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I want a Prius, but want to consider other options, too. Live in greater Wichita (KS) area with 500,000 population. At least 2 big Ford dealers here, neither of which has any FEH in stock. I talked with one dealer who said they only order FEH for customers, and FMC dictates their inventory. They have dozens of Escapes, but no FEH. Must be a years worth of Escapes, but 0 days of FEH in stock.

Is FMC unable to produce any beyond pre-sold units? I don't think they can grow to rival Toyota in hybrid market if potential customers cannot test drive a single FEH.

By contrast, each Toyota dealer has a dozen or two of Prii, although mostly Package 2. At least we were able to drive them, and they did have a sampling of other packages.

I can figure out a lot on line and read feedback here, but gee! And the dealers do not even carry the brochures.:eek: These are among the largest Ford dealers in Kansas. I know we are not the most FE focused market, but the contrast is telling.

Any thoughts or similar experience?

Thanks for letting me rant.

When I was looking to buy my FEH in March '07, I used a Ford partner website (through my employer) to find the dealer nearest me who had one in stock so that I could test drive it. Luckily it was only on the other side of Louisville.

Arrived and immediately went on the test drive. Afterwards, while we were working out the purchase details, someone else test drove it and also wanted to buy it. So I got really lucky there. (or maybe it was just the dealer pulling my chain, who knows)

I just went into the inventory search feature and looked in Wichita, Emporia, Topeka, Kansas City, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City, but there were none to be found :confused:.

If we lived closer, you could test drive mine, except that mine is a 07. I do love it! I'm really still learning to drive it to maximize the FE, but everything else about it has been wonderful.

Good luck and I'll let you know if they send me an inventory alert for any near you.
Rob

Thanks, Rob! You went above and beyond.

The resource allocation by Ford baffles me.

Just "happened" to find a FEH at a dealer 2 miles from home. Have searched high and low for states around, and this is the first "real" one (still at the dealer) that I found. It was ordered for somebody else, who decided not to buy it. So I got the light ice blue metallic FEH that I was looking for!

Congratulations!!! That is wonderful news! :D:thumbs_up:

Please be sure to post pictures when you can.

Congrats on the new FEH!!

Hi Ksstathead:

___Excellent vehicle and I hope you enjoy it!

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Just "happened" to find a FEH at a dealer 2 miles from home. Have searched high and low for states around, and this is the first "real" one (still at the dealer) that I found. It was ordered for somebody else, who decided not to buy it. So I got the light ice blue metallic FEH that I was looking for!

Congratulations Bruski1959 :) :) :)

This is almost the way it happened with me, not quite 3 years ago :) - only I wound up 40mi. from home :o (It was a great dealership; treated me very well - wish it was closer to home, especially after my recent experiences with dealers' service depts. here :()

You will *love* this vehicle :) :) (in my own unbiased opinion :D)

Ksstathead, I feel your pain :(

Three years ago, when I was looking for my FEH, all the sales people would tell me was "It's just like driving a regular Escape" :mad: I couldn't seem to get through to them that I didn't just want to see how the vehicle handled, but also to check out how the hybrid technology actually worked.

I ended up doing an inventory search through Ford's website, & found one about 40mi. from where I live. I emailed a request for a quote, got a *real $ number* :eek:, & immediately made arrangements with my credit union for the loan. When I emailed the dealership that I was interested & ready to buy, the salesman I'd been corresponding with called me that night, saying he'd never had someone so serious about a vehicle :D It turned out they hadn't even gotten it yet at that time; he called me 3 days later, saying it was on the lot, & we drove down the next day to make the deal, get the loan closed, & bring it home :) :) :) :) :)

Everybody helped - the loan officer at the credit union stayed an hour past closing to process the loan papers & get us our check. The manager at the dealership gave me a good $ in trade for my 8-yr.-old Saturn, & Ernie, the salesman spent more than an hour with us after the dealership closed, talking about the FEH - he had wanted to "study" it a bit more before we came & got it :) He & I emailed about it a couple of times before he left that dealership (at least, I assume he left it - my last email to him at that address was bounced back to me :()

And while my dear, patient husband may say otherwise, I've never regretted getting my FEH :) :) :) :) :) :)

All I can say is keep looking - when you find one it will have been worth the effort :):)