[adamw]

Drove a Fusion in So Cal this week for 3 days. Pretty nice, good ride. I love the exterior styling, but I wasn't all that impressed with the interior. To be honest, I thought the Chevy Malibu had a nicer interior, more expensive looking, cool 2 tone dash.

I did like it a lot more than Camry from a couple of years ago. I haven't driven the latest Camry.

Power was pretty good, but throttle response was sluggish at times. The rear view mirror seemed to be right in my face, it was kind of annoying, it blocked visibility. It seems like a good car, gas mileage was pretty good, it wasn't exciting to drive, but it was comfortable.

Getting home and back into my SVT, I really noticed how loud the road noise is in it, tire noise, wind noise, exhaust noise (oops, that's my fault for cutting out the muffler) But I enjoy the SVT more, I like the stiff sportiness, but the Fusion might be a good car for the wife and when I want a break from my sporty tin can.

I want to drive an Edge and the New Taurus, especially the SHO. And I love the Flex. Why don't they make a hybrid Edge? That gas mileage is pretty bad.

 

[eff]

Was the Fusion the V6 ?

I have a Fusion SEL V6 reserved for my yearly summer trek to Ontario Canada. Looking forward to driving this car and see how it compares to the Mondeo.
Your comment on the sluggish automatic, it seems most automatics are being set up for fuel economy and not for driving dynamics, hence the reason most modern auto trannies are rated with better fuel economy numbers then the manual equipped variant. When making my rental reservation I asked for the I4 Fusion with the 6spd manual but none were available.

My brother in Ottawa has the 2010 Fusion I4 with the 6 spd manual, so at least I will be able to test drive this powertrain combo.

 

[blackbird]

I like the Fusion but it would be a tough choice between it and the Malibu if I were shopping for a new mid-size sedan. I like the Ford interior but also like some of the Malibu models a little more. The biggest gripe I have about all the Fusions that I've driven has been rear visibility. The large trunk is nice but with the parcel shelf so high it can make it hard to see out the rear window with where I adjust the driver's seat. Otherwise both are great cars.

I'm curious to see what Ford does with the redesign in a couple years after seeing the next Focus. The spy shots of the next Malibu with similar styling cues as used on the new Aveo and Camaro look like it will be pretty good. If anything the competition is good for us consumers.

 

[adamw]

I think it was the V6. I didn't know there was a manual, but it doesn't surprise me that the rental agencies only have the automatics. For a real fun rental, get an Elise from Enterprise next time you're in Vegas.

The Fusion seemed to have very good power once it kicked in, but I always had to account to the delay and plan accordingly when passing.

I agree that the back is too high, but I also felt like the rear view mirror was mounted too low, or it's too big or something, it really seemed to impede my view.

 

[Osiris]

I'd have to disagree. I would get Malibus as rentals all the time and I think the interior is snazzy looking but not of the same level of quality as the Ford's. The Fusion's design is a little more simplistic, but very ergonomic.

My father bought a 2010 Sport last week. I think the interior is pretty cool in it...

Sorry for the crappy cell pics, oh and the Nav unit is just awesome, my dad loves the back up camera too....and he's just blown away by sync.

 

[wilko]

The Fusions with the Nav screens have a better looking center dash than the ones w/o IMO. The ones that dont have a very Ford Focus looking dash...

The 2008 Ford Focus

The 2010 Fusion Hybrid w/o Nav.

I like the Nav setup way better.

 

[adamw]

the hybrid has a very cool digital screen instead of gauges.

 

[Hocky]

I had a fusion loaner last week and it was a complete pile of crap. 20k miles on it and everything rattled, sqeaked, creaked, moaned, and it barely idled. Throttle response was piss poor, A/C on presented driveability quirks. blah. I hope to never drive one again. lol

 

[adamw]

yikes, the one I drove seemed fine. I thought Ford was supposed to not suck right now. Wait, does Ford suck right now, or not?

 

[biggee72]

I had a fusion loaner last week and it was a complete pile of crap. 20k miles on it and everything rattled, sqeaked, creaked, moaned, and it barely idled. Throttle response was piss poor, A/C on presented driveability quirks. blah. I hope to never drive one again. lol

Funny. On my fusion message board we can hardly find any complaints. Especially when it comes to rattles and such. You had a loaner though, they are abused heavily.

 

[adamw]

Might have even been jumped during a rental.

 

[wilko]

I had a fusion loaner last week and it was a complete pile of crap. 20k miles on it and everything rattled, sqeaked, creaked, moaned, and it barely idled. Throttle response was piss poor, A/C on presented driveability quirks. blah. I hope to never drive one again. lol

I guess it took all of the fun out of beating it into the ground?

 

[Hocky]

I guess it took all of the fun out of beating it into the ground?

Yea.

 

[Osiris]

I had a fusion loaner last week and it was a complete pile of crap. 20k miles on it and everything rattled, sqeaked, creaked, moaned, and it barely idled. Throttle response was piss poor, A/C on presented driveability quirks. blah. I hope to never drive one again. lol

I've had Malibus and Auras with 1000 miles on them do the exact same thing....Two weeks ago the champagne colored 2011 Sonata I had for the week had its little chrome strip running along the window coming apart. The cat had 680 miles on it.

 

[otaku]

I like the blue interior. I had an 07 with a V6 and awd for 2 or so years and loved it. Best interior in the fusion and the focus is still black on silver imo. Though I did like the tan with wood trim also

 

[adamw]

One thing that bugged me is that the plastic peices by the steering wheel buttons, one corner was coming up. I also don't like the little vents by the ignition, it makes it look cheap.

 

[Osiris]

If I'm not mistaken, those are where the temp sensors are located to measure the cabin temp for the ACC.

 

[Johnny_P]

My mom has a 1st gen Fusion, its all right. The 4 cyl is pretty down on power, and the transmission can never figure out what gear to be in... its constantly hunting for gears. Handling is nice, and the ride is quiet and rattle free. If it had a nicer interior and 20 more HP I'd be happier with it. The interior sucks. And the Sync system isn't all its cracked up to be IMO. You can't hear anyone on the phone, its impossible to use that damn system as a handsfree without yelling your conversation out.

It does drive nice though. And exterior looks pretty good. Like I said, they got it for cheap.