411 on the Ford Fusion

[LEB Ben]

Alright guys, the girlfriend is getting closer to getting a new (07-09) car. She's narrowed it down to the Fusion. She's elected to get the 4 banger because she has a 110 mile round trip to work everyday. She was thinking going with the hybrid, but can't justify the extra 10g's. So what are your thoughts on the 4 banger?


Really beyond it being a 4 cylinder the only other requirements she has is A/C, sun roof and cloth interior. Anything else that should be a requirement?

Any specific recalls to worry about, anything in general to worry about with the Fusion? Pros? Cons?


Alternatively, she's also considering the Mercury Milan, the same damn car, different badge. Since Mercury is no more, there still shouldn't be any issues considering it is the same car, right? Or am I overlooking something? The Milan appears to be 3-5k cheaper than identicle Fusions, so I'm trying to push her that way. As a matter of fact, the local dealer has an '08 Milan relatively loaded for $13,945 with 15,800 miles on it.




Seeing as I'm in to the relics, any help or insight on purchasing a car off the lot would be great.

 

[LEB Paul]

I've heard the older fusions with the 4 pot and auto are real dogs and not too great with the NVH, but with the manual they really wake up. Now, the newest fusions (I think it was '10 that got the redesign???) the 4 banger has a 6 speed auto that is great. But, all you can do is take em for a test drive and see how she likes em..

 

[Austin]

I tell you as I hear from my dad.

The fusions sell like hot cakes. So do the milans.

If I was buying, I'd get the hybrid... 10g later can eventually pay itself off in gas savings. Specially if she is in stop-and-go traffic.

 

[LEB Ben]

Thanks Paul. I dunno if she's decided if she wants a manual or auto yet, but the 10's are a little out of her price range, so it would have to be an older one. She has a Yaris that's an auto and a civic that's a manual, so she can drive both, but the manual gets a little old in Charlotte rush hour. But good point. We're not quite to the test drive phase, just narrowing down what she deems necessary so we can go in and say 'this is what we want, we want to test drive and we have cash.'


Edit...I just realized I kept saying 'we' like I have anything to do with this purchase.

 

[LEB Ben]

If I was buying, I'd get the hybrid... 10g later can eventually pay itself off in gas savings. Specially if she is in stop-and-go traffic.

Only if you never sell the car...I did the math, even with her driving an average of 550 miles a week, it would take roughly 12 years to break even on that $10,000 'upgrade'. Not to mention, how much more expensive is it to maintain two systems instead of one?

 

[LEB Paul]

Don't forget to factor in the hybrids hardly ever needing brake pads are rotors replaced...

 

[LEB Ben]

Don't forget to factor in the hybrids hardly ever needing brake pads are rotors replaced...

So what's that, a few hundred every 60k? So say it would take 10 years to break even. But honestly, I never put two and two together about the braking system.

 

[smokey]

I just bought a 08 ford fusion 2.0 4 cyl automatic.
My take on the car is Buy the 4 banger.
I have been getting 36mpg non highway driving I would almost bet on a trip I could hit 40+ mpg.
Has plenty of power I live in the hills and can take any hill 70+ MPH with no problem gaining speed anytime I want.
It has good get up and go power and rides very nice.
Car is comfortable, quiet a good value.
The one I bought I paid 9K it had 22K on the odometer.
Get the sync if you can the sat radio, bluetooth and USb port for MP3's is nice.

 

[LEB Ben]

Thanks Randy all good info. That 9k was a smoking deal. I haven't looked too far beyond a 15 mile radius, but 07-09's seem to be holding steady right around 13-16k off the lot. Did you buy yours from a private seller?

 

[smokey]

Nope got mine from a dealer that sells a boat load of cars every week. He sells cars at a decent price and has a great reputation .

 

[blacksnapon]

Dont totally dismiss the v6. As far as economy, they're close enough to make them attractive. I think the v6 is more reliable over the long run. Just envision a small chainsaw trying to fell a large tree. The additional stress shortens its life.

 

[LEB Ben]

Dont totally dismiss the v6. As far as economy, they're close enough to make them attractive. I think the v6 is more reliable over the long run. Just envision a small chainsaw trying to fell a large tree. The additional stress shortens its life.

Thanks Vince...that's kinda what my next question was going to be because the window sticker said the 4 banger got something like 26mpg's city but Randy said he was getting 36 city. Now I realize window stickers vary and it's been a long time since I've gone looking for a new vehicle, but are the window stickers really that out of touch? My boss actually has V6 Fusion as well and she told me she was getting a religious 34mpg's mixed.

 

[blacksnapon]

Thanks Vince...that's kinda what my next question was going to be because the window sticker said the 4 banger got something like 26mpg's city but Randy said he was getting 36 city. Now I realize window stickers vary and it's been a long time since I've gone looking for a new vehicle, but are the window stickers really that out of touch? My boss actually has V6 Fusion as well and she told me she was getting a religious 34mpg's mixed.

Remember the dreaded small print? "Your actual mileage may vary"

 

[john112deere]

but are the window stickers really that out of touch?

I can't remember what year they changed the way they calculate the numbers to be more "realistic", but my '09 Ranger is averaging (total, over all the miles I've driven since I picked it up with 200 miles on the clock) the "highway" number on the sticker.

Wasn't too many years ago you'd pretty well never SEE the highway number out of any pickup, let alone average it overall.

EDIT:
As to the Fusions...I test-drove a 4-banger 5-speed when they first came out. Based on that brief drive, I'd buy one...if it suited my needs/uses. It would probably be adequate on power with a 4-speed auto, but I doubt it'd be what you'd call impressive...

 

[LEB Ben]

Remember the dreaded small print? "Your actual mileage may vary"

Ahhh...the small print...and actually it did say 'actual mileage may vary' under each figure...but I wasn't expecting that much.

I can't remember what year they changed the way they calculate the numbers to be more "realistic", but my '09 Ranger is averaging (total, over all the miles I've driven since I picked it up with 200 miles on the clock) the "highway" number on the sticker.

Wasn't too many years ago you'd pretty well never SEE the highway number out of any pickup, let alone average it overall.

EDIT:
As to the Fusions...I test-drove a 4-banger 5-speed when they first came out. Based on that brief drive, I'd buy one...if it suited my needs/uses. It would probably be adequate on power with a 4-speed auto, but I doubt it'd be what you'd call impressive...

I guess the newer calculations keep the consumers happier.



Thanks for the feedback guys. Sounds like the Fusion is a good solid choice then. I guess we'll have to revisit the 4 cylinder vs. V6 topic again though.

 

[FordF-SuperDuty]

My aunt and uncle have an '08 Fusion that is nicely equipped V6, Leather and they love it.

 

[smokey]

I got a FOCUS not a Fusion. My head has been screwed up all day. I am suffering CRS can"t remember Sh!@.

 

[Austin]

Ben, if you want to take a drive or pay for shipping, I'm sure that I can get you into a well priced Fusion from my father...

 

[mtflat]

The Fusion/Milan's are solid cars. My wife bought an '07 new and still loves it. The V6 auto awd gets a regular 22 mpg (rated at 19-26) but has seen close to 30 on trips.

I agree with Vince about the chainsaw........

 

[Evan's f250]

I'd go with the merc, with it being less expensive and probably a few more features.