Fusion's jump to No. 3 lifts Ford confidence

[TomServo92]

Link

[Reigner92]

Things keep looking better and better for Ford.

[Roadrunner]

Will it last? That's what I want to know.

 

The new Fusion has many things going for it, but I am concerned the styling blends in with the crowd too much compared to the first generation model.

[johnnyb82]

Would it sell more if some of them were made in the United States?

[Mark B. Morrow]

They must be on the right track. I'm seeing loads of '10 Fusions on the streets here in Pittsburgh and good number of MKZs and Milans as well.

[rmc523]

Will it last? That's what I want to know.

 

The new Fusion has many things going for it, but I am concerned the styling blends in with the crowd too much compared to the first generation model.

 

Perhaps that's a bit of a good thing?

 

Would it sell more if some of them were made in the United States?

 

Perhaps to people on this board, but I don't know in the overall market.

[ANTAUS]

It's a well executed product that Ford has continiously refined year after year. They have addressed customers issues and concern and have had a positive image in the media doing so. When you excel on a few things, the media reports/brags on it, and people start to take notice. The important fact is that Ford is making a profit on the units sold, and not just building something, for bragging rights. Not too long ago Toyota admitted they don't make much profit, if any, on the Camry...they just use that as an entry product so customers can upgrade to something else in their line that DOES make a profit.

[FoMoCobra]

I'm surprised that it took this long. When the car came out I had a really good feeling that it would climb to the top as a serious import contender. But its better late than never. I personally think its the best high volume FWD car Ford has ever built.

[2b2]

Will it last? That's what I want to know.

the good news will continue imho

but

the rate of improvement will inevitably plateau

(( that's where/when the importance of MERCURY as the next big growth mechanism will become apparent ))

 

The new Fusion has many things going for it, but I am concerned the styling blends in with the crowd too much compared to the first generation model.

the 2010 Fusion sure stands out in any crowd I've been in

[FordBuyer]

It's a well executed product that Ford has continiously refined year after year. They have addressed customers issues and concern and have had a positive image in the media doing so. When you excel on a few things, the media reports/brags on it, and people start to take notice. The important fact is that Ford is making a profit on the units sold, and not just building something, for bragging rights. Not too long ago Toyota admitted they don't make much profit, if any, on the Camry...they just use that as an entry product so customers can upgrade to something else in their line that DOES make a profit.

 

Building the Fusion in Mexico has and is becoming a huge advantage for Ford over Toyota and Honda. Ford can offer so many more features on Fusion with its cost advantage over the competition and still keep prices reasonable. Toyota and Honda can't compete with its U.S. built vehicles. Ford has them checkmated right now, and I'm not sure how they will get out of this cost disadvantage box. Ford can and will just keep on pressing this cost advantage. So on one side, Toyota and Honda have Ford pressuring them, on other side VW with its South of the border advantage, and on yet another side the Koreans are further pressuring Toyota and Honda. Looks to me like the winners in this market collapse are Ford, VW, Kia, and Hyundai with Toyota, Honda, and GM sharing in market share misery.

[2004BlackBird]

Perhaps that's a bit of a good thing?

 

 

 

Perhaps to people on this board, but I don't know in the overall market.

 

I personally wish Ford all the best in the Fusion sales race with Camry & Accord. It IS about time they were 'sales competitive' again.

 

However, from the reactions of my wife and both adult daughters - I am concerned that the styling of Fords in general may have a lack of appeal to the prospective female purchaser. My wife simply does not like the Fusion grill/front end but thinks the MKZ 'looks soooo much better'. She really likes the look of the MKX over the Edge and likes the MKS. I am hoping against hope that when she sees/drives a 2010 Taurus first hand it will appeal to her enough for it to become her next car. The availability of the Nav, Sync, etc. MIGHT win her over with the Taurus over the Lincoln but never would for the Fusion.

 

My oldest daughter (she is 38, drives an Explorer) states that the Fusion front end is 'ugly' and that both the Camry and Accord 'look good'. (Apparently, after all, looks are better than substance, aren't they?)

 

My youngest daughter recently traded her Lincoln LS for a new Jag as 'it looks really nice, and I've always wanted a Jag'.

 

Point is, so many of the vehicle purchases now are influenced heavily by the ladies. What can Ford do (particularly the Ford branded vehicles) to win them over?

[old_fairmont_wagon]

Well, consider the focus of Mercury branding and style lately, that is where they are focusing their efforts on winning over women. I don't know how well its working, but I can tell you that most women that I've talked to about cars really seem to dig the Mariner over the Escape and other competing small SUVs. Some still won't consider Ford and mercury due to Ford's past, but like the mercury looks.

[SVTCobra]

Honestly I would buy this car in a heartbeat if they offered a V6/6-speed Manual combination. I saw one at the local mall a few weeks ago and I was shocked at how stunning I thought it looked.

[White99GT]

Honestly I would buy this car in a heartbeat if they offered a V6/6-speed Manual combination. I saw one at the local mall a few weeks ago and I was shocked at how stunning I thought it looked.

 

Same here, they look really good out on the road. They almost have "road presence" which I can't say for any other mainstream mid-size family sedan.

[rmc523]

the 2010 Fusion sure stands out in any crowd I've been in

 

I think the 2010 makes the '06-'09 model look stale in comparison.

 

However, from the reactions of my wife and both adult daughters - I am concerned that the styling of Fords in general may have a lack of appeal to the prospective female purchaser. My wife simply does not like the Fusion grill/front end but thinks the MKZ 'looks soooo much better'. She really likes the look of the MKX over the Edge and likes the MKS. I am hoping against hope that when she sees/drives a 2010 Taurus first hand it will appeal to her enough for it to become her next car. The availability of the Nav, Sync, etc. MIGHT win her over with the Taurus over the Lincoln but never would for the Fusion.

 

My oldest daughter (she is 38, drives an Explorer) states that the Fusion front end is 'ugly' and that both the Camry and Accord 'look good'. (Apparently, after all, looks are better than substance, aren't they?)

 

My youngest daughter recently traded her Lincoln LS for a new Jag as 'it looks really nice, and I've always wanted a Jag'.

 

Point is, so many of the vehicle purchases now are influenced heavily by the ladies. What can Ford do (particularly the Ford branded vehicles) to win them over?

 

And are most people not "attracted" to the nicer vehicle? I'm not at all questioning you're wife's (or daughter's) design opinion, but it does seem like that's a part of it here.....you're wife likes the nicer, more expensive luxury brand, and so does your daughter - and with her, the brand name seemed to have played a factor in the decision (however small).

 

Just a though.....I completely understand where you're coming from though, raising this question, and I think as others have said, that's one of the few spots where Mercury has done well - getting female customers to look at and buy their vehicles. Mercury's biggest issue now is lack of product and the subsequent lack of advertisement.

Edited July 10, 2009 by rmc523

[SVT_MAN]

I personally wish Ford all the best in the Fusion sales race with Camry & Accord. It IS about time they were 'sales competitive' again.

 

However, from the reactions of my wife and both adult daughters - I am concerned that the styling of Fords in general may have a lack of appeal to the prospective female purchaser. My wife simply does not like the Fusion grill/front end but thinks the MKZ 'looks soooo much better'. She really likes the look of the MKX over the Edge and likes the MKS. I am hoping against hope that when she sees/drives a 2010 Taurus first hand it will appeal to her enough for it to become her next car. The availability of the Nav, Sync, etc. MIGHT win her over with the Taurus over the Lincoln but never would for the Fusion.

 

My oldest daughter (she is 38, drives an Explorer) states that the Fusion front end is 'ugly' and that both the Camry and Accord 'look good'. (Apparently, after all, looks are better than substance, aren't they?)

 

My youngest daughter recently traded her Lincoln LS for a new Jag as 'it looks really nice, and I've always wanted a Jag'.

 

Point is, so many of the vehicle purchases now are influenced heavily by the ladies. What can Ford do (particularly the Ford branded vehicles) to win them over?

 

My girlfriend likes my 2006 Ford Fusion SEL, but she says that the new 2010 Fusion is ugly and it looks squinty-eyed. Going to the auto show with her was not fun - whenever I asked her what she thought of a particular car, she said it was ugly if it was a Ford ... kind of made me feel like leaving the show. Kind of crushed my dreams of ever owning half the vehicles I would consider purchasing in the future. My girlfriend has (what I consider to be) very peculiar taste in vehicles though. Plus, she only views them as A to B transportation - she doesn't understand the attachment to cars - yet, she would spend $10,000 on a piano ... (not that I see anything wrong with purchasing a piano for $10,000 - from a financial standpoint the piano makes more sense since it doesn't depreciate like a vehicle ... but yeah).

 

She likes boring, vanilla-looking cars because anything else she says is ugly. Anything aggressive she thinks is ugly (Mustang included). It's probably the one thing that I dislike about her.

Edited July 11, 2009 by SVT_MAN

[Sherminator98]

Kind of crushed my dreams of ever owning half the vehicles I would consider purchasing in the future.

 

So what, buy what you want and then let her pick out what she wants or just force her to drive what ever you buy her, if you get married :P

[ANTAUS]

Yeah I dated someone once thAt had an "opinion" about cars that way, the sentence didn't finish before I started with "well f-u you hypocritical tin can lovin... Blah blah". It was the only argument we ever had actually.

[Mark B. Morrow]

Yeah I dated someone once thAt had an "opinion" about cars that way, the sentence didn't finish before I started with "well f-u you hypocritical tin can lovin... Blah blah". It was the only argument we ever had actually.

 

 

Never saw her again Huh?

[630land]

''I am concerned the styling blends in with the crowd too much''

 

Armchair auto exec, that is what makes Camry #1.

[Sherminator98]

''I am concerned the styling blends in with the crowd too much''

 

Armchair auto exec, that is what makes Camry #1.

 

I'd say its reputation not its styling makes it #1

 

You can sell an ulgy/boring car if it has a good reputation. You need a good looking/interesting car to bring customers in if you don't have a good reputation...

[Joe771476]

All Ford has to do now is keep tweaking the Fusion and the Taurus. Every couple years, freshen the sheet metal a little with a crease here, and door handle change there while improving the mechanicals as well. Don't EVER drop these nameplates!

[Deanh]

My girlfriend likes my 2006 Ford Fusion SEL, but she says that the new 2010 Fusion is ugly and it looks squinty-eyed. Going to the auto show with her was not fun - whenever I asked her what she thought of a particular car, she said it was ugly if it was a Ford ... kind of made me feel like leaving the show. Kind of crushed my dreams of ever owning half the vehicles I would consider purchasing in the future. My girlfriend has (what I consider to be) very peculiar taste in vehicles though. Plus, she only views them as A to B transportation - she doesn't understand the attachment to cars - yet, she would spend $10,000 on a piano ... (not that I see anything wrong with purchasing a piano for $10,000 - from a financial standpoint the piano makes more sense since it doesn't depreciate like a vehicle ... but yeah).

 

She likes boring, vanilla-looking cars because anything else she says is ugly. Anything aggressive she thinks is ugly (Mustang included). It's probably the one thing that I dislike about her.

hope she is leased and not purchased....

[fordtech1]

I'd say its reputation not its styling makes it #1

 

You can sell an ulgy/boring car if it has a good reputation. You need a good looking/interesting car to bring customers in if you don't have a good reputation...

 

That must be true. I saw a new Honda Accord on the road the other day. Man is the butt of that thing ugly... I think that is one of the ugliest cars out. I have owned a few Hondas. Pretty good cars. But, I can not imagine thinking the new accord looks better than the Fusion new or old. As a matter of fact, I can't think of many cars that are uglier than the accord.

I guess just different taste and priorities.

[Hugh]

$0.02 here:

 

Just spent the afternoon in my father's 2010 Fusion SEL. Atlantis Green/Charcoal Cloth, 2.5L w/6A. Dual power seats, Dual climate control. Std Radio w/ SYNC.

 

Now to the ride: Quiet, Responsive, Manouverable, Efficient and adequate for power. I can say the reviews were right in a lot of things so I won't repeat. The experience was very good. I would have liked to have had the manual to try yet there are none here.

 

I've been in an Accord (last gen not the new one) and a current Camry before. Now I prefered the Accord and it did everything relatively right. I felt the Fusion takes it beyond with a interior and exterior which stands out. It may not be everything to everyone but I don't care. There were some nice touches and a few little (stress little) annoyances.

 

Overall, a very satisfiying experience. Now, maybe a Fusion Sport tomorrow. :happy feet: