I want to stress again that the lack of an aux. jack is NOT the only reason I may wait a few months to get the '08 model. Financial considerations (especially at this time of year), other features, the look of the '08, etc. all play significant roles.

But as we are discussing the aux. jack, I have looked into this, on my own and with Ford.

The Ford dealer is actually seeing if he can replace Ford's navigation system with one from another vendor that has an aux. jack! Of course, I have no idea how hard he's working on this. If that was the only thing between my signing for the car, I'm sure he would be working hard. But as it stands, I'm sure it's low on his list. Still, he is checking into some features I wanted.

As for the PIE options, that is possible (and I did read through those threads). However, again, if the '08 model has the better Navigation system and the aux. jack and some of the other features I want, then I may as well wait a few months and see what that SUV is like. Plus, as I have an '06 Vue that only has 15K miles on it and gets good mileage already, I'm in no major rush. I want the FEH (or something similar), but I am willing to wait to get as close to the exact vehicle I want - especially when the price is floating over $31K for my "dream" vehicle and Ford is giving me next to nothing for my trade-in.

 

You can replace the factory system no problem...only thing you will lose is the Nav/Hybrid displays. I've seen a number of escapes running eclipse and pioneer double DIN Nav radios that are much nicer in terms of features and display. That is really more of a question for a car stereo installer though than a ford salesman.

In my opinion, the best options are to either

A) go for the 2008

or

B) find an '07 WITHOUT the factory Nav. Why pay $1400 for something you are going to replace? $1400 will get you a VERY nice aftermarket Nav radio that is better in every way than the factory Nav system and factory radio.

Obviously, there are more factors in a decision than radios...but I think these are your best choices either way.

 

And I don't think that anyone has figured out, yet, how to get the Hybrid info to display on the Message Center (as it would if you did not have the factory Nav system).

 

I would really check out what kind of deal you can get on the '07 over the next six months - Tim is right about the number of excellent aftermarket (in-dash) nav units on the market. [You do lose the HEV cartoon display] I counted 9 FEH's on my dealer's lot today when I drove by - several colors and package options. The '08 models may be "artificially" high priced for a few months after they roll out (I think in April) because they are the new model.

Side note: Our local county park rangers have had an '05 FEH for two years now and they park it a couple of blocks from my house. On my way home this evening I saw a tow truck operator preparing to lift it onto the Jerr-Dan......I will try and find out what happened. Sometimes it sits outside for a few days without being driven....and temperatures dropped into the low 30s last night.

 

The "deals" on the '07 model are one reason to get it now. The Ford dealer near me has a really nice FEH in the color I want with just about every feature I want. Yeah, no aux. port. But there are other features I don't like. The incredibly bulky parking brake on the console has got to go. The Saturn Vue has the parking brake there too, but it's nowhere near as awkward or space consuming. The weaker navigation system is a concern (I forced the dealer to get it working during a test drive - and it couldn't even find the dealership!). And some of the other features I wanted would add more $$ to the cost.

If the dealer is able to work some magic and get some items I want, then I will get the '07 and take advantage of the deals. Otherwise, I can wait.
I may not be the first to get an '08, but I can try again next autumn when the deals come on again. As I wrote, my Vue gets decent mileage - not as good as the FEH, but nowhere near as bad as my old Ford Explorer.

 

Actually, to my surprise, the deals are actually worse now. When I got my '07 a few months ago, it was $1000 or 0% for 48 months. It is now $1000 or 0.9% for 48 months.

Has hybrid sales picked up???

 

I think deals vary from dealer to dealer. At my local Ford dealership, he's offering $1K cash back and 3.9% for 72 months.

Of course, it turns out that to keep my payments reasonable, it might be better for me to take $2K cash back, but have a higher rate. I forget the details, but one plan had an ever so slightly higher monthly payment, but I paid off the vehicle sooner. Apparently the lease options were horrendous right now. This upsets me. This is the second year where I looked at leasing something from Ford only to have ridiculous lease rates! What's up with that?!

 

I'm guessing the lease rates are up because of the low resale value of domestic cars....Used cars are down especially given that most domestics are offering cash back and 0% rates on new cars.

 

Haven't seen anything on this site regarding '08 FEH since the LA Auto Show. Can't find much on the web, either. The Ford vehicles website has mostly marketing PR crap, very little techical info:

http://www.fordvehicles.com/suvs/2008escape/

 

You can now Build & Price a 2008 Mariner at the 2008 Mariner website. http://www.drivezen.com

MMH MSRP: $26,430