There ain’t nothing stock about a stock car. Nowadays, there ain’t nothing standard about a “standard” transmission. How long has it been since you’ve heard that quaint sobriquet for a clutch-and-stick setup? More than ninety percent of new cars sold in the United States are self-shifters. Our oh-so-superior friends in Europe and Japan aren’t as far behind in the trend towards PRNDL hegemony as they would have us believe. Combine the weight of marketplace preference with the increasing difficulty involved in making a stick-shift meet emissions regulations, and it becomes easy to understand why manufacturers are making automatic transmissions the only choice for everything besides specialty cars. A clutch pedal is perilously close to becoming an actual luxury item in today’s market. Does that turn this twenty-two-grand base-ish Fusion into a luxury car? Hell no.
Nor is the Fusion a sports car, or even a sporting one. The two-and-a-half-liter Duratec four makes 175 horsepower. That’s not nearly enough to propel the relatively porky Fusion with anything approaching vigor. (Although it would certainly keep up with an old five-cylinder Acura Vigor, if you can find one that hasn’t rusted into irrelevance.) Some of the Fusion’s class-inappropriate weight must consist of heavy Dynamat, because the engine note is virtually inaudible inside the cabin. Shift by the tach or you will meet the rev limiter. Trust me. The suspension tuning has been chosen for peace and quiet, not sturm und drang. It’s a remarkable freeway cruiser, particularly at the price, but it’s no Autobahn terror.
The Fusion SE is supplied with an interior of somewhat less tactile delight than that provided in the Sport model, but this is also way Honda and Toyota do things nowadays. Compared to a base Camry or Accord, this Fusion is more than acceptable. If there’s an occasional obvious cost-clipping in the plastics, there’s also a full SYNC system to balance the books.
This particular type of automobile—a relatively bland, low-equipment, manual-transmission four-cylinder sedan—has been a Honda, Toyota, and Nissan staple for a long time. In fact, the Ford is priced and equipped right on top of the Camry LE six-speed 2.5L, although I’d be surprised if there are more than ten new six-speed Camrys for sale in the entire country at the moment. Could it possibly make sense to buy the Fusion?
The Ford’s actual transaction price is certain to be a bit lower, although Toyota’s no longer slacking with the rebates. The Camry confers more respectability in the average suburban neighborhood nowadays, and it’s likely to be worth a bit more in five or ten years. Most Camrys are built in Kentucky, if you’re one of the folks who would prefer to buy an American-made automobile. There’s more room to be had in the Camry, and the famous Toyota reliability comes standard.
In this case, however, the not-so-famous Ford reliability is likely to carry the day in the long term. Consumer Reports is giving the Fusion the nod over the Camry, and it’s become apparent that recent Toyotas aren’t built as well as they used to be. Toyota doesn’t offer anything to match SYNC’s feature set. The Ford’s a more stirring drive, although this is a relative proposition. I personally find the Camry to be an utterly unforgiveable offense against aesthetics, proportion, and design, but it’s possible that somebody, somewhere, finds Toyota’s deformed-humpback styling compelling. That person is probably legally blind, but legally blind people buy plenty of cars. For proof of this assertion, Google “first-generation Santa Fe.”
The more time I spent behind the wheel of this humble four-cylinder Ford, the more I liked it. As a way to get four people somewhere at relatively low cost and with reasonable comfort, the Fusion SE takes some beating. This is the car that the Contour should have been back in 1995, but the Euro-fanboys and the handling fanatics were running Ford at the time. As a result, the so-called “American Mondeo” was exactly that: a cramped, featureless sedan that happened to suck-up the road like a front-wheel-drive 3-Series. No Accord or Camry could match the Contour for driving dynamics, and precisely nobody cared.
My insiders at Ford say that there’s a sported-up four-cylinder Fusion on the way, perhaps combining this drivetrain with the taut, big-wheeled setup found on the Sport. I cannot imagine that car selling in anything other than curiosity numbers. In fact, I cannot imagine this car selling in anything other than curiosity numbers. It doesn’t matter. Ford’s decision to provide this model is a statement of confidence. For the first time in a long time, there’s a domestic manufacturer willing to face the Camcords on an equal footing.
Some time ago, I asked TTAC’s B&B how this car should be rated: according to my preferences as a reviewer, or according to the Fusion’s position in the marketplace. The response was overwhelmingly in favor of the latter. So, while I feel compelled to note that I would rather have a lime-green Porsche GT2 than this anonymous silver sedan, when I put it heads-up against the competition, it’s four stars, no sweat.
96 Comments on “Review: 2010 Ford Fusion SE 6MT...”
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Nice write up, and you are spot on about the MT version being more of a curiosity than anything else.
We generally buy one or two manual transmission Fusions and three or four manual Foci per model year to offer something for the value concious shopper or those who simply must row their own gears, and without fail they are the last of the model for that year left sitting on the lot. Especially now that the automatics get better fuel economy than the manuals most people value the convenience of an automatic far above any little bit of extra fun they might get from having control of the transmission.
When I saw the headline, my first thought was “Yes! They put a proper transmission together with the V-6!” My hopes for a sporty sedan were dashed, however, when I hit the second paragraph.
This car seems to have found that perfect balance between acceptable handling and noise/comfort. I put 1,000 miles on one in two days, and I have to say that it’s an impressive car for the money. The four banger averaged over 35mpg in my travels. It reminded me a lot of the late 90s Accords that I like so much.
There’s a problem with these kind of cars. Dealers will not stock them of course. Can’t really blame them. So, if you want this particular setup, you are more than likely are going to have to special order it which really screws up the whole car buying process. The dealer will continue to hard sell you on an in-stock model and if you stick to your guns, he won’t lop off as much on the sticker. Often, your ordered car price is the same or higher and the in-stock model which has more options.
I’ve always ordered my cars to my specific wants and needs and more often than not my deals were worse than they could have been otherwise.
I have almost given up on seeing a review on a car & dropping into a dealerhsip to test drive one — simply because there ARE no manual transmission cars to be found.
The last time I tried this was on a Yaris. The dealer had something like 30 yarii in stock (rows) but had to hunt for an hour & drive me to an offsite lot that had one that was MT. I asked about options and there was simply no customization. The 3 he had with MT were all the same option set & the same color!
To say I was disappointed/pissed was an understatement. Aint no way I’m going to pay retail/order an econobox (of all things!) with an MT and pay sticker or near it when the aftermarket resale is going to suck.
My wife & I are vastly different. She really doesn’t have interest in learning anything MT except a motorcycle.
Our stable has 15 gears — (2 * 6) + 3! Can you guess which one is the auto?
Btw: my wife only has a valid license to drive 2 of them and only the skillset to drive one.
I still have my fingers crossed for a 6 speed manual all wheel drive ecoboost four cylinder in the fusion. Give us this drivetrain and call it a Fusion ST and I will be in line to order one.
I couldn’t buy a Fusion because its too small. But, I’ve been in the Fusion Hybrid – its a great car and I’m sure lots of people are gonna love them.
I think the SHO is gonna do well and the Taurus definitely.
I don’t know how to drive a stick though, nor am I interested in it. When I’m in my S550, or my Chrysler 300, I put my left foot on the footrest and let my hands do all the work.
Next car I get has to have paddle shifters. S63 perhaps.
A proper manual is all I choose to drive. This Fusion has obviously got my attention because it offers a stick shift and isn’t an econobox, but still I was hoping it was more of a ‘Sport’-y flavor.
Ford: Offer it in the 3.5 liter or Ecoboost 4 and I may be hooked…
Jack Baruth
Do you suppose this supposed new suped up 4 cyl is an ecoboost?
I am hoping so as it would clearly be the perfect additive.
It’s not as rare to find a MT version on dealer lots in Canada; we seem to have more of a European outlook on cars (more hatchbacks sold, more MT’s sold, more smaller cars sold than in the US), but I fear that the end of the MT is ending as AT’s become more efficient.
With all that, though, I would love to have a Fusion with a MT. I have test driven a few Fusion models, and I was impressed with the dynamics and comfort of the cars I tested. To this point I’ve tried out a SES and SE version, and if one had had a MT, we would have signed up for it then and there.
I was never a Ford fanboy (Mopar, and then Toyota fanboy), but based on the Focus I bought for Mrs. Monty, and the test drives of several Ford products, and comparisons to competitors’ vehicles, I would have to say that Ford is starting to win over myself, and apparently many other people.
I think the Fusion, and the Fiesta and Euro Focus are going to win conquest sales from Toyota et al.
I rented one of these, a 4 cyl auto, recently and was quite impressed. It’s a decent car. However, if I were in the market for a FWD 4 cylinder and liked this car, I’d probably buy the Mazda variant as it is sportier and has a superior interior design. I suppose this would mean giving up on SYNC…
MT cars are difficult to come by. I’m one of those who still enjoys rowing gears (4 mile commute), and generally take the motorcycle when it’s not raining. I will say that most of the new automatics are an amazing improvement over the old 3-speeds and for most folks make a whole lot more sense. If I’m stuck in traffic, the clutch-in, clutch-out thing gets old quickly.
Must disagree that “precisely nobody cared” when Ford offered an American Mondeo. I owned a 1996 SE, and loved it. No mainstream midsize sedan I’ve driven since then has measured up. Including the Fusion. If Ford had aimed to sell 100k rather than 300k, and marketed the car more narrowly to enthusiasts rather than people coming out of a Tempaz, it would have been a success.
I’m also not sure that the Fusion’s curb weight is “class inappropriate.” Isn’t the entire class heavy these days? Then again, I guess that even if everyone is fat that doesn’t mean they’re not all overweight.
On aesthetics vs. the Camry: okay unless we compare noses. Silver paint is almost a requirement to deemphasize the swollen 2010 tribar grille.
And on reliability: the Camry had a few glitches in its launch year, but since then the Fusion, Accord, Camry, and Malibu have been in a virtual dead heat. Based on both TrueDelta’s Car Reliability Survey and others, differences in reliability within this bunch are so small that they should not affect purchase decisions.
To participate in our survey:
http://www.truedelta.com/reliability.php
Nowadays, there ain’t nothing standard about a “standard” transmission. How long has it been since you’ve heard that quaint sobriquet for a clutch-and-stick setup?
I heard that used just last week. Some guy was talking about how hard it is to find a “standard” in cars and trucks these days.
There are two places where the manual transmission is a no-brainer:
– at the low end of the market, where small engines really benefit from manual control and an extra $1,000 or $1,500 of cost makes a huge difference in the value equation (when I bought my second new car, choosing an automatic transmission over air conditioning was not going to happen) (my first new car had no air conditioning… how quaint!)
– at the high(ish) end of the market, where a good percentage of the buyers actually enjoys cars and wants a good driving experience
I haven’t bought an automatic yet, and I really don’t want that to change. While some automatics are clearly better than others (and I consider DSGs and stuff in this category, since they automatically shift gears; some DSG aficionados don’t consider them to be automatics but they are :) ), I enjoy driving with a manual far more. It’s not about having skill, per se; it’s about enjoying the experience. It’s also about the issue that I have yet to meet an automatic that thinks like I do. I don’t want to have to put a car in “sport mode” to drive more aggressively. With a manual I don’t have to. I just let the revs get higher before I shift.
Perhaps the testing procedure on manuals needs to change, because I read a story recently (here, even, I think) that fuel economy on cars in Germany is still universally better on manuals, despite the test ratings that show the automatics to be better these days.
Oh, I eschew program mode in my photography, too. Really, I don’t mind thinking. Enough of life is mindless already!
I cannot imagine this car selling in anything other than curiosity numbers.
I wanted to test drive one of these, but the dealer didn’t have any. The prediction is true because they are unavailable so we’ll never know if low MT sales are a reflection on the car or on demand.
I really wish manufacturers would disassociate manual transmissions and low trim levels. Just make transmission choice available across all trim levels.
That some cars now get better MPG with automatic transmissions strikes me as a conscious market position choice on the part of manufacturers. Those cars get worse MPG with an MT because the top gear is geared differently than the top gear in the AT. I’ve heard they do this because a lower top gear in an MT means drivers don’t have to downshift to feel the power.
But, yes, I fear the MT is on its way out. I’ll lament the day.
I once bought a brand new 1986 Taurus “MT-5″ which was the four banger, five speed manual transmission version. Boy was that a smart move. The automatic transmissions of early Taurii were reliability nightmares while my Mazda sourced manual transmission worked beautifully. That car stayed in our family for over 12 years and over 200,000 hard miles. My brother in law used it as his beater city car for the last several years of its long life.
One ongoing advantage of manual transmissions is that they still generally last a lot longer than their automatic cousins. The first really expensive repair most modern FWD vehicles need is an automatic transmission replacement. Three to six thousand dollars seems to be the going rate.
I agree on the abominable Camry styling these days, which is the primary reason I wouldn’t even consider one.
The Fusion 6MT reminds me of the ‘85 Lebaron GTS hatchback I owned for many years, with a 5-speed stick and 2.2 (non-turbo) 4-cylinder. I never saw another one with a stick, but it was an economical ride.
I feel the manual transmission offers long term durability over the automatics. Automatics should be reliable to the day the car is turned in for C4C but historically that’s not been the case. A carefully driven clutch will go 200K easily, I’ve got one in my car to prove it, while an automatic will screw you in a minute despite changing the fluids and screen.
From a drivers perspective I love shifting gears on a nice road. It’s great to wring the life out of a small engine without the nanny box shifting up or down under the control of the computer.
It seems to me that the only type of car that’s easy to find with a manual transmission is a Mustang GT.
Two questions:
One, did they replace the bowling-ball shifter on the new stick-shift Fusions? The old one had what looked like a truck knob. Nothing you couldn’t replace, but not exactly amusing either.
Two, how does it compare to the manual-equipped Camry SE? I was pleasantly surprised by the stick-shift Camry’s handling. Toyota did some good work with the suspension, the steering’s nicer and the interior benefits mightily from going from industrial grey to black. The shifter’s actually quite nice, too: better than the notchier units Ford and Mazda seem to favour in the last generations of 6 and Fusion.
I was stunned to discover Ford actually did make a RWD V6 manual (or stick if you like)in the early 00s Lincoln LS, how did that go?
Flashpoint :
August 31st, 2009 at 9:21 am
Next car I get has to have paddle shifters. S63 perhaps.
Check out the Infiniti G37 with the Sport package – best paddle shifters this side of a Ferrari…no joke.
fincar1:
You would be surprised. Even finding manual Mustang GT’s in stock is a challenge (When I was in the market last summer, I searched about 8 dealerships within driving distance and found ONE manual in stock!)
The dealers I spoke to don’t seem to want to carry them, either.
How are the gear ratios? On my 2007 Fusion SE MT, they suck. Second gear is painfully high, zapping the fun of running through the gears.
My 4-banger MT Fusion goes 0-60 in 8 seconds. When I was learning to drive in the late 1980s, that was considered quick!!!!
Incidentally, I had to special order the manual. I bought it WITHOUT test driving it first, since manuals were unavailable at the local dealers. Oh well, it’s a good car nonetheless.
Buy a Mazda 6 instead, which is basically the same car. With the Mazda you get an American-made vehicle with the superior reputation of a Mazda.
HEATHROI :
August 31st, 2009 at 11:07 am
I was stunned to discover Ford actually did make a RWD V6 manual (or stick if you like)in the early 00s Lincoln LS, how did that go?
How did Bay of Pigs go?
Sorry, couldn’t resist channeling Ari Gold in the morning…:)
The LS was actually a pretty decent car – it shared a platform with the old Jag S-type. If I’m not mistaken, they also made the LS with a V-8 and a stick…and since we’re really in trivia mode, the same V-8 from the LS is currently in the new Jag XF.
On the manual/automatic debate…
I used to be a confirmed stick shift guy, but autoboxes have improved to the point where I’m not so sure anymore.
I just drove a BMW 535xi (look for review, coming RF’s way), and I actually found the automatic far easier to drive quickly. I’ve also driven the Infiniti G37X with the paddle shift system, and it’s a total blast to use.
The 2010 Camry also has an excellent sequential-shift system.
FreedMike: The LS V8 never got the stick. It was planned, but I imagine demand for the V6 stick was so low they never bothered.
Why does it have to be so ugly? Why does it have to have a crass and blingy grille? That ruins the whole front.
And the rear…ugh…who melted the inner-lower corner of the taillights? That looks terrible.
Ford really needs to hire competent designers. The truck are hideous, the cars are hideous, the SUVs are hideous, etc.
The only good looking Fords built today are the Falcon, Mondeo, Kuga, and Euro Focus. They show consistency from front to rear. These North American Fords look like 6 people designed specific parts but didn’t talk to one another.
Had to replace my station car (95 Probe Gt) last year so I was in the market for used car (why would I buy new or spend a lot of cash on something that’s going to do light commuter duty to the train station parking lot?
Wife insisted whatever I got have the capability to do double duty as family sedan (just in case the Mazda6 Wagon suffers some malady) which ruled out my top choice for commuter duty (Miata).
My requirement for the car was-
enough room to carry family of 4 (including car seats) and a manual transmission.
After shopping around..
Honda’s?
Either abused by previous owners, overpriced and likely to targeted in the station parking lot.
Fords?
Unless it’s a Mustang or Focus…no MT to be found.
Nissan – A few high mileage overpriced Altima
VW – Overpriced and on their way to repair shop hell
What did I end up getting? A 2002 Camry LE 5spd with under 50K miles on it. Dealer had been trying to sell it for months. Had plenty of room and it had a manual so I bought it.
I hated it at first. but now I can appreciate it for what it is. An honest car.
Under 3000lbs and responsive enough with the manual around town. The same car with an automatic lulls you to sleep as it screams “I’m a rental”. The 5spd acts as the little alarm clock to keep you from REM sleeping your way to work.
“zzzzzzzzzzzzz” (Wake up…shift!!) “zzzzzzzzzzz” (wake up SHIFT!!)
As for MPG…not that I really care…but to hell with EPA ratings. Give me 2 cars with an auto and and a manual…same engine. Put 1 gallon of gas in each. I bet I’ll go farther in the manual.
Why does it have to be so ugly? Why does it have to have a crass and blingy grille? That ruins the whole front.
I like the front on it now. Previously it looked like an afterthought. Now the rear doesn’t match
freedmike; being a recent import there are still a lot of things in the US that we in outside world don’t find out from TV, like Lincoln or Cadillac even considering a stick, amongst other things.
Some time ago, I asked TTAC’s B&B how this car should be rated: according to my preferences as a reviewer, or according to the Fusion’s position in the marketplace.
can’t see why there isn’t room for both.
I was going to say, since the Fusion is a rather smallish midsize, 175 hp really isn’t all that bad, until I looked up the curb weight.
3285 lbs?
The much, much more spacious Accord comes in at 3204 with a stick. How does that work?
Riding shotgun in a Fusion didn’t really feel much more spacious than a Honda Civic. A Honda Accord felt practically Impala-esque.
Thanks Jack:
If I have to give up my 2002 Accord, I will look at the Fusion.
You said the Fusion is too heavy, and I think all cars are too heavy these days, but the Fusion seems to be mainstream for its class:
Fusion 3285 lbs.
Malibu 3415 lbs.
Accord 3230 lbs.
Altima 3145 lbs.
Camry 3263 lbs.
Taken from Edmunds.com comparison chart all models are 4 cyl. manual, except the ‘bu which is auto only.
If I were buying a mid sized sedan for myself, I would probably go for the Fusion 3 Liter V6 2WD, which has less power than the 3.5 l but doesn’t have the handicap of 4WD. I think both the Camry and the Accord are misshapen and the Altima’s CVT is a deal killer.
At this point I have to guess that (Ford owner) Jack Baruth is the designated Ford reviewer?
The easiest car to find in stick is the one that doesn’t exist with an auto.
My 2005 STi is like that.
Edit: It looks like the wrx’s on subarus site are like that as well.
@ Robert Schwartz:
“If I were buying a mid sized sedan for myself, I would probably go for the Fusion 3 Liter V6 2WD, which has less power than the 3.5 l but doesn’t have the handicap of 4WD. I think both the Camry and the Accord are misshapen and the Altima’s CVT is a deal killer.”
By 4WD, I’ll assume you meant AWD.
In any case, *how* on Earth is AWD a handicap? I look at a *good* AWD system as the great equalizer. Sure, it adds weight and drops the MPG by 2 (usually), but that’s a well-taken penalty if I’m getting better traction in inclement weather *and* grip-n-go off-the-line performance… which (contrary to popular belief) *is* useful outside of the drag strip. (Take merging into rush-hour traffic, for instance.)
A *good* AWD system is anything but a handicap.
@th009: I’ve done about half of the Ford reviews on this site in the past year.
If you think I might not review Fords fairly because I’m an owner… well, in the past five years I’ve also owned cars built by
Porsche
Mercedes-Benz
BMW
Audi
Chrysler
GM
Mitsubishi
Volkswagen
Saab
Plus I’ve raced Toyotas and Hondas in the past two years.
When you own six or seven cars at a time, and you’re poor so these six or seven cars aren’t vintage Hispano-Suizas, chances are that nearly everything you look at will have some commonality to what’s been in your garage recently.
Furthermore, I should point out that I paid for my Ford Flex, and I bought it from a dealer just like anybody else.
If you’re looking for people getting free cars, I suggest you look at the print rags and the many outlets of the Vortex Media Group. Free cars galore, and rarely a critical word to be had.
akear :
August 31st, 2009 at 11:20 am
Buy a Mazda 6 instead, which is basically the same car. With the Mazda you get an American-made vehicle with the superior reputation of a Mazda.
True, and it’s definitely better looking, but you’ll also get a much harsher ride.
Michael Karesh, “Must disagree that “precisely nobody cared” when Ford offered an American Mondeo. I owned a 1996 SE, and loved it. No mainstream midsize sedan I’ve driven since then has measured up.”
I owned the same, and came away thinking the Contour was among the most under-appreciated and under-marketed cars in two decades. Ford let it die on the vine chasing soccer moms in Explorers.
My only problem with the Contour I owned was that I ate through tires like Jiminy Glick on donuts because of so many rapid drives through the hill country of Texas. In my entire time owning it, I only had to replace tires and do regular maintenance. Never did anything go wrong.
Nice review, I’ll have to check one out…if I can find one.
Jack –
Nice review, as usual…
I’m a little less kind than you were on the Fusion’s styling – it looks to me like Ford was trying way too hard to add surface excitement to a basically dull shape. I also liked the quality of materials in the Fusion’s cockpit, but not the execution – the one I drove was unrelentingly black inside. I also hated, hated, hated the weird backlighting on the instruments.
What did impress me, though, is the ride/performance/handling balance Ford has baked in here. It’s plenty responsive without being darty or harsh (unlike the Mazda 6), but it’s not a floatmobile like the Sonata (I’d add the Camry to this category, but the 2010 is vastly improved in this area).
From the seat of my pants, the Fusion FELT like an Accord or VW. Nothing wrong with that.
Several buff mags have commented on how close Ford has come to nailing the Accord benchmark in terms of driving quality, and I’d agree.
Hank :
August 31st, 2009 at 1:44 pm
I owned the same, and came away thinking the Contour was among the most under-appreciated and under-marketed cars in two decades. Ford let it die on the vine chasing soccer moms in Explorers.
Agree 100%. The Contour was a vastly underrated car – though it was too small to really be competitive against the Accord and Camry, it was wonderfully European to drive. And the SVT was one of the best sleepers of the late ’90s.
Same with the first-gen Focus, until Ford mucked that one up last year.
@Robert Schwartz
“If I were buying a mid sized sedan for myself, I would probably go for the Fusion 3 Liter V6 2WD, which has less power than the 3.5 l but doesn’t have the handicap of 4WD. I think both the Camry and the Accord are misshapen and the Altima’s CVT is a deal killer.”
You’re aware the Altima is available with a 6MT as well?
@Jack Baruth, I am in no way indicating or implying any intentional bias.
However, to some extent you support my point: you say that you spent your own money on a Ford Flex (which I did know). Most people who have spent their own hard-earned money on a car tend naturally to be supportive of that car and/or brand.
That’s why I’d love to see TTAC implement a policy whereby people review brands of cars they do NOT currently own.
I like this fusion , it’s a nice looking solution that could cover ~ 75% of the populations actual needs. Really hitting the heart of the market. But an Autotrader search for within 50 miles of my greater Phoenix home revealed ZERO cars W/ the 6MT.They wont sell any of these cars if they don’t market them.
My only question is why all the Camry styling hate? Its a friggin beauty next to the bloated, overwrought,upside-down door handled,Five series Rip-off Accord.
Photojim:
+1
I test drove a Scion xB the year they came out. In auto format, it was downright dangerous trying to merge on I5 (California). With the stick version, I could really rev the engine and actually merge at the speed of on-coming traffic.
Nice of Jack to compare it to the Camcordia, but what about the Mazda6? Is it a livelier drive and more spirited than the offering from the “zoom-zoom” manufacturer? Especially a Mazda6 with a stick where you can once again wring that last bit of power out of the engine.
h
It’s not just sedans. Add to the mix the way Ford (or any mfr. I’m not sure, I didn’t understand the whole thing) commoditizes certain options, then throw in some weird dealer allocation rules.
The result? I had to wait SIX MONTHS for a Convertible Mustang GT with a stick to be built for me.
I have to agree that the whole supply/demand argument about Americans not wanting manual transmissions is based on bad data. Manufacturers can point to sales numbers and argue that nobody wants them. But those who do always seem to complain about not being able to find one. I think it’s the dealers who don’t want to order them rather than retail customers. Not to say that dealers are, ahem, superstitious, but perhaps that one purple manual-transmission Focus 5-door they kept in stock for 2 1/2 years still weighs on their mind?
The situation is similar to the argument about Diesel cars. I keep hearing how VW dealers are getting sticker price or better on new TDIs and used prices seem to support the argument that there is plenty of demand for Diesels in the U.S. Yet very few manufacturers offer them for sale and argue that Americans don’t like them.
Case in point, a few years ago I was looking for an entertaining used car that would also make a great family car… and I wanted a manual transmission. To complicate matters, I also wanted small or midsized wagon. I knew that BMW offered the 5-series wagon in a 525iT configuration with a manual transmission and started looking for an ‘01 or ‘02 model. For grins I visited or called a number of BMW dealers near me (Northern California where it appears manual transmissions are somewhat more popular than in the rest of the country) and they essentially laughed at me. I was apparently looking for a unicorn… they existed on paper but nobody had seen one in the flesh.
Online, however, I was able to find at least 4-6 examples on eBay every week located all over the country but alas not near me. Their prices seemed to hold up pretty well. Eventually, one did come up for sale on eBay and it was only about 10 miles from my home… a 25k mile one-owner example, silver, 5-speed, sport suspension, bingo. I bought it on the spot for half of the original MSRP of $52k. A couple of years later I resold it on eBay for only a couple of hundred less than I paid for it. I sold it in only a few days and had a lot of calls about the car. My take was that there were people out there who wanted the wagon with a manual transmission. Either there are a lot of us out there or eBay allowed me to find the only other nutcases in the whole country who wanted one and we all happened to be in the market at the same moment.
th009 :
August 31st, 2009 at 2:34 pm
@Jack Baruth, I am in no way indicating or implying any intentional bias.
However, to some extent you support my point: you say that you spent your own money on a Ford Flex (which I did know). Most people who have spent their own hard-earned money on a car tend naturally to be supportive of that car and/or brand.
That’s why I’d love to see TTAC implement a policy whereby people review brands of cars they do NOT currently own.
Reminds me of debates we used to have in journalism school…can you write about a candidate from the party you belong to impartially? Good journalists can do that.
Personally, I think as long as the reviewer is being unbiased about the car he’s writing about, I don’t think this is a problem. I think Jack was pretty clear about what he found lacking in the Fusion, as opposed to the Mini test a few weeks back, which was a big-time cheerleading effort from a guy who owned one.
The Fusion seems like a decent car, but why does it have to be so FUGLY?