Mariner Hybrid Test Drive
#11
Re: Mariner Hybrid Test Drive
kelsee88 -
kristian and gpsman1 are right. You can get 90% of the experience of driving an MMH/FEH by driving a V6 Escape (or a non-hybrid Mariner). I rented one for several days during business trip to LA - because I was sold on the hybrid drive train but I had never owned a US made vehicle of any type. Then, when my local dealership starting taking pre-delivery orders in the summer of '04, and wanted $8k premium on top of MSRP, I waited about 18 months and bought one off the lot (at another dealership)...didn't even drive it around the lot.
Good luck.
Oh yeah, I read a post on another forum by someone claiming to be a Ford employee charged with monitoring such websites......saying that the HVBattery is indeed the component that is causing production delays. They go on to say that they are trying to talk a battery company into investing in a battery plant in the US (in anticipation of the hybrid-Fusion model), that several jurisdictions legislated requirements that taxi fleets be a certain percent hybrid and that Ford got strapped filling the taxi fleet orders, and that they are still producing '08s as fast as they can.
kristian and gpsman1 are right. You can get 90% of the experience of driving an MMH/FEH by driving a V6 Escape (or a non-hybrid Mariner). I rented one for several days during business trip to LA - because I was sold on the hybrid drive train but I had never owned a US made vehicle of any type. Then, when my local dealership starting taking pre-delivery orders in the summer of '04, and wanted $8k premium on top of MSRP, I waited about 18 months and bought one off the lot (at another dealership)...didn't even drive it around the lot.
Good luck.
Oh yeah, I read a post on another forum by someone claiming to be a Ford employee charged with monitoring such websites......saying that the HVBattery is indeed the component that is causing production delays. They go on to say that they are trying to talk a battery company into investing in a battery plant in the US (in anticipation of the hybrid-Fusion model), that several jurisdictions legislated requirements that taxi fleets be a certain percent hybrid and that Ford got strapped filling the taxi fleet orders, and that they are still producing '08s as fast as they can.
Last edited by glennb; 01-10-2008 at 06:47 PM.
#12
Re: Mariner Hybrid Test Drive
I think it is true that batteries are a major constraint here.
However, for $30k or less, Ford must be selling these at cost.
Either that, or the regular Escape only costs them $10k to make.
So either they are making a killing on the regular Escape, or taking a loss on the FEH, since there is NO WAY there is only "$3000" in extra parts in the Hybrid model. That's why I call this car, a "best buy".
Moral: Ford has little $ incentive at the moment to ramp up production.
However, for $30k or less, Ford must be selling these at cost.
Either that, or the regular Escape only costs them $10k to make.
So either they are making a killing on the regular Escape, or taking a loss on the FEH, since there is NO WAY there is only "$3000" in extra parts in the Hybrid model. That's why I call this car, a "best buy".
Moral: Ford has little $ incentive at the moment to ramp up production.
#13
Re: Mariner Hybrid Test Drive
I would suspect the margins on the regular Escapes (and all the SUVs) is rather steep. How else could they have huge banners in the show room announcing $10,000 off "sticker" price on every Expedition, etc., etc.
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