akirby

If they're so fantastic, why aren't they mandated by the gov't and why don't any other mfrs make them standard here in the U.S.?

I think he's referring to the "COLD" level mark on the reservoir.

I wouldn't be too concerned unless there are other symptoms. Top it off and keep an eye on it.

So you're the one that drove him over the edge? :hysterical:

If you change your own oil, make sure the surface where the gasket fits is clean. Sometimes a piece of the old gasket or other trash gets left there.

Costco is not Walmart - it's Sam's Club. They have a dedicated full time tire shop and they usually know their stuff, although that could vary from store to store.

The batteries have a 8 year/100k warranty minimum and sometimes 10 yr/150k depending on the state. And NYC taxi cab Hybrid Escapes have gone 350K without changing the batteries.

Sure, on other vehicles. All it takes is dirt or trash around the gasket (or the gasket itself could have been bad). As long as a new filter fixed it I wouldn't worry about it.

Many folks use EBC pads with good results. They have several versions (colors).

That sounds about right if you qualify for the $3K rebate. All we're saying is be careful - this sounds like a bait and switch. There is no good reason for a dealer to order a vehicle and sell it for a loss, and at that price they're losing at least $200. Are you sure they only included the $3K normal rebates? Sometimes dealers will include and combine potential incentives like military rebate, college grad rebate, etc. that you may not qualify for and can't be combined anyway. When you don't qualify for the rebates the price goes up by $1K or more. Just be careful.

You are correct.

There are certainly times when some people would like them to lock immediately. But there are just as many times when people are driving slowly when they do not want them to lock immediately. Driving the car around a parking lot to pick someone up comes to mind. The point is there is no "right" way to do it. Whatever you pick someone won't like it. The best compromise would be a setting that allowed them to lock immediately or at predefined speeds or not at all but that's not available.

Doesn't take a mechanic to understand a braking system.

What is the MSRP and which model/options?

I think you only get voice control with the iPod and not with the flash drive, but I could be wrong.

Have you tried leaving it on for more than 10 minutes? Typically the battery saver kicks in and shuts off the interior lights if they're left on but I haven't tested it with the rear hatch.

I don't think any recent Ford products have a glovebox light.

The fluid level will drop as the caliper cylinders move further out to compensate for the pad wear but the pedal travel shouldn't change.

I've had both - I like the Latitudes better.

Darwin award candidate.

I hate to burst your bubble, but something isn't right. D plan is below dealer cost even taking the holdback into account. The only way the dealer makes money on A/Z/D plan purchases is because Ford subsidizes them. Without the Ford subsidy the dealer would be losing money for no reason. If they're giving you D plan price then they're making it up somewhere else on rebates, trade-in, doc fees or other fees. You need to check that paperwork carefully. I suggest getting a "drive-out" price including all taxes, fees, etc. and compare it to an actual X plan price just to be safe. Not saying it can't happen but in this case the odds are pretty slim.

X plan will be roughly the dealer invoice price from edmunds or kbb plus $500 minus any rebates. That will get you within $200 or so. If you go to www.fueleconomy.gov you can compare your CV with the Edge. If you're getting X above or below the EPA mileage with the CV you should get about the same with the Edge. Again - generally speaking.

Nope - many, many people have had their DRLs enabled here in the states. It might be that some low end models don't have the Smart Junction Box so they won't allow it. The dealership either doesn't know how or doesn't want to in most cases.

I don't think anyone would "design" in mushy brakes. It might be a by-product of other design or tuning decisions though.

Grey has explained it in gory detail numerous times. The Ford spec is not hard to meet - most oil mfrs have versions that meet the spec. Ford designs the engine with certain criteria and not all oils meet that criteria. It's not a conspiracy.