2006 Ford Fusion SE 4-cylinder

minir · Post by **minir** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:11 am

Hi to all

Nice Family Car. Ford caught it right imho.
---

The base 4-cylinder Fusion "is a little sluggish" off the line but offers "adequate passing power," reports Chris Chase. Highlights include "a high-quality feel on the road" and "a balanced cornering attitude."

Criticisms? The automatic transmission has a tendency to "hold first gear longer than necessary," and there are "a couple of ergonomic flaws," he says.

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/cc/06fusion.htm

---

regards

minir

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:17 am

I want one, V6 version though

Tach and speedo should be switched too.

minir · Post by **minir** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 8:02 am

Hi YARDofSTUF

I wouldn't be surprised to find it Car of the Year.

They really did a nice job of it i think too.

--

Thanks YARDofSTUF

larry

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 8:07 am

Filling the market that the prior "Tempo" models used to fill? They even had the ol' 2.3L engine. Side and rear views are nice...I can't get past that front end though...just a personal taste, but it reminds me too much of some Cadillac models front ends.

minir · Post by **minir** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 8:29 am

Hi YeOldeStonecat

Looks better in thw flesh YeOldeStonecat. It kinda grows on ya.

The back-end is a little high i think, but it is the year of the bum, thanks to Bangle

Have a lovely day & Thanks for your input as always

--

regards

minir

Lefty · Post by **Lefty** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 9:12 am

I think this falls in line with the conservative designs of Ford. Way too conservative. I wish they would go out a little and experiment with something instead of years and years of the same old thing. The only car that has any style is the Stang.

I have kind of liked the way Nissan has gone in style, pushing the edge and trying to move the lines around on thier vehicles. At least the design dept. is willing to gamble a little.

minir · Post by **minir** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 9:33 am

Hi Lefty

There has been a change in philosophy at Ford in its Design Dept. They no longer want to out Euro the Europeans, rather to Americanize their future models.

Back to a N. American look. Beefy, substantial and with a more American feel to things.

It was hard to compete with the Germans and Japanese and they started to melt into a Me Too look that kinda made them shrink into the mold.

They decided to make a statement and a Company look that said, Hey! Were Different. I think they succeeded.

Time and customer response will be the final arbiter though, but it appears to be working so far in the Press etc.

Good value, American sizing & looks. We'll soon know.

Just my opinion.

--

Thanks Lefty and do have a terrific day

--

regards

minir

brembo · Post by **brembo** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:03 am

Heh, Mazda already made one, calls it the "Mazda 6" I think.

minir · Post by **minir** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:37 am

Hi brembo

In chassis only brembo and even that is shorter

--

regards

minir

RoscoPColtrane · Post by **RoscoPColtrane** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 9:10 pm

i read that the fusion is one of the least safe cars in recent years....

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 9:23 pm

RoscoPColtrane wrote:i read that the fusion is one of the least safe cars in recent years....

Its like 4 out of 5 stars.

RoscoPColtrane · Post by **RoscoPColtrane** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 12:17 am

YARDofSTUF wrote:Its like 4 out of 5 stars.

Hmmm, I musta been misinformed then...sorry for the mistake!

minir · Post by **minir** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 3:48 am

Hi RoscoPColtrane

There was a minor criticism about side impact or something? Overall it did very well i believe.

--

regards

minir

minir · Post by **minir** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 4:04 am

Hi RoscoPColtrane

I checked it out and found the following
----

NHTSA Crash-Test Results
Test 4-door sedan
----------------------

Front Impact, Driver 4
Front Impact, Passenger 4
Rollover Resistance 4

----

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's crashworthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-

====

To address the safety concerns of family sedan buyers, Ford strengthened the car's platform in various areas. The B-pillars, between the front and rear doors, are reinforced above the car's beltline to direct side-impact energy down and away from passengers. The roof structure is similarly reinforced to pass proposed rollover crush standards that won't take effect until 2009, and an optional side airbag package offers seat-deployed torso airbags for front passengers and side curtain airbags that protect both front and rear occupants.

Safety:
Four-wheel disc brakes are standard equipment on all Fusions. Options on all Fusions include ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and an airbag package with front-seat side airbag and full-length head curtains. Traction control is optional on V6 models, but stability control is not available at all.

--

It may be a bit overdue, but it would appear Ford's Fusion was worth the wait.

---

regards

minir

BlindPilot · Post by **BlindPilot** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 4:13 am

I'd rather have one of the new Focus models, but them im not exactly looking to carry anything or anyone..

minir · Post by **minir** » Wed Mar 15, 2006 5:07 am

Hi BlindPilot

Nice as well, but a differing mission in life.

Thanks and have a good one

--

regards

minir