Just took Delivery

[frankiezjr]

Just took delivery on a used 2012 FFE Tuxedo Black for $9998.
I love this Car and all the features it offers!

Any recommendations?

I live in San Diego, CA and there are many free/cheap charging stations.

 

[electrons]

Congratulations! You now have a fun around-town go-getter!

One weird suggestion: If you top off the coolant tank under the hood, be sure and always use anti-freeze coolant mixed with distilled water, 50% mix, and always pre-mix thoroughly (stir a lot) yourself or buy it pre-mixed already. Never add straight 100% anti-freeze coolant to the tank. You can add 100% anti-freeze (followed by distilled water separately) in gasoline cars, but these Focus Electrics have a weird sensitivity to a possible ribbon of thick anti-freeze hitting the small passages inside and clogging them.

I assume you have all the past recalls completed. My 2016 model thankfully is new enough that it missed them.

I thought about getting a used Leaf or FFE, since the price is quite good on them. Colorado state will even kick in a couple of thousand dollars for me on a used one if the car is from out of state and never claimed the Colorado tax break. Ended up paying $15k for a 2016 after all rebates & tax breaks, cheaper than the least new Focus gas model.
Does California kick in anything on a new or used one for you? I think the feds won't on a used one.

 

[oilerlord]

Way to go! How many miles are on your 2012?

I'm still shopping. By coincidence, I had a fellow car-guy friend of mine that lives in Carlsbad take a FFE out for a test drive (we don't have any within about 1000 miles of where I live). He said it's no Tesla, but a lot of car for $10K. I've made a couple of lowball offers, only a matter of time before one gets accepted.

Go to plugshare.com to find charging stations in your area.

 

[JTCalif]

Congratulations! [...]
I assume you have all the past recalls completed.

I suggest that you register your car at owner.ford.com
Once done (with VIN et al.), you can look for recalls under "Notifications", which gives a good starting point for talking with dealers /service shops.
BTW, it helps that there are Many Ford service locations around, and that most of the parts in this car are same as in ICE Fords. So, it is relatively easy to find parts if needed.
In almost 4 years, I have needed just tire rotation (important!) and a plastic fastener ($2) at any dealer. No fan belts, oil changes, spark plugs, smog checks, muffler, ... (Love it!)

 

[TomEV]

Does California kick in anything on a new or used one for you? I think the feds won't on a used one.

California gives $2500 rebate but recently offered more for low income buyers and added an exclusion for the wealthy. No rebate for used.

 

[electrons]

California gives $2500 rebate but recently offered more for low income buyers and added an exclusion for the wealthy. No rebate for used.

Does California offer a used-car rebate if the used electric car came from out-of-state?
...... Here in Colorado the state will contribute a lot in a tax rebate IF the new OR USED car has never been registered in Colorado before. That has one used car dealership in Boulder Colorado importing California used Leafs (mostly) to sell here so a Colorado resident still gets a pretty big tax break, like about $2,000 on a USED Leaf, which might sell for around $10k.

Excellent choice on a Ford Focus Electric. Car and Driver magazine rates it highly for handling, better than a Leaf in that category. I enjoy mine immensely. Plenty fast.

Caveat: Don't think there is no maintenance. You've got to force yourself to open the hood, check all fluid levels, also check tire air pressure regularly. This thing will lull you into a false sense of security on maintenance. Also, if the differential leaks it's oil, then game-over, so oil is still an issue.

 

[electrons]

I'm still shopping. By coincidence, I had a fellow car-guy friend of mine that lives in Carlsbad take a FFE out for a test drive (we don't have any within about 1000 miles of where I live). He said it's no Tesla, but a lot of car for $10K. I've made a couple of lowball offers, only a matter of time before one gets accepted.

Wow, I just went to CarGurus.com and searched for used Leafs near zip code 92010 (Carlsbad CA), and Leafs go for as cheap as $5,500 ! If you can't find a Ford Focus Electric and can tolerate the Leaf's styling, then that's the deal to get. Still has some battery warranty left too.

Go to plugshare.com to find charging stations in your area.

Thats my fav so far too. Got their app for the road.

 

[frankiezjr]

Sorry for the late replies.

Way to go! How many miles are on your 2012?

Well it came back from a lease, when I purchased it it had 30,098 miles on it.

I have put already a 1000 miles on my focus and I'm loving it. Range is still there, If I drive properly 76+ miles. Freeway, more like 59/64 miles.

I'm literally registered with all charging stations and various cards. Luckily I charge at a mall near my apartment and the best part is charging is free!

 

[Kakkerlak]

My local Ford dealer just advertised a 2013 FFE with a strikethrough price of $14,999, and an "Internet Special" price of $9,980. They claim it has just over 15K miles, so it's probably not a lease return.

I expect the $15,000 to $18,000 buyout values of the FFE leases to inspire laughter in owners, then losses for Ford Motor Credit.

I have $10,000 set aside to buy a car that will last me between the end of my FFE lease and whenever the Tesla Model 3 starts delivery. Ford would have to do something really impressive to earn my business, like a 200-mile, 0-60-in-4-seconds hatchback built in Michigan.

 

[electrons]

I have $10,000 set aside to buy a car that will last me between the end of my FFE lease and whenever the Tesla Model 3 starts delivery. Ford would have to do something really impressive to earn my business, like a 200-mile, 0-60-in-4-seconds hatchback built in Michigan.

Your choices will really open up in a year or two. Gas prices will probably stay low (maybe), and the new 200-mile Chevy Bolt will be out in about a year (expensive). Also, http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1101359_updated-2017-ford-focus-electric-100-mile-range-dc-fast-charging and 100 miles sounds pretty good considering we get by on 76 now.

All the above just makes electric used car prices drop even further.
Gas prices may remain low because we are choosing electric. http://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Electric-Vehicles-Could-Soon-Reduce-Oil-Demand-By-13-Million-Barrels-Per-Day.html

My local Ford dealer just advertised a 2013 FFE with a strikethrough price of $14,999, and an "Internet Special" price of $9,980. They claim it has just over 15K miles, so it's probably not a lease return.

Thats a better deal than around here, where cargurus.com has 4 used FFE's for sale in the Denver area, all priced about a thousand or two more than that, still not bad though. I'm surprised to see any for sale around here.

 

[TomEV]

California gives $2500 rebate but recently offered more for low income buyers and added an exclusion for the wealthy. No rebate for used.

Does California offer a used-car rebate if the used electric car came from out-of-state?

As far as I have read, there is no rebate for used even for a car from out of state. It must be a new purchase.

In fact, I would be surprised if California gave a break to anyone for anything out of state. Long long ago...late 1980s to 1990s...California used to stiff people moving into California with a fee for an out of state car. It was huge too...several hundred dollars per car. Supposedly because out of state cars didn't meet CA environmental regulations. It was eventually ruled unconstitutional because of violation of interstate commerce. I got my money back but many didn't.