BrewfanGRB

I have to say, the LaCrosse looks pretty nice! The current version just reminds me of typical GM anonymity. But the 2010 reminds me of the redesign they gave the Malibu---it's distinctive, IMO. (I agree, there are Lexus cues, especially on the rear, but I like to think I don't get "fooled" easily). Still not going to buy or consider it, though. I'm too busy saving for an SHO to get sidetracked by a pretty Buick. B)

Great post! This is why I LOVE x-plan. I bought my '09 Fusion in March. The way I see it, I could have been Joe Schmo and wasted 2 hours of the salesperson's time arguing over the price, blahblahblah, when given the vehicle, he probably would have offered a few hundred over invoice right away anyway. Instead, I used the fordpartner.com site to find the vehicle I wanted (basically, it has everything except AWD and reverse sensing...I couldn't care less about the color, if it had the features I wanted). I went in and said, "hey, you've got a V6 SEL in Smokestone out there...I'd like to drive it". Test drive, told him I was X-plan, appraised my trade, told him I was pre-approved for financing, DONE. Yeah, it dragged a little because I still had to talk to the manager, fax the purchase order to my bank so they could cut the check, etc....but my salesperson told me "that was the easiest sale I've ever had--you knew everything about the car, what you wanted, what it did...thanks". In the end, the dealer only made $350ish (the paperwork tells me how much it was, but it was about that)...so I kinda felt bad--if the dealer only made $350, how much could the salesperson possibly have made? This dealer is 60 miles away from my house and I got 2 yrs/25k maintenance. I love driving my car so much, I still take it to that dealer for service, even though there's a Ford dealer 13 miles away.

Thanks for pointing that out. Maybe I should PM my posts to you first...then you and the other judges can score me before I post them here? Get a grip.

Well, jeez, then in that case, I don't understand why Ford treats Mercury like a red-headed stepchild. I don't have any interest in any of their products (to me, either the Ford equivalent is good enough or I would save up to move up to Lincoln), but obviously there is client out there that DOES...that's frustrating.

Right. Totally forgot or overlooked that. Thanks.

I agree. If the GM is going away, which was sort of the, umm, err, old persons car that still sold pretty well for Ford, then what is Mercury really offering? But, I suppose here's the bottom line: Would Ford really save much by eliminating Mercury? I realize that their cars are basically twins of the Ford counterparts, but they aren't EXACTLY the same, so theoretically, there would be some savings by not having to engineer the different sheet metal, design a different interior, etc. But there wouldn't be any real dealership elimination costs or savings---with Lincoln having more models than Mercury, the LM stores could go Lincoln only or Ford stores could buy up a Lincoln dealer. So, to me, it seems like a wash all around, no?

Having worked in the insurance industry my entire career, mostly on the client service side, I will try to offer what I can here. 1) I totally agree with going to a Ford dealer with an on-site body shop. They may not STOCK the parts, but they will have access to them. They are going to be able to give you the most accurate (and probably the "highest" estimate). That is your goal, if you are looking to total it. 2) the diminished value end of it is really only relevant (financially) if your insurance company doesn't total it, your insurance company doesn't offer enough to cover the supposed diminished value and you then choose to pursue the other driver/insurance company 3) I am of the opinion that you should always work with YOUR insurance company first, as much as you can, until you can't get anywhere anymore. Your insurance company, when it comes to repairing the vehicle, isn't looking at comparative liability, etc. (That is, it's irrelevant who did what--it was damaged in a collision, it's covered, now we decide the cost to repair). The other guy's insurance company, OTOH, is not only going to battle you on the cost of repair, but depending on your state laws, could argue over the comparative negligence of each driver. Yes, I realize it's silly to think you may have any negligence at all (and you probably don't have ANY), but the the truth is, that isn't going to stop the other insurance company from at least looking to see if there is any. 4) DO NOT go to the lawyer until you absolutely must. You may say "ah, you insurance guys don't like lawyers". No, we don't. Here's why: Once you are attorney rep'd, we can only talk to the attorney. Then, whatever the insurance company does pay, you stand a VERY good chance of whatever "extra" you think you received has been chewed up by either the lawyer's hourly fee or the contingency fee. You can get the same result by "acting like a lawyer"---standing your ground, making a reasoned argument and not giving in until you are satisfied. That said, if you can't get anywhere with the insurance company, THEN absolutely, get the lawyer. 5) the opinion of the police that the vehicle is "totalled" is ridiculous. They are not: insurance adjusters or body shop employees. Neither your insurance company or the other guys will take that into account. The only thing that matters is Cost of repair as a percentage of the value of the vehicle. Period. I really hope it all works out--it's a bad spot to be in all around.

Undoubtedly. But, I suppose what I was saying is that while Ford intends the Taurus to be a volume model, the SHO trim line of that model certainly will not be. For that reason, I was surprised at the rebate--but if I am ever going to buy one, I am going to need all the help I can get!

Well, not quite as alarming to my paycheck as I thought it might be. :unsure: Every possible option (check that--no 20" wheels) is 43.5k. I took a look at Fordpartner.com and X-plan takes $2940 off the 402A quick order. (So probably more after I added the options). But, assuming the $2940 discount, the $1000 rebate and a conservative $2500 down payment (after 2 years of saving), I would be about $300 more per month than my Fusion. That would be tough. So, it might take 3 years of saving (which means another raise, etc, too) to get me there. That also assumes that my trade-in value on the '09 Fusion holds up. Lastly, WHY is there even a rebate at all on this model??? There not even for sale, how can Ford know whether it's going to sell or not? My thinking is that if this the top trim on your flagship, why not go "no rebate" and see where the demand is? :shrug:

I completely agree. To be completely candid, I have a 78 mile roundtrip commute and drive 300 miles roundtrip to Milwaukee about 20-25 times a year (bet you can't figure out why ). Anyway, I didn't really give any consideration to fuel economy when I bought my Fusion V6. As long as it's not 15-20 mpg or something, what I am getting is good enough. As for the SHO, if I can get to the point of being able to buy one, I couldn't care less what the MPG is.

I don't really disagree, to an extent. I was just surprised that it wasn't a power option on a vehicle like this, as it seems common in other vehicles of its class. As for set it and forget it, in my Fusion, I do tilt the wheel up all the way when I exit and reposition it down after I get in.

Sort of anecdotal, but my dealer said they got 3 Fusion Hybrids and have sold 2 of them already. I thought I had read that hybrid was fairly limited (20-25k, perhaps? Help, anyone?). But, it's not really clear whether the hybrid is even profitable, so they wouldn't increase production (if they even can?). Anyway, I did like the stats for total hybrid sales. I would think if they can make the hybrid line profitable, I would love to see the day that Ford ends up selling the most hybrids.

I live in Northeast WI and I have seen a couple '10 Fusions. (I saw one in a Target parking lot waaay back in April (?) and I had to over and look at it). I haven't seen ANY Flexes around here and I drive a lot. But, there are LOTS of '08, '09 Fusions around. (I live in a town of 5000 people and there's at least 4 that I know of here alone---but none like mine!). There is only 1 new car dealership in my town (it's Buick-Pontiac-GMC) and they try to act like a volume dealer---they have something like 80 new vehicles on the lot (in a town of 5000!!!). :headscratch: I don't think they are selling much.

Got to see, touch, sit in an SHO at an unveiling at the dealership where I bought my '09 Fusion SEL. Tuxedo Black and goddamn AWESOME! It was pre-production, like Campbell's---driven there from Detroit by a Sales Trainer. (My dealer is Stumpf Ford, Appleton WI). Yes, the cupholder covers, etc in the center between the 2 front seats were shiny and looked susceptible to fingerprints...but the rest of the car was very nice soft-touch material. The seats definitely make you feel connected to the car---I was leery of the suede inserts, as I like the feel of the "regular" leather...but I was surprised. Very nice and very comfortable. The car just LOOKS fast from the exterior and looks big but doesn't FEEL big on the inside (does that make any sense?)---I mean I could tell there was tons of room (a HUGE trunk) but it didn't FEEL like it was "big". A couple of disappointments: 1) At least in this car, the tilt/telescope was manual, not power. Seems odd that this isn't a power feature in Ford's flagship. 2) We couldn't start the car---the sales trainer had the key, but he was too far away for the car to start. I was kinda hoping to see the IP go through the start up sequence. :rolleyes: It's a HUGE budget stretch for me right now (easily 40k w/ options and although it's VERY nice w/o any options, I wouldn't want it w/o a moonroof. etc), but with a decent resale on my Fusion, I might be ready in 2-3 years. The saving starts NOW!

"The windscreen IS heated...but not bulletproof." Ha!