What's your next car?

[Blastphemy]

Fusion Energi starts at $31,400 and tops out at around $42,100. So most of the following would fit your criteria for "at the price point" (depending on configuration). As for not looking like a "roller skate," I assume you mean cars like the Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius Prime, Nissan Leaf, Chevy Bolt, and BMW i3, so I won't include those vehicles in the list.

 

Off the top of my head, I can think of the following:

• Tesla Model 3 (if you can even get one this year)
• Honda Clarity PHEV or BEV
• Kia Optima PHEV
• Hyundai Sonata PHEV
• Hyundai IONIQ PHEV or EV
• BMW 330e
• Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV
• Audi A3 Sportback eTron
• Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

Of course, if you're like me and only bought the Ford because the Volt was too small and the Tesla Model S was too expensive (meaning I could have afforded more, but couldn't find a plug-in that met my needs for a reasonable price), there are other cars:

• Cadillac CT6 Plug-in (but note this doesn't qualify for HOV stickers in CA or the state rebate, despite having 31 electric miles)
• BMW 530e
• BMW X5 xDrive40e
• Mercedes-Benz C350e
• Jaguar i-Pace
• Volvo XC60 PHEV
• Volvo XC90 T8 PHEV
• Volvo S90 T8 PHEV
• Mercedes-Benz GLE 550e
• Porsche Cayenne S-E

Edited April 11, 2018 at 06:59 PM by Blastphemy

[4cylinder]

I saw the BMW 530e at the 2018 NAIAS - they even showed off a wireless charging pad for the car itself (you literally drive on top of it to charge, similar to charging a phone wirelessly). 

 

If it were reliable and had more than 15 miles of EV range, it would be my ideal car. 

 

The GLE 550e's existence is head-scratching - it gets about 8 miles of EV range...

[Sandroad]

I now have a more definitive answer than I previously posted to the question of next car. I just bought a Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid Touring. We liked our ’17 FFE, even with it’s limited trunk space and low roof line, for the first year of our ownership. We purchased it used and traded it in at a reasonable price, so we absorbed a little less than $4000 in depreciation over 12 months. After attending the Detroit Auto Show in January to check out PHEVs, we continued to look around a bit, but we were originally planning to keep the FFE through the end of the factory warranty a year from now. However, 4 precipitating events within just a couple of weeks of each other made us look harder at other vehicles and move more quickly. 

 

First, the ’17 Ford Fusion landed on Consumer Reports worst reliable vehicle list in their annual auto issue, with much worse than average reliability. Not too bad, but omen number 1.

 

Second, that same week, we received the notice for the steering wheel recall and, whether related or not to that repair, we also lost the nav/audio computer. Those repairs took 2 trips to the dealer and a total of 4 days there. Not too bad, but omen number 2.

 

Third, Ford announced they are discontinuing the Fusion. That negatively affects resale value and the effect is greater the longer a car model is obsolete. Not too bad, but omen number 3.

 

Fourth, for some reason our FFE has been significantly increasing the times it’s running the engine for system performance (despite no HVAC use this time of year, no extra acceleration, and relatively fresh gas). That’s a new behavior which is likely ok, but somewhat defeats the purpose of a PHEV. Not too bad, but omen number 4. 

 

So, we we are giving the Clarity a try. Lots of risk and unknowns in that decision, but we like the MUCH larger interior/trunk space and the fact the Clarity has more than double the EV miles. Our solar charging station will be working hard to keep up with the Clarity’s big battery!

[PJFW8]

I got my Tesla Model 3 6 weeks ago. Fabulous and flawless so far, but at $56,000 ($48,500 with tax credit) it is not cheap! My 2016 Fusion lease goes back next month. It was a really great car. It replaced a CMax Energi. I will miss Ford, but it is Ford who hooked me on plug-in driving. Thanks to all on this and the CMax forum for their help and advice!

[jasper7821]

My Fusion lease is up in 3 months. I have a Model 3 reservation (line waiter since day 1) but cannot afford the LR version and hoping to get the SR version by July next year when the credit gets cut in half again before it goes to $1,875.

Congratulations on the M3, so jealous. That’s my dream car.

Problem is I’m already $4,000 over in mileage so I’m probably just going to buy the car (for more than it’s worth) when the lease is due. I’ve always leased cars and love it, just a major life change occurred while having this lease and added more than 30k miles to what my normal would have been.

[Trades46]

My family now has two PHEV - a 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (father's car) and the 2018 Fusion Energi Titanium (mother's car). I drive whatever is available when I have to go to work.

 

Having lived with an EV, once I save up enough myself I'm pretty confident that I would go for a BEV - likely the upcoming 2019 Leaf e-plus (with the actively cooled 60 kWh LG battery pack) or Kia Niro EV (Kia sibling of the highly anticipated Hyundai Kona EV) simply because I prefer Kia's styling & design over Hyundai's.

 

This may not be a popular opinion, but I won't touch a Tesla with a 10ft pole - the company is a financial disaster waiting to happen, their cars are terribly unreliable, the build quality atrocious & Elon Musk just comes off to me as a narcissistic dick more than the genius that many claims that he is.

[Russael]

I'd happily take a 10 foot pole to bring a Tesla closer to me. :)  I know Tesla's early model S has its fair share of issues, but the later ones don't seem to have many complaints.  And the complaints that do crop up are usually quick and simple annoyances like squeaks and rattles... not so much of a computer needing replacement.  I know the very early S's had a lot of issues with the drivetrain.  Not so much the motor, but bearings wearing out prematurely.  I'd LOVE to get a 2015 or newer Model S, but those are still prohibitively expensive for me at this time.

 

My fiancee's 2012 Ford Focus got totaled in a t-bone accident earlier this month (she got hit square on in the drivers side front and back doors... it was literally the definition of what an NHTSA t-bone accident looks like).  Unfortunately for us, the timing of the accident is bad.  We are not ready to invest in another car at this time as I'm saving for a new home.  So, for the time being, the Fusion Energi is now her car and I'm back to 1999 with my Expedition.  Glad I don't drive much and I work from home.

 

It's a LOT less expensive to insure 2 cars instead of 3, plus I don't have a 3 car garage.  So upgraded my insurance to broad collision and got rental insurance.  Michigan insurance is psychotic - the mayor of Detroit is actually suing the state as they now think Michigan auto insurance is unconstitutional and wildly unaffordable due to the "Medical Benefits for Life"...  To insure a vehicle within the city limits of Detroit, you can expect to pay 5,000+ a year for ONE vehicle.  For the 3 I had, it was running me 3500+, but I'm not in Detroit City.  I am in the same county though.  Those of you who don't live in Michigan, enjoy your low insurance rates.  LOL

[EVRMODE]

My Ford Fusion Energi was great until it stopped taking a charge around 76k. First Ford dealer didn't have a clue, second thought it was the charging port but after replacement thought it might be the Secondary on- board Diagnostic Control Module. Too much money to replace. My 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid hasn't had as many issues. I might feel more confident with a used Tesla .

[Paul Creed III]

Depending upon when I go to purchase my next ride, it'll either be a Chevy Bolt, Hyundai Kona Electric, or Tesla Model 3. Glad to see that the EV market is really opening up with a number of options now. 

[drayden91]

I'm saving up for the upcoming Ford F-150 EV. I'm excited to try it for off-road activity. It is an upgrade from my 2012 Ford F-150 truck. I wonder if I could use most of my aftermarket parts to it. I have sets of mud tires and wheels that I could install as well. My initial choice was Ford Maverick but the reveal of an EV Ford F-150 definitely caught my attention. 

[muzicman61]

On 12/5/2017 at 7:27 AM, muzicman61 said:

i will probably only buy one more new car in my lifetime.  .That will be when i retire in about 6 years.  I'm hoping that technology keeps getting better and better and Ford will release a Energi version of the Escape.  

 

Well I really blew this prediction. Last Friday we ended up trading in my wife's Escape for an Edge ST.  She test drove a 2021 Escape and just hated it.  But one press on the accelerator in the ST and she was hooked.  Not to mention the 12 speaker B&O stereo system.  She loves to "feel" the music and the ST delivered on that.  Personally, I was more impressed with the features of the Edge Titanium but it did not have the "get up and go" like the ST.  So happy wife, happy life. ?

[DozerCSX]

The Revolution has begun! I am betting on an upcoming release of the Maverick pickup truck in plug-in configuration. Just insert the battery from the New Escape PHEV under the bed and voila! Next best seller…