Posted on 10/10/2014 10:38:16 AM PDT by Yorlik803
New car time. My Colorado is 10 years old and its nickel and diming me. I am looking to get a New Ford Fusion. I wont buy a GM because of the bailout and the fact they seem to get recalled every other day. Test drove a Fusion SE and it rocked. Has anyone here ever owned one?
I recall it had good power and pretty decent gas mileage, the trunk was sort of big, and it had a nice sounding stereo system. It had an AC that blew cold in the middle of a sweltering Atlanta summer. The car seemed to be tuned to want to run 80mph on the freeway.
The most positive thing I can say was that it was comfortable and had lots of noisy passing power. I liked the Ford Fusion overall. It did make me feel good driving it.
The downside was that the Ford/Microsoft 'Ford Sync' touch screen UI entertainment system was confusing to setup and tune, and also to undo the changes the previous rental driver made. It took me 20 mins in the rental car garage to connect my mobile phone via Bluetooth® to the car's stereo even after reading through the owner's manual twice before finally finding a forum on the web using my phone that revealed secret commands to configure the system properly. It was a *completely* jacked up experience that actually made me laugh about how lousy it was, but I finally got it working.
Once I got it working it was very nice and had pretty good maps and on-wheel controls. Good luck to the next poor bastard that had to try to undo what I set up though. Some of the manual on-dash controls were built into the shiny bezels of the decorative trim in the dashboard and it wasn't apparent that they were anything but decorative trim. Owners of this Ford/Microsoft entertainment system have complained of problems and Ford has since abandoned this option earlier this year.
Typical Microsoft screwup. They could make a hammer hard to use. I bet there's Ford engineers that are still mortified at being assigned to the 'Ford Sync' joint project with Microsoft.
I liked the rental Toyota Venza much better. MUCH better. Same class of car, I suppose.
What’s the ham radio installed under the glove box?
http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index.php?/forum/36-fusion-mkz-forum/
Also look at the specialized sub-forums.
I have the hybrid.
-PJ
The warrantee was pretty good...Plus the dealer is throwing in lifetime oil changes.
Never drove a Fusion. Big fan of Altimas.
I bought a new Altima in 1993. Still driving it. In all those years, I’ve spent less than $3,000 on repairs. 126k miles on it now, which includes three cross-country trips, FL-WA. If I ever need a new car, guess what I’ll look at first.
i drove one for a day when my other car was getting work done.
it’s nice, didn’t really like the blind spot but most cars have the same issue now.
thing i suggest is get the very best model with as many options as you can. get the touchscreen and pushbutton start. if you’re driving it for a long time you’ll appreciate it, and when selling it you can get more.
I’ve got a 2012 Ford Fusion SE. I’m thinking of trading in my Ford Sport Trac to buy ANOTHER Fusion. We love that car.
Toyota Camry Recognized As…’Most American Made’ Car On The Road
I have a Mercury Milan. It’s the same as a Ford Fusion, but better quality. I love it! My last car was a Mercury Mystique, when I traded it in it had 265,000 miles on it. My previous Ford fell apart at 90,000 miles.
Love it love it love it!!!!
Didn’t come with all the features I was expecting but, that is due to the nature of how I bought and why.
Had just had a surgery on shoulder. So painful, couldn’t get in and out of the Porsche.
Sold it.
Walked onto the Ford Dealership, told salesman to bring me a Fusion/Emerald Greenish or whatever color comes close.
Test drove the 2012 down the street and back.
Told salesman “Let’s write it up”.
As I turned around I asked about another vehicle that caught my eye and I asked “What the heck is that??!!” as I smiled.
“Oh wow. That’s the 2013 Fusion” he replied.
“Do the paperwork for that one instead” I ordered.
“Really? Test Drive” he responded.
“Nope. It’s Ford and Kewwl looking” I remarked.
Didn’t take the two hour lesson but, he insisted on doing a few things for me before I leave or wouldn’t give me the keys.
(We had developed a friendship right off the bat and we hang out together still).
So, he integrated my phone with Sync Command center and I’m glad he did.
Drove it for a week and absolutely loved it.
Time to get gas and I was initially confused. It took only 12 gallons and I thought there must be something wrong.
Went home looked up the specs and sure enough the tank is about 13 gallons or so.
I then spy the engine is a mere 4 cylinder. Didn’t read the rest of the spec and ran down stairs.
Opened the hood and sure enough it was a 4 cylinder.
Really?!! This thing drives better than a 4 cylinder and then I notice it’s got twin turbos.
“Wow!” I think to myself.
I run upstairs and read the rest of the spec.
4 cylinder twin turbo
175 HP
Something about the steering being all electric. This thing steers so neatly and tight.
Brakes are for sport or something.
Then I notice that is says something about an electronic shifter. That’s a shiftless clutch and My eyes suddenly went wide as I smiled.
Had the same setup on the Porsche.
This gives me more control over shifting at higher rpm’s, rocketing this thing down the road.
The handling on this zippy beast is very tight and sporty.
Camera!!! This one is better than the Mercedes 350.
Comes with guidlines that perfectly tell you the outside edges of your car and is brighter than most cars, except the Audi A8.
There is a laser system to give you an audible warning before hitting and object. There are markers on the guidelines that show how close you are and I think they are marked at 12, 6 and 3 feet.
You good at video games? Me too.
I can and have driven backwards using the camera setup and when parking the combination of the laser warning and the video makes it so easy to back into a tight space.
The headlights are lazer cut and more accurate than the old style lights. I like that they are fixed.
On the Porsche they were self leveling but on many streets I would lose the street ahead of me on bumps or certain road conditions.(Still and awesome ride)
Inside the vehicle: Tons of AC points and two USB for power to devices One USB is a direct connect to the sound system but, is unnecessary, as Blue Tooth handles this quite easily and you put the phone anywhere you want without cables.
There are also AV inputs.
The command center is awesome and is better than the Mercedes 350. It’s touch screen and the Mercedes 350 is not.
The screen is segmented into four quadrants.
You can program all your favorite channels and even download the index of the library on your phone or other external entertainment device and it will show up on the screen, so you don’t have to use your device.
In the phone section there is a calander and speed dials based on your phone book, Quick Dial, History, etc
If someone is in your phone book and calls you, your phone will announce who is calling over your stereo system.
Then there is the services menu. There are a ton of service but, only use the Directions.
This Fusion doesn’t have built in GPS but, it does use your device to obtain GPS and give you awesome directions via list that’s easy to follow, preview or pause.
The street names, exit and destination are announced at the right time and it works well.
I could go on but, I gotta go.
This is the “ES” version but, I have driven em all. My neighbors have various versions and we like em for personal reasons.
Get this car!!!
Find one to rent, and really give it a good drive. I’ve rented a lot of different cars. My favorite right now is the Dodge Avenger.
Do some research on the transmissions. Don’t know about the new ones but the 2009 and up transmissions were not rebuildable and can cost up to $8,000 I have heard from Ford dealers $6,000 from Coleman Taylor.
The fiesta’s have transmission issues. Ford fixed mine but the warranty was still good. No recall yet so I am not sure what they will do for used.
The inside is pretty sparse, with cheap looking/feeling components and that stupid “hole” in the dashboard/center console.
.... my thoughts on fords too... try a VW.. Passat or CC, great fit and finish and tight ride!
ymmv
I drive a 2011 with 61000 miles and except for oil changes and a air filter, I have not spent one dime. The computer read out says I have averaged 22.7 mpg over 61000 miles. I love the car. Handles almost like a sports car.
I have no idea. (It’s not really my car.)
So you like it, eh?
Nice car. BIG trunk. Fairly economical, drove pretty solidly on the highway, nice, tight steering. Pretty good legroom in back. Not the power I'm used to (that really isn't fair) and occasionally it would downshift on a very minor hill. Seats seemed pretty comfortable, YMMV. If I were in the market for a compact-to-mid U.S. car it'd be pretty high on the list.
Thanks....Like I said, it has to better than a Colorado which in my opinion was the worse new truck I ever owned. Chevy really sucked when they made mine
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