06 Fusion Rear Visability

[06Fusion]

Hey All,

New to the forums... just curious if anyone who owns or has driven the new fusion discovered after purchuse that it has HORRIBLE rear visablity.  I've owned...   Topaz, 92 Probe LX, 96 Probe GT, 02 Ford Mustang... and the rear visability on this car is just horrible.  I have not even tried to parallel park the thing once since I bought it.  Theres no indication where you trunk ends, nor can you see anything below the windshield of other cars.   

Even in a van you can guess the only distance from the window is a few cm of bumper.


Other than that tho.. I really like the Fusion   I've had it for 6 months now.. and its fun and very good on gas...   Burnaby -> Kelowna Trip only costs 33.00 in fuel... my mustang was close to 60.00.

[Mitlov]

Honestly, I had similar problems with my 99 Civic with telling where the trunk ends.  As for seeing the front end of any car...unless you're parking in front of a Chrysler 300, I think that would be a common problem with pretty much all modern sedans, which all tend to have high rears and low fronts.

[06Fusion]

huh.. I must just be used to driving my two door coupes.   Tho the fusion being bigger than my mustang... handles MUCH better.   

[dr_spock]

You could install one of these from Canadian Tire.   I find that most sedans now have a high butt which makes backing up more challenging.

[Julie]

Or this:

I like this. I installed an earlier version of this on my TSX.

The rear straight behind you is further away and harder to see, but you have better vision all around the sides. This makes me feel more confident backing out of a parking space, or changing into a lane on my right.

[06Fusion]

screen would be awesome.. but woudl cost me a fortune.. i'd want to rip out my stock stereo and put in a custom unit with a screen that folds out or something.  I don't think i could deal with the big giant mirror also..   I guess i will just have to find somplace to test where the back of my car is...  and just do it enough to memorize its location lol.    Because in reality...  its only really 7" longer then my last car

Ford Fusion Length: 190.2"
Ford Mustang Length: 183.2"
Ford Probe Length: 178.9"


lol.. cars getting are getting bigger!   But after owning three 2 door cars.. having 4 doors is amazing.. not having to let people out of the back is actually kinda nice!

[gosteelerz]

If you point your outside mirrors away from your car you can eliminate blind spots.  If you see a car in your rear-view passing you on your left you should see the car appear in your left side mirror as it disappears from your rear-view.  As it continues passing it should disappear from your left-side mirror and become visible in your peripheral vision.  The same applies to the right-side.

You do not need to see your own car in your side mirrors as you can't hit yourself.  You may want to add small convex side mirrors to help park.  I find judging distance behind much more difficult than in in front for some reason, everything looks closer than it is.

[06Fusion]

If you point your outside mirrors away from your car you can eliminate blind spots.  If you see a car in your rear-view passing you on your left you should see the car appear in your left side mirror as it disappears from your rear-view.  As it continues passing it should disappear from your left-side mirror and become visible in your peripheral vision.  The same applies to the right-side.

You do not need to see your own car in your side mirrors as you can't hit yourself.  You may want to add small convex side mirrors to help park.  I find judging distance behind much more difficult than in in front for some reason, everything looks closer than it is.

Its not the blind spots... i can shoulder check for that...  its rear window visablilty for doing maneuvers in parking lots or parallel parking.. the decklid of the trunk is kinda sloped away from the glass of the rear window.. so what you get is much sky..  but you can't see any painted surface... so gauging where your cars back end... ends.. is rather tricky.     Its not really something you want to trial and error

[gosteelerz]

If you point your outside mirrors away from your car you can eliminate blind spots.  If you see a car in your rear-view passing you on your left you should see the car appear in your left side mirror as it disappears from your rear-view.  As it continues passing it should disappear from your left-side mirror and become visible in your peripheral vision.  The same applies to the right-side.

You do not need to see your own car in your side mirrors as you can't hit yourself.  You may want to add small convex side mirrors to help park.  I find judging distance behind much more difficult than in in front for some reason, everything looks closer than it is.

Its not the blind spots... i can shoulder check for that...  its rear window visablilty for doing maneuvers in parking lots or parallel parking.. the decklid of the trunk is kinda sloped away from the glass of the rear window.. so what you get is much sky..  but you can't see any painted surface... so gauging where your cars back end... ends.. is rather tricky.     Its not really something you want to trial and error

I see your point.  The convex mirrors may help you see where your rear quarter panel ends in relation to the car behind you.  When it comes to parallel parking its all in that first reverse move, get that right and you will not need to reverse too far.

[village]

Hey All,

New to the forums... just curious if anyone who owns or has driven the new fusion discovered after purchuse that it has HORRIBLE rear visablity.  I've owned...   Topaz, 92 Probe LX, 96 Probe GT, 02 Ford Mustang... and the rear visability on this car is just horrible.  I have not even tried to parallel park the thing once since I bought it.  Theres no indication where you trunk ends, nor can you see anything below the windshield of other cars.   

Well, I did test drive one and can feel your pain.  It was one of those things I made sure I checked on and backed into the dealers spot.  Visibility out the rear was atrocious.  If I hadn't already driven past and aware nothing was in the way, your sight line out the back window is too the sky.  Not terribly useful when trying to get into a parking spot.

Other then that though, I quite liked the car and how it felt. 

[inco]

Maybe there is a plot afoot. Designers and car companies in cahoots to sell more product?

We have the advent of the rear 'bumper beepers' that tell you when you are getting close. We have cameras that assist you and now along comes Lexus with a car that can park itself without driver intervention!

I like the beeper idea that gradually warns you when you get close although I have never been in a car yet with one installed. Maybe the beeping might get to you.

However at some point when and if the computer system fails, I wonder what that Lexus will do. Does the system failing leave the driver stranded? Half into a parking spot and the system crashes. Which is the most disabled? The car or the driver, because they forgot what to do!   

[UmroAyyar]

As Mitlov and Dr.Spock said, most sedans have higher trunks and sloped back windows limiting rearward visibility.

I have similar issues with my 2007 Camry, practice parking in a parking lot. You'll get the hang of it, but I get your drift, I had some close calls in rainy-dark environments and also people walking between cars. Get the camera or sensors installed.

[mdxtasy]

I have a camera in the MDX....great tech gadget that is quite purposeful and handy. 

[village]

Some of us wish to keep car costs down, keep your gadgets in your high priced luxo vehicles. I'm happy using my own eyes, they only crash and break down on me after a nights partying.  =)

[mdxtasy]

Some of us are willing to pay for extra safety margins and increased visability. 

[village]

When my GF stops slacking and starts working then I to might be able to join the land of optional car gadgets. =)

Lexus IS250 here I come.

[mdxtasy]

When my GF stops slacking and starts working then I to might be able to join the land of optional car gadgets. =)

Lexus IS250 here I come.

Make sure you pass that note onto her.   

"Hey, get off your ass and git ta work....Papa needs a Lexus."

[dr_spock]

You could always tape MacDonald's or Burger King's straws to the right and left sides of the rear bumpers as indicators where your bumper ends.   That would be a low cost solution to lack of dual incomes. 

[Trainman]

If you point your outside mirrors away from your car you can eliminate blind spots.  If you see a car in your rear-view passing you on your left you should see the car appear in your left side mirror as it disappears from your rear-view.  As it continues passing it should disappear from your left-side mirror and become visible in your peripheral vision.  The same applies to the right-side.

You do not need to see your own car in your side mirrors as you can't hit yourself.  You may want to add small convex side mirrors to help park.  I find judging distance behind much more difficult than in in front for some reason, everything looks closer than it is.

Its not the blind spots... i can shoulder check for that...  its rear window visablilty for doing maneuvers in parking lots or parallel parking.. the decklid of the trunk is kinda sloped away from the glass of the rear window.. so what you get is much sky..  but you can't see any painted surface... so gauging where your cars back end... ends.. is rather tricky.     Its not really something you want to trial and error

When you did your test drive, how was it then?  How did it compare to other cars you drove? 

[06Fusion]

If you point your outside mirrors away from your car you can eliminate blind spots.  If you see a car in your rear-view passing you on your left you should see the car appear in your left side mirror as it disappears from your rear-view.  As it continues passing it should disappear from your left-side mirror and become visible in your peripheral vision.  The same applies to the right-side.

You do not need to see your own car in your side mirrors as you can't hit yourself.  You may want to add small convex side mirrors to help park.  I find judging distance behind much more difficult than in in front for some reason, everything looks closer than it is.

Its not the blind spots... i can shoulder check for that...  its rear window visablilty for doing maneuvers in parking lots or parallel parking.. the decklid of the trunk is kinda sloped away from the glass of the rear window.. so what you get is much sky..  but you can't see any painted surface... so gauging where your cars back end... ends.. is rather tricky.     Its not really something you want to trial and error

When you did your test drive, how was it then?  How did it compare to other cars you drove? 

Unfortunatlly... i tested everything about the car.. but backing up.   I know i'll get used to it eventually... its just a much larger learning curve then I'm used to... in regards to learning the dimensions of the car.  Its like 7inches longer then the mustang, and almost 10 inches longer then the probes.  It has way more positives than negatives... rear vis is the only negative comment I have about it.


I've heard people say they find the 2.3L noisy.. but Its not bad at all, and I like hearing the engine.    Most people are shocked its a ford