bdrool Report post Posted August 22, 2009 I was disappointed in my Ford Fusion Hybrid due to the harsh riding qualities, but after logging seventeen hundred miles on it, it is really smoothing out. The front end is now fairly smooth and has a lot more movement than when new. The back end is still quite firm, but entirely acceptable. My mostly road mileage is 41+ at maximum legal speeds. My zero to sixty acceleration is much better than what a lot of testers suggest. It would appear that the Ford Hybrid gets better with mileage. In accelerating from a dead stop, flooring the go pedal is the worst thing that can be done as there is a pregnant pause before things get going. I start out with about half pedal which gives good, instant acceleration and then get on it. At sixty miles per hour there is a lot of acceleration left, just don't stomp the go pedal. When cruising on good road at sixty, I often turn the entertainment center off to marvel at the dead silence of the car, especially the total lack of tire and wind noise. True, it costs more than most, especially when Ford dealers like mine jack up the price by a thousand dollars, as if they aren't making enough as it is. The hybrid is the only Ford product that didn't offer free financing, so I paid cash for mine. In other words, you won't get any good deals on a Ford Fusion Hybrid, they're too slow coming....our local dealer has waited two months for one since I bought mine, and is still waiting. No special deals on the GT500 either... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bdrool Report post Posted August 22, 2009 Hi Rodeo. :D First, just jokingly (well, semi-jokingly): Perhaps now you will believe that we were giving valid information and stop accusing people of "cheerleading", since you have finally confirmed for yourself what we earlier told you concerning the Fusion's ride? :banghead: :hysterical: Okay, to your questions. First, the "sport tuned suspension" is included in the 18" wheel option on the SEL. This information has already been previously verified. So the ride quality (only speaking of ride quality, not engine performance) differences between a Fusion Sport and a V-6 SEL with the !8" wheel/sport tuned suspension option will be negligible. Next, the AWD question is one of personal preference and driving conditions. The AWD does hurt fuel economy and acceleration. However, it will give you slightly better handling traits. Do you live in an area where you need the AWD for the safety factor? Do you have a job where you must get to work, no matter what the conditions? These are just a few of the many questions that come into play in the FWD vs. AWD equation. Next, the 3.5L engine is geared "higher" because it has the power/torque to be able to be geared higher. The "higher" gearing allows it to achieve better mileage (without hurting acceleration/performance) than if it was geared the same as the 3.0L. The 3.5L engine is considerably quicker then the 3.0L engine, in both FWD and AWD configurations. Of course, there is also a slight mileage penalty for the 3.5l (EPA figures notwithstanding). Hope this information helps. Good luck. :beerchug: Whats all this got to do with the FFH ride. Maybe, if you compare the other Fusion models with the FFH, it would go along with the thread. Or did I miss something, in that case just call me a butthead. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
