2010 Ford Fusion Captures Motor Trend's Car of the Year Award

"Richards says the introduction of a Sport model is also drawing praise from Fusion customers, as is the new six-speed gearbox with SelectShift™ transmission." They almost had me on this one but the lack of a manual transmission is all that is holding me back from replacing my Contour SVT with 158,000 miles on it. The Sport Fusion with a world class 6 speed manual tranny and the 4 wheel drive would have been the beginnings of a great new sport sedan. A little engine tweaking on the 3.5 and they could have another SVT in the making.

@remyj:

I always thought the Countour was a very interesting (and good) offering. Aside from the button-cluttered stereo, that is. I believe people's biggest complaint was the lack of rear legroom. It looks like yours has held the fort quite well - kudos.

As for the Fusion, congrats to Ford. Although I thought the prior-gen had a better-looking front, the current model improves on other aspects. At least we know there's a non-chromed grille out there (and nicer wheels too, BTW).

@remyj:

I always thought the Countour was a very interesting (and good) offering. Aside from the button-cluttered stereo, that is. I believe people's biggest complaint was the lack of rear legroom. It looks like yours has held the fort quite well - kudos.

As for the Fusion, congrats to Ford. Although I thought the prior-gen had a better-looking front, the current model improves on other aspects. At least we know there's a non-chromed grille out there (and nicer wheels too, BTW).

@remyj:

I always thought the Countour was a very interesting (and good) offering. Aside from the button-cluttered stereo, that is. I believe people's biggest complaint was the lack of rear legroom. It looks like yours has held the fort quite well - kudos.

As for the Fusion, congrats to Ford. Although I thought the prior-gen had a better-looking front, the current model improves on other aspects. At least we know there's a non-chromed grille out there (and nicer wheels too, BTW).

Sorry for the 2x post - must be one of those days for the server?

Another CRAP ???

@remyj

I agree, not offering a manual transmission is a deal breaker for me too - it drives me nuts when companies build a decent car and then make it automatic only.

See, all ford had to do is make this fusion more Mazda-like ;)

I am glad that a NA made sedan won the award, and this time it was because it actually has merits to earn that award.

While I agree with the comments about the manual transmission, we have to realize that we live in NA where people are too damn lazy to shift gears. There is also the issue of shifting gears while stuffing your face with burgers while texting, reading the paper, and having your 33.123 degrees latte at the same time...

Lazy because someone wants an auto? I suppose everyone with power windows, door locks, electric garage doors, a remote starter...they're just lazy as well. Heck, why not just label every car owner as lazy because they could walk or ride a bike.

@ the truth
+1

Way to go Ford! Keep it up!

The Contour (other than the SVT version) was a piece of garbage. Cheap interior, park bench back seats, and a garbage of an engine that was underpowered and for blowing notorious for blowing head gaskets. The Fusion is leaps and bounds better then the Contour ever was. Comparing the Contour to the Fusion is like comparing an apple to an onion.

@thetruth:

Yes.

I live in Canada where winters are brutal, and yet, I don't think remote starters are needed. Now, when it comes to automatics, yeah, most NA drivers are lazy. Why do you think most cars have power windows, locks, etc, not because they are better, but because they are more convenient, and because that is what most drivers want now (read: lazy).

If you don't believe me such things aren't better, try rolling down your power windows in -40C weather, or opening your doors after a blizzard.

There are situations where an automatic transmission makes sense, like a bus, a minivan, and perhaps a truck and all its variants. Sedans don't need them, and neither do sports cars, I mean who gets a Z, or a Vette with an auto? geez...

The fact that most manufacturers don't offer manual transmissions for their V6 midsize offerings tell you that most buyers of this type of vehicle are lazy, or just never learned how to drive manual (ie, too lazy to learn).

@Mazda6

I bought my 350Z as an auto because I wanted it for my wife to drive, too. She drives my Ram with 6 speed if need be in an emergency, but prefers an auto, from a safety point (left knee damage, uses a cane to walk). Yea, imagine that, if you are here to stereotype lazy people, lets stereotype women and ask, if they are multitaskers, why wouldn't they prefer a manual over an automatic?

She tells me the reason I like manuals is because I'm a control freak :)

The Ford? Well, I'm not a Ford man, but I admire their accomplishments.

SteelCity
I have a Contour with 190k miles on it. It's blown no head gaskets.
It has a 2.5L V6 that was anything but underpowered. I routinely got 30mpg on the highway in it and averaged a little more than 26 mpg most tanks of gas.

And I liked the interior. I did not think it was cheap.

I do have an SE so I understand that it was not bargain basement line.

The short of the story is... Don't buy a low level car with the fewest options and worst interior and smallest engine and expect a luxury performance vehicle.

^^^^^ Then you are lucky. A lot of people had engine problems with the Contour. As for the interior being cheap, it truly was compared to its competition. The Camry and Accord which was in the Contours class level has much better interiors.

"Comparing the Contour to the Fusion is like comparing an apple to an onion." Um, I wasn't comparing it, just mentioning that I had one that will be in need of replacing.
I also never said anything derogatory about automatics, just that I prefer manuals. Does this forum always have to end up in an argument?.............. Anyway, I think the statement about many people just never having learned to drive a stick makes sense and of course there are many other good reasons to have an auto. But there are also good reasons to have the stick too. We live in America, the land of choice. Why can't we have both? I realize the bulk of the population does not want a stick and I also realize offering one might not make economic sense on the surface but my thinking is this: There are obviously some people like me who want the big engine with the manual transmission. A car sale is a car sale and as long as it is profitable, why not offer what we want? I think the problem is people expect a manual transmission to be the less expensive transmission option so the manufacturers make it less expensive and thus make no money on it because of all the design and tooling that went into making only a few people happy. My question is this: Try for once offering the manual tranny and estimate how many are predicted to sell and then price the product to make a decent, but not huge, profit. I would gladly pay another few thousand dollars over the price of the automatic Fusion sport if they made another SVT version. Nothing huge, just a good manual transmission and some mild engine tweaking to add a few more ponies to make it just a little quicker than the base Sport. They should at least survey people on their web site to see if it's feasible. At least that's what I think, I could be wrong.

@Mazda6

I think an ice scraper will solve most of your problems, if not build yourself a garage...that is if you're not too LAZY to do those things.

I suppose you think buyers of the GTR are lazy, afterall, that tranny operates in auto-esq fasion. Oh no, just blew your mind. Makes me wonder, if a CVT gets better mpg in a sedan...why would you want a manual again....oh right...that makes NO sense.

@thetruth

How do you know that I didn't build my garage? anyway...

Vehicles like the GTR actually have a manual transmission that allows for automatic mode, which is not the same for the manual mode offered by most automatics nowadays. Not the same thing.

Now the argument for CVTs, yes they get better mileage, but that isn't the point of my argument now is it? The point of the argument is that NAs are lazy and will almost always prefer the auto.

@vwo

I hear what you say, my wife will also not drive my car because it is a standard. She learned how to drive manual but only to prove to me that she could do it and to shut me up, but she will only drive auto. And yes, I think she is being lazy ;)

--

My beef isn't with people and their choice of transmission. By beef is the automakers for not giving me a choice I like. At least Honda and Nissan still offer a 6 speed on their V6 coupes, but I like hatches like my Mazda6, but since Mazda has decided to take away the manual and the hatch, they didn't get a new sale when the new models came out... sad indeed.

@ Mazda

You're from Canada, I'll explain things in simple terms. Canadian's can be lazy because the US takes care of them. The US needs to be efficient because we're babysitting all those squatters to north, huddled around our border. So call it lazy if you want, but most of North America has more important things to do than worry about shifting gears or that V6 accord can beat a civic SI off the line.

And if you have a garage, why complain about blizzards, your car should be inside. If you're out in a blizzard, no need to get in your Mazda because it'll just get stuck.

I think you solution is to buy a car made by a Canadian company, because they should know what suits you best.

@thetruth

So how is this a geographical issue? You know that many of the cars made to cater to lazy, provably overweight people like you aren't even built in the US right? Some of those are built in Mexico, or Ontario...

So what is it that you are doing that is so important that you don't have time to shift? If you are so busy driving that you can't even shift gears, maybe you shouldn't be driving? Unless you are too busy juggling with your big mac, your monster drink and your paper...

And how are "YOU" specifically babysitting us Canadians? You realize that this is one of the weakest I-have-nothing-good-to-add comments that people make right? When you start paying my bills then you can say that, but right now, you are just proving that you are not just a lazy driver, but too lazy to think of a good counter argument to what is nothing more than just a point of view.

remyj:

Um paranoid a little? Where did I say anything that I was referring to you? I was just saying that in general about how the big diff is between the Fusion and Contour.

@ Mazda6 Guy:

Buahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd join in on the argument, but every time I read something from you, I feel a bit dumber. So, I'll make things brief: +100000000000000000000340938r09458094574509287345286060340923480930854 to thetruth. Face it, your logic fails...miserably. And if you really WEREN'T lazy like what thetruth said, then you'd be walking to and from work instead of driving, buddy.

On topic: kudos yet again, Ford! Methinks those patents paid off.