen HiHys. Still too heavy, too thirsty, too long of a boat ride to get here, too much stuff inside and not nimble. If they made one with the TCH drivetrain that cost $10K less and was built nearer, I might have done it. It's really nice and feels much more quality-made than the FEH. But right now I'd sooner get a non-hybrid that leaves a smaller footprint than get a HiHy. I got the FEH in March 2007. I still like it a year later.

Interesting read Terry. Your profile sounds very much like our own experience in the Forester. I like Subarus. I owned two and had good experiences with both of them. IMO, if Subaru came up with a Forester with the HSD and the same engine unsed in the TCH, or an Atkinson cycle version of the Boxer then there would be no contest and no decision to make. It is feasible becasue Toyota owns a big chunk of Subaru. I can't wait for them though becasue at 180K the old one is starting to cost some maintenance dollars.

Round 4 to the MMH, and I am starting to lean to the Merc rather than the FEH based on the feedback on packages.

Round 5 -- There is a lot published on the web about Toyota's technology, and I beleive that to really drive a car efficiently, you must first understand it -- completely. Information abounds about the PSD and the HSD in general. But published data about the Ford technology, and in particular the eCVT is not so easily found. There is lots of conflicting stuff published about Ford licensing technology from Toyota, but its Ford developed. What is the eCVT technology? Is it PSD like?: belt arrangement like the Honda? (I think not); Dual Cone and Roller?, What? They publish a lot of general stuff, but I have not found a true technical discussion of it anywhere yet.

It is the ignorant among us that will eventually destroy us all.

Not having friends or family working on the Escape, I can't say with certainty, but my understanding is that the first iteration of the FEH was entirely Ford developed, but the 08 introduced software developed by Toyota to manage the integration of the gas engine and electric motor.

I can tell you more about the accounting and costs of the FEH than the mechanics.

Agreed, if Subaru made a hybrid with auto-stop available, even something simple as an arrangement like Honda's IMA, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

For most intents and purposes, consider the Ford and Toyota systems to be the same. Here's a general summary of how this all came to pass:

The basic arrangement was developed by Aisin and Toyota. Toyota moved it in-house, leaving Aisin with the architecture but no buyer. Most accounts I've seen indicate that Toyota didn't think anything would come of it. Aisin, however, knew the system was a torque-monster so they brought in Volvo to develop it for big trucks. Enter Ford, who acquired Volvo. They decided to apply it to the Mazda platform on which the Escape was based. Meanwhile, Toyota introduced the Prius in Japan in '96. Ford took apart a Prius in (I think) '97, saw enough to be concerned, and approached Toyota about sharing it. Toyota would not license it, and did not want to share any of the controller stuff (software) at all. But they were desperately behind in Europe because they had no diesel play. In the end, Toyota granted hybrid licenses to Ford, who agreed to license certain diesel patents to Toyota.

The systems were developed separately so there are significant differences. But both are based on the same original idea for a planetary gear arrangement of multiple inputs & outputs, some of which alternate between driving and being driven. IIRC, one of the Motor Generators is off to the side on the Ford unit instead of in-line as on Toyota's. Regardless, if you understand how the PSD works in a Prius, you (basically) understand Ford's.

There are some specific differences, but none worth dwelling on IMO aside from the different position of one of the MGs.

Best explanation I have seen -- anywhere! Thanks.

It is the ignorant among us that will eventually destroy us all.