I have two friends who have bought the Ford Escape hybrid. Both of them are trying to figure out how to get rid of it.

The one's fuel mileage started out with getting 27 mph back in August. From there it has gone down to 18.6 for a whole tank and often during travel it registers 16.5.

This friend has taken it in numerous times to the shop where he bought it and they put it on the monitor. They have finally agreed that there is something wrong with it.

However, this latest time they told him that they are putting in an official disclaimer that Juneau, Alaska, is NOT a good market for this particular car. Most people here don't put on 10,000 miles a year on their cars - more often 7,000; our roadways are limited and most people live within 5 miles of their jobs. This friend lives just 2 1/2 miles away his store.

The reason this friend bought the car in the first place was because of the offered mileage: 29 open highway, 33 city. As he told them he was getting 17, 18 mph with his Expedition.

The other friend is not happy with it for a number of reasons. The first thing he did on a trip was to shred a tire- and had to replace all four tires. They all have to be the same brand and exact size and with the same amount of wear on them. He was in Canada at the time and the price wass much higher than it would have been in the US.

He's getting under 20 miles a gallon around town, which for him is problematic; he is a house painter and is on the road a lot.

That said, they both like a couple of things about it. It takes hills easily, it handles well and the quick acceleration is a plus.

The first friend has been told that he can turn it back in under the lemon law; the second friend has told him he'll give him a thousand dollars if he helps him get rid of his.