Ovaltine

I parked my new-design 2005 KIA Spectra next to an attractive new silver Ford Fusion SEL today at work. The Fusion appeared to be very nice. The Fusion (and 500 for that matter) really do show *huge* improvements in Ford product (at least on the surface). That cannot be denied. But why is it that I can find several "little" things about the Fusion that's missing (IMHO), and that even KIA has managed to nail???? For instance..... 1. Why does a $13k KIA have a locking gas filler door (w/convenient release), and the $20k+ Fusion has a simple standard flip open filler door???? In this day and age of inflating gas prices, I'd be having to buy a locking gas cap at Murray's for my Fusion and dealing with the hassle of keeping a set of keys in the car, etc. 2. Why does the Fusion have thin outer rubber seals that stick up past the door frame (next to the window) on all four doors, but my KIA's same seals are seated perfectly next to the window and frame in perfect symetry and with perfect fit? Since I haven't sat in or ridden in a Fusion yet, I can't make any further comparisons. But I will say that when the panel gaps, paint, and general fit and finish of Korea's supposed "bottom end" manufacturer starts coming close or surpassing the quality of any of the major players, then those major players need to ratchet it up another notch or two. -Ovaltine

You bet I do...... check out an example here: I'm in agreement. They'd have to have a curvy enough body to incorporate that line attractively. -Ovaltine

RC: When was the last time you were in a new KIA? Have you check out the interiors of the new Spectra? Or the Sportage? I have, and for the money, I think they're d-mn nice! The controls are also laid out very intelligently. I also know that the Spectra's dash, door panels, and all armrests are nicely padded or made from soft plastic/foam materials. The Sportage dashboard is made of a hard plastic compound however. Here are some pics: New Spectra5 Rear seat: http://media.automotive.com/evox/stilllib/...2005/5ha/52.jpg New Spectra EX: Rear seat: http://us.autos1.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo...._18_346x270.jpg New Sportage -Ovaltine

I'm with Niteflight on this one. Skip the fancy composites, plastics, styrofoams, paper mache's, whatEVER you want to call it, and make the the thing that sits directly on top of a broiling hot engine out of friggin' METAL! The few ounces and $$$ possibly saved cannot be worth the kind of aggravation that this case has caused. And as an owner who expects 10 years and 100k+ relatively problem free miles out of his cars (with proper maintenance), a "composite" manifold just SMELLS like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off somewhere in those later years of ownership. Esp. if the design incorporates coolant passages in it as this one did. -Ovaltine

Collum? Did he say Collum, or........GOLLUM???