CD Article: 2008 Ford Fusion SE four-cylinder

[CD_Editor]

Test Drive:


The only domestic mid-size family sedan available with a standard manual transmission, the Ford Fusion SE four-cylinder model is comfortable and roomy, says Editor-in-chief, Greg Wilson.  But its primary appeal may be its reduced price, he says.

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[smok]

I have an 06 Fusion SE, auto, 4 cyl.  It's a lease.  I looked up the black book value, and it's $8400, with 62000kms.??!?!? I find the 4 cyl-auto really unrefined, and loud.  Too much gear hunting as well. Reversing is hard, there so little visability, it's actually unsafe.  I've had problems with the belt assy, brakes, and power seat.  Anyways, I've been  Ford customer for a while, but I think I need more refinment for my next car. I recently drove a 99 accord from a friend of mine, and i thought that old car was better than mine.  No wonder their resale value is better.

[JSCC]

I have an 06 Fusion SE, auto, 4 cyl.  It's a lease.  I looked up the black book value, and it's $8400, with 62000kms.??!?!? I find the 4 cyl-auto really unrefined, and loud.  Too much gear hunting as well. Reversing is hard, there so little visability, it's actually unsafe.  I've had problems with the belt assy, brakes, and power seat.  Anyways, I've been  Ford customer for a while, but I think I need more refinment for my next car. I recently drove a 99 accord from a friend of mine, and i thought that old car was better than mine.  No wonder their resale value is better.

You got what you paid for. 

The upside is you leased, what is your buyback compared to the black book value?

[Diesel Advocate]

I haven't driven the 4-Cyl version of the Fusion, only the V6 which was lovely to drive. I wouldn't even consider the 4-cyl as I would probably find the engline to small given the cars size. My only complaints with the Fusion overall are:

1. No Manual on the V6. (Although the 6-Spd Auto is nice, it would be nicer if I could change the gears myself)
2. The Steering wheel design is straight out of a 1980s Ford Cortina (See below). A very ugly addition to an otherwise damn fine car!

[Honda Owner]

I can think of many vehicles I would prefer for my buck than this one. For an extra $50 a month on the lease, you can have an Altima, Camry or Accord. All will have much better residuals than the Fusion. Even the VW Jetta has some very attractive lease rates now.

 I've had problems with the belt assy, brakes, and power seat.....I recently drove a 99 accord from a friend of mine, and i thought that old car was better than mine.  No wonder their resale value is better.

I am not surprised that a poster preferred a 99 Accord to his '06 Fusion. Have a look at the reliability of Honda products and you will see a definite trend.  If you buy domestic, you will have unscheduled trips to the dealer for warranty work and recalls.

an otherwise damn fine car

Wait until it is out warranty and/or resale time comes.

Regarding residuals; I sold my 2004 Civic for $2000 more than the residual. I can't see that happening with a Fusion.

[stodge]

I can't think of one reason to pick the Fusion. I test drove one and thought the 4cyl was unrefined and weak. The turning circle was huge and rear visibility (window) was terrible. It was comfortable but that's no reason to buy one!

[quadzilla]

I can think of many vehicles I would prefer for my buck than this one. For an extra $50 a month on the lease, you can have an Altima, Camry or Accord. All will have much better residuals than the Fusion. Even the VW Jetta has some very attractive lease rates now.

Why worry about residuals if you are leasing? 

[Schmengie]

The Fusion SE is a nicer effort than anything from Chrysler and price wise it seriously undercuts the Malibu and Accord. But these days execution is everything, and here the Fusion falls short. The styling is relatively attractive but the boy-racer altezza tail lights are out of place on an otherwise very conservative sedan. The acres of cheap-looking dove-gray plastic inside don't help either - Ford could have done much better here.

Long-term reliability is another issue I would be concerned about.

[Honda Owner]

Why worry about residuals if you are leasing?

Well, when you sell the car for more than the residual, it makes your cost of ownership much lower. The cash left over from my Civic went to an RRSP for example. There is much more to the cost of an automobile than just the sticker price. Depreciation is a major factor.

It took me 90 minutes to sell my 2004 Civic and I got the full asking price, which I pegged at $2000 more than the residual. The fact that gas prices were soaring at the time helped, too!

[smok]

I have an 06 Fusion SE, auto, 4 cyl.  It's a lease.  I looked up the black book value, and it's $8400, with 62000kms.??!?!? I find the 4 cyl-auto really unrefined, and loud.  Too much gear hunting as well. Reversing is hard, there so little visability, it's actually unsafe.  I've had problems with the belt assy, brakes, and power seat.  Anyways, I've been  Ford customer for a while, but I think I need more refinment for my next car. I recently drove a 99 accord from a friend of mine, and i thought that old car was better than mine.  No wonder their resale value is better.

You got what you paid for. 

The upside is you leased, what is your buyback compared to the black book value?

$13,200+tax, what a joke eh?

[Diesel Advocate]

I can think of many vehicles I would prefer for my buck than this one. For an extra $50 a month on the lease, you can have an Altima, Camry or Accord. All will have much better residuals than the Fusion. Even the VW Jetta has some very attractive lease rates now.

 I've had problems with the belt assy, brakes, and power seat.....I recently drove a 99 accord from a friend of mine, and i thought that old car was better than mine.  No wonder their resale value is better.

I am not surprised that a poster preferred a 99 Accord to his '06 Fusion. Have a look at the reliability of Honda products and you will see a definite trend.  If you buy domestic, you will have unscheduled trips to the dealer for warranty work and recalls.

an otherwise damn fine car

Wait until it is out warranty and/or resale time comes.

Regarding residuals; I sold my 2004 Civic for $2000 more than the residual. I can't see that happening with a Fusion.

You have to remember that some people sometimes cannot afford to pay extra. I agree that most imports have much better resale than domestic but imports are more expensive to insure and service in most cases, further increasing the TCO.

you will have unscheduled trips to the dealer for warranty work and recalls.

This is not always the cases. Honda's are also subject to the same crap from time to time.

[smok]

You have to remember that some people sometimes cannot afford to pay extra. I agree that most imports have much better resale than domestic but imports are more expensive to insure and service in most cases, further increasing the TCO.

Just a thought, aren't all brands imports for Canada?    
It's funny how my Mazda6 based Fusion is assembled in Mexico with majority Mexican content.   

[Honda Owner]

You have to remember that some people sometimes cannot afford to pay extra

Very true and GM and Ford are much more likely to finance a buyer with a low credit score than Honda and Toyota. However, the TCO on these vehicles is usually lower than a domestic.

Fusion is assembled in Mexico with majority Mexican content

The quality of Mexican built cars has not exactly impressed me.

Honda's [sic] are also subject to the same crap from time to time.

Also true. I usually buy a car at the end of a production run rather than at the beginning. The great thing about the Japanese makers is that while they may have bugs in their new products, they are quickly ironed out. American stuff, well, they are not always ironed out.

[Greg B.]

The styling is relatively attractive but the boy-racer altezza tail lights are out of place on an otherwise very conservative sedan.

Exactly. Those taillights are hideous and the one thing that kept me from considering the car. It looks good otherwise, especially in lighter colors.

The acres of cheap-looking dove-gray plastic inside don't help either - Ford could have done much better here.

No different in that respect from most cars these days... Toyota, Honda, Mazda and Hyundai are all similar. What I would give for a moratorium on gray interiors and a return to color-keyed interiors!

[Mitlov]

I am not surprised that a poster preferred a 99 Accord to his '06 Fusion. Have a look at the reliability of Honda products and you will see a definite trend.  If you buy domestic, you will have unscheduled trips to the dealer for warranty work and recalls.

Worst reason ever to criticize the Ford Fusion, which is the most reliable currently-available midsize sedan according to Consumer Reports.  As for the refinement of the four-banger, blame Mazda.  It's their engine IIRC.

You're right about the faster depreciation of the Ford, but that has no basis in the Fusion's reliability.

[mmret]

Welcome back.

[Leviathan]

As for the refinement of the four-banger, blame Mazda.  It's their engine IIRC.

Yep, similar to the one in the Tribute and I've got no complaints.

[Mitlov]

Fusion is assembled in Mexico with majority Mexican content

The quality of Mexican built cars has not exactly impressed me.

I drive one and I have no complaints whatsoever about build quality.

[smok]

I am not surprised that a poster preferred a 99 Accord to his '06 Fusion. Have a look at the reliability of Honda products and you will see a definite trend.  If you buy domestic, you will have unscheduled trips to the dealer for warranty work and recalls.

Worst reason ever to criticize the Ford Fusion, which is the most reliable currently-available midsize sedan according to Consumer Reports.  As for the refinement of the four-banger, blame Mazda.  It's their engine IIRC.

You're right about the faster depreciation of the Ford, but that has no basis in the Fusion's reliability.

It's decent effort from Ford, but decent is not good enoough.  The car is cheap, so it sells ok.  Still too early to tell if these cars will last over time.  I hope they do, Ford needs it.

[Trainman]

I am not surprised that a poster preferred a 99 Accord to his '06 Fusion. Have a look at the reliability of Honda products and you will see a definite trend.  If you buy domestic, you will have unscheduled trips to the dealer for warranty work and recalls.

Worst reason ever to criticize the Ford Fusion, which is the most reliable currently-available midsize sedan according to Consumer Reports.  As for the refinement of the four-banger, blame Mazda.  It's their engine IIRC.

You're right about the faster depreciation of the Ford, but that has no basis in the Fusion's reliability.

I agree with Mitlov, here is a post I made re a comment about the Dodge Journey being made in Mexico:

So?  Our Tracer was built in Mexico and to date its was the most trouble free car we have ever owned.  Our Pathfinder was built in Japan and is not doing very well, the Sienna is built in the US and is very reliable to date but the Mystique, also built in the US was not so good.  Sometimes broad statements regarding country of build just relies on stereotypical ideas rather than fact.

There seem to be lots of people happy with their Made In Mexico car.