[Shotimes] Drove the new Fusion

[av8r567@optonline.net]

> It is a good addition to Ford and probably 
> the 
> best sedan they offer right now.


The salespeople at my company can select the Ford Five Hunderd and Freestyle (among many other makes/models) as their company car.  The other day one of the salesmen needed to me attend a meeting with him.  We took his new Freestyle AWD and I asked if I could drive.  The CVT transmission was very slick, especially when you let off the throttle to coast.  It was a very nice car/SUV/crossover/whatever.  I know it's the station wagon version of the Five Hundred, and it needs a bigger engine but it was a very nice vehicle.

BTW, ever notice that all of the Ford SUVs being with letter "E" (Escape, Explorer, Excursion, etc), and all of the non-SUVs begin with "F" (Freestyle, Five Hundered, Fusion, etc) and all of the Mercury vehicles begine with the letter "M"?  Someone at FoMoCo is anal or 'touched' or both.



----- Original Message -----
From: Donald Mallinson <dmall@mwonline.net>
Date: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 11:49 am
Subject: [Shotimes] Drove the new Fusion

> Got a chance to take a new Fusion V6 out for a drive yesterday. 
> 
> I have to say it is a nice car.  Based on the Mazda 6, it seems to 
> have 
> a bit more room inside, I think they stretched the platform a 
> little. 
> 
> I was a bit disappointed that in the top version, there is NO 
> provision 
> for shifting the tranny, no wheel buttons, no detents on the 
> shifter 
> other than D and L.   No autostick option.  Not that most people 
> use 
> one, but it would be nice to have some nod to the enthusiast.
> 
> Build quality looks very good, lots of interior room for the 
> class, and 
> good trunk space.  Power is good, but I would not say it was a 
> replacement for the SHO.  I would go for one of these possibly if 
> they 
> were to bring power level up some, but the base suspension seemed 
> quite 
> good.
> 
> All up price is right at $25,000 with every option available.
> 
> All in all, a pretty nice car for Ford to offer.  Would be nice if 
> it 
> could have been an all American design, but using chassis and 
> expertise 
> from a corporate cousin is why Ford bought into Mazda, to get some 
> of 
> that to use elsewhere.  It is a good addition to Ford and probably 
> the 
> best sedan they offer right now.
> 
> Don Mallinson
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