wailer

Dash Kit Link: http://www.carid.com/2013-ford-fusion-wood-grain-dash-kits/ There's a basic kit, and a full kit. 3 versions under each. Make sure you pick the right combo! ~Wailer

It's just a bad photo (reflection). The photo size limits within the forums is VERY small. I've uploaded a bunch of better shots in my Profile Gallery located here: http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/gallery/album/269-2013-fusion-se-hybrid/ Everything has to line up on the console or your icons won't shine through, and switches wouldn't work! Enjoy! ~Wailer

Yeah, I've got NAV. I have the standard radio (not the Sony). The kit is available for non-Navigation, Nav with regular radio, and Nav with Sony. The new dash kits are available in a basic, or much more extensive 58 piece kit. I too was concerned a bit about the touch switches, but so far it really hasn't been an issue. I have to purposefully place my finger on the small opening in the kit that sits over each icon. The nice thing about that is it gives all those switches some tactile feedback, and cuts down on inadvertent activation of the wrong switch, which was happening a lot before when driving. The kit is very straight forward, and easy to put in IF you follow all the directions. Cleaning the surface with the isopropyl alcohol pads, heating any curved pieces with a hair dryer, and using the promoter pen (an optional extra I highly recommend) near all the edges. Start with small pieces first to get used to how to do it. Move to a few curved pieces that require heating. Finally install the larger pieces. On the dash, just take extra time to ensure you align the holes with all the switch icons. If you are in a semi-darkened garage to do this piece, with your parking lights on, you can see them easily lit up through the cut-outs. I did not use the trim over the car's existing silver trim, as I felt it would have looked tacky, and I actually like how the silver frames things out. You be the judge! There are pieces for the rear door and the fold down cup-holders, as well as the back of the center console. The whole job took me about 3 hours, but I work reeeeally slow! I have put these kits in three other vehicles before, and have always found them easy to install, remarkably accurate in their laser cuts, and they add much to dressing up the interior. I've had a lot of compliments from others who knew I'd added them. Most had no idea they were aftermarket. This is a lousy picture (too many reflections), but should give you an idea. A larger version of this picture can be found in my profile. I'll try to post some better close-ups later today. I bought the medium burled walnut kit. Cheers, Wailer

I did a little research on what wheel and tire combinations work best on the 2013 Fusion, and this is what I have found. If you try to go with 20" rims and tires there are no low rolling resistant (LRR), all-season radials that will fit. The lower sidewall associated with this larger size will likely result in a harsher ride over the bumps of your everyday commute. They will also likely throw your speedometer off slightly, depending on what tires you mount on them. 19" will work, but there is less of a selection of rims and tires that won't significantly run your purchase costs up. The widest availability of rim/tire combinations that will give you LRR tires and not appreciably affect your speedometer is the 18" size rim. I found 4 LRR tires (3 are Michelins) that will work. I know many people seem to be going for the dark rim look of gunmetal or black rims these days, but I guess I'm old school. I just ordered a set of 18x8 Helo HE 845's in Chrome (see pic below). I like the clean, recessed look too. I had Michelin 235/45-18 Primacy MXM4 Differential Tread mounted on them. These are highly rated LRR tires that should be relatively quiet, smooth, with good handling in both wet and dry. There are better tires out there, but for the price these should give good life and performance. After all, I'm not looking to drive the hybrid like I would drive a Porsche! Rims, tires, along with metal stems, lugs, mounting, balancing and shipping to my door came in at just under $1900 (with mail in rebate on the Michelins). I was told wait time will be about 2 weeks. I have a white Fusion with newly tinted windows. I also just added a burled walnut dash kit thoughout the cabin (full 58 piece kit - but didn't use the pieces that would have covered the silver trim). I felt that would have been overkill. The kit is a bit pricey, but overall I'm happy with the way it dressed up the cabin. I added beige floor matts as well to match the interior. When I got the car the first thing I did was a clear bra on the front and mirrors and that has helped a lot. Next, I have an HID Low Beam conversion kit I'm putting in, and may follow that with HID Fog lIghts, and white LEDs over the Fogs. I already changed the headlight parking lamps to LED, and need to change the blinker bulb to (Sylvania) silver coated bulb to get rid of the orange reflection. I've ordered side-emitting red LED's to surround the red non-Titanium tail-light reflectors (mine's an SE), but I'm not sure how good those will look yet, or just how much work it will be to get power to the trunk-split tail-lights. All just fun projects! We'll see how some of these work out! Yeah, I'm a bit of a car geek! Chances are, so are you or you wouldn't have read this far! :) "Wailer"

Up until a week ago I was having my doubts about the 47/47 mileage claims. I have heard and read various estimates of "break-in" mileage needed to get the best mileage, as all the components learn and talk to each other. While I was skeptical, I have noticed an uptick this past week in mileage during local trips. I have about 2800 miles and have seen a dramatic increase in my individual trip mileage, and a gradual climbing of my overall mileage over the last seven days. I managed 46.5 this afternoon. Over the past week I've noticed most trips have been in the 41+ range, so maybe there is really something to there being a period of improving efficiency. Not one trip this week has been under 40 mpg and the temps here in the DC area have been low 30's on my 15 mile drive to work and in the 40's going home. Hopefully I will see the my Average mpg (38.9) start to rise into the 40's as well. I don't really care if I don't average 47/47, but would like to see the mileage be somewhere close to that. I'm curious how many miles those coming up short have on the odometer. Hopefully things will get better for you soon! :)

I've been wondering the same thing . . . does tire size and width (larger contact patch, greater rolling resistance) really play a HUGE role in mileage? I want to put some better looking rims and tires on it and would sacrifice one or two mpg to do it. But I don't want to completely negate the purpose of owning a hybrid! 19" and even 20" rims will fit according to Tire Rack, but there are no low RR tires that fit on them. I'm going for looks here, but don't want to completely sacrifice mileage. Anyone know for sure?

OK, so I've read all the bad press about the Fusion not living up to the 47/47 mpg claims. All I know is I have been driving as conservatively as I can possibly manage since taking ownership on Dec 7, 2012, and this is what I have found so far . . . Current mileage 2794 EV: 886.7 Regen: 113.7 Avg MPG: 37.9 Avg Brake Score: 94% Gallons used: 73.59 This cumulative total includes a trip from DC to Atlanta and back. On the way down I set cruise at 60 as often as possible and settled in for a slow trip to see what this baby would do on "max conserve" mode. I managed 41.6 MPG average on my way down. On the way back I drove between 70-74, which was what most of the traffic around me was doing. The results? 39.4mpg!! Since time is money, I know how I'll be driving on the wide open highways going forward! I have heard various estimates of "break-in" mileage needed to get the best mileage as all the components learn and talk to each other. I have noticed an uptick this past week in mileage during local trips. I managed 46.5 this afternoon. Over the past week I've noticed most trips have been in the 41+ range, so maybe all those nebulous "components" have started to have a conversation with each other! Hopefully I will see the my Average mpg (37.9) start to rise into the 40's as well. I don't really care if I don't average 47/47, but I would like to think those figures are not just wishful thinking of the Ford Marketing Department. I'm just sayin' . . . ! ~Wailer UPDATE 3/24/2013 Current mileage 3979 EV: 1377.6 Regen: 206.7 Avg MPG: 37.9 Avg Brake Score: 93% Despite many, many, many trips report 40+ mpg since then, overall averages are not increasing. This leaves me scratching my head. :headscratch: ~Wailer