No, I have not seen it in person yet...so thanks for the info. From pictures it looks okay to me, good enough that the appearance would not keep me from buying.
The need manu-shift and lights in the trunk and hood. I am holding out for next year's model. If there is no manu-shift then, they may loss tis perspective customer. I own and love my Mazda6, but the problem with Mazda, too me, is that they do not listen to their customers. They do not monitor forums and adjust to what their niche wants. Ford does listen to its customers, as seen by their pre-launch activities that began WAY before the 1st Fusion was built. I have every hope in the world that they will source the manu-shift from Mazdas supplier and drop it into the Fusion. I'm not buying that you can't just drop it into the Fusion because I drastically hope the Zephyr is getting it when it gets the AWD and 250 engine next year. If it doesn't, it will be the ONLY car in its segment without it. Let's face it, Lincoln is in a position where they need to eliminate all complaints. Right now it competes against a Lexus ES300, when the new engine goes into it, it will alleviate to Lexus IS250, BMW330, Saab 9-3 land. It better come to the party ready to dance. Even if Lincoln wants to say it is still only a Lexus ES competitor, let's face it, it will be cross shopped.
Last thing: FORD IF YOU ARE WATCHING, DON'[T THINK YOU CAN KEEP THE MANUSHIFT OUT OF THE FUSION AND PUT IT IN THE LINCOLN TO TRY TO MAKE ME PONY UP SOME EXTRA MONEY. THE ONLY THING EXTRA I'LL BE ABLE TO PONY UP IS SOME GOOD DRY LINT.
Although I would really love to see a manu-matic in the Fusion next year, I doubt that they would do it. I believe remember reading something somewhere saying that Ford was going to be following BMW's example of adding something new to it's vehicles every year keep them fresh instead of doing major revisions every 3 years or so. So if that's true and if they plan to add the 3.5 liter engine for 2007, then they may save the manu-matic for 2008. But hey you never know, they may just do it all next year.
What do you think is wrong with the new Corvette? It has gotten good reviews from the press, it is considered a performance bargain. And have you tried to get out of a Mazda Miata once you were sitting in it? I think any true sports car is going to be low slung and rather hard to enter and exit compared to a sedan.
I think the Fusion is more aggressive looking than the Milan and Zephyr. The Lincoln is more of an understated elegance, IMHO, and the interior is of higher quality. The Milan is actually a bit cheaper than the Fusion when it is optioned out. And it is more conservative looking, again, my opinion.
The Milan is actually a bit cheaper than the Fusion when it is optioned out. And it is more conservative looking, again, my opinion.
I agree it is more conservative looking...which is why I prefer it.
It figures the Milan would be cheapeer when loaded with options...since I don't want a lot of stuff added on .
I don't even want the stuff they add to the base Milan over the base Fusion. The only things I would add are safety related things like abs, more air bags, and stability control (should that become available).
I probably won't be buying a new car until at least the 2007 model year, so I'll be interested in seeing what changes there are.
First, I want to address my praise for the Fusion/Milan. I consider both of them to be the same, what impressed me about them was that I didn't have to feel like I was giving up anything by purchasing one. The interior I thought was very nice and I felt the body style was very nice also.
FREESTYLE. Ok, Jeff has asked me why I have it in for such an innocuous design? That's why I have it in for the design. Innocuous doesn't sell these days when a manufacturer needs to make inroads for market share. The Freestyle is BORING looking and hasn't gotten very good reviews from the public nor the critics. In fact, Ford is already considering abandoning the model from what I hear. Just look at the sales figures. That will tell you most of what you need to see.
Many of you have also asked me why I don't like the Corvette and why I think low lying sports cars are not cool? First, I would say the practicality issue would be a big one. Not all of these buyers are in their 30 or 40's. Many are in their advanced ages (hence they can afford them) and the ability to get in and out easily is a factor. In fact I have worked sales most of my life and when my company gave me a 2004 Honda Civic to drive.....I gave it back to them. Getting in and out was a hassle. You may think it's nuts, but it's a fact when you try it over and over. And when your buying a new car, it will run through many a mind.
But let me ask a better question about the Corvette? How many of you would prefer to see a new design more like the first or second generation of Corvette than the sixth generation? Don't get me wrong. Performance wise and price wise I don't think that it can be beat. But that's not what is putting rear-ends in the seats these days...judging by the sales numbers.
As always I am very interested in your responses to my opinions. Thanks
The Ford Edge will be out soon, so hopefully that will look good enough for you. The Aviator picture so far looks good.
And about sport cars, everyone knows getting in and out is a chore. I recently sat in things like the Crossfire, Boxster, Cayman, Mustang. I'm only 5"11 and found it tough. However most enthusiasts will find the drive to be rewarding enough to make up for those contortionist moves.
About the Corvette, I like the design it has now. No need to go retro. Chevy, please save that for the Camaro when you bring it back.
Why would anyone these days get away with an innocuous design like the much criticized Accord and Camry. One simple reason that everyone knows here. The perception of overwhelming quality. They, Toyota and Honda, can build a square box on wheels and they will sell a million of them because of that perception. Honda in fact does sell a square box and it's ugly and yes....it sells. But if you read back to my posting about innocuous designs, I stated that innocuous doesn't work unless you already have an advantage. Which as we all know the Americans, i.e. Ford and GM etc. don't have. Hey, unless you don't know it already, I hoping the Americans can regain market share and win one again for the Gipper.
I love my Freestyle. It carries 6 people in comfort, has Volvo's P3 architecture underneath, a CVT transmission, gets 5-star crash ratings front and side, and can carry 10 ft. lengths of lumber inside with all openings closed. What's not beautiful about that?
but the manufacturers responses are to put out, until recently lame design models ex. Ford Freestyle.
Hey! The Freestyle is a very well executed vehicle. It is just lacking on style (hence the the name, Free(of)Style). The Pacific, its nearest competitor, clearly has more style.
But I can criticize the Freestyle as I own one. Do you, have you even drive one?
Apart from is poor lack to style, it is still a pretty good vehicle. It was also a vehicle to convince my wife to drive a Ford - my wife once vowing to never drive a Ford or GM again. So it has to be fairly decent.
Thank you fellas, you have both answered my point about the Freestyle. Y0u guys are both married or with families and children. You guys are in bores-ville. The Freestyle is for families. No testosterone, hello couches and wheat thins. Ice cream sodas and Sunday Football. Again, the Freestyle may be the best mechanical car in the world, but the design in part has led to very poor sales. But don't even listen to me. Talk to Ford, they are already considering moth-balling the design because of terrible sales. I WANT FORD TO DO WELL, TRUST ME.
Sorry if I have offended any of you. Not my intention. And I was just kidding about the Ice cream and Sunday Football stuff. HA HA.
Freestyle is not going away, its crossing over to Mercury (hopefully to replace the Monteray).
Ford is getting Edge, and a different people mover based on the Fairlane concept.
Ford is also getting a new mini van possibly.
You are picking on the Freestyle because it does what it was designed to do. Be the best vehicle on the market for carrying 6 people without being a van. Thats like picking on a school bus because it can haul 60 kids around. Um yeaah the aveage school bus is pretty innocuous.
You are judging this car based on its exterior. You don't drive the outside of the car. The outside is at worse unoffensive and forgetable. The interior though is the best execution yet of a crossover utility. Until you have sat in a car, maybe you should be a little less judgmental.
And before you talk about poor sales. Don't believe the media hype. Mercedes is lucky if they sell 170,000 total units in the US. Ford measures the success of its individual MODELS in the >100,000.
More Mustangs were sold in the US last year than all Mercedes models COMBINED!
One year of F-series sales counts for about FIVE years of Mercedes sales.
I agree with you that there is a big difference between selling mass-market vehicles and niche vehicles. But, true success is ultimately measured in profits, not number of vehicles sold.
I also don't see anything wrong with the freestyle. I'm not interested in that vehicle myself, but us boring married guys buy vehicles too.
Why are we even giving time to rscherb when he is trolling on about the Freestyle. I feel he is here just for an argument. If you want testosterone buy a Mustang. If you work in construction, buy an F150, if you have a family the Freestyle is a pretty good car for its pricepoint.
Incidentally we think it is much more stylish than any of the minivans out there. The FreeStyle is not going away, it is moving upmarket to Mercury and, I think ANT14 mentioned, that it may go to Lincoln as well. The thing is that the car is not bad, it is just made up of many expensive European components and so Ford needs to move it upmarket so they can charge more money for it.
The thing is Ford builds many cars more many different types of people.
This is a Fusion/Millan forum, enough talk of the Freestyle now!
Thank you. I never wanted to talk about the Freestyle, but was asked to respond to some ones response. I do not want an argument.
I'm very interested in Ford products, namely the Fusion because I am a Ford shareholder. I have a lot of money in Ford and you all probably know the rest. I want it to do better and I hope the Fusion can jump start the company's sales.
By the way, does anyone have any figures that would tell us how the Fusion is selling? I can't get any info. I want to find out if the car is a hit yet?
Whats also strange is that I haven't seen one TV commercial for the car yet? What's going on?
They type of cruise control switch in question was in installed in approximately 16, million vehicles. NHTSA has receuived about 600 complaints of alledged fires not of which are confirmed. Do the math, thats 0.0000375%. I have two questions. First if the cruise control switch actually was at fault, wouldn't there be more failures? Second, what level of failure does an auto maker have to protect against? Are we asking for perfection?
First, I'm a Ford shareholder so I'm not hear to bash them.
Second, Ford is a proponent in the implementation of six sigma quality measurement standards. That's denotes a goal of 3.4 defects per million opportunties. That means no more than 54 failures of that component (16 million X 3.4). 600 complaints is more than 10 times their goal.
"By the way, does anyone have any figures that would tell us how the Fusion is selling? I can't get any info. I want to find out if the car is a hit yet? "
All the figures you could possibly want. And by the way rscherb, in the first 10 months of the year Ford has sold 66,355 Freestyle's and will sell well over twice as many this November as last. The Freestyle may not be selling gangbusters, but it is selling well, especially so for a vehicle that has received virtually no advertising support from Ford. I see multiple Fusion commercials on TV every day where I live. Most are network feeds. Where do you live that you're not seeing these? Ford seems to be targeting shows that appeal to those who are 25-36 yrs. of age. Virtually any Football game will have Fusion ads.
Freestyle is built at the Flexable Manufacturering Chicago plant. This plant makes it easy for for Ford to switch production around on the Five Hundred, Montego, Freestyle as the market dictates. As such, Just because Freestyle may not be selling 200k units a year, If Five Hundred production is filling out the production schedule its really not that big a deal.
For a guy who doesn't want to talk about the Freestyle, mschmal, you sure don't seem to want to let the subject die. Or must you have the last word?
Anyway, Passat_2002, thanks for the advertising info. concerning the Fusion. I want the car to do well. Especially after they've had some bad sales in the preceding months. During the month of October or November I saw some scary sales figures for the Big 3. Ford they said had a thirty percent sales drop. I nearly fell out of my Freestyle....Whoops, that's right I don't own one.
Hey! The Freestyle is a very well executed vehicle. It is just lacking on style (hence the the name, Free(of)Style). The Pacific, its nearest competitor, clearly has more style.
I do love it when people state personal opinions as if they were fact. Styling is completely subjective. Or, as I've always said, beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.
I'm only 30, but to my Midwestern eyes, the Freestyle is about the most attractive thing available in Housewares (yes, cooler items are available in Sporting Goods, but that's two aisles away - you've got to compare apples to apples). I personally like the inoffensive, clean European look of 'em. But I know on the coasts, bling-bling and gauche are the flavors that sell. For those folks, I can see a sparkly Pacifica or T&C with a chromed fuel filler door having a lot of appeal. Who am I to judge? To each his own...
As far as the Fusion/Milan bright chrome/satin finish debate, has anyone else considered the police laser implications? I'm thinking Ted Trooper could pull a speed off that big chrome Fusion grill from the next county. Ah, but none of us drive in excess of the speed limit now, do we? The Fusion is very attractive - I prefer it to the Merc. - but I'd hate to have to take away some of the freedoms granted to my right foot. I think the more conservative Milan is a great option - stealthy and stylish.
I own a 15 year old Isuzu Trooper. Yes all of you can smirk can boo-hoo, I can take it. But as I have said before, I want the Fusion to do well because I'm a shareholder, about 4 thousand of them. Bottom line is I want Ford to sell a million of the Fusion's.
So you want Ford to sell a million Fusions? I see.
Given the influential buying crowd that frequents Edmunds forums, posting what you do here is sure a strange way to help Ford sell a million Fusions and enrich your brokerage account, I daresay.
At least I put my money where my mouth is! I want Ford to do well and I criticize their products which I don't think are hitting the mark. Gosh wake up! What the heck are you guys smoking. This is a free market. I like the Fusion, and I hope it sells well. And as far as my brokerage account (intimating that you think I have no soul) then tell me how much money YOU HAVE INVESTED in an American auto maker? I want to believe more in Ford, and I got my first peek at a Zephyr today, Awesome looking car too.... but I'm not a fool. That's how I have the money to invest.
This is a car forum, not an investment forum. We are here to discuss the Fusion and Milan, not the investment prospects of Ford Motor Company or the virtues of the Freestyle. And there is another forum here for Zephyr. Some of us are excited about the Fusion/Milan and would like to talk about those cars, and ONLY those cars. Although I technically speak only for me, I am sure many others here feel the same way.
As for my investment accounts, I am wise enough I don't post what I do or don't have on the Internet...nor is that a topic for this forum...
I see multiple Fusion commercials on TV every day where I live. Most are network feeds. Where do you live that you're not seeing these? Ford seems to be targeting shows that appeal to those who are 25-36 yrs. of age. Virtually any Football game will have Fusion ads.
That's interesting. I am a 42 MWM, with 2 teenage boys. I live in the Washington, DC area and have only seen 1 ad and that was on the WB channel. I watch a lot of both college and pro football on network and cable TV and don't see the commercials you are talking about. This is a GREAT car. I bought a Fusion SEL on 10/4 and have over 3,000 miles on it. I want this car to do well too, but I am disappointed in the ad campaign or lack thereof. Funny though, the campaign may be geographic, because in my travels to northeast PA, I have seen many billboards for the Fusion.
I too like to talk about the Fusion/MIlan. Last night I got my first look at one of their commercials. It stunk. It showed a bunch of people approaching the car and are forced back by force fields and other ridiculous measures. They should show people talking about how much they love the car, not these ridiculous special effects that are confusing to the viewer. But the force field did tell me something that I didn't know. The force field is what's been keeping all of those buyers out of Ford showrooms for the past 20 years.
My Bowie DC friend, I feel your pain. I too lived near you for almost 10 years and my accountant is probably one of your neighbors. As far as the ad campaign for the Fusion I agree with you. I saw the first ad last night, her in Los Angeles, which shows people being repelled from getting a closer view of the Fusion. I was thinking to myself, "what moron thought of this one". It makes absolutely no sense! Good job Ford. You have a commercial for a car that's probably your most important product launch in 20 years and you don't want the public to get a closer look at the car. Brilliant again Ford, the idea not to let anyone see the beautiful interior that was made for the vehicle....yeah, no one got to see it, at least in the commercial. They must be smoking drugs or trying to prevent sales. The management of Ford should be spanked on national television for this campaign. Yes, I am venting about this. And I'm enjoying it. Stupid advertising like this does not help sell new American cars. Go Redskins!
I don't know why Ford keeps shooting themselves in the foot. Man oh man what a stupid marking approach. Why can't they have commencials linke the Lexus IS or the Infinity M45. Stupid, stupid stuff like dog poop and force fields are really winners Ford!!
Brilliant again Ford, the idea not to let anyone see the beautiful interior that was made for the vehicle....yeah, no one got to see it, at least in the commercial. They must be smoking drugs or trying to prevent sales. The management of Ford should be spanked on national television for this campaign. Yes, I am venting about this. And I'm enjoying it. Stupid advertising like this does not help sell new American cars. Go Redskins! Man, I'm glad I DIDN'T see that one!!! You're right, though, they need to show the roomy interior, with the charcoal leather seats and contrasting stitching. That's what I have and it's beautiful, comfortable, and functional. Go Redskins!!! That's a good one, but we're hurting here and I could go on and on, but that's for another forum
No not Snoop Dogg, it's the stupid ad with this is you life featuring some dude scooping doggy poop. Then it shows the the Fusion, this is you life in "D", lamo!!
We Weren't talking about Snoop Dogg, which by the way I thought was a good idea. Young people who like him are going to be magnetized to the advertising. Just look at what the rappers did for Cadillac! What we were talking albiet venting about, was the stupid idea of introducing commercials to a new car, that stupidly doesn't allow the viewer to come close to the car. Force fields repel the gawkers who want a closer look. Can you believe this? Stupid, Stupid, Stupid. Why on earth would you want a consumer to get closer to the Fusion....that would probably cause them to buy one. WOW! What a concept Ford. A commercial that puts the couch potato into the interior. The viewers might like it. OH NO!
Amazing that someone would actually voluntarily admit to being confused by a special effect in a car commercial.
In case you are typically confused by commercials:
-The guys in the Guiness commercials didn't invent the little black book or the six pack holder. -TBS doesn't really have a panel of operators waiting to tell you whether something is funny or not. -Women will not begin attacking you just for wearing Axe body spray. -Hordes of support personnel do not follow you around when you have a Verizon Wireless phone. -There isn't really a "Burger King". - The baby in the Quizno's add can't actually talk.
Mark, Great review! And yes I remember the Infinity ads. I heard that infinity sold a lot of rocks and trees but no cars with those ads. lol. I am wondering why there aren't many of the Fusions on the lots. Not much on the Zepher either. Both are nice looking cars and I hope they do well. Boy, Ford does some strange things. Rob
Let's try to stick to the actual Fusion and Milan here.
We do have a separate Zephyr discussion, and I'm quite sure there is a discussion somewhere on the News & View board where the decisions that Ford makes as a corporation are being discussed. (If I am wrong, anyone is free to create one - but that's the board where that conversation belongs.)
There are companies which may electronics or head units to allow the steering wheel controls to still work when the head unit is chaged. A good installer will know all about it.
Yes, the head gasket in my brother's Windstar just blew again (the 3rd or fourth time). He just bought a new Freestyle and is keeping the van for his 18 year old son to use in his DJ business. I think that Ford did replace it once for him, but not any more. If they were really honorable, they would have provided a real fix or a different engine. Still, the Freestyle had what he wanted (especially AWD) at the price he wanted to pay.
The AWD on the Fusion / Milan / Zephyr should also be very helpful to sales of those vehicles, probably more so than the 3.5 V6.
Than why is Ford considering mothballing the Freestyle, and that is what I have read.
Sorry, but I had to answer this one.
Ford is not making as much money on the Freestyle as they wanted. plain and simple. why, you ask?
Because it's using Volvo's AWD platform...which is not cheap. It is using a newly designed CVT tranny which has ended up costing more than they bargained for (initially that is) That's why they couldn't even offer stability control with it. It would have cost too much to add the necessary components. Not that it needs it. Traction control and AWD is plenty for a low slung vehicle like the Freetstyle. (relative to the bouncing wagons that is i.e SUVs)
I've heard countless stories about salespeople pushing Explorers on would-be Freestyle buyers. My dealer doesn't even have them out in the front of the lot. They're out behind the building in a fenced in area.
Now back to the Fusion. I've been seeing quite a few commercials this past weekend. It was while I was eating ice cream and watching football. :-)
Has anyone driven a 4-cylinder Fusion with automatic? Drove a 6-cylinder and loved it, but the 4 is cheaper, better gas mileage and cleaner engine. Key question is how it drives -- is there enough power for normal driving?
Key question is how it drives -- is there enough power for normal driving?
The key question is....how fast do you need to go? If you want to do 120mph to impress, well maybe this car isn't for you. But for normal driving and passing...and doing drive bys (ha-ha)....it's fine. How many opportunities do people get to go 90 or 100 MPH? I have never understood this. Even as a young man, I didn't see the impulse. Sure we all need passing power and the ability to go 75Mph but what more do you need? Look at all the frustrated Porsche owners who try to go fast out here on the California Highways and they look like they are going to lose control at 85Mph. It's a joke!
If you want a beautiful and functional American car, then the Ford Fusion is one car to choose.
I have some friends in Washington State who are Ford dealers and they told me that they only have recieved one Fusion from Ford and that was two weeks ago. Strange about them not having much production yet to give to the dealers. I thought that they have been producing them since August 1, in Mexico? Anyone have any ideas why we aren't seeing more at the dealer lots?
Comments
Last thing: FORD IF YOU ARE WATCHING, DON'[T THINK YOU CAN KEEP THE MANUSHIFT OUT OF THE FUSION AND PUT IT IN THE LINCOLN TO TRY TO MAKE ME PONY UP SOME EXTRA MONEY. THE ONLY THING EXTRA I'LL BE ABLE TO PONY UP IS SOME GOOD DRY LINT.
I agree it is more conservative looking...which is why I prefer it.
It figures the Milan would be cheapeer when loaded with options...since I don't want a lot of stuff added on
I don't even want the stuff they add to the base Milan over the base Fusion. The only things I would add are safety related things like abs, more air bags, and stability control (should that become available).
I probably won't be buying a new car until at least the 2007 model year, so I'll be interested in seeing what changes there are.
FREESTYLE. Ok, Jeff has asked me why I have it in for such an innocuous design? That's why I have it in for the design. Innocuous doesn't sell these days when a manufacturer needs to make inroads for market share. The Freestyle is BORING looking and hasn't gotten very good reviews from the public nor the critics. In fact, Ford is already considering abandoning the model from what I hear. Just look at the sales figures. That will tell you most of what you need to see.
Many of you have also asked me why I don't like the Corvette and why I think low lying sports cars are not cool? First, I would say the practicality issue would be a big one. Not all of these buyers are in their 30 or 40's. Many are in their advanced ages (hence they can afford them) and the ability to get in and out easily is a factor. In fact I have worked sales most of my life and when my company gave me a 2004 Honda Civic to drive.....I gave it back to them. Getting in and out was a hassle. You may think it's nuts, but it's a fact when you try it over and over. And when your buying a new car, it will run through many a mind.
But let me ask a better question about the Corvette? How many of you would prefer to see a new design more like the first or second generation of Corvette than the sixth generation? Don't get me wrong. Performance wise and price wise I don't think that it can be beat. But that's not what is putting rear-ends in the seats these days...judging by the sales numbers.
As always I am very interested in your responses to my opinions. Thanks
And about sport cars, everyone knows getting in and out is a chore. I recently sat in things like the Crossfire, Boxster, Cayman, Mustang. I'm only 5"11 and found it tough. However most enthusiasts will find the drive to be rewarding enough to make up for those contortionist moves.
About the Corvette, I like the design it has now. No need to go retro. Chevy, please save that for the Camaro when you bring it back.
It seems to work for Toyota and Honda.
But if you read back to my posting about innocuous designs, I stated that innocuous doesn't work unless you already have an advantage. Which as we all know the Americans, i.e. Ford and GM etc. don't have. Hey, unless you don't know it already, I hoping the Americans can regain market share and win one again for the Gipper.
Hey! The Freestyle is a very well executed vehicle. It is just lacking on style (hence the the name, Free(of)Style). The Pacific, its nearest competitor, clearly has more style.
But I can criticize the Freestyle as I own one. Do you, have you even drive one?
Apart from is poor lack to style, it is still a pretty good vehicle. It was also a vehicle to convince my wife to drive a Ford - my wife once vowing to never drive a Ford or GM again. So it has to be fairly decent.
Again, the Freestyle may be the best mechanical car in the world, but the design in part has led to very poor sales. But don't even listen to me. Talk to Ford, they are already considering moth-balling the design because of terrible sales.
I WANT FORD TO DO WELL, TRUST ME.
Sorry if I have offended any of you. Not my intention. And I was just kidding about the Ice cream and Sunday Football stuff. HA HA.
Ford is getting Edge, and a different people mover based on the Fairlane concept.
Ford is also getting a new mini van possibly.
You are picking on the Freestyle because it does what it was designed to do. Be the best vehicle on the market for carrying 6 people without being a van. Thats like picking on a school bus because it can haul 60 kids around. Um yeaah the aveage school bus is pretty innocuous.
You are judging this car based on its exterior. You don't drive the outside of the car. The outside is at worse unoffensive and forgetable. The interior though is the best execution yet of a crossover utility. Until you have sat in a car, maybe you should be a little less judgmental.
And before you talk about poor sales. Don't believe the media hype. Mercedes is lucky if they sell 170,000 total units in the US. Ford measures the success of its individual MODELS in the >100,000.
More Mustangs were sold in the US last year than all Mercedes models COMBINED!
One year of F-series sales counts for about FIVE years of Mercedes sales.
Mark
I also don't see anything wrong with the freestyle. I'm not interested in that vehicle myself, but us boring married guys buy vehicles too.
Incidentally we think it is much more stylish than any of the minivans out there. The FreeStyle is not going away, it is moving upmarket to Mercury and, I think ANT14 mentioned, that it may go to Lincoln as well. The thing is that the car is not bad, it is just made up of many expensive European components and so Ford needs to move it upmarket so they can charge more money for it.
The thing is Ford builds many cars more many different types of people.
This is a Fusion/Millan forum, enough talk of the Freestyle now!
I'm very interested in Ford products, namely the Fusion because I am a Ford shareholder. I have a lot of money in Ford and you all probably know the rest. I want it to do better and I hope the Fusion can jump start the company's sales.
By the way, does anyone have any figures that would tell us how the Fusion is selling? I can't get any info. I want to find out if the car is a hit yet?
Whats also strange is that I haven't seen one TV commercial for the car yet? What's going on?
First, I'm a Ford shareholder so I'm not hear to bash them.
Second, Ford is a proponent in the implementation of six sigma quality measurement standards. That's denotes a goal of 3.4 defects per million opportunties. That means no more than 54 failures of that component (16 million X 3.4). 600 complaints is more than 10 times their goal.
http://www.blueovalnews.com/2005/business/index.html
All the figures you could possibly want. And by the way rscherb, in the first 10 months of the year Ford has sold 66,355 Freestyle's and will sell well over twice as many this November as last. The Freestyle may not be selling gangbusters, but it is selling well, especially so for a vehicle that has received virtually no advertising support from Ford. I see multiple Fusion commercials on TV every day where I live. Most are network feeds. Where do you live that you're not seeing these? Ford seems to be targeting shows that appeal to those who are 25-36 yrs. of age. Virtually any Football game will have Fusion ads.
Mark
Anyway, Passat_2002, thanks for the advertising info. concerning the Fusion. I want the car to do well. Especially after they've had some bad sales in the preceding months. During the month of October or November I saw some scary sales figures for the Big 3. Ford they said had a thirty percent sales drop. I nearly fell out of my Freestyle....Whoops, that's right I don't own one.
I do love it when people state personal opinions as if they were fact. Styling is completely subjective. Or, as I've always said, beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.
I'm only 30, but to my Midwestern eyes, the Freestyle is about the most attractive thing available in Housewares (yes, cooler items are available in Sporting Goods, but that's two aisles away - you've got to compare apples to apples). I personally like the inoffensive, clean European look of 'em. But I know on the coasts, bling-bling and gauche are the flavors that sell. For those folks, I can see a sparkly Pacifica or T&C with a chromed fuel filler door having a lot of appeal. Who am I to judge? To each his own...
As far as the Fusion/Milan bright chrome/satin finish debate, has anyone else considered the police laser implications? I'm thinking Ted Trooper could pull a speed off that big chrome Fusion grill from the next county. Ah, but none of us drive in excess of the speed limit now, do we? The Fusion is very attractive - I prefer it to the Merc. - but I'd hate to have to take away some of the freedoms granted to my right foot. I think the more conservative Milan is a great option - stealthy and stylish.
Given the influential buying crowd that frequents Edmunds forums, posting what you do here is sure a strange way to help Ford sell a million Fusions and enrich your brokerage account, I daresay.
As for my investment accounts, I am wise enough I don't post what I do or don't have on the Internet...nor is that a topic for this forum...
That's interesting. I am a 42 MWM, with 2 teenage boys. I live in the Washington, DC area and have only seen 1 ad and that was on the WB channel. I watch a lot of both college and pro football on network and cable TV and don't see the commercials you are talking about. This is a GREAT car. I bought a Fusion SEL on 10/4 and have over 3,000 miles on it. I want this car to do well too, but I am disappointed in the ad campaign or lack thereof. Funny though, the campaign may be geographic, because in my travels to northeast PA, I have seen many billboards for the Fusion.
But the force field did tell me something that I didn't know. The force field is what's been keeping all of those buyers out of Ford showrooms for the past 20 years.
I saw the first ad last night, her in Los Angeles, which shows people being repelled from getting a closer view of the Fusion. I was thinking to myself, "what moron thought of this one". It makes absolutely no sense! Good job Ford. You have a commercial for a car that's probably your most important product launch in 20 years and you don't want the public to get a closer look at the car. Brilliant again Ford, the idea not to let anyone see the beautiful interior that was made for the vehicle....yeah, no one got to see it, at least in the commercial. They must be smoking drugs or trying to prevent sales. The management of Ford should be spanked on national television for this campaign.
Yes, I am venting about this. And I'm enjoying it. Stupid advertising like this does not help sell new American cars. Go Redskins!
Yes, I am venting about this. And I'm enjoying it. Stupid advertising like this does not help sell new American cars. Go Redskins!
Man, I'm glad I DIDN'T see that one!!! You're right, though, they need to show the roomy interior, with the charcoal leather seats and contrasting stitching. That's what I have and it's beautiful, comfortable, and functional.
Go Redskins!!! That's a good one, but we're hurting here and I could go on and on, but that's for another forum
Do you mean Snoop Dogg? That's Chrysler, not Ford. C'mon... lets not jump on Ford for Chrysler's advertising mistakes.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-08-05-iacocca-snoop-ads_x.htm?POE=LIFISVA
What we were talking albiet venting about, was the stupid idea of introducing commercials to a new car, that stupidly doesn't allow the viewer to come close to the car. Force fields repel the gawkers who want a closer look. Can you believe this? Stupid, Stupid, Stupid. Why on earth would you want a consumer to get closer to the Fusion....that would probably cause them to buy one. WOW! What a concept Ford. A commercial that puts the couch potato into the interior. The viewers might like it. OH NO!
In case you are typically confused by commercials:
-The guys in the Guiness commercials didn't invent the little black book or the six pack holder.
-TBS doesn't really have a panel of operators waiting to tell you whether something is funny or not.
-Women will not begin attacking you just for wearing Axe body spray.
-Hordes of support personnel do not follow you around when you have a Verizon Wireless phone.
-There isn't really a "Burger King".
- The baby in the Quizno's add can't actually talk.
Hope that helps.
Yeah but Snoop Dogg really does swing like a girl and can't golf to save his life. :P
The sniping that's going on in here is doing nothing but detracting from an otherwise useful and interesting conversation.
Sorry just kidding.
It appears that Ford is holding up cars either production is behind or the cars are not being shipped immediately. Specifically the 4 cylinders.
I know when cars are being held when the vehicle locater say they are on the lot but I know they are not.
Anyone have any information on why cars are being delayed?
Oh and speaking of stupid car commercials, remember the original Infinity ads that showed green leafy trees rustling in the wind? Not a car in sight?
Its amazing that after doing such great F-150 ads and Mustang ads that Ford would do lamo Fusion ads?
Has Ford been out of the car business so long they forgot how to do a car commercial?
I mean even a Nascar tiein would have been better.
Mark.
I am wondering why there aren't many of the Fusions on the lots. Not much on the Zepher either. Both are nice looking cars and I hope they do well.
Boy, Ford does some strange things.
Rob
We do have a separate Zephyr discussion, and I'm quite sure there is a discussion somewhere on the News & View board where the decisions that Ford makes as a corporation are being discussed. (If I am wrong, anyone is free to create one - but that's the board where that conversation belongs.)
Thanks.
The AWD on the Fusion / Milan / Zephyr should also be very helpful to sales of those vehicles, probably more so than the 3.5 V6.
I4 copies with both the ATX and MTX arrived on lots near me the other day. Looks like all but one are stickered under $20k.
Sorry, but I had to answer this one.
Ford is not making as much money on the Freestyle as they wanted. plain and simple.
why, you ask?
Because it's using Volvo's AWD platform...which is not cheap. It is using a newly designed CVT tranny which has ended up costing more than they bargained for (initially that is)
That's why they couldn't even offer stability control with it. It would have cost too much to add the necessary components.
Not that it needs it. Traction control and AWD is plenty for a low slung vehicle like the Freetstyle. (relative to the bouncing wagons that is i.e SUVs)
I've heard countless stories about salespeople pushing Explorers on would-be Freestyle buyers. My dealer doesn't even have them out in the front of the lot. They're out behind the building in a fenced in area.
Now back to the Fusion. I've been seeing quite a few commercials this past weekend.
It was while I was eating ice cream and watching football.
:-)
The key question is....how fast do you need to go? If you want to do 120mph to impress, well maybe this car isn't for you. But for normal driving and passing...and doing drive bys (ha-ha)....it's fine. How many opportunities do people get to go 90 or 100 MPH? I have never understood this. Even as a young man, I didn't see the impulse. Sure we all need passing power and the ability to go 75Mph but what more do you need? Look at all the frustrated Porsche owners who try to go fast out here on the California Highways and they look like they are going to lose control at 85Mph. It's a joke!
If you want a beautiful and functional American car, then the Ford Fusion is one car to choose.