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Ford pushes Escape Hybrid with 0 percent financing

Ford pushes Escape Hybrid with 0 percent financing

Posted Mar 17th 2006 9:30AM

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It only affects Washington D.C. and California (two of the country's hottest hybrid markets for Ford), but it's a darn good deal. Spurred by slow sales of the Ford Escape Hybrid, Ford Motor Company has extended a sweet offer of 0 percent financing for 60 months. Elsewhere, Ford is trying to move the Escape Hybrid with an incentive of $1,000. Why just Cali and D.C.? Ford says it's because that's where the vehicle has the most potential.

Category: Hybrid, SUV, Green, Marketing/Advertising, Ford

Tags: 0% financing, 0%Financing, ford, hybrid escape, HybridEscape, hybrids

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Jim LeTap

0% financing in DC and California sounds like a sweat deal for the residents of those states. The $1000 incentive is not too shabb either.
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With the recent Camry hybrid drop in pricing, other manufacturers should follow suit. Read here

July 30 2007 at 8:53 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

DPC car videos

Just found this blog, hope they have a similar deal like this, this hybrid is great to get into carpool alone.

August 27 2006 at 12:17 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Road Tester

So here it is, the high-mileage, gas-saving SUV everybody has been waiting for. How long have we urged American manufacturers to build something like this. And when they finally listen to us, nobody buys it...while Tahoe sales rise 40%...

March 17 2006 at 5:31 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

psych101

Even with 0% financing, it is still too expensive at about $27,000 MSRP for the 2WD version. Unless somebody really likes the Escape, the deal isn't worth it. I agree with the comment above about the Matrix at about $19,590 MSRP. In this case, it would take about 105,000 miles before the hybrid's savings add up to the purchase premium. I think car manufacturers should just take a financial hit on the hybrids for a few years until people become more dedicated to the idea. Toyota and Honda can probably do that, I'm not so sure about Ford and GM being able to absorb any further losses.

March 17 2006 at 2:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bill

#9. Good point. That probably explains one of the reasons why it isn't selling so well. I checked the Virginia DMW website, and it does qualify. I have seen a few of them around here, only because I look. Otherwise, they look pretty close to the non-hybrid Escape, so most people wouldn't notice.

March 17 2006 at 1:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

k0an

Good to know, kevin. So that removes one of the last possible reasons to buy the vehicle. I guess that only leaves buying for a status symbol?

March 17 2006 at 1:21 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

goat

The only hybrid that sells well is the Prius, because it is noticeably different in appearance from any non-hybrid car.

Hybrids are little more than a status symbol, so the Escape Hybrid, looking just like any other Escape, doesn't fit the bill for hybrid buyers.

March 17 2006 at 1:06 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

#8: Buying it to drive in the HOV lane would be justifyable...except it doesn't meet the requirements for the decal. Unless its a Civic Hybrid, Prius, 04 or older Insight, CNG, or electric vehicle it doesn't meet the requirements.

March 17 2006 at 1:03 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

k0an

Since I'm a California resident I decided to research the Escape Hybrid after reading this article. Very shortly I was reminded yet again about how hybrids don't make any sense right now.

I have a Toyota Matrix and I compared its stats against the Escape Hybrid. For $8,000 less I have a vehicle that gets better highway mpg (less city so it averages out to the same), the same passenger room, slightly less cargo room, accelerates about the same, and handles a whole lot better.

So, since the mileage is about the same there is no environmental benefit. There is obviously no money saved, in fact, a massive amount of money is wasted (also consider that hybrids have higher insurance rates because they are more costly to repair).

I know it might seem like comparing a small SUV to a 5 door hatchback is apples to oranges but I think the two vehicles serve the same purpose (carrying 5 people plus some stuff affordably).

Also, I am not opposed to hybrid technology, I love technological advances. However, there is no practical way to justify buying that vehicle. The only way someone might justify it is because of the bogus law allowing people to drive the vehicles in carpool lanes which were designed for High Occupancy Vehicles in order to reduce traffic congestion.

March 17 2006 at 11:50 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Bill

Gunnar,
DC does like its hybrids, but it really has little to do with people's interest in ecology. This is my opinion, but my guess is 9 of 10 hybrid owners buy them solely so they can drive solo in the HOV (carpool) lanes on 395. The VA legislature just approved this exemption for another year, but it won't last forever, and it shouldn't. A little government subsidy to push a new technology is not such a terrible thing, but the HOV exemption and the Federal tax credit are enough, and the time is soon approaching where those need to end and the marketplace needs to assume it's proper role. That said, DC-area folks are smart and know a good government handout when they see one, so it's no wonder we're the leading market for hybrids (I think).

Back to the original topic. It's a shame the Escape Hybrid isn't selling well. It seems very nice, but here are a few strikes against it which others have stated before: 1) it's a Ford 2) it's an SUV, and most SUV buyers aren't interested in Hybrids, and most Hybrid buyers are sorta anti-SUV 3) the Escape has been around-the-block for a few years now, so the underlying vehicle is probably perceived as being a little outdated 4) it's an American vehicle

All of this is a shame because it seems like a nice vehicle really. You know that Toyota will make a Highlander or other SUV that probably won't even get much better MPG, but it will sell well because people perceive Toyota as the leader in quality, and hybrid technology.

March 17 2006 at 11:01 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply