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As for 7.0 with 263HP ford can do better considering its there Sport model for the car.
Car & Driver quoted a 6.8 second 0-60 for a 2008 Taurus with the 3.5. The Taurus is heavier than the Fusion and has a much less favorable (for acceleration) gear ratio than the Fusion Sport. Motor Trend quoted 7.2 for the heavier AWD version of the Taurus - again much heavier than the AWD Fusion. Based on those numbers, I would expect a Fusion Sport to be in the mid sixes using the same techniques.
The window sticker said 31MPG HWY. What's up with that? Also, I think eliminating the round clock from the Milan dash was a mistake. I think it added a classy look.
As someone who sells cars for a living, I would expect an understanding of selling the sizzle more than the steak. Bench racers everywhere are going to point out 0-60 times, horsepower ratings, etc.
Can anyone feel 1 tenth of a second or 3 horsepower? Probably not. Are the cars going to be rated with specs?
Also, why does a Fusion have to be inherently dull? If I wanted a dull sedan I would get a Camry. Ford will lose the race to the bottom. They need to make cars that are engaging to drive. The previous Fusion was a huge step in the right direction...I don't have enough seat time in the new one yet to know if the trend continues.
i had an 89 sho, it's 'been there, done that', 20 years ago.
jeez, i'm getting old.
The 2010 numbers quoted are from Ford themselves, and they are conservative to say the least...
I agree though. Wait until C&D or MT tests a 2010 for themselves, then compare them to the current car from the SAME source. I can almost guarantee they'll be different (and most likely lower).
Yes.
While I am mostly impressed to see what Ford is capable of, having built a nice package, quite nice design (exterior), good ride/handling in addition to AWD, loads of features, good fuel economy (especially in the Hybrid version), plus add to that the good reliability Ford is joining recently, I still have some critic, especially on the interior.
Why on earth is Ford adding more and more buttons with every redesign? Don’t they see that the button-cluttered interiors are getting bad reviews all over, even the good cars like the Honda Accord? Why do we need 12 separate buttons, plus an additional 12 "soft buttons" on the navigation LCD (=24 buttons) just to control the temperature? Why does it need to be so confusing? What’s bad with the old, tried and true, easy to use, 3 or 4 rotary dials? They can design it that way even for the automatic temperature control and even for dual zone! The Camry is a good example of an easy temperature control layout, but even the Camry has room for improvement (on the automatic temperature versions. The manual controls are perfect). The only so-called benefit is that you can "speak" temperature up/down, but IMO it's not worth it!
And the stereo/radio controls are not much better either, still confusing. The Camry is a good example for the stereo system as well, and so is Hyundai Sonata. Even the Chevy Malibu is better (without NAV). For everything, it’s always better to use dials rather than buttons, and all the buttons has to be large, and easy to control even in middle of driving (a good example is the Toyota Highlander – giant controls!!).
And what’s up with that steering wheel? To start off, it’s the largest in any midsize car! This size almost suits for a truck, and reduces the sporty feeling. It rather feels like you’re driving a big truck. All the Japanese steering wheels are much smaller and more comfortable to handle. And then, the Ford/Mercury/Lincoln steering wheel design is so sick and old.... can’t they come up with something fresh? And the integrated controls are confusing as well. They should be more divided and apart, not have so many look-alike buttons together.
And in general, I think the interior does not look too clean and smooth. I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is, maybe the textures, maybe the colors, ergonomics, might be the control layout (or the fonts? I don’t like them), but either way it needs refinement. The new Taurus will be a bit better (the angled dash helps), the Flex is also better, but still not so elegant, attractive, or inviting, as many of the competitions. Also the gauges, while much better than previous Ford’s, can use some more sophistication.
Otherwise, I think Ford is on track with the best out there. Keep it on; you’re going in the good direction!!
OK, I went yesterday to a Ford dealership to visit the Fusion & Milan in person. I must say it looks much better in person than on pictures. Especially the 3D gauges, which except for the fonts which I don’t like (a matter of taste), I think it’s really nice and upscale. Good job, Ford!
The steering wheel is also not AS big as it seems from the pictures, even though it’s still a bit bigger than I would prefer. Its design needs a refresh, though.
The button-happy center stack is nice and feels of higher quality, but some buttons are placed too low and are being blocked by the gear selector. I must repeat, there are too many buttons. Even for the basic low-end cars, the temperature controls are too awkward and needlessly complicated to control. In the higher-end, there is even more buttons. The 4-way directional pad for track/seek scanning is also difficult to use, especially while driving. (See Edmunds review, they also mention the many buttons is not good). Also, the center stack needs to be more angled towards the driver. The 2010 Ford Taurus is much better in this area.
The seats feels comfortable, and the leather seating feels of high quality, with nice stitching.
Here are some minor improvements I would love to see in next release:
- Less button clutter on center stack. I visited the 2010 Toyota Camry prior to the Fusion, and it’s much cleaner. Also the Fusion buttons are too small. They got to be bigger (Cannot understand why you claim it's a design nightmare. Just look at the reviews of the Highlander -- or see it in person)
- Glove box is smaller than the Camry’s and most other Japanese mid-sized sedans. Also the competitors have illumination in glove box, Ford does not.
- Illuminated ignition key ring is handy and found in all import sedans.
- Interior door handles should be bigger. (I love giant ones, like the Chrysler 300). I would also like them illuminated, like on the Chevy Malibu.
- Sun visor has no extender or secondary visor. And has very small visor mirror, which is not too useful.
- Signal stalk is placed at a too high position, and controlling it is not as slick and precise as the Toyotas or Hondas. And the signal sound is kind of weird. Gotta get used to it.
- I did not find a light in the trunk. It was probably only on my test car – I can’t believe there isn’t a light in the trunk.
- Controls for the message canter has to be on the center stack, not on the left at the headlamps controls.
- I read in many reviews (also here on Edmunds) that Ford changed the steering (to electric assist) from the previous (hydraulic steering) Fusion, for the worse. It does not have that crisp feel, but it’s numb and light. Except for the Sport model, which remains with the older system. Wrong way to go, Ford. While I understand that the industry is moving towards this direction which is better for the environment and helps fuel economy, (and I also believe that most people will not notice it much), I still think it should not come at the expense of loosing the excellent steering. At least offer a “handling package” which gives you the option of the better steering and better handling. As per Consumer Reports, the current Ford Focus also lost the crisp steering from it’s predecessor. Please, Ford. It’s critical for you to design everything top notch. (The Toyota Corolla got extremely bad reviews since the '09 redesign when they changed to electric steering, although their steering is worse than Ford's).
But I admit, that the overall Fusion/Milan package is beautiful and it is very competitive with todays best.
Where does this odd theory come from? I can not see how the diameter of the wheel as anything to do with either of those issues.
You could also say that "all else being equal" the larger wheel would require less effort. But can not really assume all else will be equal. Some companies tend to have more boost in the PS than others.
The reality is that no one puts in power steering that requires much effort these days. Although our VW gets pretty heavy at higher speeds,now that I am used to the light steering on my Mazda6 (I had a Contour before the 6 and that had a heavier steering feel to it).
Fusion/Milan are getting noticed. The article also said some of these sales increases could be from those who don't want to buy from GM/Chrysler because of the bankruptcy issue. Fusion/Milan Hybrid along with getting good 4cyl MPG numbers is putting Ford on the radar again. I remember reading posts in this same forum saying Ford will never survive, never best a Toyota, never do anything right.
Lets give credit where credit is due now folks.
:surprise:
I must have missed those. :confuse:
Does this jog your memory, grad?
I am debating on whether to buy an '09 Fusion SEL 4 cylinder with AdvanceTrac ESC or the '10 Fusion SEL 4 cylinder. I asked a Ford salesman if the '09 Advance Trac system came with Traction Control on the 4 cylinder, and he didn't know. He thought Traction Control was a separate option.
I read in the '10 Fusion brochure that Ford has added Brake Activated Traction Control to their AdvanceTrac.
Does this mean that Traction Control wasn't included with their AdvanceTrac on '09 4 cylinder models?? Thanks.
Last June my parents bought a 2008 Taurus SEL. It came standard with Traction Control, but didn't have the ESC option. To the best of my knowledge, you CAN have Traction Control without ESC, but if you have ESC, you automatically have Traction Control.
I'm curious about the new taillights on the '10 Milan, as the brochure has a close-up photo of the lights with them turned on. The photo shows the LED lights on the trunk lid section and the quarter panel all turned on.
But on the Milan I drove tonight, the lights only light up on the quarter panel section, not on the trunk lid, when the brake lights and taillights are turned on. The salesman was surprised too when I showed him the difference between the car and the photo in the Milan brochure with all of the taillights illuminated.
Did Mercury change this taillight design after production started? Anyone out there know why they did this? They need to illuminate the trunk lid lights too as it sure makes a more complete and upscale appearance.
The 263 horse FWD Taurus will run 60 in the high sixes (my folks have an 08 and it'll really scoot), so I'd expect a 3.5L Fusion to be right there with an Accord or Malibu in the middle sixes at worst, witht he 3.0L in the upper sixes..
Have not even thought about Ford for a long time. Last Ford car was a 88' Escort and it let me down on many occasions. I don't want to be had again with another Ford but Consumer Reports says the Fusion is above average reliability but that was with the 4cyl and 3.0 V6. The Sport has the 3.5 and i wonder how well that engine is.
I think it is rather silly to base your opinion of Ford on an Escort that they built over 20 years ago.
Does anyone really like that particular feature? Ford seems to be the only manufacturer that offers it. It seems aimed at the 65 and older crowd, but I may be wrong. I would like to hear from people who have an opinion on the door keypad. It seems sort of old fashioned.
I've never cared for it. I'm 67 but don't consider myself to be a fuddy-duddy.
Are you kidding? Once you've had it and used it you'll never want to be without it. I don't have it on my 06 Fusion and I really miss it.
You never have to worry about locking your keys in the car and you don't have to call someone to unlock it for you.
You can leave your keys in the car (hidden, usually) if you're going swimming or running or at some event where you don't want to carry your keys around.
The kids can go get stuff out of the vehicle without the key.
You can leave the keys in the vehicle for other people to pick up later.
You can even leave the vehicle running but locked although I don't recommend it.
Like I said - if you've never used it you have no idea but once you do you'll never want to be without it.
It's not a "serious problem", it's a choice. One man's choice may not be the same as yours, but it's not a "problem" by any stretch.
C&D just ran the Mazda 6S GT with the V6 at 6.1 seconds 0-60, so Ford (as usual) is being very conservative. I'd say it'll do mid-6s consistently.
As far as the keypad goes, there are a LOT of benefits to it, as akirby stated. I'm surprised it's not more commonplace in the industry as a whole.
It reminds me of the people who put a rear spoiler on their Camry . . .instant sports car . . not.
They look identical to the 18" wheels that are on the 2010 MKZ with the Sport Appearance Package.
Different strokes I guess. The "classic" SE-R was fantastic on the track after a few tweaks, as was the GTI and the Civic SI. The edge went to the SE-R because of the limited slip differential, but all were a lot of fun.
I guess RWD can be fun if you want to go straight or sideways.
don't have to keep asking the kids, where are the keys?, if i want to get into the car.
How nice for you that you never have to make any choices between competing desires or needs. Many of us, perhaps most of us on the Edmunds boards, "care about performance," but that does not mean that we can always place it above other needs or priorities.
Midsize sedans are masters of compromise. Relatively few people genuinely fall in love with them. But plenty of us need what they can offer, and would still like some semblance of sportiness in the driving experience. Within that group, the Fusion and Milan offer more of this than, say, a Camry with a rear spoiler. They have sharp steering response and a firmer suspension than most of their competition.
Perhaps you'd be happier in a sports car forum, Mitch.