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Hello,

I am seriously considering a 2008 FEH as my next automobile. I'm looking at the FWD version.

I drive about 40,000 KM a year and my driving is a mix of about 80% highway and 20% city driving.

I currently drive a Toyota FJ Cruiser, and while I love the vehicle for what it is, I'm desperate for something that will give me better fuel economy giving what is happening and likely to happen with oil/gas prices. Given my occupation, I feel I need to retain the flexibility that a SUV offers.

I have read some conflicting information here on hypermiling the FEH and whether or not it will be possible to achive a reasonable level of fuel economy given my driving mix.

I am hoping that some of the resident experts will chime in with their opinion and advice.

Best regards,

Paul

I've been very happy with my 2007 FWD FEH (purhased in Oct 2007). I have about the same mix of highway/city driving and usually get between 35 and 38mpg in spring and summer. I dipped down to 30-32mpg this winter, due to cold temps and the E10 mandate that started in Missouri in January.

My daily commute is about 35 miles each way, 75% highway. I try to stay below 60mph when traffic allows on the highway. I also use DWL as much as possible on the many hills in the area (let speed bleed off uphill, coast downhill to build it back up).

Hope this helps.

-- Rick

Hi Paul

At this point, the FEH/MMH is the most fuel efficient SUV on the market, so no matter if it's highway or city driving, it's the best choice. Using hypermiler techniques in good conditions, I can average 45mpg highway and much better in the city in my FWD.

I'm waiting to order an '09 FWD FEH. When Ford excepts that order, my '05 FEH will be for sale and as soon as it's sold, my wife gets a new Prius. My broker gave me a price of $500 over invoice on a package 6 Prius yesterday, does anyone think that's a good deal? He can't give me a price on the '09 till Ford starts taking orders. BTW, the Miami fleet salesman said only 4 '08 models were available in the State of Florida.

Last year I had planned to trade my '02 Explorer for a THH, but in todays market, the Explorer is not worth giving away for next to nothing. I'll limit the Explorer to pulling my boat and my teenager can drive it around town if the Prius isn't available. The wife and son know I'll bogart the FEH for my lifetime average MPG. Driving a Prius and a FEH should lower the gas bill and help save the Planet a little more from my household.

As you can see Paul, I love my FEH so much, I'm getting a new one. Earlier this past week I needed to get a hot water heater from Lowe's. No problem with loading it in my FEH with the folding seats, even with a 120qt cooler in the cargo space also. Still had the roof rack available for another 100 pounds. The trip home (10 miles), I got over 47mpg even with that load.

GaryG

Hi Paul --

I'd like to add my vote for the FEH - I absolutely love mine :) :) Like GaryG, I've had my '05 FWD FEH for about 3 years now, & my mpg's are still going up :) :) :)

My 6'2" husband is comfortable riding in it, there's plenty of cargo space, & when I do need power (my commute home includes a climb up the ramp up to our harbor bridge while accelerating to 50mph - often from a red light :()I have no problem staying with/merging with traffic when I need to :)

Given my occupation, I feel I need to retain the flexibility that a SUV offers.

Welcome to CleanMPG, Paul. :)

What is your occupation, please?

From my few "borrows" of my wifes MMH, it's a very well put together car. It's got a good field of followers too so you can get the bolt-to-bolt if you ask. Fun car to hack and from the high score guys it should be good for 50 MPG if you really throw everything you can at it. 60 seems to be the current high score.

11011011

Welcome to CleanMPG, Paul. :)

What is your occupation, please?

Thank you for the welcome.

I'm a professional writer and wildlife/nature photographer.

Best regards,

Paul

Paul,

It sounds like anything with some storage space would suit you fine. If you truly have to have 4WD then the FEH may be a good choice, but if 2WD is fine then a hatchback will offer you everything you need.

With that in mind please look at vehicles other than SUVs such as the Prius and Yaris. Both have been shown to carry an awful lot of equipment and they both get better MPG than the FEH without even trying. :)

Paul,

It sounds like anything with some storage space would suit you fine. If you truly have to have 4WD then the FEH may be a good choice, but if 2WD is fine then a hatchback will offer you everything you need.

With that in mind please look at vehicles other than SUVs such as the Prius and Yaris. Both have been shown to carry an awful lot of equipment and they both get better MPG than the FEH without even trying. :)

Brian,

I feel like I need the clearance and off-road capabilities offered by a SUV. Many of the dirt and forestry roads I regularly travel require a bit more capability than a vehicle like a Prius and Yaris can offer. Plus I'm 6'3" tall and am not a small person and so I require a vehicle that is also comfortable for me to travel long distances in.

I would love the fuel economy of the Prius or Yaris, but I just don't think they are reasonable options for me given my occupation.

Best regards,

Paul

Hi Paul:

___Let me add my own thoughts worth all of $0.00 …

___First off, forget about being 6’-3” and not fitting in a sub, sub-compact or mid-sized automobile. They are in some cases larger than the mid-sized or full-sized SUV’s or sedans. The Yaris and Smart Fortwo will easily accommodate you and I will go out on a limb and say better than an FEH in fact.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Sean_and_Tarabell_in_the_Smart_Fortwo.jpg
Our own Sean Welch -- all 6’5” of him with room for another 3 or 4” in the Smart Fortwo during a recent visit to LA.

___He also had the opportunity to take Bailout’s Yaris 3-door hatch out for a spin in Reno last month and again, fit like a glove with room to spare …

___I would not take a Prius up a fire road but a short wheelbase Yaris 3-door hatch would certainly raise my interest. It is not just ground clearance you would be interested in but the wheelbase for a given ground clearance. Again, I am not sure a Yaris would fit or if you even like them but for cargo carrying cap, FE and TCO, there is absolutely nothing in the US available that can match it today.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/01032008-fully-loaded.jpg
Brian’s Yaris packed to the gills …

___All said and done, the FEH is a great vehicle and offers great FE. The problem being is that an F-150 driver paid less to drive the same distance just 4 years ago as the new FEH owner will today. What happens to the resale of a $27K - 30 mpg SUV in another 4 years is what I would be concerned with :rolleyes:

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Wayne,

Thanks for the information.

While the Smart car definitely is lacking on storage space, I will check into the Yaris to see how I fit into it. From its specs, it looks like it has about the same head room as the FEH and even a bit more leg room.

Best regards,

Paul

I do wilderness hiking and backpacking and I've taken my Toyota Corolla up and down mountain passes without any problems. A Toyota Matrix (a Corolla Wagon under a different name) has 4WD optional and will provide the space needed for equipment. The Corolla is also sold in 140 different counties all over the world and if you've been outside the USA you know that there are only a few countries that have good roads.

Hi Paul,

I am about 4,000 miles into my 2008 FEH 2WD, bought in the dead of winter in SE WI, and now that the weather is starting to get above freezing, I am starting to hypermile my tanks. My driving mix is about the same as yours. I used to hate sitting in traffic, but now I find I can do some hypermiling on the expressway, even running in EV mode during traffic congestion. I am really liking my FEH, and being about 6' tall with long legs I am appreciating a taller vehicle with more leg room. Have been using my SGII for almost a month, and am starting to get the hang of using it to improve my FE a little. Hopefully next month, I will make it to the Milwaukee Hybrid Owners group meeting and learn how to refine some of my hypermiling techniques. Have been learning a lot about hypermiling on this site, use of the SGII, what X-Gauges are the most useful. Am still learning to change my driving habits to be a bit more conservative, therby increasing my FE. With gas around $3.30/gallon around here, I am sure I will start paying more attention to my driving. This is my first hybrid, so I guess I am a novice hypermiler. ;)

Welcome to cleanmpg!

Happy Hypermiling!
Bruce