Odometer: 10134.5
Tank Mileage: 556.7
Gallons Added: 14.667
Long-Term Average: 39.5
Short-Term Average: 39.5
Calculated Average: 37.9
At 10,000 miles, the "oil service soon" message became "oil service required". (I have this scheduled for Thursday after I get home.) While recording my numbers, I discovered something useful. The Reset button on the steering wheel will acknowledge the message. For the oil messages, they go away. For the low-fuel messages, an icon is added next to the temperature gage. I never thought to look in the book to see about how to get back to the normal display of temperature, but I'm sure it is in there. This works well enough for me and removes the annoyance factor related to the announcements.
This tank was pure Interstate except for getting to the hotel, food, and gas. The wind was significant and almost a 90 degree crosswind for most of the tank. Running with cruise control in hilly terrain between 70 and 75 mph didn't help.
Showing posts with label display. Show all posts
Showing posts with label display. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Mountain Surprise
Odometer: 9577.8
Tank Mileage: 515.5
Gallons Added: 13.365
Long-Term Average: 39.7
Short-Term Average: 39.4
Calculated Average: 38.5
The previous tank was filled with 85 octane fuel containing up to 10% ethanol. Most of the tank was used above 5000 feet. As usual for the elevation, I didn't notice any issues with the non-spec rating even with the acceleration up the mountain. (The manual calls for 87 octane as a minimum.)
All of the activity yesterday was on this tank. The tank has a net loss of elevation, but it also includes yesterday's activity which was a net zero with a min-to-max variation of over 3000 feet. Today's run was mostly downwind which I'm sure helped offset the use of cruise control.
Finally, at 9500 miles on the odometer, the "oil service soon" announcement came on. This showed in the area on the left of the display that normally shows the temperature and the transmission selection that is used for all such announcements. These announcements replace the normal display. I don't like not being able to see the temperature gage. [more on this tomorrow]
Tank Mileage: 515.5
Gallons Added: 13.365
Long-Term Average: 39.7
Short-Term Average: 39.4
Calculated Average: 38.5
The previous tank was filled with 85 octane fuel containing up to 10% ethanol. Most of the tank was used above 5000 feet. As usual for the elevation, I didn't notice any issues with the non-spec rating even with the acceleration up the mountain. (The manual calls for 87 octane as a minimum.)
All of the activity yesterday was on this tank. The tank has a net loss of elevation, but it also includes yesterday's activity which was a net zero with a min-to-max variation of over 3000 feet. Today's run was mostly downwind which I'm sure helped offset the use of cruise control.
Finally, at 9500 miles on the odometer, the "oil service soon" announcement came on. This showed in the area on the left of the display that normally shows the temperature and the transmission selection that is used for all such announcements. These announcements replace the normal display. I don't like not being able to see the temperature gage. [more on this tomorrow]
Monday, April 26, 2010
A Feel-Good Car
Odometer: 3438.7
Tank Mileage: 594.3
Gallons Added: 15.721
Long-Term Average: 39.1
Short-Term Average: 39.1
Calculated Average: 37.8
I went on a bit of a road trip over the weekend. The major highway sections were into the teeth of a fairly strong wind. I was able to do well in the hills of northern Michigan. I can't get too unhappy about a tank that was largely highway driving with the cruise set to 70 for most of the distance. I still beat the highway mileage number.
A comment made over the weekend got me to thinking. The individual making the comment dismissed the car as just a "feel-good car". I guess the implication is that the only reason to get it was to feel good as there was no other justification. I wasn't sure how to respond assuming this individual was even interested in listening. I've always "felt good" about the car I was driving. This goes from the Mercury Cougar that was my first car (and really fun to drive), through the Fords and Chevy I got to drive, to the Subarus that were the first cars I've owned myself. I love to drive. I find it relaxing and a time when I can reflect on things. I've always had (in my opinion) strong reasons for each car I bought. Time has shown that each car worked very well at meeting my needs. When I stopped feeling-good about them, I tended to get another one.
As to my new 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, there are many reasons to "feel good" about this car. This car can go 500 miles and still have plenty gas in the tank. I've wanted this since the 1980 Chevrolet Impala I drove with the "running on fumes" combination of 25 gals and 20 mpg. The thing that I first noticed about the Ford Fusion (and it's a little thing) is the sound the door makes when shut. I feel good about that every time I hear it. It reminds me of the 1975 Ford LTD I drove until I graduated high school. The LTD was the car that took me to my first job, that I took my first girlfriend on a date with, and that I used doing public service as an Amateur Radio operator support local Civil Defense. I can feel good about supporting a company that has survived the "Great Recession" without a government bailout. I like the display. I wish it had more gages, but I'm really happy with the amount of information available. I like the feel of the road I get and the responsiveness of the car to driver inputs. It has aggressive braking and plenty of acceleration if you need it. It is fun to drive. I can even spin the tires if I really want to, but I have to turn off the traction control first. It isn't a Mustang, but it is quite respectable for what it is. Finally, based on the normal pattern of my driving and the number of miles I put on cars, I expect to recover the cost difference in about three years (and gas stays above $2.50/gal). That is something to feel good about without getting into reduced emissions and the rest of that sustainability stuff.
Tank Mileage: 594.3
Gallons Added: 15.721
Long-Term Average: 39.1
Short-Term Average: 39.1
Calculated Average: 37.8
I went on a bit of a road trip over the weekend. The major highway sections were into the teeth of a fairly strong wind. I was able to do well in the hills of northern Michigan. I can't get too unhappy about a tank that was largely highway driving with the cruise set to 70 for most of the distance. I still beat the highway mileage number.
A comment made over the weekend got me to thinking. The individual making the comment dismissed the car as just a "feel-good car". I guess the implication is that the only reason to get it was to feel good as there was no other justification. I wasn't sure how to respond assuming this individual was even interested in listening. I've always "felt good" about the car I was driving. This goes from the Mercury Cougar that was my first car (and really fun to drive), through the Fords and Chevy I got to drive, to the Subarus that were the first cars I've owned myself. I love to drive. I find it relaxing and a time when I can reflect on things. I've always had (in my opinion) strong reasons for each car I bought. Time has shown that each car worked very well at meeting my needs. When I stopped feeling-good about them, I tended to get another one.
As to my new 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid, there are many reasons to "feel good" about this car. This car can go 500 miles and still have plenty gas in the tank. I've wanted this since the 1980 Chevrolet Impala I drove with the "running on fumes" combination of 25 gals and 20 mpg. The thing that I first noticed about the Ford Fusion (and it's a little thing) is the sound the door makes when shut. I feel good about that every time I hear it. It reminds me of the 1975 Ford LTD I drove until I graduated high school. The LTD was the car that took me to my first job, that I took my first girlfriend on a date with, and that I used doing public service as an Amateur Radio operator support local Civil Defense. I can feel good about supporting a company that has survived the "Great Recession" without a government bailout. I like the display. I wish it had more gages, but I'm really happy with the amount of information available. I like the feel of the road I get and the responsiveness of the car to driver inputs. It has aggressive braking and plenty of acceleration if you need it. It is fun to drive. I can even spin the tires if I really want to, but I have to turn off the traction control first. It isn't a Mustang, but it is quite respectable for what it is. Finally, based on the normal pattern of my driving and the number of miles I put on cars, I expect to recover the cost difference in about three years (and gas stays above $2.50/gal). That is something to feel good about without getting into reduced emissions and the rest of that sustainability stuff.
Friday, April 2, 2010
2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
I've been watching the development of new technology in the automotive industry for a while now. I've been quite intrigued by the hybrids from Honda, Toyota, and Ford. (I know there are others, but these the manufacturers whose products have figured strongly in my awareness.) I really want an all-electric car, but until that is a viable option, hybrids will have to do.
Another day, I may go into the full list of requirements that I had when looking for this car. The important ones were high mileage, long range, and NO hole in the roof. I also greatly prefer vehicles with predictable handling.
When the 2010 Fusion was announced, I was really excited. I liked the look of the car. I checked them out and I loved the huge trunk in the non-hybrid version. With the hybrid, I lose a bit of the trunk and the pass-through by folding the rear seats, but what is left meets my needs and the additional features add plenty of value to balance the equation. Ultimately, I chose the hybrid version as I wanted to reward the company for offering it and because I had more completely researched the options I did, and did not, want. I had also identified a car at a local dealer that matched my desires exactly.
This is that car:
I got this car with 151.1 miles on it and a full tank. I reset the Trip A, Trip B, both timers, and the Average MPG. I didn't know how to reset the Long Term Mileage, but it was 18.8 the first time I noticed it in the trip report. (Every time you turn off the car, you get a summary of the miles, average mileage, fuel used, and long term average mileage.) At this point, I'm planning to leave the long term number alone. I'm planning on resetting the average mileage each month.
There are many options in what can be displayed in the instrument cluster. Currently, I have Trip A (I use this for distance since last fuel fill.), a moving chart of the last 10 1-minute averages for mileage, and average mileage. Always displayed are odometer and miles to E. (Miles to E were reported as 475 when I got the car.)
Break-in is identified as the first 1000 miles. Mileage is supposed to improve during the break-in.
One motivation in creating this blog is providing more information on this car for others who might be looking into it specifically or the technology in general. There will be plenty of data presented.
For full disclosure, I do work for Ford Motor Company. The views expressed here are my own and do not necessarily represent those of Ford or any other entity. I have no special access to the designers or program managers. If I have issues, I would take the car to a dealer just like any other customer. Finally, any information presented is from publicly available sources or my personal experience with this car.
Another day, I may go into the full list of requirements that I had when looking for this car. The important ones were high mileage, long range, and NO hole in the roof. I also greatly prefer vehicles with predictable handling.
When the 2010 Fusion was announced, I was really excited. I liked the look of the car. I checked them out and I loved the huge trunk in the non-hybrid version. With the hybrid, I lose a bit of the trunk and the pass-through by folding the rear seats, but what is left meets my needs and the additional features add plenty of value to balance the equation. Ultimately, I chose the hybrid version as I wanted to reward the company for offering it and because I had more completely researched the options I did, and did not, want. I had also identified a car at a local dealer that matched my desires exactly.
This is that car:
I got this car with 151.1 miles on it and a full tank. I reset the Trip A, Trip B, both timers, and the Average MPG. I didn't know how to reset the Long Term Mileage, but it was 18.8 the first time I noticed it in the trip report. (Every time you turn off the car, you get a summary of the miles, average mileage, fuel used, and long term average mileage.) At this point, I'm planning to leave the long term number alone. I'm planning on resetting the average mileage each month.
There are many options in what can be displayed in the instrument cluster. Currently, I have Trip A (I use this for distance since last fuel fill.), a moving chart of the last 10 1-minute averages for mileage, and average mileage. Always displayed are odometer and miles to E. (Miles to E were reported as 475 when I got the car.)
Break-in is identified as the first 1000 miles. Mileage is supposed to improve during the break-in.
One motivation in creating this blog is providing more information on this car for others who might be looking into it specifically or the technology in general. There will be plenty of data presented.
For full disclosure, I do work for Ford Motor Company. The views expressed here are my own and do not necessarily represent those of Ford or any other entity. I have no special access to the designers or program managers. If I have issues, I would take the car to a dealer just like any other customer. Finally, any information presented is from publicly available sources or my personal experience with this car.
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