CTC Review: 2010 Ford Fusion SEL

[vdk]

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?   

Hydraulic FTW! 

[carcrazy]

I have another thing to nitpick on. I don't like the single steering column stalk setup in NA Ford vehicles.

[wing]

Yeah me neither, but I stopped complaining about it in my articles.  It's just the way it is and isn't really that bad once you get use to it.  But I tend to flash the headlights alot when trying to squirt the windshield.

[carcrazy]

Yeah me neither, but I stopped complaining about it in my articles.  It's just the way it is and isn't really that bad once you get use to it.  But I tend to flash the headlights alot when trying to squirt the windshield.

I think you are right not to complain about it in your articles as you'll get flamed by people who don't see it as an issue at all.
Fiesta and perhaps the new Focus will have the usual setup with 2 stalks (if they remain the same ) so I'm not too concerned. Also I don't like any additional stalks UNDER the steering wheel (radio controls, cruise control, Bluetooth, etc.). I like them ON the steering wheel.

[Mitlov]

One question--why did the car only get three-and-a-half "wheels" for comfort?  The text of the review was glowing on that front.

"Back to the car though: the new Fusion’s interior is definitely an improvement over the old, with more soft-touch materials better ergonomics and the seats — oh my, the seats! They are wonderful, with great support and amazing comfort; I am truly impressed! The headrests on the rear seats are adjustable on the two outer positions, and leg and headroom is good in the rear as well.
* * *
On the road, the 2010 Fusion behaves admirably with good body control, a smooth and quiet ride and an engine and transmission combo that feel seamless and works effortlessly.
* * *
I think the Fusion would make an excellent highway cruiser."

I, personally, thought that the driver's seat in the pre-facelift Mercury Milan I drove was the best of any midsize family sedan I've experienced, and I also thought the body control and ride quality was commendable, so I'm in agreement with the text of the review.  It just seemed like three-and-a-half stars was a little low?

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.

I hate to keep re-opening the trunk issue (har har har), but it's not actually "a couple bucks per car."  If the car had sickle-type hinges (which some say can damage luggage), and the cable was not secured to the hinge, you'd be right.  But that's not an option on cars with struts supporting the trunk.  There, you can either drill a hole through the lip of the trunk (which some say could lead to leaks into the trunk, even if it never would on the highly-angled lip of a hatchback's tailgate), or you can feed the wiring into the trunk without puncturing the lip (which some say could lead the wires to catch on something).

All of the three solutions have a drawback.  None is obviously superior to the other two.

[wing]

I don't know, I just felt 3.5 was a good number.

[Shnak]

I don't know, I just felt 3.5 was a good number.

...and people say JD Powers makes up numbers!   

[Wolverine]

I don't know, I just felt 3.5 was a good number.

HAhahahahahaa.