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NAV - portable units like mine are suctioned to the glass and won't come flying off in a crash. They're light and very difficult to remove even when you pop off the little retainer. It's not going anywhere, and you could bolt it down if you really wanted to.
The screen is small, 3.5" on my Gramin Street Pilot c320, but voice commands make up for that somewhat. Also, I paid $404 delivered. Even with a big SC card it came it an under $500, about a quarter of what built-in units cost. And I can use it in all 3 of my cars, in fact I have already. Plus I can program address in my home, not in my driveway.
It's also easier to get updates. Accuracy is great. I do worry about it being stolen, in some places, but these have become a great value for the price.
-juice
The only thing that concerns me is that the SEL is only way to get the 225/50x17 Michelin tires ( 6 AND 4 cylinder ). The S and SE only have 205/60x16 Continental tires.
I agree on tire width, but still like the smaller wheels - I still believe in having more tire depth to deal with potholes etc. I run 205's on my Focus and find them barely adequate on a car which is much smaller and lighter than the Fusion (look what VW puts on their Golf GTi's, for example, wider than the Fusion). Putting 205 width tires on a 3200-3300 pound vehicle with sporting aspirations is a disservice to the expected customer base.
On the other hand, I'd like to see 16 inch remain as the "standard" size, just upsize it to 225 width to give some killer traction.
All this may not be that important to enthusiast drivers. In the many cars I have purchased since 2000, changing tires is one of the first essential upgrades. In my experience, most factory tires are second rate; for example, I would probably want to run Michelin Pilot Exalto AS tires, or Bridgestone 950's, or Turanza LSH on a new car like the Fusion, with its reportedly fine suspension (these are all inexpensive tires, BTW).
If you do want the 17" factory alloys, so many buyers these days go to aftermarket 18" or bigger wheels that you can usually find mint condition take-offs on Ebay. Tire Rack even offers factory wheels at great prices if you want them. Keep in mind that factory alloys aren't the lightest wheels going.
We are going to have to see what's available aftermarket for the Fusion. I only hope they chose a wheel and tire size that has a lot of plus-zero applications.
Even the new Civic, despite not being a fancy Steptronic-type manumatic, has D with overdrive, D3, 2 and 1 as separate gear selections.
The Fusion should at the very least, have an overdrive lockout to prevent gear- hunting on grades.
Even the ancient-design Taurus has more transmission shift control than this new Fusion.
That is my attraction to the Five Hundred.
The HP to weight ratio (V6) is much better than the Five Hundred.
I have real problems getting out of my wife's 98 Altima.
I have a 2002 Windstar. Easy in & easy out.
I will probably try sitting in the fusion but will probably wait for the 3.5 liter V6 in the Five Hundred.
-juice
Reviewers also complained that the Fusion often shifted at inopportune times, such as in the middle of turns.
Reviewers also complained that the Fusion often shifted at inopportune times, such as in the middle of turns.
Is it just me or does this ongoing discussion on the topic of manually shifting automatic transmissions seem a bit Twilight Zonish? I always thought the whole point of going with an auto was to avoid shifting. The transmission does it automatically. Am I missing something?
If real control is the desire, I'd like to remind folks that all trim levels of BOTH the Milan and Fusion are available with the manual transmission. Speaking of the former, I saw an ad in this month's Stuff magazine (men's interest) for the Milan and it actually featured a young couple driving a stickshift model. Wow! I can't believe
1. Ford was advertising in Stuff.
2. Ford was advertising a Mercury in Stuff.
3. Ford was advertising a Mercury with a manual tranny in Stuff.
Times they are a-changin'. I sure hope this signals the dawn of a new day at Ford. Someone must have told management that people under 40 buy new cars too.
I'm with you man. People always say manual tranny buyers are a small group but I'd have to think that people who use those 3-2-1 options with most auto trannies are an even smaller group.
For any of you still fretting over the lack of an MTX with the V6 or the Nav system, both are available in the Mazda6 (Navi is new for this year). So if you like the Fusion or Milan but want one or both of those then head on over to a Mazda dealer.
Even Taurus has an overdrive lock out that served this purpose. The Fusion is going backwards in usability in this regard. Most people don't want a manual transmission in a family sedan like the Fusion.
Does anybody know when we can expect the Fusion in dealerships?
True, most will chose the automatic trany. But the "base" Fusion at $17,795 MSRP with a 5-spd. manual is an awesome value.
Whatever, the new Ford-GM joint venture 6-speed automatic is coming soon.
I am speculating that Ford appears to be waiting for several reasons. I have heard rumors that the success of the Ford Family Plan has prompted the delay.
Ford is still trying to clear out current inventory of the Taurus and '05 Five Hundreds before launching the Fusion. The reason is that the Fusion will be coming in at a higher price than these two vehicles after the Family Plan Pricing is factored in. This could undercut the sales of the Fusion and hurt the sales targets Ford has set.
Any truth to those rumors???
Do you have any idea on how many orders have been placed for the Fusion?
Todd,
The initial numbers of orders placed, doesn't reflect the success of the vehicle at first launch. Mainly because all dealers will have a specific allocation to start with. It's not till the 2-4 months later after the dealers sell off that allocation, where the numbers will reflect the success of the car. And at that time, it'll be obvious what packages/trim levels, sell best then production allocation is modified.
Second, Fusions where relased to dealers and are on the railcars as we speak.
Third, Since I have only owned manual transmission vehicles, the only automatic I have ever driven that didn't shift inappropiately was a car with a CVT. Oh wait, they don't shift.
What I would like is an automatic that would downshift when you tapped the brake then hold that gear they way the Torqueshift transmission works in the F-series in tow-haul mode. (be sure you don't leave out a letter by accident if you use the word shift in this forum.)
Mark
and see:
http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/phelan-bar115e_20050915.htm
I sure would like to see a report on the 4, and better reports on how the S vs. SE vs. SEL trim levels compare.
It's sort of like dating the beautiful sister and marrying the ugly one, if you don't watch out.
What is the 4 cylinder automatic EPA mileage?
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2005-09-15-fuel-efficiency-cover_x.htm
Also, thanks to bewhite25 for the link above! Some may miss that a full review is available at:
http://auto.consumerguide.com/Auto/New/reviews/full/index.cfm/id/38832/Act/Showall/
Also sounds like they took a mazda 6 (which I really like for the most part) and addressed a few things I didn't: more comfortable front seats, and a little more room in the back, while keeping the driving dynamics, and (I think) lowering the price.
Really interested to see one at this point. Doesn't hurt that my neighbor is the GSM at a local Ford dealer.
A comparison test with the Accord is a must.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
If you want automatic, you must buy V6 for now.
After looking closer, an SEL w/cloth will be about $1,400 less than an EX cloth Accord. Best as I can tell, the 2 are very comparably equipped. An SE is about $700 cheaper, if you don't mind 16" wheels, and can live without auto climate (which seems to be the biggest difference between the 2).
Scary to think of how nice a value it will be if it ends up in rebate land!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
What I really like about the Fusion is its promise of European handling and steering, which it appears to deliver based on about 7 test reports I have read. Basically it sounds like the Focus's older brother - a good thing for people like me who would like a slightly larger car, but don't want to give up the fun factor of the Focus.
Although the Fusion is based on the Mazda6, and inherited its suspension set up (which is great), this is a heavily modified platform - the dimensions have been expanded all the way around, which takes care of the complaint that the Mazda6 is a little too "Euro sized" compared to its competitors, the Camry and Accord. So it's not at all like buying a Mazda6 with a Ford label, which is what I expected at first. Same thing with the engines - Mazda and Ford designed the basic engine, but each company has gone its own way with final development.
I'd post a link but it's not an open site.
Actually 3.9% isn't that bad. My credit union was 4.99% for 48 months and my FICO is top tier.
The same article notes that the Fusion has to succeed. Ford loses 20,000 Mustang owners who trade in on a mid-size sedan - not one of them buys a Ford. 20% of F-150 and Explorer owners also own a competitors' mid-size offering. Steve Lyons, group VP of Ford marketing, calls the Fusion Ford's most important car launch since the Taurus in 1985.
-juice
Anyway, Edmunds shows the $500 finance incentive, but not the down payment match. SO, the SE I like is MSRP 21k, invoice ~ 19.5, if I can get a good neighbor deal less the Ford donation, we're at about 18.5K. Not too bad for what you get.
Can't wait to frive it to see if it's nice. Last car I got all excited for (the 2006 Civic) ended up being a disappointment, but eventually I will find the car that works for me.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
It is an alternative to the Malibu and the Taurus is going away, so hardcore Ford buyers will buy this or 500.
It does everything the Taurus does, but for more money.
Second, the Fusion is being released with $500 matching downpayment rebate and $500 Ford Credit Cash. or the low apr.
Third, Ford Credit is not a "bank" that can call up the federal reserve bank and borrow money at the prime rate. They already borrowed the money they are lending you accordingly there is a higher rate.
Fourth, Ford's "higher rate" is some times lower than what a consumer can get at a bank because of credit scores etc.
Mark
Woe to us all if success or failure of the Fusion relies upon the finance rates that Ford Credit can offer!
The last three newly launched Fords, the 2004 F-150, and the 2005 Five Hundred and Mustang all scored in the top 3 places of their class in the JD Powers Initial Quality survey.
Mark