Purchase SE vs Titanium?

[timeshifter]

Considering purchasing a FFH. I'm considering a SE model with 502a, MyFordTouch, Push button start and inflateable rear seatbelts. MSRP of $31,750. Or I could get the Titanium with the rear belts for $33,485. It would probably be easier to find a Titanium already built. The inflateable rear belts are not a total must-have. Push button start is. That puts the Titanium at a $1,735 premium.

 

That would add:

Sony audio system with 12 speakers

Remote start system

Heated AND cooled front seats

Fog lamps

18" wheels instead of 17"

 

I don't know that those features are of any value to me. The biggest drawback going to the Titanium is that you CAN ONLY GET BLACK INTERIOR - I really like the beige color interior.

 

Any thoughts or comments?

[Toz]

you can get the Medium Soft Ceramic interior as well. I have it, and so far I really like the contrast it adds to the interior.

 

[B25Nut]

As you built them, the SE option will give you the fog lamps and the Titanium will only have heated seats like the SE, not heated and cooled. Building a FFH on Ford's web site does not currently give you all the options. J. Gaston recently took delivery of his Titanium and it has the Medium Soft Ceramic seats (it's his interior in the pictures at the top of the home page), as did Toz. These seats are heated and cooled, but it's not clear yet how much extra they cost. They also include a fully adjustable passenger seat, which is something to consider if your primary passenger is 5'2" or shorter.

I still prefer the Dune interior, but I could live with the Ceramic if I were buying again. Like you, I don't like the Charcoal interior, which eliminated even considering waiting for the Titanium to become available when I purchased my FFH SE last year. I think you have made good choices in your options, but I would add the Rear Sensors if you go with the SE. There's a good chance they will pay for themselves over the life of the car.

Edited December 16, 2013 by B25Nut

[B25Nut]

Toz,

 

Do you have a link that will show us your window sticker so that we can see the cost of the late availability options?

[timeshifter]

Any chance I could find an SE hybrid with the push button start on a dealer's lot?

[B25Nut]

After you build your Fusion on the Ford web site, you have the option to check the inventory of all the Ford dealers in your area. You can check out dealers that are even farther away by entering the zip code of a town 100-200 miles away at the beginning of the build process. In the inventory listings you have the option of looking at the window sticker of each one so that you know exactly what options they have. This is how I found my FFH. I had to go over 200 miles to get it, but I didn't have to wait the eight weeks it took for my local dealer to get one with the options I wanted. I was lucky. I think it's rare to find an existing one exactly the way you prefer it.

The Push Button Start has been available on all new 2014 SE Fusions so you should have a good chance of finding one.

Edited December 16, 2013 by B25Nut

[Toz]

 

Toz,

 

Do you have a link that will show us your window sticker so that we can see the cost of the late availability options?

http://services.ford...A6P0RU1ER220787.

Edited December 16, 2013 by Toz

[B25Nut]

So, the Heated/Cooled seats with 10-way passenger is a $465 option (well worth it!). I think this is only a Titanium option.

The Heated Steering Wheel is $150. I know my wife would love this (if I let her drive the car).

 

Before now, I wouldn't consider the Titanium if I wanted another Fusion. Now, it would be my choice, with Soft Ceramic interior, and I would negotiate with my dealer for different wheels. At a price under $38K, I think Toz's Fusion can take on and win against any other car under $60K.

[acdii]

For me, the difference was the Sony sound system. I like my music, and the SE system just didnt cut it, the one in my 2010 FFH was much better, and I felt I had gone backwards in the SE. As far as interior color, I prefer darker over lighter only because they are easier to keep clean, especially being the daily driver and with slobs, er, I mean kids.

 

However, if it wasn't for the sound system, I prefer the SE Luxury seats over the Titanium seats, they are just that, Luxury! If the SE could have been ordered with the Sony system, I would have gone with that instead. Adding aftermarket, with the active noise cancellation is not an option I wanted to deal with.

 

I did a side by side comparison with the SE and the HiTy, I took my USB stick and chose Ghost Riders by the Outlaws. In the SE it was ok, but in the HyTi, the opening guitar is crisp and clean, and then when it rolls into the rhythm the bass comes up and you feel the music. My Salesman was with me and he looked at me wide eyed and said, wow your right what a difference!

 

Other than the seat cushions being a bit too firm, the car is perfect.

[hybridbear]

http://services.ford...A6P0RU1ER220787.

I get a "webpage not found" error...

[hybridbear]

Considering purchasing a FFH. I'm considering a SE model with 502a, MyFordTouch, Push button start and inflateable rear seatbelts. MSRP of $31,750. Or I could get the Titanium with the rear belts for $33,485. It would probably be easier to find a Titanium already built. The inflateable rear belts are not a total must-have. Push button start is. That puts the Titanium at a $1,735 premium.

 

That would add:

Sony audio system with 12 speakers

Remote start system

Heated AND cooled front seats

Fog lamps

18" wheels instead of 17"

 

I don't know that those features are of any value to me. The biggest drawback going to the Titanium is that you CAN ONLY GET BLACK INTERIOR - I really like the beige color interior.

 

Any thoughts or comments?

Now that the SE has PBS, I don't see value in the Titanium unless you really want some options that are available only on the HyTi like Sony sound. With the 2013s where only the HyTi had PBS then there was more value in it in my eyes.

[dkegel]

There are trim differences, both inside and out. You get the rear spoiler, and some may like the seats better. They're a bit sportier. The tail lights alone are worth it, IMO. :)

 

 

Dave

Edited December 16, 2013 by dkegel

[hybridbear]

There are trim differences, both inside and out. You get the rear spoiler, and some may like the seats better. They're a bit sportier. The tail lights alone are worth it, IMO. :)

 

 

Dave

The tail lights are the big benefit of the HyTi!

[DeeCee]

Taillights thge big benifit? Been driving my FFH for a year now and still have not been able to see the taillights while driving my car.

[hermans]

Ya, that debate has been going on long before the first 2013 was built. I've never quite understood it. I guess those who are obsessing over them just want to look cool....like in high school.

[dkegel]

Taillights thge big benifit? Been driving my FFH for a year now and still have not been able to see the taillights while driving my car.

Well, I never said they were a benefit to the driver. :) Besides, just because you can't see your own tail lights doesn't mean they're not cool.

 

Dave

[acdii]

I have followed my car a few times, and cant really tell the difference between the Ti and SE lights. Dont know what the big deal is, I think lack of twin pipes on the HyTi is the biggest bitch for me, the Tail just looks so much better with twins.

 

Besides, the debate over the tail lights reminds me a skinny vain girl who keeps looking at her butt in the mirror and thinking its too big when it could use some cushion.

Edited December 17, 2013 by acdii

[dkegel]

These are the Ti lights. I can't find a picture of the non-Ti lights lit up, but they don't have the LED surround like below.

 

Dave

 

Edited December 17, 2013 by dkegel

[Toz]

I like the Ti Tail lights, but the real reason I stayed with a Ti instead of going SE once the push button start was added to the SE was the fully adjustable passenger seat. Still not offered on the SE. (but the tail lights look soo cool!)

[jeffo65]

When we bought our SE it came down to my wife wanting the SE 18" 5 spoke wheels and not the Titanium wheels. So we ended up with the SE w/appearance package and MFT Tech Pkg. Plus the difference in price between the HyTi and the HySE on the lot was about $8000 before negotiating.

 

It is her car, so she made the decisions.

[jsolan]

It sounds like for you the SE would be a better/cheaper fit. I think you should be able to find an SE with the options you want (except maybe inflatable seatbelts), as those sound like pretty common options most drivers would want.

 

I wanted all the features that come standard with a Titanium, so I never even considered "building up" an SE.

Personally I LOVE black interior (I find dune to be extremely bland) and the harder seats. I'm also apparently the only person who like the HyTi wheels over all the other wheel options. To each their own I guess.

[hermans]

It sounds like for you the SE would be a better/cheaper fit. I think you should be able to find an SE with the options you want (except maybe inflatable seatbelts), as those sound like pretty common options most drivers would want.

 

I wanted all the features that come standard with a Titanium, so I never even considered "building up" an SE.

Personally I LOVE black interior (I find dune to be extremely bland) and the harder seats. I'm also apparently the only person who like the HyTi wheels over all the other wheel options. To each their own I guess.

You are correct. I ordered a full loaded FFH. The dealer tried to get me to order a Titanium and I refused to even consider it. I wanted nothing to do with black seats

Edited December 18, 2013 by hermans

[Hybrider]

What burns me the most about the SE and Ti options that Ford offers is how Ford ties safety features like ACC, DAP, BLIS, and auto-dimming mirrors to a requirement to have leather seats, for those of us in the minority who don't want leather seats. Other really cool options that are not available to me are the Sony sound system and the PBS. However, I can definitely live without the APA option that is also not available to me.

[jeffo65]

What burns me the most about the SE and Ti options that Ford offers is how Ford ties safety features like ACC, DAP, BLIS, and auto-dimming mirrors to a requirement to have leather seats, for those of us in the minority who don't want leather seats. Other really cool options that are not available to me are the Sony sound system and the PBS. However, I can definitely live without the APA option that is also not available to me.

ACC in 2013 was not tied to having leather seats. You could add ACC as a straight up option on the SE. What is DAP?

[Hybrider]

DAP ==> Driver Assist Package (BLIS, Lane-Keeping System, auto high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and 110V outlet)

Edited December 18, 2013 by Hybrider