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Ford Fusion/Mercury Milan

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Comments

  • nr9nr9 Member Posts: 55
    i really don't see why you need a broad power band with a six speed automatic.

    the engine revs very fast in low gear and you get up to 4-5k rpm instantly. who cares about the low end when you are almost never there in the first place?

    i generally keep my duratec 30 at 4-6k rpm because it is has torque there. Sure, the engine has almost no torque from 1-3k rpm, but it doesn't matter because you should never be driving at 1-3k rpm in the first place.
  • oshkosh49oshkosh49 Member Posts: 13
    "you should never be driving at 1-3k rpm in the first place" Really? Are you serious? I own a 2006 Milan Premier with the 3.0 V6 and I drive 75MPH on the divided highway and my rpms are hovering around 2200. Oh yeah, I can't wait to put the car into "D" or "R" at your recommended 3001 rpms. WHEEE!
  • scape2scape2 Member Posts: 4,123
    trouble free miles on my Fusion SEL V6. I am now averaging 23.6 MPG!! I didn't want to put this on forum until it stayed steady after 3 tanks of gas. After about 10,000 miles my mileage seemed to improve. Car is rattle and squeak free. I did hit a curb and put a small scratch in my wheel. :cry: Gives me more reason to buy new ones sooner.. :shades:
  • theman123theman123 Member Posts: 170
    I'm not surprised that your V6 Fusion is doing so well. Despite popular belief. Putting the 3.0 liter Cleveland V6 in the Fusion was a very smart move by Ford. That engine was originally made back in the 80's. The Cleveland V6 was a technological wonder back then. But now it's, way past it's prime but old and steady and bulletproof reliable. I had a 91 Taurus that had well over 150K trouble free miles on it before I got rid of it. Also, it's been very well documented that the Fusion is on par with Japanies competitors in terms on quality. The problem that Ford is running into is, convincing America that Ford is no Longer Fix Or Repair Daily. In a time were it's is almost a social taboo to buy an American car. I'm not worried, things are going to get better.
    I'm glad that your car is doing well and I hope that it holds up for you over the long haul Scape2 :)
  • theman123theman123 Member Posts: 170
    Even thought I don't fully understand what this means. Ford Stock was upgraded to Buy today. It rose $0.18. The stock market now predicts that Ford Stocks will be somewhere between $8.00-$11.00 a share this year. Also today, more Ford shares was traded today than all of last year. Forgive my financial ignorance and I don't fully understand what it all means. But, I'm a very optimistic person and I like to focus on the positive instead of all the doom and gloom that the world is coming to end that everybody seems to be in love with now and days. Any ways here's the link, maybe somebody will able to explain in better detail what it really all means. I certainly can't
    Keep smiling :)

    Bloomberg link
  • jeffyscottjeffyscott Member Posts: 3,855
    I don't think the Duratec 3.0 goes back that far. 1996 seems to be when it was first used.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Mondeo_V6_engine
  • oshkosh49oshkosh49 Member Posts: 13
    The 3.0 that you had in your 1991 Taurus was a Vulcan V6 engine, not the current Duratec V6.
  • scape2scape2 Member Posts: 4,123
    The media will focus on bad news because it is what we like to hear. Ford has had a lot of bad news lately. Last year it was already known Ford was going to take big losses over the next year or two because of the buy outs and plant closures. Some view this as Fords demise and eventual downfall in North America. Wrong, Ford is much more than automobiles if you know Ford as a company. This is a market correction that should have taken place about 5-10 years ago. If Nassar would have been any sort of leader he would have started the plant closures and buy outs way back then. So, Ford plays catch-up. Ford will pull through. What bothers me are the Americans that want to see a part of American history fail and fall and disappear..
  • scape2scape2 Member Posts: 4,123
    article about 8 years ago now, saying the Duratec was a Euro design..?? :confuse: and was brought from Ford of Europe to be used in the Taurus/Sable/Contour ect... I didn't think it went that far back.
    Vulcan 3.0.. what a great little V6. Yes, unrefined, Yes low tech. But bullet proof and reliable as all heck. My mother and father-in law bought a Taurus in its first intro. And have owned one about every 5 years since. Running them up into and over 150,000 miles traveling the U.S. and Canada. Vulcan 3.0 in all of them. They almost bought the 3.8!! lucky huh? What a mess that was for Ford.. :shades:
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,718
    unless it was an 'sho'. ;)
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • oshkosh49oshkosh49 Member Posts: 13
    Ahh yes, the SHO. What did that have in it, a 3.2 DOHC V6 or something like that? What was the HP rating, 220? That was rather significant back then.

    Just to give you guys a reference of how far tecnology has progressed since the mid 1970s, the 1975 Chevy Corvette with the ZQ3 350-cid (5.7 liter) V8 was only rated at measely 165 HP. The L82 350-cid V8 was only rated at 205 HP that year.

    I guess we shouldn't complain too much when the 3.0 liter Diratec V6 produces 221 HP or 56 more HP than the ZQ3 V8 in the 1975 Corvette. WOW! With a motor with two less cylinders and smaller by 2.7 liters or 168 cubic inches to be exact.
  • nr9nr9 Member Posts: 55
    thats when you are in overdrive. you should never be at 1-3k rpm in city driving (accelerating from stop light) the duratec 30 has no torque there at all.

    i generally keep my milan premier v6 at 5-6k rpm when accelerating, eg 4th gear at 90-110 mph, and at 3400rpm in overdrive (6th gear) at 110mph

    if you are driving only 75mph, move over to the right lane.
  • oshkosh49oshkosh49 Member Posts: 13
    What area of the country do reside in? The sparsely populated western plains of the U.S.? Because I'm assuming you wouldn't safely be able to drive as you describe anywhere near traffic.
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    Obviously you're not interested in fuel mileage. Most drivers never exceed 3k-4k RPM and would never go WOT except in an emergency. It's a family sedan, not a sports car.
  • scape2scape2 Member Posts: 4,123
    Spread the word to all 06 V6 SEL Fusion/V6 Milan owners to demand a re-reflash of the PCM. Got mine done in my 06 SEL V6 and the car does drive better. You can notice a quicker response and the shifting seems quicker. The car holds its rpms better between shifts..

    I want to test drive an 07 and see if Ford has made this standard.. :)
  • scape2scape2 Member Posts: 4,123
    http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/feb2007/bw20070208_667370.htm?chan=aut- os_autos+index+page

    :)
  • nr9nr9 Member Posts: 55
    california. other people drive like me too.
  • nr9nr9 Member Posts: 55
    im interested in getting the most out of my car

    whats the purpose of buying a car and never get close to using its power?

    if fuel mileage is the purpose of buyign a car, everyone would get a prius
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    whats the purpose of buying a car and never get close to using its power?

    Most people call it transportation. You know - getting from one place to another. My wife has a 300 hp Aviator and has probably never gone beyond 50% throttle and never will unless it's an emergency.

    im interested in getting the most out of my car

    That's fine but in this market segment you're in the extreme minority. If you were in one of the sports car forums it would be a different story.

    Most people don't buy a car based solely on fuel mileage. They buy the car they like based on styling, cost, handling, etc. with fuel mileage playing a part. But once they own a vehicle I'd say 80% of drivers are more interested in fuel mileage than absolute performance (at least, in this market segment).
  • nr9nr9 Member Posts: 55
    I disagree. most of my friends have four door sedans, and none are concerned about fuel mileage. we want cars that are spacious, luxurious, and are able to carry four guys with comfort, but are also good at handling and fast.

    If milan/fusion buyers are more itnerestd in fuel mileage than absolute performance, there would be a hell of lot more I4 buyers than V6 buyers
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    You and your friends are in the minority. Next time you're zooming through traffic try to notice the other midsize sedan drivers. They're the ones that aren't racing to the next stoplight.
  • nr9nr9 Member Posts: 55
    then why do most midsize sedans have engines over 2400cc?

    if you don't need acceleration, 1300cc engines would suffice (just floor them to get their regular 1-3k rpm effect)
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    Because people don't want to "floor it" all the time. It's normal to assume everyone drives the same way you do, but they don't. Do your parents and grandparents drive that way? Do your friends' parents and grandparents drive that way?
  • nr9nr9 Member Posts: 55
    parents and grandparents usually drive unsafely, i.e. slow

    whats the difference with 1/4 throttle on a 3 liter V6 vs. say full throttle on a 1.5 liter I4?

    if people only use 1/4 throttle on their V6, shouldn't it make sense they buy a 1.5 liter I4 instead?
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    The point is if they use 1/4 throttle on a V6 they'll still use 1/4 throttle on a I4. It's just the way most people drive midsize family sedans. Not everybody, but a large majority.
  • jeffyscottjeffyscott Member Posts: 3,855
    Which is why it is silly that having a big HP number sells cars. Not blaming the manfacturer, they are just giving the customer what they want...250 HP, even though 150 would be more than adequate the way they drive 99.44% of the time.

    Honda is even touting HP and "sportiness" in ads for their minvan.
  • nr9nr9 Member Posts: 55
    then they should equip the I4s with six speed automatics that are geared for high rpm and electronically program the throttle so it goes WOT when pedal is down 1/4

    they wouldn't be able to tell the diference from a V6 then in terms of acceleration

    these people are simply wasting their engine's power
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    Why do you think everyone has to drive like you do?
  • jeffyscottjeffyscott Member Posts: 3,855
    then they should equip the I4s with six speed automatics that are geared for high rpm and electronically program the throttle so it goes WOT when pedal is down 1/4

    Now that's funny :D . They should have a tach that reads about 1/2 of the actual rpm too and also add lots of sound insulation, because the majority of driver's think their engine will break if they rev it over 3000 rpm or they can actually hear it.

    They'll say "wow this car is powerful for a 4 cyl".
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,718
    my first sho had a 3.0 litre engine with 200 hp. i found it to be a very fast car. that's why i can't understand that a fusion is considered to be underpowered.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • nr9nr9 Member Posts: 55
    i dont. im just saying they can drive the same way as before, with the same acceleration, etc, using a I-4 with a reprogrammed throttle, etc, with better fuel economy and weight distribution

    ha. the revised tach and sound insulation is a good idea to
  • exalteddragon1exalteddragon1 Member Posts: 729
    guys stop telling us that 200hp is not underpowered, and that 150 was great way back when. You can go live in a nice communist country where your fathers car is probably the same as your own, the same everything.

    Our society advances, when engineers come up with new ways of increasing hp while increasing or leveling off fuel economy then they earn a living, and we get the benefits of there labor. If a company cannot advance its product, then it will die, its the law of our society, thats it.

    Due to this law we are the most asdanced civilization on the planet. Now, Ford will put the 3.5 with 260hp in the 500/taurus, and I bet a year after that it would go into the Fusion. If it does not, then sales may taper. If ford wants to sell more cars, it has to give customers more.

    I think that with a better engine, this car will go much further in sales. It is a very good car but it needs a stronger engine. I nice supercharged 350hp SVT version would be nice too.
  • mschmalmschmal Member Posts: 1,757
    They exceeded their sales target for 06. Clearly plenty of people do not find the car to be underpowered.

    Mark.
  • scape2scape2 Member Posts: 4,123
    There is a PCM update that can be done to all 06 Fusion/Milan. Look for it under TSB's. I had it done to my Fusion and you can tell the difference. The car is far more responsive. I wonder if the 07's have this calibration?
  • jeffyscottjeffyscott Member Posts: 3,855
    stop telling us that 200hp is not underpowered

    Okay. How about if I say I don't think it is underpowered with the 160 HP 2.3L, 4 cyl.
  • scape2scape2 Member Posts: 4,123
    because the Fusion 4cyl is not underpowered. In the mid-size comparison forum someone posted a .4 second difference in the 45-65 MPH and a .2 second in the 0-60 between Honda/Camry 4cyl engines. The 4cyl is right on par with the pack..
  • jeffyscottjeffyscott Member Posts: 3,855
    I meant it in a absolute sense, not in comparison to other 4 cyls...I think the 4 is plenty adequate and I think the V6 is overpowered (again, in an absolute sense).

    Yes, it has a lower HP number than some other over-powered cars...
  • exalteddragon1exalteddragon1 Member Posts: 729
    Im not talking about the 160K people who bought the fusion, I'm talking about the 400K+ who bought either the Camry or Accord.

    221hp is enough for the Fusion and Milan, yes. It is because the rest of the car is just so good that 221hp was not bad enough for it loose too many sales. It seems like its a great car for ford.

    One other thing, I think at least as important as adding in the 3.5L, is adding in a manumatic transmission. I think many cutomers left the fusion for that, too. I would have.

    Also, congradulation to ford for making a car with such high sales numbers in this tough segment.
  • jeffyscottjeffyscott Member Posts: 3,855
    Im not talking about the 160K people who bought the fusion, I'm talking about the 400K+ who bought either the Camry or Accord.

    Actually I think that figure would be more like 600K total for Camry + Accord...but didn't about 75% of them take the 4 cylinder?
  • akirbyakirby Member Posts: 8,062
    80% 4 cylinders.
  • mschmalmschmal Member Posts: 1,757
    This never made sense to me. The only manumatics I ever drove are completely pointless because there is way to much delay between when you pull the lever and when the car shifts.

    The better question is does the transmission act in such a way that it does what you would want it to do if it were a manual.

    Mark.
  • jeffyscottjeffyscott Member Posts: 3,855
    I have two uses for this function. One is if I am preparing to pass, I may want to downshift by 1 or 2 gears in advance. The other use would be on a long downhill stretch. It is nice to have access to any gear, without having to have PRND4321 or PRND54321 for the shifter.

    The price of the manually shiftable 5 speed automatic in the Mazda6 is only $50 more than 5 speed automtic without this feature in the Fusion.
  • dino001dino001 Member Posts: 6,191
    It is pointless if it's poorly programed like the one you drove. It can be programed much better with smaller delays. Point of manumatic is to keep it on the same gear in congested (but moving) traffic, when you go between 10 and 40 mph back and forth and preventing early upshifts before and delayed downshifts at acceleration. I always hated that in autos - they would upshift on a hint of easing throttle and then dealy downshift following shifting two gears down at once. With manumatic I could keep it on second gear for as long as I need - once the congestion is cleared than let the computer take care of the rest.

    2018 430i Gran Coupe

  • scape2scape2 Member Posts: 4,123
    Because McDonalds sell more burgers than Wendys are they a better value? Nope..

    If Ford were smart they would offer 3 engine choices for the Fusion/Milan. Make the 3.5 a Fusion GT of sorts. Offer a 6speed manual or autoshift of some kind. Offer more standard features in this trim level and put on some body styling queues to distinguish it from other Fusions/Milans on the road. This more HP thing has got to stop sometime. What are we going to have a 500HP or 1000 HP family sedan? God, I hope not.. :surprise:
  • jeffyscottjeffyscott Member Posts: 3,855
    Develop the 500 HP family sedan. Build about 5 of them equipped with the 500 HP engine, the rest will have normal 4 and 6 cyl engines.

    Then advertise the new 500 HP whatever...
    starting at $17,995
    ($1,000,000,000 as shown)

    Something like the Nissan Altima ads, only more so.
  • dudleyrdudleyr Member Posts: 3,469
    The scary thing is - that would probably sell more cars. Just so people could be associated with the "fastest sedan".
  • mschmalmschmal Member Posts: 1,757
    They wouldn't be bleeding red.

    Incidently, I have a Fusion with 2.3L and Auto and that trans comes the closest of any Automatic that I have driven to acting the way I want it. It will rev up to 5k rmp before up shifting if I am accelerating. Also, I almost feel like to downshifts 2 quickly. If you dip into the throttle quickly it will downshift right away.

    I still prefer my 07 Mustang V6 with manual though.

    Mark.
  • scape2scape2 Member Posts: 4,123
    take a look at the Fusion/Milan
    http://www.forbes.com/forbeslife/vehicles/2007/02/23/cars-teen-safe-forbeslife-c- x_dl_0226teen.html

    spread this link! ;)
  • scape2scape2 Member Posts: 4,123
    good reason to take a look at the Fusion/Milan...

    http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/driving/story.html?id=7675ffd3-3- 601-4e06-97d5-1efd8a909b14&p=2

    :shades:
    This car is a sleeper and Ford did its homework, contrary to what some want to believe.

    Spread this link!!
  • exalteddragon1exalteddragon1 Member Posts: 729
    The reason power is such a big deal is because it draws people into the showroom. Then, after considering prices, they go down to a 4cyl and drive away.

    Because the competition keeps changing, and getting better, Ford needs to put the 3.5L into the fusion soon or else it will be tough news. Look, the Camry a family sedan has 268hp, how can a Fusion that is a sports car have just 221? Ford knows this and is probably addressing the issue. Also the manumatic (lack) is horrible since its very sporty and good for city driving where manuals won't cut it.

    I am glad ford is having good news with this car. Wish it were made here :cry:
    At least the Taurus still is :D
    I hope ford pulls out of this mess.
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