Ford Fusion

Horizon81

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

Friend currently has an elderly Fiesta, on its last legs. Wants something newer with a bit more boot space up to about £4,000.

My only experience is with an auto one, year approx 2004 and I see what fivetide's saying about it being quite van like. It may feel a bit agricultural compared to his aging fiesta. Didn't offer a particularly smooth ride.

As a curveball, and in the same bracket of van like supermini, you could just spend £2000 instead and get a Suzuki Ignis, 5 door with a rather perky 1.3 petrol engine. Won't be any less reliable than the Ford.

yangptangkipperbang

Ford actually produced a fairly good selling vehicle by accident with the Fusion.

It was aimed at people who wanted a 4 wheel drive (looking) vehicle, but didn't actually need 4 wheel drive. It failed, totally, in that market - people decided that they really did need a 4 wheel drive in Tesco's car park !!
However, it was a hit with the more "mature" market where people wanted something a bit more "upright" with easier access for their creaking joints.

Cat2011

I have one and adore it. Though all my friends say I drive an old persons car. It has a slightly raised driving position which is useful. Love the flat loading boot.I can put the seats flat and fit my bike in the back. It's carried 5 adults and 5 bikes across to Wales and back for a weekend. I have a 2004 1.4 diesel and get a regular 55mpg. £30/yr to tax. Done 127,000 miles now and still going strong. Negatives are that it doesn't overtake anyone quickly, it's a bit noisy and I've heard some can have leaky injectors. But I wanted a car that could carry lots of stuff from A to B cheaply and the Fusion totally fits the bill.

Ooh, and I love that the front seat folds flat, really useful for carrying long stuff, like skis, and I can even fit my road bike in without removing any wheels, when the front seat is down.

Norman_Castle

fivetide wrote: »

Sorry the Transit Connect. The new Courier

But as for them not being the same - The lights etc are exactly the same

A Fusion http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/ford/fusion/2011-ford-fusion-petrol-1-6-titanium-5dr/2250954?isexperiment=true

A Connect. Same thing, less windows http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/big-stuff/ford/transit-connect/ford-transit-connect-low-roof-van-trend-tdci-90ps/2173828?isexperiment=true

The Fusion is not a Connect with windows. They've just got similar headlights.

Ford Tournio Connect. A Connect with windows.

Norman_Castle

I looked at them as a small estate car and thought the rear load space could have been better. The folded seats got in the way. There was a high rear lip and the rear seat back supports stuck out.
Mexico got the ecosport which looks much nicer. No idea why Ford sold the blander looking version in the UK. The ecosport would have sold well. There's also a 4x4 version.