I just talked again with the guy whose dealership is willing to do the X-plan on the Escape Hybrid. We are meeting tomorrow and ordering my new rig! Woohoo!

A friendly dude on the internet emailed me a PDF file that has all of the ordering codes for the 2009s on it. It’s an internal Ford document and I thought I’d post it here, so click here if you’re interested in the 2009 Ford Escape (either Hybrid or normal).

I was asking about the deposit, if any; he didn’t mind if we didn’t put one down (which makes sense since they’ll sell my rig in a heartbeat, for more money, if I don’t wind up buying it) but I’ll probably put down 500 or 1000 bucks anyway. It gives me a stronger claim on the rig without any potential BS.

Hopefully Ford’s production on the FEH (as people tend to call the Ford Escape Hybrid) will be fast enough that I get the rig in time to qualify for the tax credit. Right now the 2008 4WD version of the FEH carries a $2,200 tax credit; I’m assuming that the 2009 will have at least that much or more, but the problem is that the credit only applies to the first 60,000 units sold.

Once they get to a certain number they cut the credit in half, which means if mine takes too long I could wind up not getting 2200 but only 1100 instead.

The front-wheel drive version of the FEH has a bigger credit, $3,000. I thought for a while about getting the FWD instead of the 4WD. To be honest, my justification for the 4WD is pretty weak; the vast majority of my driving is in situations where I really don’t need 4WD.

Even though Seattle is pretty dang hilly (which is a post I’ve been meaning to write for a while) and occasionally slick with damp streets, the reality is it’s just not icy/snowy enough that I really need 4WD. I do go skiing, but in the past several years most of my skiing trips have tended to be on vacation instead of day trips to local areas.

What’s more, the FWD version gets another 4 or 5 miles per gallon. It weighs a lot less thanks to the lack of any transfer case or differential to power the back wheels, has less to break, and so forth.

Buuuuuuttt… I’m just enough of a small-town, truck kind of guy that I want the 4WD. So that’s what I’m getting.

I thought it might serve some people who’re looking at the FEH to say why I’m getting it and what there is to consider, so here are a few thoughts.

First I thought about why I like my present car, a 2000 Toyota 4Runner Limited 4WD. I prefer an SUV for a number of reasons. The seating height gives better visibility in traffic, and the size makes me feel safer. I like having plenty of room to haul stuff, even though intellectually I know that I don’t have to do it very often. The cargo area in the back is perfect for the dog (or even multiple dogs) and camping trips.

The rear seats are easy to jump in/out of, and folding them up gives tons of room for whatever I want/need.

I like the 4Runner’s auto climate control- set a temperature and it stays there. It has a sunroof, which I dig.

The FEH has almost all of these things, only a bit smaller than the 4Runner, which is something I was looking for. I want the 4Runner versatility, but not quite that much size given my tight parking garage and being in the city more. It’s still relatively tall, with 8.6 inches of ground clearance for the times I go onto gravel or rockier roads in the mountains on hikes or camping and such.

The FEH has DUAL auto climate controls, plus heated seats which are really nice in the winter until the rig warms up. The 2009 version also comes with Ford’s SYNC system, which is heads and shoulders above most of the other similar systems in the industry; it’s got a USB port and I will be able to voice-control my iPod or iPhone while charging it and everything.

SYNC also has a hard drive, so I can load up some MP3 files and not bother with the iPod if I want (though my iPhone goes everywhere with me anyway). It’s got bluetooth connectivity and is a speakerphone, so making or receiving calls while on the road is easy.

All in all, the FEH is a great little rig. Hopefully Ford has truly turned the corner and is caught up with the high-quality Japanese manufacturers in quality. It’s made by union brethern in Kansas City and I like that it looks like an SUV. (The only part of the 2008/2009 newer body style I’m not crazy about is the nose, but I’ll live with it.)

Things I wish the FEH had: A bit more storage space in the rear for chains, flares, jumper cables, etc. There’s more space in the regular versions but the FEH’s battery takes that up to some extent. I wish it had 3500 or so pounds of towing capability; the 2008s can do 1000 pounds and it looks like the 2009s won’t even do that. And I would prefer the steering wheel not just tilt, but also telescope.

I’ll blog when I see how the ordering process goes.