Bay Area Dealers

[Voltcrazy]

Has anyone purchased/leased in the Bay Area? I called Frontier Ford on Saturday (no call back yet), emailed them on Sunday, and also emailed Sunnyvale Ford on Sunday.

[marta]

I'm not sure anyone has really purchased a Ford Focus Electric yet - Ford says it's available, but it seems to be a realllllly slow rollout!

Did you notice this list of focus electric dealers in another thread on this forum?

Your name Voltcrazy - is that crazy about the Chevy Volt, or crazy about volts as in the stuff that powers any electric vehicle?

[Voltcrazy]

Did you notice this list of focus electric dealers in another thread on this forum?

Your name Voltcrazy - is that crazy about the Chevy Volt, or crazy about volts as in the stuff that powers any electric vehicle?

I noticed the posted list of dealers, and also downloaded the PDF from Ford's website. Sunnyvale Ford and others are listed as certified dealers, but none of them know when they are going to receive a car! Last I heard, yesterday, was "rumor is August/September."

I do have an offer to place an order with Sunnyvale Ford, who has 3 allocations, so I may go in this week and do it.

My name started as voltcrazy because of my Chevy Volt. However, that car has just been a "gateway drug" to wanting an all-electric. Now, voltcrazy just refers to my obsession with electric cars.

Dale

[igh]

I am in the Bay area too looking to buy a FFE and incidentally I also own a Volt and this my next logical progression. I was wondering why you did not consider the LEAF? I am still in two minds. The only thing I have against the LEAF is its styling. I think it is ugly. However the LEAF SL can now be bought for around 36K. The FFE will not budge from 40K in the near future I think. I really do not care for the fancy electronics in FFE. It is a commuter car and with a 40 mile radius from home, navigation, sync etc all overkill. Anyway, if you go through the Ford dealers website and search inventory, you can see some coming to the Bay area. Frontier Ford has 6, Fremont Ford has 3 and Livermore Ford has 4. The other ones use a different inventory search engine and I cannot see the FFE in their models though as you said for Sunnyvale, they must be getting some. I contacted Livermore Ford last week and they said they do not have them yet and will let me know once they come in. Still is two minds - styling is not worth 4K.

[Voltcrazy]

I am in the Bay area too looking to buy a FFE and incidentally I also own a Volt and this my next logical progression. I was wondering why you did not consider the LEAF?

I strongly considered the LEAF. However, I do need 6.6 kw/hr charging, which is not coming until the FY'13 model. And like you, I do not like the styling. To me, the FFE is a *much* better looking car, and the only feature missing is a Chademo port. It also has more gadgets and goodies, which I like, and more power than the LEAF.

[GreenRPMs]

Hi Voltcrazy,

What is a "Chademo port"? I have never heard of this ford focus electric accessory. Also have you checked out the CODA? Seems like a reasonable competitor to the focus electric.

[igh]

Hi Voltcrazy,

What is a "Chademo port"? I have never heard of this ford focus electric accessory. Also have you checked out the CODA? Seems like a reasonable competitor to the focus electric.

A Chademo is a separate 480V DC fast charging port that can charge 6-7 times faster than the 6.6 KW level 2 charger that FFE has. The Chademo is a standard in Japan but US and German auto makers do not like it and adopted a different standard recently which is compatible to the Level 2 AC charging port. Only the Leaf and the I-Miev has the Chademo port currently. I think it will disappear in future as it requires auto makers to make two separate charging ports thus increasing costs.

I also looked at the CODA. The styling is retro. The interiors felt cheap and unrefined. The electric fuel economy 44KWH/100 miles is much worse. The prices is 38K in the same ballpark. The company may fold in the future. Only the driving range is slightly better which I do not need.

[igh]

I inquired with Frontier Ford - said 2 weeks before they get anything. Fremont Ford said demo model is in transit. They can order one for me after that at MSRP - 2 months to get in hand.

[igh]

I have now called all 15 FFE dealers in the Bay area. No one has the car but are expecting in 1-3 weeks. Some cannot get me the car without ordering (about 10 weeks). Others are asking 2-4K over MSRP. Few can sell at MSRP. No one will go below MSRP. The Leaf SL is now available from North Bay Nissan for 35591. They have many in stock and ready to drive off. Looks like Ford with its poor commitment towards the FFE is pushing me away from them .

[felkster]

Wow, so I guess my backup plan of buying one in SF then shipping it to Seattle may not be so feasible.

I preordered on in Seattle 2 weeks ago and I was told "I want to set your expectations of having no expectations". The dealership gave me a guess of November, which is a super long time to wait when I'm ready to buy now.

If you go to autotrader.com or cars.com, they show inventory in Bay Area dealerships...is that inventory not up-to-date?