Rodeo

My understanding is that the EPA is trying to emulate "real world" driving conditions to get the Mileage estimates closer to what owners and drivers will actually experience. We all know that Car Companies had those estimates on the high side for many years. Could it be that the EPA underestimated the attitude of the Hybrid owners themselves? I mean, you Hybrid owners seem to really try to stretch your mileage and while you may or may not be "green" minded you then are certainly fuel cost minded right? So, you are trying to get good mileage (especially now, when brand new etc.) whereas when I buy my new 2010 Sport model, I will be tromping on the throttle and wanting to hear the motor roar and worry more about fast acceleration times. Two totally different cars with two different intentions. I think the mind state of the driver / owner has allot to do with it and while it's fairly new it is fun to try to achieve high mileage fuel economy. Will you still be driving it that way two years from now though? Or will you drive it with less conscience and just use it to get from point A to point B. See what your actual mileage drops to then and it's likely to be closer to what the EPA says it is. Like I said, "real world driving conditions" Just a thought....

It doesn't matter what the phone brand is. You need to turn your phone up to max volume (same with the ringer too) and then you can control the volume via SNYC. Otherwise you have two volume controls that counteract each other so if one is set to say 1/2 then the most you will ever get through the speakers is 1/2 output. The phone feeds SYNC so that should be set to highest volume as the input device.

Always remember to blame your computer, never yourself or your typing speed! Anyway, two confirming answers are always better then one.

Can't be because the new "Appearance" packages are only available on the SE and SEL models, not the SPORT. Good guess though..

This has got to be SYNC at it's WORST! (It couldn't get any worse.) Hysterical!! :hysterical2: :hysterical:

SYNC is SYNC and permanenty free in your car. "2010 Fusion offers all the great features of the available voice-activated Ford SYNC® System* -- plus two new features: 911 Assist™ and Vehicle Health Report. With SYNC you can access your music collection on your MP3 player by genre, album, artist or song title and operate your Bluetooth®-enabled phone with simple voice commands. You can even make music selections through your flash drive by voice command. SYNC gets a major system upgrade with the addition of 911 Assist. Within seconds after airbag deployment, SYNC uses your cell phone connection you programmed into the system to make a call to a local 911 emergency operator. A pre-recorded message will then play when the call is answered, and you’ll be able to communicate with the 911 operator.† Along with 911 Assist™, SYNC will offer a Vehicle Health Report feature. SYNC gathers information from the vehicle’s control modules and transmits it through the cell phone connection you programmed into the system to Ford by way of an 800-number. You can receive these health reports free of charge by e-mail or text-message alerts. SYNC is optional in Fusion SE; standard in Fusion SEL and Sport models and also in the Fusion Hybrid ". "Travellink" is seperate fron SYNC TRAFFIC, SCORES, GAS AND MOVIES: You only get a free 6 month subscription when you buy your car with NAVIGATION. After that is is a monthly or annual (your choice) subscription service that will cost you $5.99 a month plus the requirement to maintain at least a basic SERIUS subscription service too (Music etc.). I don't know about availability or service in Canada though but here's the link so you should be able to figure it out yourself. It is Satellite radio services, no phone required. Hope this helps answer your question. I know this all functions with the NAV screen but I am unsure and doubtful it will function without one. (I honestly think you need the NAV screen to use these features and services.) http://www.sirius.com/travellink If that doesn't answer your question adequately, you can try here instead: http://www.fordsyncforum.com/

Interesting. I am likely to get it with the back up camera but do think I prefer the one without the chrome trim back there (in black as shown too). But if there's no choice then there's no choice! You are a wealth of knowledge on these aren't you? Thanks! You may be correct. The one without the chrome was a "reviewer" car that only had AWD and the back up alarm (plus moon and tune) but no electronic package and no heated seats etc. So if your theory holds true, if you get electronics you get the chrome.

But it's not on THIS Sport?

Found this photo of a Sport model with this chrome trim piece under the center brake light. I don't see that on other Sports so is this an aftermaket item? (If so, know where to get it?)

That's great that you were able to get it modified to your liking without having to replace the cover etc. It's a matter of taste I guess because one of the things I really like about my current Ford Escape (07) is the way the headrests are positioned. I can do long rides and keep my head (back just a bit) on the headrest and it is in perfect relaxful position for me, which I really like. I think this is a FORD trademark on recent vehicles. I recently test drove a Fusion and didnt pay particular notice of the headrest but also do know that it didnt bother me either. Hopefully they will turn out to be similar to my Escape with regard to location and position. Anyway, good post with photos! Thanks for sharing.

It does, Thanks! So if I find them annoying at least I can turn and leave them off. And I'm kind of glad the Fusion does not have DRLs. I like to control my own lights when I deem them necessary, etc.

Excellent questions and much like yourself I am torn between the same two models, the 3.5 Sport and the 3.0 SEL with 18" wheels and Sport Tuned suspension. Like you, I also wonder how reliable the BLIS will be over time and can you really depend on it to work correctly. There is another thread that shows the system is not infallable and that on a brand new car: http://www.fordfusionforum.com/index.php?s...ic=2305&hl= I can imagine relying too heavily on those little lights and making a lane change that results in an accident could prove that there really is no replacement for looking over your shoulder yourself the old fashioned way. I think a good rule of thumb would be that if you see the light lit to assume that someone is there but if it's not lit, don't assume anything and have a look for yourself. Personally, I don't think I will rely on that one feature too much. I'd be interested to hear what others have to say about all this new technology too though as I myself was leaning towards buying it all including the built in NAV too. (I do see the "reverse sensing warning" and back-up camera as having a good use and value though, especially with the high trunk and reduced rear visability.)

A couple of quick questions regarding the Ambient Lighting LEDs and.... 1. I have read reviews that state the LEDs are annoying because they (all or some of them) are in plain sight in the Fusion. Does anyone find the exposed LEDs to be annoying? 2. Can the level of light output be dimmed and can it be turned off completely? If you can turn it off, will it remain off the next time you restart the car? 3. Lastly, a bit off topic but does the Fusion have DRL? (Daytime reduced-headlight output, a.k.a. running lights that illuminate by themselves during the day?)

OOPS! Sorry, I didn't realize I posted this in the Hybrid Forum. My bad!

Found it on Youtube, very nicely done by a dealer! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtPlxIpPKLU...feature=related This is cool too!

Thanks for your advice and input. I do travel allot and use the phone allot while driving (mostly hands free). 200-400 mile days are not uncommon for me. That's exactly how I see the built in NAV proving to be more useful and safer then my Garmin and BT enabled phone. I am definitely leaning in that direction and forgoing the AWD. Now if there were only a way to transfer all those stored addresses in my Garmin over to the new NAV system. (Heck, Garmin doesn't even allow you to back them up anywhere.) If what I drove today had the Sport Tuned suspension, then I liked it. You would think though that FORD would have noted that on the window sticker somewhere, right? Anyway, it was a much nicer ride then my current Escape and it has a lumbar adjustment, something my Escape lacks totally. Now back to the FFH suspension comments.

It appears to me after scouring the FF Website that only the Sport and more specifically the 3.5L equipped cars get the "modified" Sport Tuned suspension. It's not wheel size depenndent as I thought, but motor dependent. This from FF Website: "For the driving enthusiast who demands more power, and more handling agility, we’ve added the new Sport model to the exciting Fusion lineup. Modified sport-tuned suspension components bring the Fusion handling experience to an even higher dimension of driving enjoyment, to match the power of the 263-hp 3.5L 24-valve V6." and "The 3.5L Duratec V6 generating 263 horsepower is the feature powerplant in the new Fusion Sport model, which also comes equipped with a modified sport-tuned suspension," All this in spite of what the Brochure may say, there is no reference on line that the SEL is available with a Sport Tuned suspension, in spite of available 18" wheels and tires. Sombody from FOMOCO care to correct this thought?

According to the Dealer Salesman (and I asked him twice to be sure of what he was saying to me) he said that the $295 dollar optional 18" wheels does not include the Sport Tuned suspension. He said that option was about $1300 more, not $300. He claimed the 2-3 Fusions he had there with the 3.0 and optional 18" wheels were all the same and non-sport tuned suspension. (Besides, I scanned the window sticker thoroughly for it and it was absent.) He said there are two build specs with those wheels and his cars did not have the upgraded suspension. So now I don't know what to believe in that regard. Even when you go to Fords build it website, it no longer says or implies you get the Sport Suspension when you choose the alternate 18" wheels on the SEL. (It used to, but no longer does. There is no "Sport Tuned" option on the SEL) As for the AWD, remember I am coming out of a V6-4WD Escape and do travel the Northeast througout the entire year for a Sales job. But, I am also the kind of person who can drive just about anything in any kind of weather too. The bottom line is I have drawn the line with funds and will only afford either the AWD option or the built in NAV. I will get the electronics package, back up camera BLIS or whatever its called etc as well as the Moon & Tune plus Leather. Basically a loaded Sport. So now the quandry, which do I prefer more, the safety and security of AWD or the convenience of the built in NAV with local gas prices and weather forecasts too. Being the car will be loaded tech wise, I am leaning towards the NAV and am tired of my old Garmin falling off the windshield etc. Yet it is still a tough choice but I feel am am using FWD about 98% of the time, so that plays against the AWD. Even in my 4WD Escape, I think it rarely got used except on a slippery boat ramp on occasion. (I'm keeping the old Escape for just that purpose.) I noticed the 3.0 really was geared low for hard take offs in first gear. The motor really reved when I hit the gas to get onto a highway. "I think" I want the 3.5 though and thus the SPORT model fully loaded minus the AWD. Oh and while I always viewed Black as being too hot, the Black Metallic on this car looks Great! And for the record, I didn't accuse anyone of "cheerleading" but suggested that it could be possible. I know, sometimes things don't come off as intended in these forums. If so, my appology. I will not be ordering until February anyway as that's when my Car is set to renew with the Co. Aside from my questions about the Fusion, a new 2010 Taurus is being considered too. Lots of time thankfully for lots of questions.

Today I took a Fusion for a brief couple of mile test ride. I am interested in a SPORT but the one I drove was an SEL FWD with the 3.0 L and optional 18" Wheels (but regular suspension, not the sport tuned.) I can say without a doubt that this car rode much better then I had "envisioned" it would and I rate it superior with regard to ride as compared to my 07 Escape. Comparing sound (or lack there of) I rate it "far superior" as compared to my 07 Escape. I still will test drive a Sport with the 3.5L motor and test a 2010 Taurus SEL too but what this short test ride did was pretty much eleminate the 2010 Escape from my short list of vehicles. I can see myself behind the wheel of a 2010 Fusion (and as mentioned, am leaning right now towards the Sport model.) I wonder how big a difference it is between the stock SEL suspension and the Sport tuned suspension? The dealer Salesman says not much and he himself wouldn't pay extra to get it but he's not me. I also wonder how the AWD affects the perfomance and handling too? I hear the extra weight hurts but the extra traction helps. The 3.0 liter seemed peppy enough but if you read the brochure, each motor has a different final drive ratio too, so the 3.0 is geared lower for better acceleration while the 3.5 is geared higher. Anyone care to comment about the difference in the two suspension set ups?

Just first be sure the volume is turned up to max on your phone. Flip it open and after you get dial tone, raise the volume to max on the phone. I'll bet that cures your problem. I had similar problems with my Garmin GPS via BlueTooth. I use my phone hands free and it rings through the GPS speaker so I can answer it with one touch and talk hands free. (GPS has a speaker and microphone). I kept having your problem until I figured out that the phone volume was overriding things and was set too low. Try it! In other words, if the phone is set to vibrate, it won't ring at all.

Not at all, but you do realize it is a proven fact that "Owners" (of anything) subconsciously do not want to admit a product is not up to par. Since they already own one, they encourage others to "join the club" so to speak and rarely will say something bad about something they already made a commitment to. Because to do so would be to openly admit a mistake on their part. This is the honest truth and a fact. As for me, I'll judge the comfort level for myself.

Gee, I thought THIS was the topic of this thread? "FFH's harsh, jolting ride qualities!, My FFH has a harsh, jolting ride on anything but smooth road surfaces" Way to shift gears and get it away from anything perceives as negative. :hysterical:

There ya go! It's a conspiracy by the GM Forum guys! As for me, I am locked into buying a FORD because it is a Co. Car and that's what my Co. buys and leases. But aside from that I do know of a 2009 Fusion that made it's rounds and nobody wanted it for more then a month. They'd switch because it was brand new and became available but the guys I knew who each dumped it complained about the ride. They both preferred the older Ford Taurus bubble cars or the newer 500/ taurus. Both of those guys are trying to steer me away from any Fusion and I tend to believe their discomfort. Those are first hand references, although on a 2009 model. So, I'll look seriously at the Taurus for 2010.

This is exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping would be honestly shared here, minus the FOMOCO employees and "groupies" that don't know any better. I need a car that will be comfortable for the road and I mean trips of several hundred miles (300-400 on days) and while sporty touring type handling is desired, trading off to poor suspension is not. I think I had better shy away from this car and look at the new Taurus instead. Sounds like my old Escape currently rides better then the Fusion does. Thanks for posting some honesty here.