Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan

backy

You are right about that. You should have seen the uproar from the HonYota fans when Edmunds.com did a similar kind of comparo a few months ago, comparing a V6 Sonata to an I4 Accord and Camry, all priced around $22k. The Sonata won that comparo handily. Some people do buy the most car they can for X dollars, so I think this kind of comparison is fair. Although I think it would have been more fair had the equipment on the Fusion been adjusted a bit so the prices were closer. It's almost like they tried to find the most expensive I4 Camry LE they could and load up the Fusion, even though it was significantly more than the Camry.

scape2

This is great! However, you will have the Hon/Yot fans in an uproar over this one. No-way on Gods green earth will a Ford product ever beat a Toyota product.
However, when I point out the increase in recalls and TSB's some people just plainly don't believe it..
Fusion?Milan are a great value. Value, is something I believe Honda and Toyota have lost sight of. Honda and Toyota are pricey vehicles. I believe its a a matter of time for consumers to realize you really don't have to pay the extra $$ for a name to get a great vehicle..

ANT14

This isn't surprising though, and now Toyota is facing issues with the new Camry's transmission that has affected some owners, and then the Avalon was recently in the headlines for spotty reliability...where ironically ConsumerReports just wrote it off as "first year teething" problems. I found that quite cute... Wonder how many people know that CEO's wife is a Toyota Executive. :shades:

driverdm

I wonder how many people know that the CEO of Toyota America is being sued for sexual harassment and is steppign down because of it. If this makes big news, this could have a real impact on Camry sales which I would gather has a large female percentage. Ford would be smart to push the Milan right now in connection with Ford's long efforts in improving the working environment for a woman in the company. Doesn't Mr. Field's have a female counterpart that helped design the Way Forward plan?

baggs32

where ironically ConsumerReports just wrote it off as "first year teething" problems.

Ain't that just the icing on the cake. :sick:

Wonder how many people know that CEO's wife is a Toyota Executive.

CR's CEO's wife is a Toyota executive? Now that HAS to be the icing on the cake. They claim to be un-biased by not taking money for ads but there are other ways. It's all smoke and mirrors with them.

snakeweasel

where ironically ConsumerReports just wrote it off as "first year teething" problems.

It is interesting that whenever you bring up issues that Toyota or Honda has its usually just brushed off as something minor, but let a knob fall off a Ford or GM and its proof positive that they make lousy cars.

m1miata

Now that would indeed be the strangest reason to not buy one car and to buy another one. A car is a major dollar investment. Only reason not to buy a Camry right now IF you were considering that make is a problem with the 6 sp. for the V6 engined cars. Other gremlins may be found later as well, as this is a new version of the good ol' nameplate of Camry.
The Fusion may have first and second year woes too. This was, and likely still is the Big Two way - beware the latest model unless you are willing to help them weed-out the problems. That said, the Mustang got off to a decent start, with say three problem areas of minor to moderate concern. It is a bit better than past launches cars of decades ago, where ya never knew how bad or good it would be.
-Loren

bokonon1

... that so far, the Fusion and Milan have NOT had any teething problems. Initial product assembly/problems has apparently been rated as good as the (outgoing) Toyota Camry. Notably, the Edmunds buyer comments aren't noting many problems at all -- other than a bad starter motor on one car. You can almost hear the crickets chirping. Unlike the Mazda6, which has a number of ongoing problems and a whole discussion thread about clutch chatter, rattles, transmission jerkiness, fraying seat fabric, defective dashboard fans, etc.

I have noticed a few annoying assembly glitches on the Fusions I've looked at -- mostly, the side window vents on the dashboard being slightly misaligned, plus bad stitching on a leather steering wheel cover and a misaligned piece of rubber window trim on other cars. The Milans have all been perfect.

So -- sounds like a pretty good product launch, with darned good results for a first-year model. Let's see what the future holds.

-- Bokonon

akirby

I don't remember anything other than minor problems with all of Ford's recent new products:

F150, Mustang, 500/Montego, Freestyle, Fusion/Milan, Zephyr

After the Focus recall fiasco it appears Ford has got their stuff together and quality really is job 1 again.

mopowah

I don't remember clearly but with the Focus recall fiasco, didn't it take a year or two for the first recalls to come out? I thought it took a while for that to happen. So if there are any recall issues with the Fusion/Milan (hopefully not) it may not yet be discovered for another year?

akirby

The 2000 Focus appeared in September 99 and the first recall was in Nov. 99. Most of them were in mid to late 2000.

But the fact that no problems have been reported (at least not that I've heard) is a very good sign.

mschmal

I am not surprised that a V6 Fusion is a great product. The 4 cylinder though is a hard sell. I'm always test driving the V6 and the 4 cylinder back to back with customers and the 5 speed auto tranny on the 4 sucks the fun out of the car.

I'm not sure if the shifting really gets better over time because I am always in basically 0 miles cars. The 5 speed seems to hesitate when you first dip into the throttle then I feel the drivetrain is about a step behind where it should be..

Is this the tranny or the electronic throttle linkage?

Shifts are also much smoother in the 6 speed.

I also feel that the 4 cylinder has unacceptable powertrain noise. I would really like to see the CVT get into the 4 cyolinder car.

One other thing that kind of annoys me is that the steering wheel is really huge so that it doesn't conceal the guages. I feel like i can never adjust it to the right position though. I don't like to drive with a whell tilted up like in a bus but if I tilt the wheel down to where it seems it should be, its right on top of my knee.

Cosmetically, I really really hate the door trim. Its like Ford put it there on purpose to make the car look cheaper than the Zephyr. The tail on the Milan is much better than the one on the Fusion.

Anyway, those are my rants.

Mark.
Mark.

baggs32

and the 5 speed auto tranny on the 4 sucks the fun out of the car.

I felt the same way about the Mazda6's I4 and ATX back in 2004. The ATX with the V6 was acceptable but the MTX with V6 is where it's all at. Ford will never sell me a Fusion until they give me a V6 with MTX option.

I would even be willing to entertain the idea of buying a hi-po Fusion over a Mustang GT next year if they get one out there. All it needs is AWD, MTX, and 265+ HP Duratec35 and I'm interested. My heart is set on that Stang but I'm still going to drive the MAZDASPEED6 and 3, and possibly the Subaru Legacy GT before I commit. Give me another option Ford! Two small boys will do that to you.

mz6greyghost

I felt the same way about the Mazda6's I4 and ATX back in 2004. The ATX with the V6 was acceptable but the MTX with V6 is where it's all at. Ford will never sell me a Fusion until they give me a V6 with MTX option.

I would even be willing to entertain the idea of buying a hi-po Fusion over a Mustang GT next year if they get one out there. All it needs is AWD, MTX, and 265+ HP Duratec35 and I'm interested. My heart is set on that Stang but I'm still going to drive the MAZDASPEED6 and 3, and possibly the Subaru Legacy GT before I commit. Give me another option Ford!

Amen to ALL of that! My thoughts exactly!

mountainman7

Amen to that. The domestics have come a long, long way.

The Fusion is a solid car. I bought another "1st year" car, the Ford Escort, back in 1997, and it was a champ (ok - it was a redesign - so is the Fusion - Mazda6 man). Kinda sick of people saying that they don't know about the reliability of the Fusion - no kidding! It just came out.

Didn't have a problem with the Escort, and I don't expect one with the Fusion. Too bad those 2007 Camry folk are having those Tranny problems.

Later.

driverdm

If you don't like the company's pratices, you don't buy their products. It happens all the time. Car companies are not immune. Buyers are finicky and change on a dime. One day you are hot, you get hit with a bad review or bad press and the next day you are scrambling trying to hold thing together.

snakeweasel

and the 5 speed auto tranny on the 4 sucks the fun out of the car.

What about the I4 with a manual. I have heard people tell that the Milan I4 with the manual is a fun car to drive. Whats your take on that?

snakeweasel

Too bad those 2007 Camry folk are having those Tranny problems.

Don't you know that that tranny issue is only first year bugs and that you don't have to worry about it because Toyota is on the job and makes the best cars ever? And that the Edsel is proof positive that Ford makes junk in 2006?

ANT14

Ironically, WardsAuto has an article for paying subcribers stating how Honda has admitted it has quality issues in numerous vehicles as they are growing, and are trying to rectify the situation.

scootertrash

I see Ford decided to make side airbags standard on the upcoming Edge, even though it had been announced they would be optional.

I wonder what brought that change about?

jrc346

With all of the Edge's standard equipment, and its great style IMHO, I think it can't miss, provided it is priced correctly.

"The Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX will offer Ford’s exclusive AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control (RSC ®) system, seat-mounted side air bags and Safety Canopy™ air curtain system with rollover detection – all as standard equipment." Published at Blueovalnews.com

In addition to that the Edge comes with some very unique options. Multi-colored dash (choose your own color like in the current mustang) and LED cabin accent lighting and the panoramic vista roof.

ANT-Do you know if AWD on the Fusion/Milan be available with the 4cyl Auto?

ANT14

That has yes to be determined. Mainly, it'll depend on what the consumer is willing to pay for it and at what price level. Obviously it'll be available in V6 because of the power, and price level.

ga_fusion

I just picked up a Fusion SEL with the 4-cyl./5-sp. MTX and I am loving it so far. It has a smooth clutch and a very nice gearbox and lets me pretend I am driving a sports car instead of a 4-dr. family sedan. It has plenty of pizazz for my needs (at least it's fine with 2 adults in the car; I haven't had 4 adults in there yet). The fuel mileage could be better (according to the onboard trip computer, it's getting @22 MPG with a mix of city/hwy driving) but it is a new motor and I expect fuel economy to increase as it breaks in. If you don't mind shifting gears, I would defitely recommend this configuration.

snakeweasel

Thanks for the info, it will defiantly be in contention when I am looking to buy. I really don't mind shifting gears unless its in that parking lot I call my daily commute. :sick: Thats the one thing that makes me weary of sticks.

jeffyscott

I have had manuals and don't have any stop and go driving, but now that automatics have as many (sometimes more) gears as a manual and manual transmission no longer gives better mpg, I will be moving to automatic. But I will want at least a 5 speed automatic...a lot of cars still only have 4 speed, especially when equipped with 4 cylinder engines.

Another factor is the new automatics seem to shift very smoothly and quickly.

Also even the 4 cylinder engines are generally powerful enough for me, even with automatic...that was not usually the case a few years ago.

ga_fusion

Indeed. I spend some time in traffic, too (Atlanta area), and the stick is no good for that. I tried to think about the percentage of time I'd spend hating life in traffic with my clutch vs. the percentage of time I'd get to spend driving free and enjoying the manual trans. and I decided that the good times would be worth the bad. Time will tell if I made the right choice.

snakeweasel

Granted automatics have come a long way, they shift smoothly and give almost as good (sometimes better) gas mileage than a manual. Bit with the manual you still retain more control over the car, thats something an automatic cannot do.

akirby

I think he was implying that was the only reason to buy a manual these days (if you just like to shift yourself). The fuel mileage and performance advantages of the past are almost gone, in most cases.

snakeweasel

Yes he was but there is another advantage that a manual has over an automatic. In the hands of a skillful driver (and it really doesn't take that much skill) a manual can give much better performance than an automatic.

dino001

For me it's not really about the performance (actually it is easier to get caught on "wrong gear" while driving manual, but more about the connection to the road and engine. Torque converter rips that feeling so badly, I usually hate any rental I get, even a nice one.

snakeweasel

I would include many things, including connection to the road and engine, as part of the performance package.

sturm_ruger

"I just picked up a Fusion SEL with the 4-cyl./5-sp. MTX and I am loving it so far. It has a smooth clutch and a very nice gearbox..."

That's good to know, ga_fusion. The magazines have only road tested the V6/Auto so far. I did read one review of a 4-cyl/manual at a Canadian website. Part of the $825 Ford gets for the auto will buy a nice aftermarket sound system. Alpine makes a good in-dash unit which fits the Fusion and also allows an i-Pod to be connected. And Polk Audio makes some sweet speakers which will replace the factory items.

I'm trying to decide between the Fusion SEL with the four/ manual drivetrain and a Jetta TDI, also with a manual. The Jetta gets much better mpg, but it also has a higher sticker price and a reliability record which is less than reassuring.

sturm_ruger

"Give me another option Ford!"

Off-topic, but how about a base Mustang V6 with a ProCharger supercharger/intercooler kit? A 305+ h.p. sleeper for under $25K.

Fun, fun, fun, and if you can keep your foot out of it, you'll get decent mpg.

link

explorerx4

if you choose the 4/manual fusion, hang onto it for a while. it is not something people are used to.
an accord 4/manual is something people are comfortable with. the fusion like that is more of a niche.
i have a focus 4(2.3)/manual, and i think i would like something a bit bigger.
haven't driven the fusion, so i'm not sure.

theman123

I just picked up a Fusion SEL with the 4-cyl./5-sp. MTX and I am loving it so far. It has a smooth clutch and a very nice gearbox and lets me pretend I am driving a sports car instead of a 4-dr. family sedan. It has plenty of pizazz for my needs (at least it's fine with 2 adults in the car; I haven't had 4 adults in there yet). The fuel mileage could be better (according to the onboard trip computer, it's getting 22 MPG with a mix of city/hwy driving) but it is a new motor and I expect fuel economy to increase as it breaks in. If you don't mind shifting gears, I would defitely recommend this configuration.

Congratulations on your new ride. I think I was the one that asked the question before about the manual/auto MPG. I guess it is true that the 5 speed auto gets better MPG than the 5 speed MTX. If you live in ATL like I do I don't see how you could put up with a stick, that's almost an act of cruelty. But hey to each it's own, I agree with what someone else said. If I'm going to get the 4 I'm going to go for the 5 speed Auto. I just couldn't image poppin the clutch in ATL were at any given minute the highway can turn into a parking lot for miles and miles.

Also, I went to the ATL autoshow this weekend and the Milan just stole my heart. Oh that is a beautiful car. The price is unbelievable. I just want a black one fully loaded with a sunroof and the 5 speed auto EPA rating 24/32 MPG.

baggs32

Off-topic, but how about a base Mustang V6 with a ProCharger supercharger/intercooler kit? A 305+ h.p. sleeper for under $25K.

Not bad! But I like my power out of the box and I doubt that the blown V6 makes the same growl as the GT's V8. That sound probably makes up about 50% of my strong desire for the Mustang.

Fun, fun, fun, and if you can keep your foot out of it, you'll get decent mpg.

Hmmm, I spy a contradiction in that statement!

Back to the "growl", and the Fusion. My Mazda6 V6 does produce a pretty cool exhaust growl for a V6 and it has even been noted in some magazine reviews as sounding like it came from big old Detroit cubes (which it does in a way). Can anyone tell us if the Fusion's V6 exhaust note sounds V8-like too?

ace35

are there any aftermarket spoiler's avail that include led brake lights I love the rear of the milan, but i hate ford opted not to use led in the high mounted brake light. it looks tacky at night when you see the led brake lights on the milan and then the regular bulb light in the window. I know its nitpicking, but i think the milan looks very nice with the LED tail. (Im sure most will not even notice it)

rparis

I just purchased a Milan and am having a rear spoiler with lights installed. I do know know what kind of brake light is in it though.

theman123

Hey take a look at the Mercury Milan Voga. That was unveiled during Miami fashion week. What do you guys think? Man that is a nice car. Why can't all Mercury's look like this ???

Mercury Milan Voga

jeffyscott

Its a nice color, but don't really see what is so different about it. :confuse:

dino001

Models inside? LOL

jeffyscott

Yeah, I was almost going to say "unless it comes with the girl"...oops now I did say it.

scape2

The new crash test for the Fusion with air bags?

mschmal

Major news for the 07 Fusion:

Safety and Security package become standard on every Fusion.

The SE Sport Package (wheels and 6 CD) becomes standard on SE 4 and 6

The SEL premium package (autolamp dash treatment) becomes standard on SEL 4 and 6.

This is great news.
Mark

snakeweasel

Do these changes come with price hikes? and how much?

iglooheat

What about Navigation? I thought I read that it would become an option in '07.

ryguy1718

hey guys,

I work at a ford dealer,
The ordering guide came out yesterday for the 07 fusion's.

Here are the Job #2 Changes,

All wheel drive
Dvd Navi

It seems like ford got the message

ANT14

For midsize sedans, AutoPacific awarded the Milan tops in satisfaction.

LINK

iglooheat

That's great news! thanks. Do you know if you can get the dvd navi on a 4 cyl manual SE or SEL? I hope it isn't limited to v6 models.

ryguy1718

I don't know that info yet,
But i will pass it on when i get it.

Ryan