23rd Jun 2010, 12:04
"A Fusion with 10 miles on it shouldn't have "some sort of problem"
I totally agree (ESPECIALLY in the case of the Fusion), however new cars DO occasionally reach dealer's lots with problems. In spite of laws requiring that any damage over a certain limit be divulged to prospective buyers, I've seen supposedly brand-new cars on dealer's lots that CLEARLY had had THOUSANDS of dollars worth of damage repaired (and poorly enough that it was still obvious). Such damage can also cause mechanical issues. I'm not saying this is true in the case mentioned, but I have actually seen one car that was ROLLED OVER in shipping. Such things do happen, and unscrupulous dealers DO cover the damage up and sell the cars.
23rd Jun 2010, 15:48
If that had been a Honda or Toyota, and not a Fusion, you would have immediately jumped into recalls and transmission issues. I hate to break it to you, but perhaps Ford built a lemon? I know, it's amazing to think Ford would build one piece of crap though right?
23rd Jun 2010, 17:47
That actually happens a lot more than people realize. My mother bought a Cadillac brand new that she babied every day she had it, and never once even scratched it. She took in in to trade it, and they told her it had been in an accident and it killed her trade in value. What are you going to do three years later though? The dealer could just say you crashed it and were trying to hide it. That is why they get away with these things. Just one more reason not to trust any car dealer!!
24th Jun 2010, 17:34
So true. I'd always advise taking someone very experienced in auto body repair with you in looking at a new car (though these days, the repairs are VERY good).
Not too long ago, I looked at a brand new Ford Mustang that had paint over-spray on both tires on the driver's side, on the rear tail light housing and on the edge of the front headlight. The paint also VERY CLEARLY did not match well. When I pointed out this to the salesman, he said "It came from the factory like that." When I pointed out that the tires AREN'T ON the car when it is painted, he backtracked and said it had a "minor amount of damage in transit". Minor indeed... THE ENTIRE SIDE REPAINTED??
Unscrupulous dealers get around the $500 minimum damage by having their own body shops do quick (and shoddy) repairs and billing themselves $499 so they don't have to divulge the damage. Let the buyer beware!!
24th Jun 2010, 18:09
"it's amazing to think Ford would build one piece of crap though right?"
Yes, actually it is... and the experts all agree. The new Fusion is ranked on a par with Mercedes and Porsche in build quality, and Ford outranks ALL Japanese car makers (Toyota is ranked 21st out of 33. Ford ranks 5th). Problems in safety and build quality are very rare for new Ford and GM cars, but an everyday occurrence at Toyota, with Honda and Nissan dropping like bricks in the ratings as well.
18th Aug 2010, 07:16
I purchased a Ford Fusion SEL 2010 in late June 2010. After 315 kms, I noticed some premature wear and tear of the fabric on the left side of the driver's seat.
The first thing I see when I open the car door is that problem.
I have shown this to the dealer and to the president of the company. They agreed that it was there and did exist, but the car salesman who sold the car said that "the company would definitely not do anything to fix it." The problem is getting worse by the day.
I feel violated after putting my money down to be treated in such an offensive and off-handed manner. I have been dealing with the company for 10 years.
18th Aug 2010, 14:25
My experience with Ford Motor Co. have been similar to yours. I was always treated very poorly by the Ford dealerships I dealt with.
19th Aug 2010, 07:32
Just get a carfax when you buy, even new. Mine have zero issues on it. I also sell privately and hand it to the buyer. I never have a problem. I take my cars to the dealer, and they report oil changes and everything on carfax. I also treat the dealer well. I have all the same brand from the dealership. But I sell privately my cars vs trade to avoid wholesaling my cars.
13th Sep 2010, 22:11
If you think Toyota is the only car company having problems with recalls, you're wrong. Everyone seems to have forgotten that the Ford Focus set a RECORD for recalls. The Focus was a huge lemon. Ford improved the quality of this car just in time to be replaced with a new European model.
14th Sep 2010, 18:25
"Ford Focus set a RECORD for recalls"
That's quite an accomplishment, considering that more Toyotas have been recalled than Focuses have been BUILT in the last decade!! How can you recall more cars than you build??
15th Sep 2010, 09:18
People seem to forget the recent recalls of all car makers. Remember the Firestone tires on Explorers? Yeah, it was a major deal then, but no one thinks about it now. Same will be true for Toyota in a few years. They will right themselves. I bought my Toyota, and couldn't even get a test drive the first time because there was no one available, they were so busy... and it was a Tuesday night. Hardly looked like a dealer in trouble from not selling their cars!
All companies have had major recalls at this point. Toyota's recalls are breaking records for one simple reason. They have outsold every other brand for the past decade. If you sell more, you have to recall more, plain and simple. It doesn't mean that every car has issues. In fact it is very few of them. Like I said, a few years go by and things will go back to the way they were...
15th Sep 2010, 10:52
The same car may be recalled more than once for different reasons.
Once all the recalls have been taken care of, that car should be pretty darn good.
15th Sep 2010, 11:46
If you don't like a tire but love a car buy new tires. I removed my Goodyears and added Kumho Run Flats on mine. Better than buying a new trans or engine for my import.
25th Sep 2010, 11:02
What does Firestone have to do with Ford? It is a separate company. Hardly Ford's problem.
27th Sep 2010, 15:03
Well since the Firestone tires were only having issues on the Explorer, and people died in rollover crashes from their failure, it surely was Ford's problem. See, you don't even remember the details do you? In a few years, no one will remember any Toyota recalls either. I still see Explorers with Firestone tires on them. I would have them changed out immediately myself, but most people would be like "Huh, what are you talking about?"
People in general, have short term memory and tend to forget anything bad in the auto industry pretty quickly. Look how fast people lined up to buy SUV's once gas fell below $3 per gallon, after they were so looked down upon when gas was over $4 per gallon. Look how quickly people forgot the meltdown and GM and Ford's incompetence. Amazing!
23rd Jun 2010, 08:49
Who said anything about buying it from the dealer? The point is you have to literally take apart the back of the car to get the speakers out of there. It doesn't matter if you do it yourself, or if another aftermarket guy does it. I simply wanted to pick up the same size speakers and swap them out and this was a full day project. You also have to worry about setting off the side impact airbags when you take certain parts off.