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Say what? That might be the case with the Accord and Camry but not the Fusion...esp with the current setup with the 2.3L and Automatic.

 

I know Ford was suprised at the take rate of the I4 Fusion, but I'm willing to bet that only 20-30% of Fusion sales are I4 models.

 

 

Ok I'll eat my own words here....I just looked at the Fusion order guide for 2007 (the 2008 one didn't have info on it) and its a 50% split between the I4 and V6, though I'd wonder how much fleet sales affect this?

 

http://www.fordfusion.net/documents/2007-f...order-guide.pdf

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Skoda-Superb_2003_photo_07.jpg

 

Trouble is just about everbody has a car the same as a Mondeo, Skoda have a much better build quality than Ford and sell their Mondeo for a fraction of the price, and you get VW/Audi parts like the TT engine in the Skoda RS so life is tough for the Mondeo.

 

Does the Skoda really have better build quality than the Mondeo?

 

Don't a lot of people in North America complain about VW build quality? I thought VW was having quality issues lately.

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Does the Skoda really have better build quality than the Mondeo?

 

Don't a lot of people in North America complain about VW build quality? I thought VW was having quality issues lately.

VW has pretty horrid quality issues. Their dealership here in PHX knows it, not a day goes by where they don't have 2-3 "VeeDubs" delivered to their service center on flatbeds. Also not the most cost-effective to repair....

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Does the Skoda really have better build quality than the Mondeo?

 

Don't a lot of people in North America complain about VW build quality? I thought VW was having quality issues lately.

 

Skoda got the No1 in Mondeo class of car in the 2007 JD Survey which is the biggest in the UK

http://www.whatcar.co.uk/news-special-repo...&EL=3196977

 

Skoda got the No3 spot in leading car brand Lexus came top Honda 2nd

 

VW give you 4 bar grilles on their Mondeo

 

Volkswagen_Passat_3.6_US_Version_2006_45.jpg

Edited by Ford Jellymoulds
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Skoda got the No3 spot in leading car brand Lexus came top Honda 2nd

 

VW give you 4 bar grilles on their Mondeo

 

Hopefully the new Mondeo will move up from its current 11th place finish (according to the survey you posted).

 

There is more than one VW in the top 10. That I find incredible considering what I have heard regarding VW here in NA.

 

That Skoda model you posted is a very tame design (even more tame than the Ford 500). Skoda has been known to produce some different cars - like the Roomster below.

 

skoda_roomster_rear_31_05_06.jpg

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2. The majority of Fusions sold are 4 cylinder versions, only a few V6s are sold.

3. Mondeo is available with 2.5 Gas Turbo I-5 for a performance lift

 

Regardless as to how many 4 cylinder Fusions are sold over V-6s, a competitive engine is a necessity in this class. The Fusion lags behind every other competitor. You do realize that the 'available 2.5 Gas Turbo I-5' only produces 220 hp?

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Regardless as to how many 4 cylinder Fusions are sold over V-6s, a competitive engine is a necessity in this class. The Fusion lags behind every other competitor. You do realize that the 'available 2.5 Gas Turbo I-5' only produces 220 hp?

Which is the same power as the V6 but much more bottom end torque.

With Ecoboost on the way, I doubt Ford's need for a V6 engine option anyway.

The Volvo Turbo I-5 and Duratec V6 in the Mondeo and Fusion respectively, will both make way

for a 2.0 Ecoboost with 270 hp 270 lb - a pretty competitive and fuel efficient engine.

Edited by jpd80
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Based it on current sale price at current exchange rate. (15K british pounds = $30k)

 

How much less could it be?

 

BMW's Mondeo lead the gaggle in Mondeo class of car made by every man and his dog. BMW is leading the class because if you want to keep up with the Jones then you can't beat the pose value of a Beemer badge stuck on the front of your grill. If you want to know what the price are in UK just double these prices here, and you will also notice why folk have the hots for a BMW when you look at the rapid depreciation of a Mondeo compared to a Beemer Mondeo.

 

BMW Mondeo the depreciation is beautiful.

http://www.whatcar.com/depreciation-index....51657&ED4=0

 

 

 

bmw_e92_coupe_rg_01.jpg

Edited by Ford Jellymoulds
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Doubt that with Ecoboost coming. Turbo power and fuel economy kills the appeal of a V6 .

 

JPD80,

 

Well, this was one of the key reasons that FoE decided to go off on their own rather than pick up the CD3.

 

A large (3.5-3.7l) powerful (265-275hp) V6 is required in the mid size sedan market in the US. If you don't have it, or if your HP is down to the competition (like the Fusion), then you get criticized, even by conservative publications like Consumer Reports. These powertrains have a high application rate -- probably ranging from 30% to 50% or so. To many customers, they represent smooth, confident performance; basically they have taken the place of the attributes of V8's in the 70's. These customers are willing to give up the mileage for always having power on tap, just like Falcon owners love the I6 with basketsfull of torque.

 

I would think the next generation platform would come in 2011-2012 when the CD3 is due for replacement, even though EUCD will be in mid cycle. Ford could take a guts pill and decide they will go with only I4 and EBI4, but that would require nerves of steel. No matter the boost or HP, nothing beats cubes for smooth performance. And I am concerned that Mazda's 4 cylinder engines are quite raw in the NVH department and when boosted might not be so pleasant. If Ford were starting with Honda 4's, then it might be a bit less of a stretch.

 

If a platform could be pulled together with an I-engine lineup only (like Mondeo), there would be benefits in weight, front overhang, and fuel economy that would be nice to have. But I can't imagine taking the risk of not having a V6 at this point. These cars are all getting larger with the 2008 Accord now at 194" OAL compared with Fusion at 190" OAL, and longer means heavier. To take a risk of only I-engines would mean banking on a big increase in environmental concern. Or you might take the risk if it were a key element of the plan to meet CAFE by 2020.

 

And you would still have to figure out what to do with the Volvo S80 which also requires a V engine. The present iteration which is a EUCD (in name only I have been told) has been harshly reviewed by every magazine I have read. Maybe Ford donates a platform back to Volvo from NA and assembles in NA with Taurus?

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Were my posts deleted? I could've sworn I posted in this thread a few days ago, but they're not here anymore.j

 

EDIT: I found the thread I had replied in......it had the same Falcon spy shot, that's why I thought I had posted here.

Edited by rmc523
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So whats Ford going to do, ditch the whole '3 bar grill' trademark or are they going to create a design that is more like the current Mondeo and Ford Fiesta?

 

See the US (NAIAS) Verve concept. That's a likely indication of what US products will begin to look like, with the exceptions of the trucks and SUVs, and certain CUVs (likely Edge, Flex Explorer).

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Skoda-Superb_2003_photo_07.jpg

 

Trouble is just about everbody has a car the same as a Mondeo, Skoda have a much better build quality than Ford and sell their Mondeo for a fraction of the price, and you get VW/Audi parts like the TT engine in the Skoda RS so life is tough for the Mondeo.

 

That thing is boring and/or ugly.

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That Skoda model you posted is a very tame design (even more tame than the Ford 500). Skoda has been known to produce some different cars - like the Roomster below.

 

skoda_roomster_rear_31_05_06.jpg

 

Yuck.

 

I do agree w/ you about that Sdoka's design.

Edited by rmc523
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That thing is boring and/or ugly.

 

I agree with everything you say this class of car is so boring they are about as exciting watching paint dry, in 30 years time from today. Do ever ever think you will ever see one of these low milage Mondeo type cars ever pampered in heated in a garage like awesome old Ford classics like the RWD Escorts, Cortina's & Capri's of 40 years ago do today, l doubt very much.

 

In 30 years from now you will see class leading best sellers like the Mustangs, F-150's or today making their way through car auctions for silly money. But if a Mondeo ever turned up a Barratt Jackson auction the whole auction hall would burst out laughing at it. Mondeo is selling into very equally boring group of cars why can't the Mondeo be different break the mould? Inject some Soul into the car the Cortina like the Mustang lead it class because it had soul. The Mondeo has got not a chance of doing well when every man and his dog now has its same Mondeo, Mondeo has become anonymous not looked at buy the buyer, you get better quality & value with a Skoda, and the Ford badge would looks rubbish to a poser wanting a Beemer 3 series to keep up with the Jones. This never happened in the past the pure magic of the older classics charmed the buyers and kept them at Ford. Mondeo needs soul if it's going to charm them away again it needs to break the mould if it wants to be No1 like the Cortina always was.

Edited by Ford Jellymoulds
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Most Mondeos sold are cheap stipper models with tiny sputtering little engines that would never pass spec by the US consumer. On the other hand, you can have an AWD Fusion with a strong V6 and 6-speed transmission for far less. I don't think people understand the nature of the markets and why cars have to be regionalized rather than globalized. Each consumer has dramatically different expectations, particularly among the bread and butter sector.

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The Mondeo has got not a chance of doing well when every man and his dog now has its same Mondeo, Mondeo has become anonymous not looked at buy the buyer, you get better quality & value with a Skoda, and the Ford badge would looks rubbish to a poser wanting a Beemer 3 series to keep up with the Jones. This never happened in the past the pure magic of the older classics charmed the buyers and kept them at Ford. Mondeo needs soul if it's going to charm them away again it needs to break the mould if it wants to be No1 like the Cortina always was.

 

You sure are in a grouchy mood.

 

However, in your truculent fashion, you have raised a valid point about Ford marketing: what to do about taking Ford EU up into BMW's 3-5 series higher-end models?

 

Ford has done wonders with the Mondeo in presenting a vehicle that is like the Camry in NA, in terms of NVH. IIRC, the next Mondeo is a shared platform with the Fusion, so putting higher power into the next Mondeo could be feasible, so there'd be a 300+hp model. Or should Ford EU build a variant of the next RWD platform to really go after the 5-series?

 

It also appears that Ford is not currently involved in British super touring, BTCC, or whatever they call it. This is where the spirit of the Cortina lives. Is this correct?

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