CTC Review: 2010 Ford Fusion SEL

[normancw]

I wanna know where Shnak's getting all these cars with empty trunks... 

Ha, I was thinking the same thing ... but now I can see that some trunks have much nicer hinges than others 

[carcrazy]

If you were to post the full picture of some Honda trunk lids you'd notice that there is no lining at all - just bare metal. This is what I consider a good example of cheap execution.

Well I can't argue on that point; I agree with you. I don't mind that as much as a dangling cable though... it's purely esthetics. There is a real possibility of getting that dangling cable caught in something and pulling on it. It's not tied down or anything. That's just bad.

I also agree with you, Ford's execution is flimsy, but I wouldn't single them out. Most manufacturers do weird things to save few pennies or merely they grossly overlook details.

[SJP]

I would rather put up with the cable than hinges that wedge down into the trunk and crush whatever is underneath them. look around almost any car and you can find cost cutting solutions-funny cable routing, bare metal, crushing hinges......

[Mitlov]

Is the Accord's cable actually attached to the hinge, or just running parallel to it?  I don't see any ties to the hinge like I see on the Neon.  Regardless, I'd rather have the Fusion's setup than the Accord's.  It seems to me that the chances of that cable actually getting caught on something and ripping are absolutely minimal.  Those hinges, though...it was something I had to take into account when I was packing the trunk of my 1999 Civic (my first car).  Anything breakable had to go in the center of the trunk or underneath a layer of soft stuff.

[Leviathan]

Those hinges, though...it was something I had to take into account when I was packing the trunk

Crap, if you're not careful those hinges will take out a golf club or two.

[MKII]

With this in depth study of trunks, I notice the Fusion trunk appears to have much more useable space, whereas the Accord trunk somewhat limited being full of bumps and curves intruding on useable space.

Specs show the new Mazda6 has the largest cubic ft at 16.6, Fusion 16.5,  Sonata 16.2, Malibu 15.1, Camry 15 and Accord 14 cubic ft.

Info is from car.about.com site and Aaron Gold. Funny reading Aaron's trunk comments, I say this in regards to his Camry trunk comment or his way of making the Camrys small trunk space in comparison to its competitors seem acceptable,  "15 cubic foot trunk isn't the biggest in the mid-size class, but it's roomy enough"
but here is Aaron's comment on the 2008 Mazda6 trunk "At 15.2 cubic feed, Mazda6's trunk is smaller than many of its competitors"

Yeah I know just another jab at a rag writer Aaron Gold who has no problem showing his bias.

[ovr50]

Overall it would seem that Ford has developed a pretty decent car here, to compete with the Accords and Camrys of the world. I think we should give Ford credit for that, rather than muttering on about a cable in the trunk. All auto makers are forced to reduce costs in one place or the other. The trunk seems like a reasonable place to do it - better there than inside the passenger area. 

[Mitlov]

Overall it would seem that Ford has developed a pretty decent car here, to compete with the Accords and Camrys of the world. I think we should give Ford credit for that, rather than muttering on about a cable in the trunk. All auto makers are forced to reduce costs in one place or the other. The trunk seems like a reasonable place to do it - better there than inside the passenger area. 

But then, you know, we'd actually be talking about the whole car instead of talking about one teeny detail for pages and pages...and that wouldn't be much like CTC, would it?

References:
Pontiac G8 battery gauge
Porsche 911 GT3 paint color
Etc...

[Schmengie]

Overall it would seem that Ford has developed a pretty decent car here, to compete with the Accords and Camrys of the world. I think we should give Ford credit for that, rather than muttering on about a cable in the trunk. All auto makers are forced to reduce costs in one place or the other. The trunk seems like a reasonable place to do it - better there than inside the passenger area. 

I think not - what would it have cost Ford to properly secure that cable, a couple of bucks per car? It just screams CHEAP! to me and it makes me wonder if Ford cheaped-out on something so minor yet so obvious, what other corners did they cut? To me, the way a manufacturer handles the details is an indicator of what to expect from the rest of the car. One of the reasons I bought the Versa is because Nissan paid attention to the details. If Nissan can manage it with an econobox costing thousands less than the Fusion there's no reason Ford can't.

[Angry Chicken]

Overall it would seem that Ford has developed a pretty decent car here, to compete with the Accords and Camrys of the world. I think we should give Ford credit for that, rather than muttering on about a cable in the trunk. All auto makers are forced to reduce costs in one place or the other. The trunk seems like a reasonable place to do it - better there than inside the passenger area. 

I think not - what would it have cost Ford to properly secure that cable, a couple of bucks per car? It just screams CHEAP! to me and it makes me wonder if Ford cheaped-out on something so minor yet so obvious, what other corners did they cut? To me, the way a manufacturer handles the details is an indicator of what to expect from the rest of the car. One of the reasons I bought the Versa is because Nissan paid attention to the details. If Nissan can manage it with an econobox costing thousands less than the Fusion there's no reason Ford can't.

With the same information, your argument could easily be, "If Ford cheaped out on something so minor, yet so obvious, I wonder how they compensated by spending more money on the important safety bits?"  Asking rhetorical questions is a cheap trick to support one's point.  They sound like fact, but really aren't, are they?

I drove a Ford Fusion SEL V6 AWD rental the other day and, while I'm unlikely to buy one, found it to be a solidly put together piece though not exactly exciting.  Just the kind of bread-and-butter mid-sized family sedan that every manufacturer needs in their lineup.

[random006]

Overall it would seem that Ford has developed a pretty decent car here, to compete with the Accords and Camrys of the world. I think we should give Ford credit for that, rather than muttering on about a cable in the trunk. All auto makers are forced to reduce costs in one place or the other. The trunk seems like a reasonable place to do it - better there than inside the passenger area. 

I think not - what would it have cost Ford to properly secure that cable, a couple of bucks per car? It just screams CHEAP! to me and it makes me wonder if Ford cheaped-out on something so minor yet so obvious, what other corners did they cut? To me, the way a manufacturer handles the details is an indicator of what to expect from the rest of the car. One of the reasons I bought the Versa is because Nissan paid attention to the details. If Nissan can manage it with an econobox costing thousands less than the Fusion there's no reason Ford can't.

Not to me they didn't.  That back cargo cover on the Versa has got to be one of the cheapest, flimsiest ones I've seen.  Am I nitpicking or is this a "an indicator of what to expect from the rest of the car" as you put it.

It seems that important details - like beauty - is in the eye of the beholder.

Yes, it does look odd and a bit out of place.  Personally though, I think the trade-off between the hinges intruding or the cable intruding was done correctly, assuming that it is a constant trade-off for sedans.

Note that most (if not all) sedans lack sufficient vertical space through which to drill a hole for the cables in a safe manner.  As such, any gaps in the seal that might form over time would allow for water or other substances to enter the trunk space.

[Schmengie]

Overall it would seem that Ford has developed a pretty decent car here, to compete with the Accords and Camrys of the world. I think we should give Ford credit for that, rather than muttering on about a cable in the trunk. All auto makers are forced to reduce costs in one place or the other. The trunk seems like a reasonable place to do it - better there than inside the passenger area. 

I think not - what would it have cost Ford to properly secure that cable, a couple of bucks per car? It just screams CHEAP! to me and it makes me wonder if Ford cheaped-out on something so minor yet so obvious, what other corners did they cut? To me, the way a manufacturer handles the details is an indicator of what to expect from the rest of the car. One of the reasons I bought the Versa is because Nissan paid attention to the details. If Nissan can manage it with an econobox costing thousands less than the Fusion there's no reason Ford can't.

Not to me they didn't.  That back cargo cover on the Versa has got to be one of the cheapest, flimsiest ones I've seen.  Am I nitpicking or is this a "an indicator of what to expect from the rest of the car" as you put it.

It seems that important details - like beauty - is in the eye of the beholder.

Yes, it does look odd and a bit out of place.  Personally though, I think the trade-off between the hinges intruding or the cable intruding was done correctly, assuming that it is a constant trade-off for sedans.

Note that most (if not all) sedans lack sufficient vertical space through which to drill a hole for the cables in a safe manner.  As such, any gaps in the seal that might form over time would allow for water or other substances to enter the trunk space.

The Versa'a cargo cover isn't any worse or better than others in the same class. It serves the purpose, it doesn't rattle and so far it hasn't broken. At least Nissan includes it with the car - Honda charges $200 extra for the Fit's cargo cover. Some other details I could mention that Nissan could easily have left out without too many people noticing - the huge glove box with a dampening mechanism on the door that keeps it from dropping onto the passenger's knees, the recessed grab handles in the roof that when you let them go, they glide smoothly into place rather than springing back with a snap. Nissan could've saved more on each car than Ford's saving on the Fusion by leaving these out, but chose not to. They're among the first things I noticed when we were first looking at the car and I remember being quite impressed. The Versa's an econobox, the Fusion isn't.

Even Chrysler knew how to do this right. This is a 2000 Dodge Cirrus' trunk - note how the cables are handled, apparently plenty of room here 'to drill a hole for the cables in a safe manner'. We have one of these in the family and the trunk DOESN'T leak.

[fomocona]

My name is Jeani and I work for Ford Motor Company.  Thanks for the favorable review on our 2010 Fusion!  Regarding the feedback on SYNC, I would encourage you to register at syncmyride.com for updates on SYNC compatibility or for questions/support.  They can help sort out this issue addressed in your note.  Thanks again!

[Factger]

Ohh Ohhh Alot of fords has this system. It must work if they use it on most of their sedans.



2010 Ford Mustang




2010 Ford Taurus



2010 Ford Focus Coupe

[Cord]

A multi-page thread on trunk cables? Are you kidding me? Forget about talking about the trunk's actual volume, lift over height, lining, or hinge type. What's really important is the cable routing.

This is classic CTC. I guess dash plastics got played out.

[ovr50]

A multi-page thread on trunk cables? Are you kidding me? Forget about talking about the trunk's actual volume, lift over height, lining, or hinge type. What's really important is the cable routing.

This is classic CTC. I guess dash plastics got played out.

+1 Some folks need "Nitpickers Anonymous"....

[safristi]

...and little cables on cars.........go halfway to the stars................

[Thinking Out Loud]

A multi-page thread on trunk cables? Are you kidding me? Forget about talking about the trunk's actual volume, lift over height, lining, or hinge type. What's really important is the cable routing.

This is classic CTC. I guess dash plastics got played out.

NEXT WEEK:  The front hood controversy; prop rod or hydraulic?   

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Doesn't look like I've missed anything.

They actually had fairly good reasons for running the cable the way they did.

1) As the rubber grommet ages, moisture will infiltrate the space between the grommet and the sheet steel eventually causing corrosion and leaks.

2) Continually bending the cable mounted between the body and trunk will eventually break the plastic sheath and some of the conductors there-in. With the Fusion, it just rides up and down, with very little actual bending of the cable.

It's likely not the most elegant solution, but it is practical.

[Mitlov]

A multi-page thread on trunk cables? Are you kidding me? Forget about talking about the trunk's actual volume, lift over height, lining, or hinge type. What's really important is the cable routing.

This is classic CTC. I guess dash plastics got played out.

Yes.

At least it's not quite so infuriating when people get focused on one trivial detail and ignore the rest of the car when it's a competent-and-pleasant-but-boring car like the Fusion.  The 911 GT3 thread (which was solely about the shade of blue paint) made baby Jesus cry.