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.Ford pushes Escape Hybrid with 0 percent financing
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.![BREAKING: Automaker bailout agreement reached in Senate, still not a sure thing [UPDATE]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/11/billpass_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
BREAKING: Automaker bailout agreement reached in Senate, still not a sure thing [UPDATE]![LA 2008: 2010 Mazda3 shows its smiling face [w/VIDEO]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/11/01_mazda3_live_la_opt_thumbnail.jpg)
LA 2008: 2010 Mazda3 shows its smiling face [w/VIDEO]
LA 2008: Honda surprises with FC Sport fuel cell sports car concept
LA 2008: Redesigned 2010 Ford Fusion
Officially Official: The new Nissan Cube! (JDM, with U.S. tease)
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
Knight Rider: The Liveblog -- Season 1, Episode 8
In the Autoblog Garage: 2009 HUMMER H3T Alpha
Officially Official: 2010 Ford Mustang!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Eric NH @ Mar 17th 2006 9:49AM
I am in NH, 0% would have gotten my attention and I may have taken a test drive.
Gunnar Heinrich @ Mar 17th 2006 10:07AM
D.C. does love its hybrids. It seems there's a Prius on every corner.
http://automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com/2006/03/this-can-be-yours.html
Presto @ Mar 17th 2006 10:41AM
Sounds like a great deal to me.
Mike from Scarborough @ Mar 17th 2006 10:44AM
I'm surprised that this vehicle isn't doing as well as expected.It's a nice SUV, even though I'm not a Ford guy.
Chuck Parisi @ Mar 17th 2006 11:00AM
If anyone is thinking of any hybrid as a way to save money, think again. Consumer Reports did a recent study and could not demonstrate any current hybrid provides a lower cost of ownership over their conventional car/truck/SUV counterpart.
It makes sense to offer this hybrid in those two markets. There are enough liberal environmentalist who don't care about cost in order to appear "green" and Washington is where all the law makers are located!
Chuck Parisi @ Mar 17th 2006 11:00AM
If anyone is thinking of any hybrid as a way to save money, think again. Consumer Reports did a recent study and could not demonstrate any current hybrid provides a lower cost of ownership over their conventional car/truck/SUV counterpart.
It makes sense to offer this hybrid in those two markets. There are enough liberal environmentalist who don't care about cost in order to appear "green" and Washington is where all the law makers are located!
Bill @ Mar 17th 2006 11:01AM
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.
k0an @ Mar 17th 2006 11:50AM
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.
kevin @ Mar 17th 2006 1:03PM
#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.
goat @ Mar 17th 2006 1:06PM
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.
k0an @ Mar 17th 2006 1:21PM
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?
Bill @ Mar 17th 2006 1:22PM
#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.
Richard @ Mar 17th 2006 2:00PM
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.
Car-la @ Mar 17th 2006 5:31PM
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%...
DPC car videos @ Aug 27th 2006 12:17AM
Just found this blog, hope they have a similar deal like this, this hybrid is great to get into carpool alone.
Jim LeTap @ Jul 30th 2007 2:06PM
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