Len_A1:
Thanks for returning to this forum from "way-back-when" AND on the leasing of your new Ford Escape Hybrids. I am not sure how the discounts or incentives "work" (government subsidies???) for your leasing, but if it gets potential vehicle leasee`s into hybrids over internal-combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, so be it.
It was, indeed, time to "upgrade" from your older Fords, but like many individuals, with the current market price of either new OR used vehicles, its not economically feasible to buy or lease a different vehicle, as much as some may want to. Also glad to see you kept your vehicle choice in the Ford family. I am kinda in that situation and would LOVE to be driving a "slightly" used 2017-2019 Subaru Outback, but my mom`s 2006 Ford Freestyle AWD SEL that we bought from her estate in 2013 will have to suffice for the time being. So yes, I know what it is like to drive and maintain an older vehicle, albeit that it is paid for. I have come to the economic conclusion that either your are making car loan (or lease) payments for a new car OR making occasional (expensive) repair and maintenance bills, and yes, there does come time to consider the return-on-investment (AKA, the proverbial "that vehicle is nickel-and-diming me to death.") of what becomes more-than-occasional (expensive) repair expenses. With gas being around $4.00 a gallon here locally in Wisconsin and having to spend close to $80.00 on an empty tank fill-up, it makes me wish I had a vehicle that gets (a lot) better gas mileage, BUT, again, the trade-off is between making car loan or lease payments OR buying more gas. If gas goes up to $5.00 per gallon, your choice of leasing a new vehicle starts to "obscure" by older vehicle ownership economic logic.
OR worse, that gas is rationed because of short supplies this spring and early summer. Don`t laugh!!! It happened in May of 1979. Gas was "rationed" at 10 gallons every-other-day for unleaded gas, depending on your license plate number. My used 1977 Datsun 280Z (Yes, one of those cars you wished you had back!) burned regular leaded gas (needed for pre-catalytic vehicles back then), which was NOT rationed, so I could fill up as needed. Good thing because I was commuting about 75 miles round-trip a day for my engineering drawing (AKA drafting) job back then.
Please keep us informed on your detailing exploits with these vehicles.