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Midsize Sedans 2.0

18220 messages,  Last post on May 24, 2013 at 7:58 AM

You are in the Sedans Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Volkswagen Passat, Mazda MAZDA6, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, Kia Optima, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 1234 of 1823

#12329 of 18220 Comparison of 2007 models by thegraduate

Apr 14, 2009 (7:36 am)

Had the opportunity to test drive a few cars yesterday with my girlfriend. Drove a Ford Fusion SE I4 5AT, Moonroof and 6CD and Pontiac G6 GT V6 4AT, Moonroof, 6CD. I must say, I had forgotten just how good the Fusion is. We drove it first, and it blew me away relative to the Pontiac. The G6 had good power, but I'd take the Fusion, considering they were the same price. The Ford's steering is simply sublime, nicely weighted and very communicative, as good as my 06 Accord. The G6 also had weighty steering, but it didn't offer much more feel than the Camry I drove recently.
 
The GF liked the Pontiac more, I think, based on power and looks (black on black, tinted windows, with 5-spoke chrome wheels; the fusion was beige with the 16" 5-spoke alloys), but the fact that the G6 had more than one piece of trim falling apart inside I think helped make the case for the Fusion for her. The Fusion has 25k miles, the G6, 35k.
 
She's replacing her '01 Saturn SC1, whose transmission is dying at 89k miles, and wants more power, more size, for around $15k-16k. Both of these cars listed for $17,500 but were offered for $15,900.

#12330 of 18220 Re: Comparison of 2007 models [thegraduate] by stephen987

Apr 14, 2009 (7:45 am)

Replying to: thegraduate (Apr 14, 2009 7:36 am)
I think you might be able to get either one for significantly below the $15.9k mark.

#12331 of 18220 Re: Comparison of 2007 models [stephen987] by thegraduate

Apr 14, 2009 (8:02 am)

Replying to: stephen987 (Apr 14, 2009 7:45 am)
Yeah, the Fusion's book value is in the fourteens.

#12332 of 18220 Re: Next Focus [igozoomzoom] by jeffyscott

Apr 14, 2009 (9:00 am)

Replying to: igozoomzoom (Apr 13, 2009 6:00 pm)
Ford made a very unwise decision NOT updating the U.S. market Focus when the Euro version was redesigned.
 
Actually they made a very reasonable business decision based on the fact that American's expect small cars to be cheap. For the most part, American's value (or perhaps we can now say had valued) vehicles based dollars per pound. This is why the SUVs and trucks were big profit generators, while Focii (updated or not) were money losers.

#12333 of 18220 Re: Comparison of 2007 models [thegraduate] by stephen987

Apr 14, 2009 (9:08 am)

Replying to: thegraduate (Apr 14, 2009 8:02 am)
We've reached the point where some 2006 Fusions are now hitting the market below $10k. A couple of caveats, though: side airbags and ABS were optional at the start of production. Unfortunately the Fusion did not fare well in crash tests without the side bags.
 
IIRC side airbags were made standard in '07, but ABS was optional till '08.

#12334 of 18220 Re: Comparison of 2007 models [stephen987] by thegraduate

Apr 14, 2009 (9:10 am)

Replying to: stephen987 (Apr 14, 2009 9:08 am)
To be fair to this Fusion we looked at, it was quite clean, smelled clean, hadn't been wrecked, and it was a low-mileage example, and has exactly the options she's looking for (which is essentially equipped like my 06 EX Cloth Accord). Don't know whether or not it had ABS, but glad to know it had SAB.

#12335 of 18220 Re: Next Focus [jeffyscott] by akirby

Apr 14, 2009 (10:11 am)

Replying to: jeffyscott (Apr 14, 2009 9:00 am)
BM (Before Mulally) Ford North America and Ford Europe operated as totally separate entities and only shared platforms if they felt like it. There was no corporate mandate to share platforms or even work together. At the time the Focus was losing $3K per unit and was viewed as a necessary evil to support CAFE. Mulally changed all that and now we have the Fiesta and Focus coming and they will not only be better vehicles but they'll be profitable. Ford no longer views small cars as lost leaders or CAFE boosters.

#12336 of 18220 Re: Next Focus [akirby] by stephen987

Apr 14, 2009 (10:37 am)

Replying to: akirby (Apr 14, 2009 10:11 am)
Ford no longer views small cars as lost leaders or CAFE boosters.
 
This is a very good thing. Now if they can just get some of their Euro-diesels certified for the US, that will be an even better thing.
 
And I suppose their next midsize sedan for the US market will share some major components with the Mondeo. As much as I like the Fusion, I think greater cross-pollination with the Mondeo will likely improve the breed further.

#12337 of 18220 Re: Next Focus [stephen987] by akirby

Apr 14, 2009 (11:06 am)

Replying to: stephen987 (Apr 14, 2009 10:37 am)
Yes, the next gen Fusion and Mondeo will share the same platform. The reason they don't is the same as the Focus. This should yield huge cost savings.
 
More importantly, they'll have desirable vehicles across the lineup that will make it more likely for a current Ford customer to remain a Ford customer.

#12338 of 18220 Re: Next Focus [akirby] by stephen987

Apr 14, 2009 (11:28 am)

Replying to: akirby (Apr 14, 2009 11:06 am)
More importantly, they'll have desirable vehicles across the lineup that will make it more likely for a current Ford customer to remain a Ford customer.
 
This is how Honda built its (borderline fanatical) following. I would be delighted to see Ford do likewise. There will almost certainly be a new Fusion in my driveway, as soon as I get tired of my ten-year-old Civic.

Messages Page 1234 of 1823

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