Ford Fusion, anyone?

[Deja Q]

(2009 model)

[Ohio Joe]

1. Sure... if your giving them away...

I might need one to live in soon :(

[flvegan]

I see a LOT of them on the roads.

Not a bad looking car.

[Deja Q]

3. A stronger drivetrain than on the Insight too.

More power = good when needed...

If it's not AWD then I might not...

[lapfog_1]

2. Don't like the "grill" all that much...

what's the mpg and the sticker price?

[rsmith6621]

4. Not as Good as a Prius Made In the USA......

.....and about 3k more on the sticker.

[NCDem60]

6. Wrong

Neither the Toyota Prius or the Ford Fusion are made in the US. Japan for the Prius, Mexico for the Fusion. Toyota had planned to make the Prius in Mississippi. In fact the plant has been constructed but a change in plans has left it empty for the present time.

[Mnpaul]

10. Actually many prefer the Fusion Hybrid

“The Toyota Prius crowd will protest,” they note, but USA Today says Ford’s car simply drives better. “A car is, after all, a driving machine. Brownie points for saving somewhat more fuel or offering a cargo-friendly hatchback, but driving feel is most important. And there, Fusion is without equal among hybrids.”

Car and Driver set the Fusion against the Camry Hybrid, Chevy Malibu Hybrid and Altima Hybrid, but the result was the same. “Ford has pulled off a game changer with this 2010 model, creating a high-mpg family hauler that’s fun to drive,” they write. “Nothing about the leather-lined test car, optioned up from its $27,995 base price to $32,555, seemed economy minded except for the mileage readings. On that score, the Fusion topped the others, turning in a 34-mpg score card for the overall 300-mile test run.”
http://www.mixedpower.com/toyota-prius/ford-fusion-hybrid-tops-camry-prius-in-comparisons/

[Deja Q]

17. Oops, I meant the Hybrid in the OP; I was ignorant that they had a hybrid and a all-gas version.

:dunce:

Ford's drivetrain has more power to it than the Insight (Honda), that I read on a car magazine website earlier...

[Mnpaul]

26. and it doesn't drive like a Buick

^^^^^
Actual description of the Prius ride quality in a review.

[Deja Q]

8. $24k loaded, as I recall... 35~45MPG depending on internet source...

Compared to 19~20MPG, that's phenomenal.

On average, I pay $80/mo in gas. Now it'll be closer to $40. I'll also have a car payment, but I'm optimistic I can get a good deal -- even if I don't ultimately qualify for the clunker program, which I don't see how - 18MPG is a tad low...

[sarcasmo]

My next car.

[dysfunctional press]

37. one big problem is the big blue ford logo they stick on everything.

THAT pos might look at home on a farm tractor, but NOT on a modern passenger vehicle.

[underpants]

5. My mom just bought one used

she likes it

my stepfather was in the auto industry and he says it checks out

Do NOT get a Ford Focus-friend of a friend worked on the ad campaign and they used the sound system as the selling point because that was the only thing about it that wasn't CRAP

[Deja Q]

7. I plan on going hybrid...

Thank you much for the input!

(I never cared for the Focus, but from what I've heard, the Fusion is a solid mix of hybrid and engine performance...)

A shame it's built in Mexico, if that is the case, but I can think of worse places by far...

[Shagbark Hickory]

9. Wait a year or 2. There is a lot more efficient cars rolling out. fir example...

Nissan has an affordable EV coming out in '10. Will be made in the US. Even the batts.

[Deja Q]

24. Garage doesn't have much in the way of electrical outlets...

I had to drop the Volt as well... (not just because of the asinine price...)

[Shagbark Hickory]

41. I believe nissan's car is self-charging.When the motor runs, it makes electricity to charge the batt

I could be wrong. Other than that, it cost about 50 to put in an electric outlet. That pays for itself in one or 2 tanks of gas.

[DainBramaged]

11. Thank you in advance from a tired old UAW member for buying a Ford

It aggravates me no end that they can't build it here instead of Mexico, but nonetheless the profits stay here.

[Deja Q]

20. I've driven many cars and I did a little studying...

The Ford has more power than the Insight. For MN Winters, the power comes in handy.

And the dealer isn't terribly far away.

I might check a AWD model too, if they have one.

[ContinentalOp]

51. "The profits stay here"?

Isn't it a publicly traded company? :shrug:

[Statistical]

52. Publicly traded and held by international stockholders but don't let the facts get in the way.

American company w/ international stockholders = "profits stay here"
Honda w/ international stockholders = "profits go to Japan".

Those are the rules. Don't confuse anything with facts.

[SmileyRose]

54. The FACTS are that a handful of people own the majority of each car company

The Ford family owns the majority of Ford stock. American institutions own another big chunk. The portion of the company traded on the open market is a minority of stock. It is no different for Toyota or Honda or the vast majority of publicly traded companies.

But you already know that.

[Statistical]

55. Ford hasn't owned the majority of Ford for almost 100 years now.

There are 3.17 BILLION common shares of Ford (of which the Ford family owns less than 20 million).

There are 70 million class B shares (of which Ford family owns 100% and likely will never sell because they provide substantial protection of Ford is diluted or faces bankruptcy).

So less than 90 million shares (common and special class B) out of 3.7 billion is <3% of the company.
Institutional owners (which represent foreign and domestic clients) make up 34% of outstanding stock.


2.8B shares are floating (the float) for Ford. That means they are available for electronic trading and not restricted or held by insiders. This is the vast majority of the company (90%) and is actually higher than most other publicly traded companies. GOOG for example only floats 76% of outstanding shares.

So your myths are 0 for 3. Any more you want dispelled?

Your wonderland of American corporate giants looking out for American prosperity and owned by powerful American families died about 60 years ago.

Today companies like F, GE, Proctor and Gamble are true mulitnationals. They owe no allegiance to a particular country or its citizens. Their single and overriding interest is to maximize shareholder wealth. It has been this way for a long time now. In the case of Ford those shares (2.8 billion of them) are open to anyone willing to pay for them.

[Holly_Hobby]

12. I just bought a new 2009

Sticker $24K, walked out with 0% financing, no money down, final price $16,500. Damned good deal. Like the car. Former lifelong Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep owner.

[Statistical]

14. Ford keeps that up and they will end up like GM.

$24K sticker? $16.5K paid. Ouch! Good deal for you bad one for Ford.

They made a vehicle just to light a couple hundred bucks on fire.
Do that 2-3 million times and they will be BK too.

[Holly_Hobby]

27. And our credit score is only 700, I'd like to know how we

qualified for 0% interest!

And I retired in March...makes no sense to me whatsoever.

[Statistical]

40. Homeowner?

I sold cars (well mostly trucks) for Chevy at one time.

GMAC would almost always qualify someone for 0% if they had a 700+ and were a homeowner.
Non homeowner would likely need something in the 710-720 range if they had an existing car loan.
Have neither you need something like 740+.

[Holly_Hobby]

45. Yes, we're homeowners and have two existing car leases

One lease is over in August, which is why we bought a new car. The lease payments were outrageous on the new car, so we decided to buy instead.

[Shagbark Hickory]

42. Not really.Fusion is a $16kcar.They raised sticker prices around the board so they can lower prices

I've noticed this with other car brands too. The bargains really aren't much bargain at all. They're up to the same old crap. Trying to pull a fast one on the consumer.

[goclark]

16. Love my Fusion, it is great on gas and easy to drive

I had a 2004 Mercedes and when the lease was up I was thrilled.

Loved the car but the gas and the maintenace was horrible. If you even tried to put the 2nd level gas in it - it spit it out. Any check up was at least $250 and it can only be touched by a Mercedes Authorized place.

I got the new Fusion and have a 5 yr. Maintenance Agreement. It is fully loaded with everything ( phone etc.) and it really holds the road.


Love it!

[Holly_Hobby]

28. I like mine too...

mine has everything except leather (dogs), DVD and navigation. Like I'm going to get lost in the town I was born and raised in 53 years ago LOL

I have things on it I'll never use, like phone Sync. Do you have the ambient lighting? It's cool, but really, do I need it? Nope.

[goclark]

47. good question about ambient lighting

I don't know - got to read the manual. :shrug:

[Deja Q]

18. Sweeeeeeeeet.

How many years is the financing?

At $16.5k, that's a great deal.

[Holly_Hobby]

30. You're not going to believe this, I still don't believe it....

60 months at 0% interest! I honestly think they screwed up the financing. We shouldn't qualify for 0% with a 700 credit score.

They threw in mud flaps too!

[david13]

13. No thanks. I wouldn't even take it if they gave it to me.

Hey, use your head. I have had Fords before.
dc

[Deja Q]

19. I've had Toyotas too...

I could wait for a Subaru hybrid, but by then the trade-in will be worth $0.

(At 80k miles, the Toyota (1995 Corolla) in 2005 started leaking oil and by 88k, so did the transmission fluid.

The Subaru is doing great, but it's 10 years old...

[quiller4]

25. Have had 8 Fords in my lifetime including a Canadian built 1993

Tempo that has more than 600,000 km and just keeps going. We gave it to a friend in 2002 after he rolled his car. He's still driving it. My husband's F150 is the best vehicle we've ever owned. I'd love to have a new Fusion but with big vet bills and more medical bills on the horizon, I won't be looking at new cars anythime soon.

[onetiredmom]

15. I have the 2006 Fusion.

Bought it in Jan 2006. I love love love it!!!!!

[tammywammy]

21. I've heard great things about the Fusion

I've never driven one, but read good things.

Personally I'm a diesel person. :)

[sufrommich]

22. I have a 2008 Fusion, I love it!

Smooth ride and good on gas.

[rucky]

23. I'd hit that. n/t

[proud patriot]

29. just saw the ad for the 2010 fusion hybrid

looks good

[Wizard777]

31. No! I'm still working on Cold Fusion. Besides where would you find the nucleus of a Ford ?

:dunce: I don't get it. I just don't get it.

[high density]

32. I think I like the styling on the Mecrury Milan a bit better

Both seem like good vehicles, whether the previous generation or the current 2010 one.

[LostinRed]

33. I travel for work

and rent a car weekly. I've seem to get a Toyato Camry or a Fusion. The Fusion is a great car. I like it a lot. I will seriously consider buying the hybrid version. The Camry is also a great car they're very similar.

[BlooInBloo]

34. No, but thank you.

[madokie]

35. I'd buy one in a heartbeat

if I had a need for one. I'd rather have a picture of a ford as the keys to any of the other brands of autos. Had to get that out of the way early on so's you'll know where I'm coming from. but seriously go check out the other autos this size and price and the ford built ones, look them over real good feel the material imagine how it all will wear and then buy the ford because you will find it to be much better than any toyota or GM or datsun, err nissan. Look at how they are put together, under the hood, how tough the suspension is etc, all of that first though. Our son just sold a ford f150 that we passed down to him that was a '78 model that was still as good of a truck as it was the day it was built save for a few dings and scratches here and there. Buy ford and spend your hard earned money wisely is what I say :-)

Anyways let us know what you wind up buying and how you like it in a later post so we can laugh or cry with you whichever the case may be or cuss at you if that is the case:-)

jus keeeeeeeedinnnnnnnnng except for what I said about the cars

[Touchdown]

36. I have 2 payments left on my car now.

No way I'll be in the market for another one for at least 4 years.

[RushIsRot]

38. Any color, so long as it's black. - Henry

[Joe the Liberal]

39. No way, I'm done with Ford.....

Had too many bad experiences with their cars.

[Shagbark Hickory]

43. As GW Bush once said... "Fool me once, shame on you... fool me twice...

you can't get... you can't get fooled again."

And a new report even said the cars may be better made but they still lag behind the import brands.

[sufrommich]

44. Do you have a link for that report? nt

[Shagbark Hickory]

48. No. I saw it as a crawl on CNN. Didn't read the whole report just the headline.

[SmileyRose]

53. I've always owned Fords, no complaints ever.

People buy an Escort and then get pissed off when it doesn't ride like a Rolls Royce.

yes, it's anecdotal but it's typical of what I've seen. I have an 87 Escort (excuse me HAD - recently traded for a 2007 Fusion sold the Escort to my neice and it's still on the road). Dear Sister bought an 88 Accord brand new and had to retire it in 97 because the repairs adding up were costing more than a new car payment every month. She bought a Taurus. An award winning Taurus. She still drives it every day and the repairs have been few outside of the normal "wear and tear". Her gas mileage beats a brand new Camry.

[LeftHander]

46. Come in a stick...spray or roll on?...nt

[Regret My New Name]

49. NO! I don't buy American...

Then again, I don't buy foreign either.


Puts me in a real pickle, ya know?

[handmade34]

50. nice car

but this is my class