December 28, 2005

That New Car Smell

So, nearly ten years after swearing I'd never buy an American car, I'm thinking of buying an American car. In particular, the 2006 Ford Fusion.

I've been driving a 1996 Mazda MX-6 for the last near decade, and she's held up pretty well considering the 135,000 miles on her, trips up and down and right to left on a US map, and the general beating that a 25-year-old single guy put on her in the first year of ownership (not to mention that the car was an idiot magnet, resulting in a few fender benders, and let's not forget the tap-dancing dog that scratched up the paint something nice).

Built on the Mazda6 platform, the Ford Fusion is a roomy, four-door sedan with plenty of power and features at a price that strikes me as right (read: affordable).

Fully loaded, the MSRP on the Fusion comes in under $26,000, so invoice will be even lower, minus any incentives in the offer (although you then have to add back in title, tax, destination charges, random charges and funny looks from the dealer, forfeiture of first-born son, etc). All in all, the Ford Fusion seems like a good value (you know, assuming I'm wrong about the random charges and first-born forfeiture thing).

I considered the 2006 Hyundai Sonata, having read many good things about it, but the one I test drove continually had battery issues, refusing to start, and while it drove well and with gusto, it just felt ... cheap... inside. I could also share the tale of why my salesman was assigned to the internet division of the dealership, but that would be mean.

See, I'm a nice guy. A teddy bear. Hug me.

Other considerations have been the Honda Accord (reliable but boring), Toyota Camry (reliable but even more boring), Mazda6 (like a Ford Fusion, but tack on a few grand for the Mazda name), and the Mazda RX-8 (quickly shot down when the wife reminded me we have two children with two carseats and, no, we can't just strap them on top).

So, here I am: Ford Fusion. Anyone have one? Like them? Love them? Hate them?

Also, does anyone know if the PhatBox is compatible with the 6-disc in-dash CD player?

I'm planning on contacting my various financial institutions tomorrow and Friday for loan quotes, aiming to make a purchase over the weekend (the Mazda has a new oil leak), so speak now or forever hold your peace.

Amen.

(Images from the MSN Carpoint website)

Tags: Ford Fusion, Ford, Mazda, Hyundai, new car.