Exactly..... and if you are selling a low volume vehicle (say 10,000 a year or less) and divide the cost over those FEW vehicles.... it unfortunately doesn't add up for a company thats already loosing money hand over fist.

 

I believe Ford does have an excuse for the lack of stability control on the hybrid models because Toyota hasn't figured it out either. This is the reason the Toyota Hilander Hybrid's AWD system is unlike Ford's system and needs to relies on an additional electric motor to propell their rear wheels.

I tend to agree with you on the general comment that Ford's financial status is also hindering their ability to innovate and update their retail products as they may have otherwise done.

 

As to Bluetooth, I am at a loss to understand why the Ford/Microsoft Sync isn't offered on the new 08's. Sync is offered on all the other new Ford/Mercury/Lincoln models, and 08's now have the "right" Nav system that supports it.

BTW, my Mariner does have the adjustable lumbar support. Does that difference continue for the 08's?

 

I live in Pennsylvania and I have a 2008 4wheel drive escape. The toyota highlander hybrid has the safety technology in either their 2007 or 2008 not sure which but it costs around 41,000 dollars and they told me I would be happier with a prius which has front wheel drive. Maybe I would but I do like my ford anyway it gets more milage than my 1998 honda minivan ever did

 

LOL, this cracked me up(I'm still chuckling).

I have an 06 FEH with heated seats & they get hotter, faster than any other car I've ever driven. That & the fact that there is no high/low heat setting is pretty odd.

~John

 

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid has the safety technology because their AWD system is different than the Ford's "true" AWD system. Toyota has yet to figure out how to combine electronic stability control with the hybrid braking system.

 

Oh I see so the Toyota doesn't have a real awd system. Ah ha that's kinda sneaky isn't it?

 

Well, not one that uses a 4WD/AWD transfer case, and splits up the source of torque between the front and rear in some ratio.

However, I actually like the Toyota system better for a hybrid. I can't think of any time I really need full 4WD, and be going over 35 mph. I mean, under slick conditions, I will be keeping my speed low. Having a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, and thus not having a transfer case and linkage always in-use, sounds more efficient to me. Just like our hybrids can only use the electric motor to back up, I see no problem with having to only use an electric motor for the rear wheels. The ICE can always drive the generator, which could power the rear motor even if the batteries are "dead", just like when we have to back up and our batteries are "dead".

Of course, that would mean that the hybrids would have a completely different 4WD/AWD system than the gas models, and being different adds a lot of costs.

 

One problem with Toyota's system is the size of the motor on the rear wheels. The motor is not powerful enough to move the vehicle without assistance from the front wheels. If your front wheels are spinning and can't get traction, the rear wheels can't help much, and that's if the traction control hasn't stopped you dead when you started spinning in the first place.

 

Oh, I didn't realize that. I had assumed that the rear electric motor would be equal to the front electric motor.