2017 Fusion SE vs. Fusion Titanium

[blackbr]

I've been playing with the Build and Price Tool.

 

An SE with the 2.0 engine, luxury package, tech package, and sunroof comes out to $29,575.

 

A Titanium with the sunroof comes out to $31,840.

 

For this $2,265 difference, all I can tell that you get with the Titanium is a sportier seat, a better stereo, and a better looking exhaust. That doesn't seem like a very good value... what else am I missing?

[transitman]

I've been playing with the Build and Price Tool.

 

An SE with the 2.0 engine, luxury package, tech package, and sunroof comes out to $29,575.

 

A Titanium with the sunroof comes out to $31,840.

 

For this $2,265 difference, all I can tell that you get with the Titanium is a sportier seat, a better stereo, and a better looking exhaust. That doesn't seem like a very good value... what else am I missing?

You're not missing anything, that's why I built and bought an SE. I'm in no hurry anymore and I wanted the 1.5L for better economy and start/stop. An SE, 202A luxury, driver assist, technology and moonroof, MSRP is $3960 less than the Titanium. Yes, you get a few more standard features with the Titanium, but they're things I can do without. I believe the bolsters on the sport seats narrow them a little as well.

[akirby]

Taillights. Some folks went nuts when the 2013 debuted and they didn't get the titanium tail lights on their SE.

Edited April 26, 2016 by akirby

[transitman]

I'm still trying to find what the difference is between level 1 and level 3 LED tail lights.

[akirby]

On the prior models it meant that on level 3 the outside LED ring of the taillights stays on all the time and the inner part lights up for brakes. On the SE the outer ring is not lighted at all.

 

http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index.php?/topic/54048-how-to-swap-se-tail-lights-for-titanium/page-3

[transitman]

Now that I'm at work and getting paid to search Google, I still can't find anything other than one obscure article on lumens and wattage, but I don't think it relates, so I'm going with your explanation, rear daytime running lights, cheers.

Edited April 26, 2016 by transitman

[blackbr]

As I posted on another thread I'm very disappointed that Ford did away with the Bronze Fire exterior and the terracotta package for 2017.

 

I really like the look of the 2017 titanium light gray interior vs. the SE's (more use of black carpet/accent trim on the titanium), but not enough to pay that ridiculous difference in price.

 

There is a very significant difference in seat bolstering in the titaniums. Much more pronounced. I'm about 6'2", and by no means oversized, and the titanium seats encase me like a cocoon. In my SE, I've found the seats supremely comfortable for long drives.

[blackbr]

Start/Stop. Are you driving your 2017 model yet? What do you think?

 

I am not a fan of these systems in the rental cars I've had with the feature. I just can't believe the constant shutdown/startup of the engine is good for it in the long term.

[akirby]

Hybrids have been using it for over a decade with no problems. The engine doesn't stop long enough to lose any lubrication.

[transitman]

...and there is a start/stop feature enable/disable switch on the center console.

 

A much more pressing issue is, when will the OK to Buy order be issued and when will retail orders be built?

Edited April 26, 2016 by transitman

[Stephen White]

Hi, there. Just curious if you've had an ETA on your Fusion order. Mine was ordered just a couple of weeks ago so not sure yet when it'll come in. My salesman estimates a build date of around May 16 with delivery 2-3 weeks later.

Like you, I went with the 1.5L EcoBoost for the fuel economy. The only difference between my configuration and yours is I ordered the Enhanced Park Assist as well. Which color did you opt for? Mine's Lightning Blue.

[BORG]

Personally I really dislike start/stop in the F-150 but I'm glad you can disable it in the Fusion. I wish it was smart enough to know when you have your A/C on, otherwise it shuts everything off which is annoying and frankly uncomfortable. I'm also not a fan of the start lag when you lift your foot off the brake to begin accelerating. A hybrid works far less intrusively so I wouldn't compare the 2 experiences. Generally speaking, it's absolutely not worth the minuscule fuel gains unless your commute involves perfect weather and lots of standing traffic.

Edited April 29, 2016 by BORG

[fuzzymoomoo]

I agree BORG. We had a Malibu for a few days while our Pontiac had its ignition switch recall and some other work done and it had the start stop. My wife and I both hated it. She was driving most of the time and it actually shuttered when the engine restarted. It actually gave her motion sickness, which never happens to her when she's driving. Never will we have a car with that feature unless it can be manually disabled, even if I have to pull a fuse.

[Stephen White]

Hmm, that's really interesting. A buddy of mine has an F150 with the EcoBoost, and when I've ridden in his truck there's no lag time at all when he lifts his foot off the brake. The other thing regards AC. The manual (at least for the 2017 Fusion) states that the auto start/stop may not work when climate conditions require that heating or cooling stay on. Maybe yours needs to be checked out? Sounds like your system isn't functioning properly. Your last line actually does apply to those of us living in the DC area-standing traffic is the norm, alas!

[transitman]

Hi, there. Just curious if you've had an ETA on your Fusion order. Mine was ordered just a couple of weeks ago so not sure yet when it'll come in. My salesman estimates a build date of around May 16 with delivery 2-3 weeks later.

Like you, I went with the 1.5L EcoBoost for the fuel economy. The only difference between my configuration and yours is I ordered the Enhanced Park Assist as well. Which color did you opt for? Mine's Lightning Blue.

No ETA yet. The last time I requested tracking it was still Unscheduled - Clean. I don't believe the OK To Buy order has been given so no retail orders have been scheduled. My salesman won't give me a build date estimate. I was going to request a tracking update on May 9th. I didn't get park assist because I rarely parallel park anymore. I sold my inner city home a few years ago and now live in a burb, most often now go to shopping centers rather than inner city shops and park away from others to get steps in and keep my car away from opening car doors and people who don't have park assist. I ordered White Gold.

[helicopter]

I ordered a 17 Titanium AWD back in February. I just received my VIN today. No window sticker yet.

[Stephen White]

Yeah, the Enhanced Parking Assist was something I was really interested in because where I live, parallel parking is common. But it also helps in perpendicular parking and in pulling out of spaces. And the price was only $995. I figured I'd go for it. Really excited to be getting the Fusion. The new features for 2017 are really nice. White Gold is a great color choice.

[Stephen White]

I ordered a 17 Titanium AWD back in February. I just received my VIN today. No window sticker yet.

I was wondering when my window sticker might become available. Some local Ford dealers with cars still on order already have theirs posted online.

[fuzzymoomoo]

I was wondering when my window sticker might become available. Some local Ford dealers with cars still on order already have theirs posted online.

Those are probably dealer stock orders. Retail orders (i.e. Yours) cannot be scheduled until the OK TO BUY status is given, which as far as I've heard hasn't happened yet.

[transitman]

I ordered a 17 Titanium AWD back in February. I just received my VIN today. No window sticker yet.

That's a good sign. A VIN means it's been scheduled and the sticker should be available on or just before the actual build day.

Here's an interesting post I found explaining the order process:

http://www.focusrs.org/forum/11-focus-rs-purchasing/908-ford-ordering-process-explained-start-finish.html

Edited April 30, 2016 by transitman

[helicopter]

That's a good sign. A VIN means it's been scheduled and the sticker should be available on or just before the actual build day.

Here's an interesting post I found explaining the order process:

http://www.focusrs.org/forum/11-focus-rs-purchasing/908-ford-ordering-process-explained-start-finish.html

 

Nice info, thanks! Yeah I just went through this with my Explorer, which I ordered the the same day as the Fusion. I had the window sticker for the Explorer about a week after I received the VIN. It took about 6 weeks total from order to arrival. I'm not expecting the same with the Fusion. I'm wondering though if the "OK to buy" is imminent since Ford is releasing VINs? All in all I'm pretty excited about this car. I've been driving F150s and Explorers for over 20 years and this is the first "new" Ford car I've ever considered other than a Mustang.

[Hybrider]

That's a good sign. A VIN means it's been scheduled and the sticker should be available on or just before the actual build day.

...

 

From what I've seen, the window sticker, at least on Fusions built in Mexico, typically becomes available just about exactly a week before the scheduled build date.

[transitman]

On the prior models it meant that on level 3 the outside LED ring of the taillights stays on all the time and the inner part lights up for brakes. On the SE the outer ring is not lighted at all.

 

http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index.php?/topic/54048-how-to-swap-se-tail-lights-for-titanium/page-3

I was thinking about this and with the rear tail light redesign, I wonder what the 2017 SE lights will look like when the running lights and brake lights are on. As you can see, each tail light is now split by the chrome accent versus the 2016 style.

[BORG]

I've been seeing the 2017 Fusions around town now, the rear taillights aren't quite as striking as the 'Tron' lights from the previous generation with the bold perimeter light, these have been reduced significantly. I do like the narrower wrap-around look created by the chrome strip. The front-end looks narrower and smoother, not as wide and aggressive as the previous model unless you go for the Sport. Like most updates I think the previous generation was a better design, but for now this looks fresh and lean.

Edited May 2, 2016 by BORG

[Stephen White]

I've been seeing the 2017 Fusions around town now, the rear taillights aren't quite as striking as the 'Tron' lights from the previous generation with the bold perimeter light, these have been reduced significantly. I do like the narrower wrap-around look created by the chrome strip. The front-end looks narrower and smoother, not as wide and aggressive as the previous model unless you go for the Sport. Like most updates I think the previous generation was a better design, but for now this looks fresh and lean.

Wow, where do you live? I'm in the DC metro area and none of the dealers here has any 2017s. In fact, only one dealer has told me that they're even in production, let alone on the streets. I'm really looking forward to seeing them.