Some General Discussion

[Brian Adams]

My first post here but I have been a member of other Forums for cars I've owned in the past. Great idea for todays complicated autos! I am hot to purchase a Fusion Hybrid. I like the looks, the MPG and, mainly, the Ford Co-Pilot 360 feature found in all Fusions from 2019. Awesome! But it seems to me that I am not alone. I've been checking the ads for a couple months and the Titanium models seem to be getting more & more scarce. My plan was to buy the most-loaded, lowest-mileage Titanium out there (well, in the Philly, PA area at least). I'm retired and don't drive a whole lot so I would expect to get full advantage of the many warrantees. And, when it comes time to trade it in, I'm figuring that a "loaded" one is a better trade-in (or private sale). I'm starting to question this strategy a little. I don't see dealer prices varying all that much between SEs, SELs or Titaniums. It seems that, in most cases, the lowest mileage ones command the higher price. And there are some VERY low mileage ones. Like a 2019 SE with only 4,069 miles for $24,986 that's been on the lot for months. (Any thoughts as to why this is? A decoy just so you'll contact them and get steered to another car?)  The best Titanium I saw in this morning's search was a 2020 black(ish) one with the brown leather seats (which I like). It has 35,459 miles and they were asking $27,400. So, a year newer that the SE but a lot more mileage and $2,500 more. 

 

OK, I feel like I'm rambling. So I'll leave with a question to all of you: Would you hold out for a low-mileage, nicely-priced Titanium or would you take a low-mileage SE or SEL for a comparable price? {or are there other factors more important than these that I should be focusing on?)

[Cobra348]

I would suggest a 2019 or 2020 SEL.  The only option available was the moonroof.  Nav and all the other stuff is there.  I have a '20.  As to your question, since I do not wish to have glass over my head as well as around me, I would elect the SEL.  SE trim does not have the standard features of the other two trims.

 

Also, if looking at a 2019, the color named "Rich Copper" was a 1-year color and cost about $400 more MSRP.  The black you are seeing is called "Agate Black" I believe and is standard no-charge color.  I'm not tickled with it as compared to "Tuxedo Black" of yesteryear (replaced in 2016).

 

Keep in mind as well that price differentials between trim lines will probably play into pricing.  The $2500 difference you note is most likely due to the large amount of amenities on the Titanium as compared to SE.  If I had only those 2, I would take the Titanium for the extras even tho I dislike the moonroof and the mileage.

Edited July 22, 2022 by Cobra348

[dogo88]

I have a 2019 FFH Titanium. I absolutely love it. Got it at the end of Dec 2018. Traded in my 2010 FFH SEL which was the least costly car I have ever owned and bought the 2019 without looking at any lower trim models. It had everything I was looking for and more. Sun roofs aren't a big issue with me but are usually packaged with other options I want so it's not a big deal. I believe I paid around $29k with trade in. (Yeah I got beat with the trade in). 

 

Couple of things you need to consider when looking nowadays. Cars have a limited selection and Ford isn't making any more FFHs so their prices should continue to rise in the used market for a while. Most new cars have a dealer added on extra cost over sticker. So all in all the prices are way higher for used than they were before. 

I found this website that lists the differences between the SEL and Titanium. Not sure if it's exact but there isn't many options on the higher model. 

https://carbuzz.com/compare/ford-fusion-hybrid-sel-vs-hybrid-titanium

 

I will say that I love heated steering wheel option and cooling leather seats but am not a fan of heated seats. I went with the Titanium model only because I had a great experience with the 2010 and I wanted it all. I didn't want to find out that I should have gotten the better model options later on. I do have the Ford extended warrenty that I purchased when I got the car. I would look into finding out if it was an option now on any used car I would buy. I have used the Ford plan on other Fords I have owned and it's a painless process compared to many aftermarket protection plans. 

 

Oh, my choice on your above cars would be the Titanium. 

 

Any questions, just ask.

Dan

[Cobra348]

10 hours ago, dogo88 said:

I have a 2019 FFH Titanium. I absolutely love it. Got it at the end of Dec 2018. Traded in my 2010 FFH SEL which was the least costly car I have ever owned and bought the 2019 without looking at any lower trim models. It had everything I was looking for and more. Sun roofs aren't a big issue with me but are usually packaged with other options I want so it's not a big deal. I believe I paid around $29k with trade in. (Yeah I got beat with the trade in). 

 

Couple of things you need to consider when looking nowadays. Cars have a limited selection and Ford isn't making any more FFHs so their prices should continue to rise in the used market for a while. Most new cars have a dealer added on extra cost over sticker. So all in all the prices are way higher for used than they were before. 

I found this website that lists the differences between the SEL and Titanium. Not sure if it's exact but there isn't many options on the higher model. 

https://carbuzz.com/compare/ford-fusion-hybrid-sel-vs-hybrid-titanium

 

I will say that I love heated steering wheel option and cooling leather seats but am not a fan of heated seats. I went with the Titanium model only because I had a great experience with the 2010 and I wanted it all. I didn't want to find out that I should have gotten the better model options later on. I do have the Ford extended warrenty that I purchased when I got the car. I would look into finding out if it was an option now on any used car I would buy. I have used the Ford plan on other Fords I have owned and it's a painless process compared to many aftermarket protection plans. 

 

Oh, my choice on your above cars would be the Titanium. 

 

Any questions, just ask.

Dan

I like that comparison.  The only question I have is on the HVB capacity.  The site says 1.4 kwh but I was under the impression it was 1.7 kwh.  That could be my  error, tho.  Owners Manual has nothing. <shrug>

 

[dogo88]

12 hours ago, Cobra348 said:

I like that comparison.  The only question I have is on the HVB capacity.  The site says 1.4 kwh but I was under the impression it was 1.7 kwh.  That could be my  error, tho.  Owners Manual has nothing. <shrug>

 

Larry,

I looked in all my documentation and searched online, no where could I find a 1.7 kwh battery in any FFH. My documentation, like yours, doesn't list anything about the battery size. Online every article lists a 1.4 kwh battery for the FFH second gen. 

Dan 

[Cobra348]

10 hours ago, dogo88 said:

Larry,

I looked in all my documentation and searched online, no where could I find a 1.7 kwh battery in any FFH. My documentation, like yours, doesn't list anything about the battery size. Online every article lists a 1.4 kwh battery for the FFH second gen. 

Dan 

Welp, I'll go with the consensus then.  1.4 it is.

[Brian Adams]

Thanks to those who replied. I will take your advice into consideration. I think I saw that copper color version drive past me the other day. I liked it. I am in unchartered waters here as far as car buying goes. My last purchase was back in October 2016 when I bought a 2004 Saturn Vue V-6 AWD with just about every option and only 67,XXX miles. Only $3995. A very good deal.  It's size was useful, but I don't need it anymore - or the 16.5 mpg. I used to think a sunroof was a desirable thing, but I almost never use it. Plus, during our recent 95-degree weather here I placed my hand on the inside sliding cover and found it to be blazing hot! I prefer to keep the inside cool and a hot cover like that makes the a/c work harder I suspect. I was intrigued by the Titanium's cooled seats. Since my "newest" car was already 12 years old before I bought it (18 years old now) I guess I missed the news that cooled seats had become available. Maybe in Cadillacs, etc., but not Fords. There are a lot more techno options in the Fusion that the ole Saturn ever dreamed of having. Many of the car-buying websites will identify "Great Deals", "Good Deals"., etc., which I find helpful. Most have boxes to fill out so you can contact the dealers. I have avoided doing that yet for fear that I'll be bombarded. I guess another new thing is that dealers like Carvana and others will deliver distant cars to buyers? People really buy cars like this? Crazy. 

Edited July 28, 2022 by Brian Adams

[Sky14FFH]

You always lose big on a tradein but if convenience is more important to you than cash do as you wish.

[Cobra348]

On 7/28/2022 at 7:01 PM, Brian Adams said:

Thanks to those who replied. I will take your advice into consideration. I think I saw that copper color version drive past me the other day. I liked it. I am in unchartered waters here as far as car buying goes. My last purchase was back in October 2016 when I bought a 2004 Saturn Vue V-6 AWD with just about every option and only 67,XXX miles. Only $3995. A very good deal.  It's size was useful, but I don't need it anymore - or the 16.5 mpg. I used to think a sunroof was a desirable thing, but I almost never use it. Plus, during our recent 95-degree weather here I placed my hand on the inside sliding cover and found it to be blazing hot! I prefer to keep the inside cool and a hot cover like that makes the a/c work harder I suspect. I was intrigued by the Titanium's cooled seats. Since my "newest" car was already 12 years old before I bought it (18 years old now) I guess I missed the news that cooled seats had become available. Maybe in Cadillacs, etc., but not Fords. There are a lot more techno options in the Fusion that the ole Saturn ever dreamed of having. Many of the car-buying websites will identify "Great Deals", "Good Deals"., etc., which I find helpful. Most have boxes to fill out so you can contact the dealers. I have avoided doing that yet for fear that I'll be bombarded. I guess another new thing is that dealers like Carvana and others will deliver distant cars to buyers? People really buy cars like this? Crazy. 

Really hot weather I leave the window cracked about 1/8th inch to allow heated air to escape.  Also, before going to the car, I drop all windows via the key fob and usually the really hot air is gone by the time I hit the drivers seat. 

 

Added:  get in-track window deflectors - I got mine from Weathertech - and you can crack the window without precipitation getting in.  Front ones you can do in the driveway, I elected to have the rear ones done at a shop because of the fooling around with the window seals and some clips, etc.

 

I had cooled seats on my '15 Titanium FFH.  TBH, I got more use out of the heated seat option in the Winter! <grin>  While I'm happy with my current options, I miss the heated wheel for Winter use, but to get it I needed to take a moonroof as well.  Nope.  Not for me.

 

Carvana is under close scrutiny for shady dealings so I would steer clear.  I just generally steer clear of all that crud even if it does cost me a bit more.

Edited August 1, 2022 by Cobra348