2006 Ford Fusion SEL High End from North America - Comments

14:49 I buy a vehicle based on personal experience... I was a diehard import owner until I got socked in the wallet, Since 2004 I have had better luck with higher end domestics. Ranting and raving over politics, unions etc. is not addressing the first hand ownership with late models. The bottom line is what you have to spend out of your own pocket. Take a good look at various late model import reviews throughout this site and tell us if the majority of import vehicles are mechanically superior to those 10 plus years ago? I know as I owned them. Maybe I got a batch of lemons lately, but I switched. I have owned a lot of vehicles every few years more than one at a time. You get a good feel on repair expenditures over time.

Just got word today that Ford is going to lemon law my brothers 2006 Ford Ranger. Built Ford tough!!!

Just look at the crash test scores for the Fusion!! They completely cut corners in this respect and now you want to recommend it too many Americans. I'd be safer in a Honda Fit or Civic. Give the NHTSA a whirl and then slug comments at me!!

17:24 Please remember that a lot of individuals with multi new vehicles have jumped ship from imports to domestics lately. I have owned Toyotas, Hondas from the 70's until 2004. I have since gone with GM. I did not like the Tundra and bought a Silverado SS. Better performance, handling, warranty, people carrying capacity load and towing capacity. Even without the SS form the Tundra has yet to achieve these elements. I have bought many new cars and am basing my comments on personal experience... especially out of pocket mechanical expenses.

15:52...like myself. I owned mostly imports and recently starting personally paying more than I ever have on expensive mechanical issues and switched to a domestic brand because of this. Eventually people get fed up and you cannot expect them to be like lemmings immediately trailing back for more punishment on yet more new same mfrs. vehicles a couple years later. I do not drive a Cobalt, but I do drive higher end GM vehicles at the moment. I buy 2 new vehicles not 1 so I keep informed not walk blindly in... and they have to earn my business and respect me during my period of ownership. In my opinion the manufacturers/dealer especailly about warranty service sell the next vehicles. I got hosed for the final time and they lost a great customer.

So I should run out and get a Honda or Toyota. Well can you tell me what Honda or Toyota dealer that has a truck to replace mine. Oh I'm in construction and haul an RV, horse trailer and a 9ton inverted 5th wheel float. No not at the same time for some of you on here. I wounder how much Honda or Toyota is asking for a duel wheel, one ton HD, extended cab (would like a crew cab this time) diesel 4x4. Oh that's right they don't make one. I would like to see what would happen If I put the goose neck of my float with the 710 John Deer backhoe on that thing Honda calls a pickup.

19:19 I know that the Ridgeline is a Pilot. My POINT (since you like capitalizing) is that they try to pass this thing off as a truck. Honda's own website: Ridgeline Motor Trend TRUCK of the year, AJAC TRUCK of the year and best new PICKUP for 2006. Gee I think Honda is trying to tell me this thing is a truck. Now as for the new Tundra having almost as much power as your V6 ranger I suggest you look at the new 5.7L in the new Tundra. 380 some HP. Now I don't know how much is getting the the rear wheels, but I think more than that ranger V6.

As for Honda and Toyota being smart for not making large diesel trucks cuz only 1 in 5000 need such a truck.

Well I would rather have the diesel for pulling anyway. But how about trades people and all construction company's that buy a large number of trucks every year. Fleet's account for a lot of truck sales each year and the profit made on trucks is what is keeping the big 3 afloat. Trucks are so over priced that that's their salvation. The higher fuel prices led to a decline in truck sales and bang they started to get into real trouble. If Honda and Toyota made a real effort at a diesel 3/4 ton and up, and only took a small part of the market would cause real problems for the big 3.

Hey Honda and Toyota, Build a comparable 1/2 ton with a diesel and you would be ahead of the domestics and have a windfall in sales with trades people who have to get a 3/4 ton now to get the diesel. I would love if the domestics would bring back the heavy half diesel.