I just bought my 07 FEH 3 weeks ago and have no regrets, msrp is $1000. less, 1.9% apr for 60 mo., $1350. federal tax credit,(paid only $130 over invoice according to edmunds.com) and the darn thing gets 30+ mpg! I calculate the fuel savings alone will offset the price of the hybrid "option" well before the loan is payed off (vs v6 FE) Even if your FEH never goes into EV mode during the short 3 mi commute, the FEH shold still get beter milage then a 4 cyl Rav4 Or Crv during any other driving condition it's money in your pocket, and I dont think the other suvs are rated AT-PZEV by the EPA.

 

why only $1350 for the tax credit? i thought it was $1950 ?

 

My daughter won't even get her driver's license until March or May. We were figuring on giving her my wife's 1997 Explorer during the summer. So the '08s might be out before we pull the trigger.

 

Actually it's supposed to be $2600 for the 2WD FEH and $1950 for the 4WD versions. The MM is not available in 2WD. I also came across a link that states that Ford sold 6192 qualifying vehicles during the first quarter of '06. Here's another link stating 11,885 sold through the first two quarters of 2006. I don't know what the sales were for the 3rd quarter, but at that rate it won't hit 60,000 hybrids until sometime in 2008.

 

Sorry about the typo it should have said $1950.

 

They have fixed the navigation in the Mariner Hybrid so I would think they would have fixed it in the FEH as well. (6 1/2 inch touchscreen, DVD-based) They have already done a press release, photos, etc. for the Mariner. Google or go to www.drivezen.com (official site) for details. Rumor is the Escape will debut in November at the LA Auto Show, but the LA Auto Show website states that the show is Dec. 1 - 10. I guess we'll see.

I forgot to add, the '08 MMH will be available in 2WD.

 

I wonder if there'll be an option to go back and upgrade our units to the new DVD-based Touch screen version. Would be nice if there was.

 

Agreed. When I drive it to my work at just 2.6 miles away, it MIGHT shut down once in the last 100 yds on a mild weather day. On cold weather days it doesn't shut down at all, but I'm still seeing 25 mpg out of it even then. The hybrid system still does allot for efficiency even if the gas motor never shuts off.

 

I just put my order in for the 2007 FEH.... although i wish they would have had the dvd nav upgrade in the 07 model... i do hope there is an upgrade available. That would be extremely considerate of ford.. however at this time i don't think i would upgrade since i just spent the thousands to have the shitty one.... maybe in 09 i'll upgrade (if that option is available..or until i can't stand this one)..
anyway.. just my rant... i don't even have it yet.

 

If you look at the dash's "center stack" design on the '08 Mariner, it doesn't look like it uses anything that resembles a standard radio in size or style. So, I doubt it will be able to fit into our older FEH's or MMH's.