Hi, Guest
03-19-2008, 05:28 AM
Hi all,
Though I haven't had a Focus for 18+ Months now, I can say that I'm switching vehicles again, and I'm staying with Ford.
The big monthly payments, the having only 2 REAL seats, and driving only 6-8 months of the year is making life difficult for me with the Mustang. My truck is also only a 2-seater, and doesn't have a Tonneau cover for the box either, so hauling myself, my misses, and all of our stuff in the cab during the winter or when it's raining is a pain in the butt too.
So, I've been out test driving lots of vehicles. I've looked at both Sedans, Wagons, and Small SUV's, trying to determine what would be the most appropriate replacement for the Mustang. I've driven some Dodge Magnums, Ford Escapes, Edges, Dodge Avengers, etc. The Misses and I have determined that we DON'T need an SUV right now (the old chevy p/u works just fine for how infrequently we need to haul larger items that won't fit in a car), and started looking more seriously at sedans. I'm fine with driving RWD in the inclement weather, but I really don't feel 100% confident in my woman's abilities to drive in the winter (she's put her mom's toyota echo with snow tires into a ditch, spun it 180 degrees on highway 17, etc etc).
We've agreed to stay with a domestic car (all her family owns Toyota's, Lexus' and other Asian cars), and have now decided that we are going to trade in for an 07 SEL V6 AWD Fusion. The AWD model grips a LOT differently than the FWD model...it's more sure footed, and the steering reflexes and handling are fantastic...proof that Ford still knows how to design chasis' and suspensions that work. Now is just a matter of finding one in the colour combination that we are after, and having the dealer get it for us. I want one that's either Black on Black leathers with the Piano Black trim, or an Alloy Metallic with black inside. The misses wants one that's either Redfire Metallic, or Dark Blue Metallic with black inside, so right now, I've got the dealership looking for a low km's lease return blue on black AWD SEL V6. I have to let her have some of the say in the vehicle, as she wants to pay 50% of the monthly payment.
At present, I'm still trying to sell her on the idea of letting me buy the Sports Appearance Package components, and swapping them over (the black chrome grilles for the front and the rims), which the dealership said I can order and purchase from them, and have them change in-house.
I think the Fusion is more car for the money than the Accord and Camry (talking pre-2008 models here folks...not the ones with the big engines and body revisions). It's the closest thing we can purchase to a Mondeo here in Canada, and it'll certainly do the job that I need...a safe, sure footed, entry-luxury sedan with seating for 4 or more people that I can drive year round.
L8tz
Though I haven't had a Focus for 18+ Months now, I can say that I'm switching vehicles again, and I'm staying with Ford.
The big monthly payments, the having only 2 REAL seats, and driving only 6-8 months of the year is making life difficult for me with the Mustang. My truck is also only a 2-seater, and doesn't have a Tonneau cover for the box either, so hauling myself, my misses, and all of our stuff in the cab during the winter or when it's raining is a pain in the butt too.
So, I've been out test driving lots of vehicles. I've looked at both Sedans, Wagons, and Small SUV's, trying to determine what would be the most appropriate replacement for the Mustang. I've driven some Dodge Magnums, Ford Escapes, Edges, Dodge Avengers, etc. The Misses and I have determined that we DON'T need an SUV right now (the old chevy p/u works just fine for how infrequently we need to haul larger items that won't fit in a car), and started looking more seriously at sedans. I'm fine with driving RWD in the inclement weather, but I really don't feel 100% confident in my woman's abilities to drive in the winter (she's put her mom's toyota echo with snow tires into a ditch, spun it 180 degrees on highway 17, etc etc).
We've agreed to stay with a domestic car (all her family owns Toyota's, Lexus' and other Asian cars), and have now decided that we are going to trade in for an 07 SEL V6 AWD Fusion. The AWD model grips a LOT differently than the FWD model...it's more sure footed, and the steering reflexes and handling are fantastic...proof that Ford still knows how to design chasis' and suspensions that work. Now is just a matter of finding one in the colour combination that we are after, and having the dealer get it for us. I want one that's either Black on Black leathers with the Piano Black trim, or an Alloy Metallic with black inside. The misses wants one that's either Redfire Metallic, or Dark Blue Metallic with black inside, so right now, I've got the dealership looking for a low km's lease return blue on black AWD SEL V6. I have to let her have some of the say in the vehicle, as she wants to pay 50% of the monthly payment.
At present, I'm still trying to sell her on the idea of letting me buy the Sports Appearance Package components, and swapping them over (the black chrome grilles for the front and the rims), which the dealership said I can order and purchase from them, and have them change in-house.
I think the Fusion is more car for the money than the Accord and Camry (talking pre-2008 models here folks...not the ones with the big engines and body revisions). It's the closest thing we can purchase to a Mondeo here in Canada, and it'll certainly do the job that I need...a safe, sure footed, entry-luxury sedan with seating for 4 or more people that I can drive year round.
L8tz
Bleeding Ford Blue again...