Gene_V: those are real pictures of the Ford 427 concept car. Here is the Ford web page with more information on it. It was obviously the source of some of the Fusion styling.
Good looking car. Wonder why it is called the Fusion and not the Fairlane? Or the Fairlane 500. That rather awkward looking, yet basically non offensive looking 500 car sucked up the 500 label I guess. And there is to be a cross-over car named the Fairlane? That is so wrong. Sort of like a four door, stubby nosed Charger, which is a modified Chrysler 300. Oh well, aside of the name, the Fusion looks pretty good inside and out.
Now Ford needs to think of a RWD car platform for a nifty little sport coupe, and independent suspension on the Mustang to bring it into the 21st century. Not saying it would be a deal breaker when considering a Stang, but rather it would just add to the cars pluses.
I went by the Ford dealer near my house today and they had three Fusions in stock. There was a black SEL V6 on the showroom floor, a green SE V6 and a white SE V6 on the lot. I drove the white SE V6 and was VERY impressed. This car looks even better in person than in the pictures I've seen.
It handled very well, plenty of power, smooth and the interior was spectacular looking. My only disappointment was that no dealers in my area have any 5-speed/4-cylinders in stock. The dealer where I test drove today told me they weren't planning on ordering more than a handful of cars so equipped and they'd probably be low option S/SE models to keep the prices down. Of course, they mentioned they could order whatever I wanted.
I thought I'd narrowed down my field of potential cars to the Mazda3 and Honda Civic and Accord....now I've got a fourth choice in the mix!
Mazda3 - Be sure to check out the air conditioning on a hot day to see if it works. Lots of chat about less than stellar air conditioning, but who knows. Try it out. Suppose to be great handling cars.
Civic- Gas mileage is great and HP is up. New cab forward design is a bit strange in a small car. Doesn't look bad though. The new interior arm rests look like they may wear or get dirty more quickly being fabric material instead of plastic. Can see no hood looking forward in drivers seat, and only miles of dashboard now. Different.
Accord- Seems like a good car, maybe a little pricey. New butt looks better.
Fusion- Strange name, but not too conFussioning. Just sat once in the car today, and was liking it. Looks like a winner. You just feel like you fit better in there, and it is not the strange deep dash on these cars, and if memory serves me right, not too tall a door window sill. And chrome on the front. Hey, it has been a long time! Looks like a classy interior. Ford interiors sure have improved with the times. I would get a four banger. Gas may go to $4 or $5 as easy as it could fall below $3, who knows.
"Good looking car. Wonder why it is called the Fusion and not the Fairlane?"
Originally the name would have been Futura, but since Pep Boys own's that name on a label of tires, they had an issue with it. Ford adopted the next best name that came out in consumer clinics, Fusion. Which is a bit more hip and responded well to younger test groups.
Fairlane...Hmmm reminds me of some golf fairway, although that was a tested name in another vehicle. Even the Fairlane concept, so there's a possibility that it could be reused. Although I personally find it a bit insulting to place a traditionally RWD sedan name, on a smaller FWD vehicle, a 'la Impala.
I don't know what happened with that post. Gremlins? Stopped after church. Peeked in and walked around them. A Five Hundred was parked behind them. The Five Hundred is significantly larger. My wife said it looked plain and I asked why. She said that the body side molding and mirrors were the same color and they should be different. I liked it for just the same reason she didn't. Go figure. The interior decor looked better than the Five Hundred. Need to go back W/O wife although I am partial to the Five Hundred. Whenever they get the 3.5 and that is not soon enough.
Wasn't there a version of the 1960's Falcon called "Futura" and/or maybe a version of the 1970s-80s Fairmont called "Futura"? So shouldn't Ford own that name?
Fairlane would not sound like a Crown Vic replacement at all, which BTW is great car in its own way. Next Vic will be the Galaxy :surprise: .... or maybe not...
The Fairlane cars were great medium sized cars. They were well liked cars, and some had powerful engines, depending on the times. Yeah, I guess they were large ones as well, but I like to think of the 1960's cars. I could see the Fairlane name on a Fusion.I like the Fairlane 500 name too. As for Futura, it sounds cheap and well, I don't know, just let Pep Boys keep it on their line of Cooper tires. Futura is Cooper sold by Pep Boys.
They are going to use Fairlane on some stupid cross over / SUV thing, which is not anything close to a Fairlane of years-gone-bye.
Would love to see a RWD Fairlane mid sized car with an inline 6 of world class quality and v8 too as in the Stang.
I have read a lot of comments on here and other forums about the Mazda's A/C. I have test driven two in late summer Georgia heat and they were more than adequate. They do handle better than any car in their price range has a right to. A blast to drive. Main concerns for me are space in the driver seat for my 6'2" frame.
I'm anxious to drive a Civic 5-speed. All the dealers near me have only had automatics so far. The auto drove great, was comfy and decent amount of power. I'm not sold on the looks inside or out, though.
The Accord is a little expensive for my wallet in most styles, but the '06 VP fits the bill great. They added cruise and keyless entry to that model this year and I have been quoted a price of $17,200 for a 5-speed VP- great deal on a mid-sizer.
Fusion V6/auto was a blast to drive. Now I just need to drive the 5-speed/4-cylinder to see if it fits my needs and driving style.
I've driven two V6 SELs -- one was black with black leather, the other was charcoal beige with stone leather. I found the stone leather to be very appealing, both in color and texture. And the charcoal beige is an unusual color, but also appealing. There was a silver SE in the showroom that I also liked. The interior of these cars has a quality level that I would associate with a more expensive car.
I found the car to have a very solid feel, very quiet on the freeway, and decent acceleration. The transmission was very smooth, and cornering above average for a non-sport sedan.
I'm not overly tall -- 6 feet -- but am tall in the trunk, so headroom is a concern. The first one I drove had a moonroof, and the headroom was a little snug for me. The second one did not have the moonroof, and the inch or so extra headroom made all the difference for me.
Many cars list two headroom and overall interior volume figures, reflecting the difference between either having or lacking a moonroof, but I believe the Ford website just has 100 for interior volume and only one headroom figure. This is misleading. If headroom is a concern for you, be sure to check out the non-moonroof version and you'll see what I mean. My non-moonroof Accord, for instance, has 102.7 interior volume, but the moonroof version has about 97. Moonroofs can take up a lot of space.
I stopped by the a Ford dealer today and they had one Fusion, a white SEL with the tan interior and every option.
My first impression was that it is much more spacious inside than the outside appearance suggests. The seats seemed comfortable and better designed than in some other mid-sized cars. It had none of the cramped and confining feel of the Five Hundred driver's seat space. Thankfully, the steering wheel telescopes, not just tilts, so it is easy to find a comfortable position. The interior does look very nice, and I saw nothing I did not like. I told the dealer people that the interior looked as nice or nicer than the 2006 Cadillac DTS I recently rented. The trim rings around the gauges look cheap in photos, but not when you are sitting in the car. I am 6' 1" and sat in the back seat behind the driver's seat which I had set to suit me (just a touch from all of the way back), and I was comfortable back there. The leather seats are perforated, something which really helps make them cooler in summer (but you can still get cloth on the top of the line car, and that is even better, and a real plus over the competitors which force you to have leather on teh top of teh line car). The dash-top storage compartment is bigger than I expected, so it would be very handy for storing small items while keeping them from falling / flying about inside the car. The trunk is large and shaped well, and the split folding seats have very handy releases in the trunk. Even though I am 48, the tail lights did not offend me, although the photos made me think that they might bother me. The car is handsome without being over-styled, and it does not look like just another Honda/Toyota/Nissan. Even the key is nice - the transmitter and key are combined into one compact unit, far better than stuffing your pocket with a key and separate bulky transmitter. The Fusion is also an excellent value. Equipped as I would buy it (SEL V6 with safety & security package, SEL premium package, ABS, traction control, and Audiophile sound system), the invoice price (never pay more) is just $22,398.
I only see two things lacking on the Fusion - Satellite radio and On-Star or Bluetooth for safe and easy cell phone usage fully integrated with the vehicle.
Satellite radio would be nice, but bluetooth isn't that important when you can just get a bluetooth headset. An AUX input would be more useful since you could use that with a portable MP3 player or a Roady.
A Bluetooth headset, besides being a real nuisance to have hanging off of me, would not allow my passenger (wife and assistant) to also talk with callers, and it would not automatically mute the radio.
I also forgot to mention that the Fusion lacks Homelink, although I realize that it would be fairly easy to add by changing the rear view mirror to an aftermarket unit with Homelink.
Bluetooth integration is only in near-luxury cars so far, so it must be pretty pricey. Considering where the microphone is on cars with bluetooth, she would have to yell pretty hard for callers to hear her clearly from the passenger side. She would be much better off picking up the phone herself. Really, how often do two people need to try to talk to one caller at the same time while driving? Many cell phones have speakerphones built in now anyway and the radio can be muted easily with the steering wheel controls. What are you going to do if you don't want everyone in the car to hear both sides of your phone conversations?
I use the car I have now for business and it has On-Star. We love the ability to handle calls with it. We set the cell phone to forward to the car if if does not answer, then turn off the cell phone when in the car. Radio/CD on or off, it rings, and you just push a button on the mirror to answer. Both people in front can talk and hear with no difficulty or extra effort. We haven't tried it with people in the back. Calls can be made by pushing the button and speaking the digits. It is worth every dollar it costs.
Any GM car has On Star, and Damiler-Chrysler offers built-in Bluetooth which provides similar functionality by forming a network with the Bluetooth-equipped cell phone(s) which are turned on and located inside the car. It is offered on the 300, Magnum, and Charger (and possibly other models).
As for safety, it is no different than holding a conversation with somebody else in the car.
Probably one of those things that is meaningless to the vast majority of buyers, but that's the beauty of the marketplace. Lots of choices, so everyone can get what they want!
The aux jack would be nice on the front, but I would probably jsut pay to have a wire plugged into the back, and fish it through to the console. It will have the same effect, running through the Aux port. I assume Xm can be run that way too, in addition to an ipod.
As to the Fusion, I have talked to a few others that stopped to look at one, and have been very impressed, especially about the looks, interior design and especially the roominess. hard to believe that it is a slightly enlarged mazda 6 platform, since that car was criticized for being to small inside!
You might complain about the "stodgy" styling on the 500 (or Fusion), but it ertainly does wonders for room, comfort and visibility! Flash is nice, but when it means that you can't see out of the windows, it can lose it's appeoal quickly. Function doesn't go out of style!
I drove a Metallic Green, fully loaded SEL, on Sunday.
Good review. I don't have anything to add to this other than at the dealer I was at in Silver Spring, MD, had added $2,995 to the MSRP as "additional dealer mark-up." I just laughed at that!!!
Other than the color, this car is perfect! That green is terrible and does a great disservice to an otherwise perfect vehicle.
Also, why people are saying they would go for a 4 over the 6 because of gas milage is beyond me. The 6 gets 21/29. The 4 is only 2 MPG better. Go with the 6, better resale value.
I think the 4 cylinder mileage is disappointing, but "better resale value" still isn't justification for the V6 unless the added resale value is higher than the added initial cost of the V6. Not likely. If the 4 cylinder has unacceptable performance and no one will want it when you try to sell it, then that's different. If one ends up being more reliable and having much less maintenance than the other, that will make a difference also.
took the 4 cyl 5 speed SE out again for a longer drive. Overall, still positive. I did want the back cushion lower (my legs were a little too high, leading to a a funny angle on the clutch), but I think it just needed some fiddling. Did drive nice, but revs a bit higher in 5th than I was hoping (much higher than the Accord I also drove today).
I need one more test to make sure (really get the seat adjusted to fit, and get it on the highway), but the driving dynamics, quietness and comfort are all there.
Also, If I was getting an automatic, I probably would get the V6, but the 4 is pretty sprightly with the manual. Feels lighter than it probably is.
Maybe 1% better weight distribution with a 4 banger. FWD cars are basically two wheeled vehicles, with the rear more just along for the ride. Wish Ford, GM and Chrysler would go back to making smaller RWD cars. A nice FWD coupe with an inline 6 would be sweet! The new Fusion looks pretty nice. It is a step forward in quality. Next, give us RWD, or AWD.
CD3 architecture cannot fit Inline 6's...of course, all depends on how much money you wish to invest to MAKE it do so.
CD3 works best with V6-applications, anything more than an Inline-5, and your running into issues, mainly because of crashability and engine clearance.
Maybe Ford reads this, so I'm going to post it here and I've emailed them as well.
Since they're aiming for a younger audience, I think they need to offer an AUX jack on the Fusion for iPod/MP3 players. I think this will be very common in another year or two (Civic and Element have it, rest of Honda will next year and most '06 GM models have it).
For those who wouldn't use it, it might not seem like a big deal. But I love my iPod and would like a direct way to use it with the car stereo. The AUX would also provide an easy hookup for XM/Sirius satellite radio.
The Fusion looks great, as does other Ford models and other car makers, but for the life of me, I cannot understand why they ruin(in my opinion) beautiful hoodlines/sheetmetal by punching and inserting those "nipples". Move them back to the cowling or into the arms or blades and let the aerodynamic lines show the beauty of the vehicle. I know that you might call me anal, but I will not buy a vehicle with those "nipples" punched into the hood!!! I know, I know... you think I'm nuts for feeling this way, but that's me, and that's my humble opinion. Thanks for letting me vent. PPB 20051004.2.114000
Thanks for the link to the Edmunds review. "Stunningly quiet" is just want I want in my next car. It doesn't hurt that it sounds like I won't be giving up any handling if I move up from my Focus....
I wonder if aftermarket speakers would make a big difference or is the head unit itself pumping out muddy garbage? Swapping out speakers would not be a big deal, but if you swap the factory head unit with a nice aftermarket system, you are inviting theft, plus you lose the steering wheel controls.
An aftermarket stereo would give you access to built-in navigation, satellite radio, AUX input etc. though.
Looked one today and overall it was a very nice package, a few things I noticed.
1. Keyless Keypad on door is not available -- great Ford feature and I don't want that ugly aftermarket one they can attach.
2. Should be able to get heated seats/mirrors together like on the Focus including CLOTH seats, not just SEL with leather, for people in the north they are great options where someone in Florida could care less about them.
3. Seems to get expensive if you add options up, should be discounts if you get certain options. (Safety package should have ABS & TC)
But the 2 Major oversights were
Where is the AUX for my MP3 Player, any car pitched at people under 35 should have this standard. The big one for me was the nonfolding side mirrors, which means if you (wife or teenage driver is more likely) back out of your garage or parking sturcute spot or someone with a shopping cart at the local target gets too close rather than the mirror just folding back or forward it is going to break off and i'm looking at $300 repair if I do it myslef and $500 if I take it to the dealer. I can't beleive that Ford didn't use foldable mirrors (don't know about the zepher or milan) this is one thing that would need to change before I would buy this car, Its happend twice that I've come back to my car and my mirror was folded in and while the paint was chipped a bit from where it got hit I just folded it out and it worked fine.
I agree the keypad would be nice. It's standard on the Zephyr and it's quite possible you could add the Zephyr keypad - the wiring may already be there.
It comes in handy when you don't want to carry your key in your pocket (amusement park, swimming, etc.) and in case you accidentally lock your keys in the car.
I was thinking about adding the aftermarket version in a hidden place so I could use it in an emergency but otherwise you won't see it. It's wireless so you can place it anywhere.
Once you start using the remote to lock the car, it isn't possible to lock your keys in the car. It isn't as if carrying the keyfob is some burden considering it's built into the key of the Fusion now and only takes one click rather than multiple key presses on a keypad. Keypad is unimportant.
Regarding the Accord: "...the 4 cylinder... now accounts for roughly three out of four Accords sold, up from about 65% of sales in mid-2003, and they are moving off dealer lots in an average 40 days, compared with 57 days for the six-cylinder Accord, according to Power Information Network. The industry standard is about 60 days."
article: "Car Buyers Seem to Favor Economy Over Power" by Karen Lundegaard 10.04.05
So it is about 1:3 V6:4, which is actually a lower ratio than it had been in the past. What will the Fusions full production figures be?
The 4 isn't as efficient as it could/should be, so it won't be that hard for salesmen to up sell to the V6 with the rationale that "it only uses a little more gas than the 4 cylinder Fusions."
FWIW I test drove the 4cyl with a 5spd today. While there is a lot to like about this car, there is not enough pep with the 4cyl for my liking. Don't get me wrong, I was very impressed, but I can't see any car enthusiast/nut settling for a ride with this amount of giddyup.
I'm still waiting for a 5-speed manual Fusion to show up at a dealer near me so I can test drive it. I drove an SE V6 a few days ago and was pretty impressed.
I agree that enthusiast/performance types will probably not be thrilled by the acceleration of the manual 4-cylinder. Who knows when we'll see a test of this combo, but the Mazda6 with the same engine/tranny does 0-60 in 9.0 seconds. Not thrilling, but not what I'd called underpowered either. I think it will suffice for regular drivers looking for a reasonably priced, sharp looking car.
Safety & Security, SEL Premium Package, Moonroof, heated seats, anti-lock brakes, traction control, and audiophile sound. Black, with charcoal interior.
Got it at a dealer in Preston, MD. I paid MSRP, but they gave me what I owed on my '02 Mountaineer ($17,500) AND I got the $500 bonus cash and $500 Ford Credit cash. Needless to say, I am more than pleased with the deal.
The car is perfect. It looks better in person than the pictures, and once you drive it, you will fall in love with it. The fit and finish are outstanding, and it is really quiet! I drove it 70 miles on a relatively flat highway from the dealer to home and averaged 29.5 MPG.
I will write a full review after I put about 5,000 miles on it, but right now, I'm just happy to be one of the first in the DC area to be driving one back and forth to work. :shades:
it comes in handy when you don't want to carry anything, such as when running or biking, or when you park at the beach and don't want to have your keys pilferable when you are in the water and they are on the beach.
I never use the button to lock my car (not even sure if I can in our Odyssey). I use the fob, which is attaced to the key so no chance of lickin git inside!
I think the keypads are unattractive and detract from the overall look of the car, but most people I know who have them use them. They do come in handy if you don't have pockets (biking shorts, swim trunks) etc. One friend has an older Nissan Maxima that has the keypad entry, but mostly I've seen it on Fords.
With all that said, I think it would muck up the clean lines of the Fusion.
Comments
http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=14049
Or the Fairlane 500. That rather awkward looking, yet basically non offensive
looking 500 car sucked up the 500 label I guess. And there is to be a cross-over
car named the Fairlane? That is so wrong. Sort of like a four door, stubby nosed
Charger, which is a modified Chrysler 300. Oh well, aside of the name, the Fusion
looks pretty good inside and out.
Now Ford needs to think of a RWD car platform
for a nifty little sport coupe, and independent suspension on the Mustang to bring
it into the 21st century. Not saying it would be a deal breaker when considering a
Stang, but rather it would just add to the cars pluses.
Loren
It handled very well, plenty of power, smooth and the interior was spectacular looking. My only disappointment was that no dealers in my area have any 5-speed/4-cylinders in stock. The dealer where I test drove today told me they weren't planning on ordering more than a handful of cars so equipped and they'd probably be low option S/SE models to keep the prices down. Of course, they mentioned they could order whatever I wanted.
I thought I'd narrowed down my field of potential cars to the Mazda3 and Honda Civic and Accord....now I've got a fourth choice in the mix!
Civic- Gas mileage is great and HP is up. New cab forward design is a bit strange in a small car. Doesn't look bad though. The new interior arm rests look like they may wear or get dirty more quickly being fabric material instead of plastic. Can see no hood looking forward in drivers seat, and only miles of dashboard now. Different.
Accord- Seems like a good car, maybe a little pricey. New butt looks better.
Fusion- Strange name, but not too conFussioning. Just sat once in the car today, and was liking it. Looks like a winner. You just feel like you fit better in there, and it is not the strange deep dash on these cars, and if memory serves me right, not too tall a door window sill. And chrome on the front. Hey, it has been a long time! Looks like a classy interior. Ford interiors sure have improved with the times. I would get a four banger. Gas may go to $4 or $5 as easy as it could fall below $3, who knows.
Wish all of above came in RWD.
Loren
Originally the name would have been Futura, but since Pep Boys own's that name on a label of tires, they had an issue with it. Ford adopted the next best name that came out in consumer clinics, Fusion. Which is a bit more hip and responded well to younger test groups.
Fairlane...Hmmm reminds me of some golf fairway, although that was a tested name in another vehicle. Even the Fairlane concept, so there's a possibility that it could be reused. Although I personally find it a bit insulting to place a traditionally RWD sedan name, on a smaller FWD vehicle, a 'la Impala.
Stopped after church. Peeked in and walked around them. A Five Hundred was parked behind them. The Five Hundred is significantly larger.
My wife said it looked plain and I asked why. She said that the body side molding and mirrors were the same color and they should be different.
I liked it for just the same reason she didn't. Go figure.
The interior decor looked better than the Five Hundred.
Need to go back W/O wife although I am partial to the Five Hundred.
Whenever they get the 3.5 and that is not soon enough.
I would not care for Fairlane as a model name. It sounds like a replacement for the Crown Vic.
The Fairlane cars were great medium sized cars. They were well liked cars, and some had powerful engines, depending on the times. Yeah, I guess they were large ones as well, but I like to think of the 1960's cars. I could see the Fairlane name on a Fusion.I like the Fairlane 500 name too. As for Futura, it sounds cheap and well, I don't know, just let Pep Boys keep it on their line of Cooper tires. Futura is Cooper sold by Pep Boys.
They are going to use Fairlane on some stupid cross over / SUV thing, which is not anything close to a Fairlane of years-gone-bye.
Would love to see a RWD Fairlane mid sized car with an inline 6 of world class quality and v8 too as in the Stang.
Thanks for your comments.
I have read a lot of comments on here and other forums about the Mazda's A/C. I have test driven two in late summer Georgia heat and they were more than adequate. They do handle better than any car in their price range has a right to. A blast to drive. Main concerns for me are space in the driver seat for my 6'2" frame.
I'm anxious to drive a Civic 5-speed. All the dealers near me have only had automatics so far. The auto drove great, was comfy and decent amount of power. I'm not sold on the looks inside or out, though.
The Accord is a little expensive for my wallet in most styles, but the '06 VP fits the bill great. They added cruise and keyless entry to that model this year and I have been quoted a price of $17,200 for a 5-speed VP- great deal on a mid-sizer.
Fusion V6/auto was a blast to drive. Now I just need to drive the 5-speed/4-cylinder to see if it fits my needs and driving style.
I found the car to have a very solid feel, very quiet on the freeway, and decent acceleration. The transmission was very smooth, and cornering above average for a non-sport sedan.
I'm not overly tall -- 6 feet -- but am tall in the trunk, so headroom is a concern. The first one I drove had a moonroof, and the headroom was a little snug for me. The second one did not have the moonroof, and the inch or so extra headroom made all the difference for me.
Many cars list two headroom and overall interior volume figures, reflecting the difference between either having or lacking a moonroof, but I believe the Ford website just has 100 for interior volume and only one headroom figure. This is misleading. If headroom is a concern for you, be sure to check out the non-moonroof version and you'll see what I mean. My non-moonroof Accord, for instance, has 102.7 interior volume, but the moonroof version has about 97. Moonroofs can take up a lot of space.
My first impression was that it is much more spacious inside than the outside appearance suggests. The seats seemed comfortable and better designed than in some other mid-sized cars. It had none of the cramped and confining feel of the Five Hundred driver's seat space. Thankfully, the steering wheel telescopes, not just tilts, so it is easy to find a comfortable position. The interior does look very nice, and I saw nothing I did not like. I told the dealer people that the interior looked as nice or nicer than the 2006 Cadillac DTS I recently rented. The trim rings around the gauges look cheap in photos, but not when you are sitting in the car. I am 6' 1" and sat in the back seat behind the driver's seat which I had set to suit me (just a touch from all of the way back), and I was comfortable back there. The leather seats are perforated, something which really helps make them cooler in summer (but you can still get cloth on the top of the line car, and that is even better, and a real plus over the competitors which force you to have leather on teh top of teh line car). The dash-top storage compartment is bigger than I expected, so it would be very handy for storing small items while keeping them from falling / flying about inside the car. The trunk is large and shaped well, and the split folding seats have very handy releases in the trunk. Even though I am 48, the tail lights did not offend me, although the photos made me think that they might bother me. The car is handsome without being over-styled, and it does not look like just another Honda/Toyota/Nissan. Even the key is nice - the transmitter and key are combined into one compact unit, far better than stuffing your pocket with a key and separate bulky transmitter. The Fusion is also an excellent value. Equipped as I would buy it (SEL V6 with safety & security package, SEL premium package, ABS, traction control, and Audiophile sound system), the invoice price (never pay more) is just $22,398.
I only see two things lacking on the Fusion - Satellite radio and On-Star or Bluetooth for safe and easy cell phone usage fully integrated with the vehicle.
An AUX input would be more useful since you could use that with a portable MP3 player or a Roady.
I also forgot to mention that the Fusion lacks Homelink, although I realize that it would be fairly easy to add by changing the rear view mirror to an aftermarket unit with Homelink.
Considering where the microphone is on cars with bluetooth, she would have to yell pretty hard for callers to hear her clearly from the passenger side. She would be much better off picking up the phone herself.
Really, how often do two people need to try to talk to one caller at the same time while driving?
Many cell phones have speakerphones built in now anyway and the radio can be muted easily with the steering wheel controls.
What are you going to do if you don't want everyone in the car to hear both sides of your phone conversations?
Loren
Any GM car has On Star, and Damiler-Chrysler offers built-in Bluetooth which provides similar functionality by forming a network with the Bluetooth-equipped cell phone(s) which are turned on and located inside the car. It is offered on the 300, Magnum, and Charger (and possibly other models).
As for safety, it is no different than holding a conversation with somebody else in the car.
The aux jack would be nice on the front, but I would probably jsut pay to have a wire plugged into the back, and fish it through to the console. It will have the same effect, running through the Aux port. I assume Xm can be run that way too, in addition to an ipod.
As to the Fusion, I have talked to a few others that stopped to look at one, and have been very impressed, especially about the looks, interior design and especially the roominess. hard to believe that it is a slightly enlarged mazda 6 platform, since that car was criticized for being to small inside!
You might complain about the "stodgy" styling on the 500 (or Fusion), but it ertainly does wonders for room, comfort and visibility! Flash is nice, but when it means that you can't see out of the windows, it can lose it's appeoal quickly. Function doesn't go out of style!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Good review. I don't have anything to add to this other than at the dealer I was at in Silver Spring, MD, had added $2,995 to the MSRP as "additional dealer mark-up." I just laughed at that!!!
Other than the color, this car is perfect! That green is terrible and does a great disservice to an otherwise perfect vehicle.
Also, why people are saying they would go for a 4 over the 6 because of gas milage is beyond me. The 6 gets 21/29. The 4 is only 2 MPG better. Go with the 6, better resale value.
If the 4 cylinder has unacceptable performance and no one will want it when you try to sell it, then that's different.
If one ends up being more reliable and having much less maintenance than the other, that will make a difference also.
I need one more test to make sure (really get the seat adjusted to fit, and get it on the highway), but the driving dynamics, quietness and comfort are all there.
Also, If I was getting an automatic, I probably would get the V6, but the 4 is pretty sprightly with the manual. Feels lighter than it probably is.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Loren
Not sure there's room for an inline 6 although the new Volvo engines might be tempting.
CD3 works best with V6-applications, anything more than an Inline-5, and your running into issues, mainly because of crashability and engine clearance.
Since they're aiming for a younger audience, I think they need to offer an AUX jack on the Fusion for iPod/MP3 players. I think this will be very common in another year or two (Civic and Element have it, rest of Honda will next year and most '06 GM models have it).
For those who wouldn't use it, it might not seem like a big deal. But I love my iPod and would like a direct way to use it with the car stereo. The AUX would also provide an easy hookup for XM/Sirius satellite radio.
Move them back to the cowling or into the arms or blades and let the aerodynamic lines show the beauty of the vehicle.
I know that you might call me anal, but I will not buy a vehicle with those "nipples" punched into the hood!!!
I know, I know... you think I'm nuts for feeling this way, but that's me, and that's my humble opinion.
Thanks for letting me vent.
PPB
20051004.2.114000
I wonder if aftermarket speakers would make a big difference or is the head unit itself pumping out muddy garbage?
Swapping out speakers would not be a big deal, but if you swap the factory head unit with a nice aftermarket system, you are inviting theft, plus you lose the steering wheel controls.
An aftermarket stereo would give you access to built-in navigation, satellite radio, AUX input etc. though.
1. Keyless Keypad on door is not available -- great Ford feature and I don't want that ugly aftermarket one they can attach.
2. Should be able to get heated seats/mirrors together like on the Focus including CLOTH seats, not just SEL with leather, for people in the north they are great options where someone in Florida could care less about them.
3. Seems to get expensive if you add options up, should be discounts if you get certain options. (Safety package should have ABS & TC)
But the 2 Major oversights were
Where is the AUX for my MP3 Player, any car pitched at people under 35 should have this standard. The big one for me was the nonfolding side mirrors, which means if you (wife or teenage driver is more likely) back out of your garage or parking sturcute spot or someone with a shopping cart at the local target gets too close rather than the mirror just folding back or forward it is going to break off and i'm looking at $300 repair if I do it myslef and $500 if I take it to the dealer. I can't beleive that Ford didn't use foldable mirrors (don't know about the zepher or milan) this is one thing that would need to change before I would buy this car, Its happend twice that I've come back to my car and my mirror was folded in and while the paint was chipped a bit from where it got hit I just folded it out and it worked fine.
Keypads are very 1990s.
It should have an AUX input though.
427 was a concept, way too bold to make production. I think the Fusion is edgy enough for a production car.
Fairlane is a name they used for the concept earlier this year of the vehicle that will eventually replace the Freestyle.
-juice
It comes in handy when you don't want to carry your key in your pocket (amusement park, swimming, etc.) and in case you accidentally lock your keys in the car.
I was thinking about adding the aftermarket version in a hidden place so I could use it in an emergency but otherwise you won't see it. It's wireless so you can place it anywhere.
Keypad is unimportant.
It's more useful when you don't want to carry your key with you.
It's not a dealbreaker but I wouldn't call it unimportant.
In today's WSJ, for anyone who has access is an article about the shift toward more fuel efficient 4 cylinder engines. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB112838447143259051.html?mod=autos_1
Regarding the Accord:
"...the 4 cylinder... now accounts for roughly three out of four Accords sold, up from about 65% of sales in mid-2003, and they are moving off dealer lots in an average 40 days, compared with 57 days for the six-cylinder Accord, according to Power Information Network. The industry standard is about 60 days."
article: "Car Buyers Seem to Favor Economy Over Power" by Karen Lundegaard
10.04.05
So it is about 1:3 V6:4, which is actually a lower ratio than it had been in the past. What will the Fusions full production figures be?
FWIW
~alpha
I agree that enthusiast/performance types will probably not be thrilled by the acceleration of the manual 4-cylinder. Who knows when we'll see a test of this combo, but the Mazda6 with the same engine/tranny does 0-60 in 9.0 seconds. Not thrilling, but not what I'd called underpowered either. I think it will suffice for regular drivers looking for a reasonably priced, sharp looking car.
Got it at a dealer in Preston, MD. I paid MSRP, but they gave me what I owed on my '02 Mountaineer ($17,500) AND I got the $500 bonus cash and $500 Ford Credit cash. Needless to say, I am more than pleased with the deal.
The car is perfect. It looks better in person than the pictures, and once you drive it, you will fall in love with it. The fit and finish are outstanding, and it is really quiet! I drove it 70 miles on a relatively flat highway from the dealer to home and averaged 29.5 MPG.
I will write a full review after I put about 5,000 miles on it, but right now, I'm just happy to be one of the first in the DC area to be driving one back and forth to work. :shades:
Ah the beauty of a vehicle that won't let you lock an open door using the power lock button - you can never lock you keys in.
It's more useful when you don't want to carry your key with you.
Agreed but as long as you're not a custodian with a 50 key ring, it's not a burden to carry a little key/fob.
I never use the button to lock my car (not even sure if I can in our Odyssey). I use the fob, which is attaced to the key so no chance of lickin git inside!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
With all that said, I think it would muck up the clean lines of the Fusion.
http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/fusion/
I assume the Milan site is also up.