Parked next to a new Fusion....

[06StangAwesomecar]

Yes... it IS 2006. At least THAT much you have right.

 

And nightmares like THIS ongoing cluster-bleep posted today continue to propogate on this forum:

http://www.blueovalforums.com/forums/index...=20entry44519

 

Read the entire thread. This person has a beautiful 2002 $40k Ford T-Bird "paperweight". This is NOT an inexpensive Ford from the '80s, a statement that you like to discount my previous arguments with.

 

AND if you read my entire message above, somehow a 2002 Ford Focus with corroded and broken springs also doesn't seem to qualify as a ...."car from the 80's".

Look, it's apparent that Ford seems to be getting some religion on both design and quality. Kudos articles like this one in today's DetNews bear that out: :happy feet:

 

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...=73243443240297

 

Fusion marches past Camry

Ford's power, fit and finish trump Toyota's warhorse

But every one of those, there's usually 2 of these. This article ALSO printed in today's DetNews:

 

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...393/1148/AUTO01

 

A bold move for Ford: Do it right the first time

A s Ford Motor Co. launches yet another ad strategy -- "Bold Moves" -- how 'bout adding a sorely needed kicker: "Do it right the first time."

And finally..... the J.D. Power LTQ stats you keep shoveling out about KIA (and Hyundai too) will most likely be history by around 2009. I've discussed that on this same thread before. KIA's line is 90% revamped as of 2006, and the first car they revamped, my 2004.5 Spectra, took *2nd* place in the 2005 J.D. Powers IQS study... AHEAD of the Corolla and Civic. Read up online, and there's discussion of high IQS being linked to high LTQ. 2006 (all new vehicle lineup) + 3 years = 2009. YOU do the math.

 

Also.... the KIA Sedona minivan just passed the stringent IIHS safety with the highest safety grades ever recorded for a minivan.

 

The Sportage SUV and Amanti have also both won J.D. Powers customer satisfaction awards in 2005.

 

As I've stressed before in this thread, perception lags reality by about around 5 years. Paraphrasing your own words.... "you keep bringing up KIA's from the '90s/early 2000's, get over it. It is 2006."

 

Yes... it IS 2006. And Ford, GM, and Chrysler to a lesser extent better keep watching the mirror for companies like KIA and Hyundai, and do *everything* possible to stay ahead of them. Otherwise you ALL may be working for outfits like Hyundai-Mobis (a Hyundai parts and chassis supplier subsidiary), like my nephew now does down in Toledo.

-Ovaltine

 

 

I am talking about you, not someone else like you like to bring up, I can give you links to many unhappy KIA owners too.

As far as springs Ford doesnt make them a supplier does, and if it makes you feel bettet I put 2 sets on my mother inlaws T-Bird, MOOG, I got the last set warrantied.

And 2000 inst 1980, want me to post the articles from Forbes, Edmunds, The Highway Crash Institute , Wards, Auto week, I can go on, We are in 2006 and Kia was back in the 70's now they are up to the 80's.

Like I said before I work on cars for a living, I see way more then you, and right now KIA= not impressive.

 

Thats kind funny...my family had 2 escorts get well over 100K on them...a 86 Escort GT with over 200K miles still on the road in 1998 and a 92 Escort that had a 130K on it before it was flipped by its new owner...with just a intake vavle that needed to be replaced.

 

I seen many with that too, but the majority didnt, because they just put gas in and go, and dont relize that you have to change the oil, change the anti-freeze, and omg a timing belt, what is that.

Edited May 9, 2006 by 05StangAwsomecar

[bec5150]

I read the Tbird thread and it's not about the car breaking....it looks like it never got fixed when the dealer said it was.

 

Same problem I had with my Ranger. No one likes problems, but when we get our vehicles back, we expect it to be fixed. I am guessing the Tbird did't have any problem that couldn't be fixed in a day, but instead it turns into a huge issue.

 

Let me get specific:

 

2003 CR-V

 

8K...two recalls, taken to the dealer, fixed, washed.

 

30,000K...another recall, faulty power window switch (wouldn't return to "off"), rocking drivers seat. All fixed, car washed, returned. Took a day, got a brand new rental to use for the day.

 

2002 Ford Ranger

 

500 miles - Drum brake spring making noise on the back. Fixed under warranty....no wash./

 

5K miles. Went to rotate tires in my garage and BROKE a 19mm socket trying to get the same tire off that the Ford dealer removed to get to the drum. Ended up using an impact socket on the end of a 1/2" 1' speedwrench and a 3ft breaker bar and my 235Lbs of weight to break them lose. I guess getting a torque stick or wrench out and doing the job right the first time was too much work for the tech. Thank God I don't have discs on the back axle, eh?

 

10K - Dashboard light in cluster went out. Replaced. Light switch light was out when I got it back, took it back and they replaced that light. No wash

 

15K. anothe rlight went out. Replaced. No wash.

18K Another light went out. Asked if they could replace ALL the lights. They said "no" because only one bulb went bad. No wash

 

25K - Two more light bulbs out, battery started leaking out of the "seam" on the side, on to the battery tray, and on to the frame. Service manager told me "If you would have let us service it we would have caught it in time" and I said "I do my own service, I DID CATCH it in time and that's why I am here." They kept my truck and had to apply to Ford to see if the defective battery would be covered under warranty. Repair was approved, body work was done. It did require disassembly of the A/C.

 

A week later, got the truck back...checked the dash lights before I even started it, they had not replaced them even though the warranty item was on the work order. Told them this time I need a loner. They reluctanty gave me a 2001 Taurus.

 

Got truck back. A/C didn't work. They said they could get to it next week. I told them they can keep it for as long as they want. Their smile went to a frown as I got back into the Taurus and drove off. The next day the truck was fixed for good.

 

Also note that the truck had sat a total of a week and a half in a gravel parking lot and they never did so much as piss on the windshield so I could see out.

 

31K. Another light bulb went out on the dash. I bought the service manual and some Sylvania long life light bulbs and replaced every light bulb in the gauge cluster. End of problem.

 

55K. Driver's side upper ball joint toast. Since it is out of warranty I took it to the local service center where they replaced it and did an alignment. Notice I didn't let Laural and Hardy down at the dealer do this.

 

NOW, look at how this problem could have been avoided. The Motorcraft replacement battery was much more robust than the POS the truck came with. The dashboard lights were obviouslly junk as well. Before my 2002 Ranger I had never replaced a dashboard light.

 

So if they would have used quality parts to begin with, the brake spring would have been the only warranty item and the total unschedule maint. visits would have been ONE, much better than my Honda. Furthermore, if all of the items would have been fixed THE FIRST TIME correctly, the total calls would have been THREE and I would have been a helluva lot happier than I am with the Ford service.

 

Point made??

Edited May 3, 2006 by bec5150

[Roadrunner]

Ovaltine, what's with your condescending tone on the forum?

[NJSteve3]

I read the Tbird thread and it's not about the car breaking....it looks like it never got fixed when the dealer said it was.

 

Same problem I had with my Ranger. No one likes problems, but when we get our vehicles back, we expect it to be fixed. I am guessing the Tbird did't have any problem that couldn't be fixed in a day, but instead it turns into a huge issue.

 

Let me get specific:

 

2003 CR-V

 

8K...two recalls, taken to the dealer, fixed, washed.

 

30,000K...another recall, faulty power window switch (wouldn't return to "off"), rocking drivers seat. All fixed, car washed, returned. Took a day, got a brand new rental to use for the day.

 

2002 Ford Ranger

 

500 miles - Drum brake spring making noise on the back. Fixed under warranty....no wash./

 

5K miles. Went to rotate tires in my garage and BROKE a 19mm socket trying to get the same tire off that the Ford dealer removed to get to the drum. Ended up using an impact socket on the end of a 1/2" 1' speedwrench and a 3ft breaker bar and my 235Lbs of weight to break them lose. I guess getting a torque stick or wrench out and doing the job right the first time was too much work for the tech. Thank God I don't have discs on the back axle, eh?

 

10K - Dashboard light in cluster went out. Replaced. Light switch light was out when I got it back, took it back and they replaced that light. No wash

 

15K. anothe rlight went out. Replaced. No wash.

18K Another light went out. Asked if they could replace ALL the lights. They said "no" because only one bulb went bad. No wash

 

25K - Two more light bulbs out, battery started leaking out of the "seam" on the side, on to the battery tray, and on to the frame. Service manager told me "If you would have let us service it we would have caught it in time" and I said "I do my own service, I DID CATCH it in time and that's why I am here." They kept my truck and had to apply to Ford to see if the defective battery would be covered under warranty. Repair was approved, body work was done. It did require disassembly of the A/C.

 

A week later, got the truck back...checked the dash lights before I even started it, they had not replaced them even though the warranty item was on the work order. Told them this time I need a loner. They reluctanty gave me a 2001 Taurus.

 

Got truck back. A/C didn't work. They said they could get to it next week. I told them they can keep it for as long as they want. Their smile went to a frown as I got back into the Taurus and drove off. The next day the truck was fixed for good.

 

Also note that the truck had sat a total of a week and a half in a gravel parking lot and they never did so much as piss on the windshield so I could see out.

 

31K. Another light bulb went out on the dash. I bought the service manual and some Sylvania long life light bulbs and replaced every light bulb in the gauge cluster. End of problem.

 

55K. Driver's side upper ball joint toast. Since it is out of warranty I took it to the local service center where they replaced it and did an alignment. Notice I didn't let Laural and Hardy down at the dealer do this.

 

NOW, look at how this problem could have been avoided. The Motorcraft replacement battery was much more robust than the POS the truck came with. The dashboard lights were obviouslly junk as well. Before my 2002 Ranger I had never replaced a dashboard light.

 

So if they would have used quality parts to begin with, the brake spring would have been the only warranty item and the total unschedule maint. visits would have been ONE, much better than my Honda. Furthermore, if all of the items would have been fixed THE FIRST TIME correctly, the total calls would have been THREE and I would have been a helluva lot happier than I am with the Ford service.

 

Point made??

 

Point made.

 

I bought my Taurus as a 2 yr old used, and was darn happy and proud, as it was the newest/nicest vehicle I had owned, to that point. The fit and finish remain great - paint, body, and interior have held up very well - I get compliments often on my Ford's appearance. Performance, handling, ride remain adequate at 120k+.

 

I did not expect to race this car, and still drive with care.

 

I also did not expect the tranny to fail at 72k - well that's half a fib, the tech who recommended the car suggested that part of the reason for the bargain price, under 10k, was that the trannies are subject to failure. I figured, spend the 2k down the road, and I'm still ahead of the game. Still, when the day comes, it smarts.

 

I absolutely did not see the head gasket failure coming. Ford made good on the first one, around 92k, but the second at 113k, 4 yrs later, was hurt the pocketbook and further dampened my confidence.

 

It's kind of sad - I've had the car nearly 10 years, it still looks and feels good, but every so often, the temp gauge moves a bit, and my stomach tightens. I know the 3.8 and this particular tranny are of especially ill repute, and I am confident that Ford's products today are better engineered than my Taurus' drivetrain, but I wish they had done it right the first time.

[Ovaltine]

Ovaltine, what's with your condescending tone on the forum?

RR:

 

I guess it's ad hominem statements/posts like this these....

 

.....I am so sick of this little punk ass bitches that buy their little damned shit banger Kia's and imported Jap shit and then have to gaul to act like they aren't doing their country an injustice. I know that at one point in time (20 years ago) it was a commonly known fact that Japanesse cars were far more reliable than domestic cars. But such is not the case now, nor has it been for some time. If this fool had spent five minutes doing some research on the internet with respect to long term relaiblity he would have already found that Ford and GM are far more reliable in the long run than his junky ass Kia mobile.

 

.....He just bought the damn thing because it was made by an asian company and like a brainless twit he just assumed, like many of the masses out there do, that anything made along the east asian portion of the contenient must be ultra reliable and far better than any domestic brand. This is of course not the case at all.

 

.....So drive your little shitbanger Kia if you think it's so damned great. Just know that assholes like you are part of the problem, not part of the solution. Good post Paul, you're alright with me buddy.

 

.....Oh one more thing, do you go thru trash cans, looking for bottle returns, for gas money?

 

 

...where I'm called a "punk ass bitch", an "asshole", and a "brainless twit", while my car's referred to as a "shitbanger" and a "junky ass Kia mobile" that sort of gets my ire up.

 

Especially if you were to follow the entire thread and see where a.) I was always cordial in my posts and b.) I was not the one to resume the "bombardment".

 

Whatever....... time will ultimately prove which manufacturers have what it takes to survive.

 

Believe it or not, I'm rooting for both Ford and GM to "make it" and thrive in the future. I just hope that they discover the proper "recipe" of design/manufacturing/marketing/and service before it's too late.

 

Signing out.... (on this thread)

 

 

-Ovaltine

Edited May 3, 2006 by Ovaltine

[Guest Sixcav]

Damn, he signed out before I could call him a dumb ass ricer. :bandance:

[Roadrunner]

I think your tone went downhill after

 

"Btw, drive a new Spectra and then a used Cavalier (since they're not manufactured any longer). If you still make the claim above then I'll simply write you off as someone who has an aversion to driving/owning a foreign car, OR that you're a moron. To be fair (and nice), I'll assume the former."

 

and

 

"Gee 2005Explorer.... you think so???"

[Noah Harbinger]

Ovaltine, what's with your condescending tone on the forum?

 

That's funny, I think Ovaltine has been just about the only sensible person in this thread....

[Ovaltine]

Epilogue:

 

Remember the discussion in this thread of "why does anyone need folding outside mirrors on a car?"

 

Remember how I compared the KIA Spectra's folding mirrors (as one example) to the Fusion's fixed mirrors, and suggested that it would have been nice if the Fusion had folding mirrors?

 

Remember how so many people thought that it was stupid to desire folding mirrors on a car?

 

Well all of this discussion came back to me today when my boss informed me that his wife snapped the passenger side mirror off his brand new Fusion today.... backing out of the garage. Seems like she got a little too close to the door opening.

 

I can almost guarantee that had her Fusion been equipped with a bi-directional folding mirrors like my car, my boss would most likely not be looking at a $250-400 repair bill.

 

Just thought I toss this anecdote on the pile for future reference.

 

 

-Ovaltine

Edited August 10, 2006 by Ovaltine

[Roadrunner]

<< Well all of this discussion came back to me today when my boss informed me that his wife snapped the passenger side mirror off his brand new Fusion today.... backing out of the garage. Seems like she got a little too close to the door opening.

 

I can almost guarantee that had her Fusion been equipped with a bi-directional folding mirrors like my car, my boss would most likely not be looking at a $250-400 repair bill. >>

 

I'm gonna go try messing with someone's Kia's mirrors and see if force applied backward on the mirror will make it fold back in the manner you say is right.

 

How fast was she backing up out of the garage anyway? And why kind of dumb driver hits stuff like that in a garage?? (As an aside, is she more used to an SUV? Because moving from SUV back to sedan affects some things)

[Edgey]

The problem I also find with the Fusion is that these lack of details also extend to the very expensive Lincoln Zephyr. I'm currently in the market and I've noticed that while the Zephyr looks very rich...its actually missing an awful lot of luxury detailing I've come to expect in cars of this price range. I can only blame its relationship to the Fusion/Milan. If the Zephyr had been designed and released as a seperate product, then perhaps these details would have been more fully addressed.

 

As for a secured fuel door...it looks better not having that little dent in the side of your car...but it's not something that would break the deal. It's the accumulating of these details that might convince me not to consider the car. I'm affraid I'm reaching that conclusion with the Zephyr.

[Ovaltine]

Bull. Even if the mirrors folded, there would have still been damage. Maybe not as much, but something would have been scraped up.

 

Okay.... I suspected that someone was going to post that argument.

 

True Anecdote #2

 

My wife's previous Chevy Astro van also had foldable mirrors. The mirrors had black, folding, plastic bodies.

 

A piece of semi-truck rubber gets hit by the car in front of her, flings backwards into our van, richochets off the corner of the windshield and *smacks* the driver's side mirror.

 

The mirror folds backwards upon impact.

 

The mirror body isn't broken.... the mirror glass isn't broken.

 

Damage? 2 small scrapes in black plastic. Otherwise the mirror's *complete* usable.

 

Did I have to spend $250-400 to have a new power mirror installed. No.

 

If mirror was fix mounted and not foldable would I have? Most likely, yes.

So you ARE correct..... incidents such as mine and my bosses CAN and DO result in some minor cosmetic injury. But..... the mirror is left quite functional and reusable.

 

I stand by original post.

 

 

-Ovaltine

Edited August 11, 2006 by Ovaltine

[Roadrunner]

When you say "backwards" you must mean really backwards - like it goes both ways.

 

I'll have to test a Kia soon.

[Michael Reynolds]

I hate to break it to you, but just because a mirror folds that does not gurantee that you will avoid severe damage.

 

Case and point, I was driving home on I-95 3 weeks ago (in stop and go traffic) and I had an idiot clip my mirror at about 25 mph. Well because I had the oh so wonderful folding mirrors the force of the impact shattered not only the mirror's glass, but it also scratched the hell out of my passenger window.

 

Now, I'm not arguing that folding mirrors don't have their advantages but lets not sit here and go on and on about how great they are. WOW, you lucked up and didn't experience damage but a normal every day circumstance, as sited above, proves that they aren't all they are cracked up to be.

[Ovaltine]

I hate to break it to you, but just because a mirror folds that does not gurantee that you will avoid severe damage.

 

Case and point, I was driving home on I-95 3 weeks ago (in stop and go traffic) and I had an idiot clip my mirror at about 25 mph. Well because I had the oh so wonderful folding mirrors the force of the impact shattered not only the mirror's glass, but it also scratched the hell out of my passenger window.

 

Now, I'm not arguing that folding mirrors don't have their advantages but lets not sit here and go on and on about how great they are. WOW, you lucked up and didn't experience damage but a normal every day circumstance, as sited above, proves that they aren't all they are cracked up to be.

 

Mike:

 

A question: If you were in stop-and-go traffic on an Interstate, I assume the person who struck your car was going in the same direction as you. Your folding mirror should have folded forward then, correct? If this is true, how then did your passenger window get scratched up by the broken mirror? That is, unless *you* actually clipped *him*. Another question I have is did your mirrors fold both ways like mine do? If they only fold backwards, then a impact that pushes the mirror forward will still snap it off. As the poster above recently note, KIA mirrors fold *both* ways.

 

And finally, to respond to your initial point, yes.... folding mirrors (even those that go both ways) WON'T prevent damage in catastrophic situations.

 

If I walk up to my car with a sledgehammer and start whacking at my mirror, I agree with you that damage will occur.

 

But.... getting back to my initial posting. I highly suspect that a 3 mph swipe from a garage door casing would NOT tear off an exterior car mirror that folds bi-directionally.

 

-Ovaltine

Edited August 11, 2006 by Ovaltine

[OAC_Sparky]

I don't know why it matters if the mirrors fold or not. It doesn't sound like she uses them anyways, because if she had been using them she wouldn't have hit the mirror in the first place.

 

Sounds like she needs remedial parking lessons more than folding mirrors.

[Michael Reynolds]

Mike:

 

A question: If you were in stop-and-go traffic on an Interstate, I assume the person who struck your car was going in the same direction as you. Your folding mirror should have folded forward then, correct? If this is true, how then did your passenger window get scratched up by the broken mirror? That is, unless *you* actually clipped *him*. Another question I have is did your mirrors fold both ways like mine do? If they only fold backwards, then a impact that pushes the mirror forward will still snap it off. As the poster above recently note, KIA mirrors fold *both* ways.

 

And finally, to respond to your initial point, yes.... folding mirrors (even those that go both ways) WON'T prevent damage in catastrophic situations.

 

If I walk up to my car with a sledgehammer and start whacking at my mirror, I agree with you that damage will occur.

 

But.... getting back to my initial posting. I highly suspect that a 3 mph swipe from a garage door casing would NOT tear off an exterior car mirror that folds bi-directionally.

 

-Ovaltine

 

No,

 

South Florida drivers have a knack for not looking before they switch lanes, and the person along side of me sped up jumped in front of me, and in an attempt to not rear-end the moron I had to switch to the left lane but because I couldn't get out of her way fast enough I clipped the mirror on the side of her SUV. Again this was done at a fairly low speed and honestly I would have rather the damn thing broke off vs. folding in and scratching one of my windows.

 

Regardless as to whether or not a mirror folds, there is still a pretty signifigant chance that said mirror will face signifigant damage. Making a big deal about bi-directional folding mirrors seems like fishing, but that's just me.

[ANTAUS]

Now you see why I moved out of Miami LOL It's ranked #1 in rudest drivers, and 3rd in worst traffic. It's to be expected, many people there were riding horses in their former country, not cars.

 

Usually when someone would cut me off, well, I would return the favor and actually throw my car onto their lane forcing them into the emergency lane. Damn, driving there was such a fun sport actually. I quite miss it being here in Orlando.

[Michael Reynolds]

Now you see why I moved out of Miami LOL It's ranked #1 in rudest drivers, and 3rd in worst traffic. It's to be expected, many people there were riding horses in their former country, not cars.

 

Usually when someone would cut me off, well, I would return the favor and actually throw my car onto their lane forcing them into the emergency lane. Damn, driving there was such a fun sport actually. I quite miss it being here in Orlando.

 

Horses, more like footing it. Even then most of them can't even pay attention doing that, just the other day I watched someone cross the street on a green turn arrow not looking and she came 2 inches from getting plowed over by a Grand Marquis.

 

I guess one day I will get used to people not knowing how to use a passing late, creating their own left and right turning lanes, merging on to the freeway at 30 mph, slamming on their breaks for no apparent reason, and so on and so on...........Till then I will make sure I get a massive brush guard for the front of the truck.

[Michael Reynolds]

:blah:

Edited August 11, 2006 by Michael Reynolds

[MGallun]

I think C/D made a mistake on them 0-60 times and so on, my friend owns a 06 Fusion, and his mom owns a 06 sonata... both loaded... the fusion eats that sonata alive... the fender gaps on his car are minimal and look perfect and his rubber around his door does stick up some.. not sure if its fit finish issue or design, looks like its there like that for a reason since every fusion i looked at has it... who knows.

 

but, KIA? Hyundai? go to your board please, my 99 contour with 118k on it probably has better fit and finish and runs better than your new kia\hyundais can dream of.

[NickF1011]

but, KIA? Hyundai? go to your board please, my 99 contour with 118k on it probably has better fit and finish and runs better than your new kia\hyundais can dream of.

 

I have 20 year old sneakers with better fit an finish than a 99 Contour. Has your dash curled up and peeled off yet?

[Ovaltine]

I think C/D made a mistake on them 0-60 times and so on, my friend owns a 06 Fusion, and his mom owns a 06 sonata... both loaded... the fusion eats that sonata alive... the fender gaps on his car are minimal and look perfect and his rubber around his door does stick up some.. not sure if its fit finish issue or design, looks like its there like that for a reason since every fusion i looked at has it... who knows.

 

but, KIA? Hyundai? go to your board please, my 99 contour with 118k on it probably has better fit and finish and runs better than your new kia\hyundais can dream of.

 

I guess Edmunds got it wrong too....

 

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...10/pageId=69305

 

2006 V6 Fusion - 0-60mph - 7.7 seconds

2006 V6 Sonata - 0-60mph - 7.4 seconds

2006 V6 Accord - 0-60mph - 7.6 seconds

2007 V6 Camry - 0-60mph - 6.5 seconds

 

Any chance there bubba that you are comparing a I-4 Sonata with a V6 Fusion????

 

Granted, the .3 second advantage of the Sonata is nearly statistically insignificant, BUT it proves

that V6 Fusions *don't* eat comparable V6 Sonatas "alive".

 

And regarding the Contour fit and finish/running anecdote. See the '...I'd rather be driving an old Fairmont Wagon" component of this thread. Your Contour's quite a few notches above a Fairmont, but a new Sonata/Optima it ain't (which I wouldn't expect from any 7 year old car anyway!). Sorry.

 

-Ovaltine

Edited August 11, 2006 by Ovaltine

[2005Explorer]

I guess Edmunds got it wrong too....

 

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...10/pageId=69305

 

2006 V6 Fusion - 0-60mph - 7.7 seconds

2006 V6 Sonata - 0-60mph - 7.4 seconds

2006 V6 Accord - 0-60mph - 7.6 seconds

2007 V6 Camry - 0-60mph - 6.5 seconds

 

Oh come-on! Like ANYONE would really be able to tell the difference between the Sonata...Accord...or Fusion without carrying a stopwatch with them, heck most people would not even be able to tell that the Camry is way quicker in day to day driving. With $3 fuel who really floors it at every stoplight just to see if the car will get up to speed a fraction of a second quicker? It is nice to have the power if you need it, but I would not call any of these cars slow or underpowered.

 

This thread is getting really stupid when we start arguing over fractions of a second difference to 60!

 

The fact of the matter is ALL 4 of those cars are excellent cars. Any of them would be a good purchase. It all comes down to personal preference. That's it! Case closed.

Edited August 11, 2006 by 2005Explorer

[MGallun]

I have 20 year old sneakers with better fit an finish than a 99 Contour. Has your dash curled up and peeled off yet?

 

nope, that seemed to happen with the deconting process of the contour, the 98s and my 99 model still had that different vent in front... i have no loose parts in my interior.

 

I guess Edmunds got it wrong too....

 

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...10/pageId=69305

 

2006 V6 Fusion - 0-60mph - 7.7 seconds

2006 V6 Sonata - 0-60mph - 7.4 seconds

2006 V6 Accord - 0-60mph - 7.6 seconds

2007 V6 Camry - 0-60mph - 6.5 seconds

 

Any chance there bubba that you are comparing a I-4 Sonata with a V6 Fusion????

 

Granted, the .3 second advantage of the Sonata is nearly statistically insignificant, BUT it proves

that V6 Fusions *don't* eat comparable V6 Sonatas "alive".

 

And regarding the Contour fit and finish/running anecdote. See the '...I'd rather be driving an old Fairmont Wagon" component of this thread. Your Contour's quite a few notches above a Fairmont, but a new Sonata/Optima it ain't (which I wouldn't expect from any 7 year old car anyway!). Sorry.

 

-Ovaltine

 

i was driving the sonata, and it is a v6, he and his mom bought them at same time, later last year.. her sonata been in shop 3 times so far... his 0... heck, my contour is faster in straight line then sonata.

Edited August 11, 2006 by MGallun