21st Dec 2008, 13:11

I have a front-drive GM car and it is horrible on snow or ice also. Our rear drive SUV is much better. It is a myth that front drive vehicles are better in snow. We've owned 4 front drive cars and lots of rear drives. The best have always been the rear drive vehicles, regardless of their size.

22nd Dec 2008, 11:05

My dad's 88 Mazda B2200 cannot go through snow good at all, even with weight in the back it has problems. Our 03 Taurus has had no problems going through the snow. A lot of snow driving depends on experience, and how used to a car one is. I do think front wheel drive is better in any condition. My grandpa had a 1980 something Ford Escort that he said was the best snow handling car he ever had. He said it had such a good weight ratio it could cut through snow without a problem.

29th Jan 2009, 13:13

After recently purchasing a 2006 Fusion SE with the 2.3 litre engine, I feel a bit more qualified to comment on this car. I'd driven 3 Fusions in 2007 on brief test drives, but owning one is a better way to assess the real performance of a car.

First off, the 2.3 litre engine is NOT slow. The acceleration is more than adequate for all driving situations. Car magazines regard ANY vehicle that does 0-60 in over 5 seconds as "slow". In the real world the Fusion 4 is very peppy. Some V-6's don't produce as much power as it does. And this comes from someone who has owned V-8 Mustangs and currently also owns a modified 4.0 Mustang. The fuel economy is excellent. My first tank of gas yielded 27.8 mpg in mixed driving.

My Fusion is very smooth and quiet. My mom just purchased a Lincoln MKZ (same car as the Fusion, with $17,000 tacked on) and it is only marginally smoother and quieter, due primarily to more sound insulation, a very smooth V-6 and a 6-speed automatic. Where people get the idea that the 2.3 Fusion is "noisy" is beyond me. It is the quietest 4-cylinder we have owned.

With regard to traction on snow, I have no idea. I have yet to drive the Fusion on snow. We had snow and ice warnings a couple of days ago and my wife had to go in to work. She had a choice between the Fusion or our rear-drive GMC Envoy. Without a second's hesitation she chose the GMC. It has proven itself far better in snow and ice than either of our front drive vehicles. She made it to and from work without a hitch while the Fusion stayed in the driveway.

4th Feb 2009, 10:38

Try snow tires on the Fusion. It makes a night and day difference. Often that's the reason why people think their rear drives are so much better in snow. *Most* rear drives have tires that are more suited for use in snow.

It's pointless to argue, though. It's doubtful that anyone here has mounted the exact same tires on their rear drive as their front drive, and there's really no controlled testing here to prove or disprove anyone's point about traction.

It just seems obvious that the person who wrote the original review would be well served to try snow tires before trading the car in on a Camry or a rear drive. Neither option would be as inexpensive as simply putting the right tires on for the occasion. It's too bad that this thread has been hijacked by the rear vs. front drive debate. The original reviewer may well have been helped and informed, rather than confused into buying a whole new vehicle -- an option that would either be unlikely to help or simply cost way more than it would need to.

23rd Apr 2009, 14:43

I just had my lumbar support replaced under warranty because it burst. My husband (who sold me the car!) and myself both believe the lumbar support had an electric button, but when the car was returned to me it had a manual knob. I called the dealership and they said they don't even mess with the button/knob, so it must have been manual all along. My husband has sold Fords for 10 yrs now and swears it was electric, as do I. Are we mistaken? Does anyone know if I can check, maybe look it up by the VIN #?

8th Feb 2010, 16:47

I have a 2006 model and had to replace the Lombard thingy as well. I have 150,000 miles on it. I like the performance of the engine. I have to agree though, that it is the worst winter car I have owned. The back end is so light. I have 120#s of salt in the trunk and it still fish tales. If you drive on a bridge, you better have both hands on the wheel.

15th Nov 2010, 10:57

1) The lumbar support in all 2006 Fusions is a manual rotary knob situated at the left of the drivers seat near the front.

2) The tires on my '06 Fusion were just replaced with the same original Michelin P225/17s after 75,000 km (46,500 miles). 50,000 miles is pretty much the life to expect from these tires.

These are excellent all season radial performance tires and are not designed for overly snowy conditions however I drove them through 4 winters (2 of which were very snowy) without a problem.

If I lived in a high volume snow belt area, I would definitely invest in winter radials. This would lengthen the life of the all seasons as well.

18th Nov 2010, 21:19

2006 FORD FUSION V6 SEL.

I have gone through:

3 batteries.

9 (!) turn signal indicator bulbs.

3 sets of front brakes.

1 lumbar support.

2 inner door latch release handles (cheap plastic).

And had to remove plastic ring at shift knob to get my key out of the ignition!

Following my third battery replacement, my radio ceased to function. CDs were auto-ejected and radio lights only flicker, and the unit makes clicking noises after the ignition is turned off.

Otherwise, I'm satisfied, having driven over 105,000 miles since purchase.