Grey

What you are trying to do during the break-in is establish a wide wear pattern on gears and mating surfaces. If you are going 1,000 miles when the vehicle is new, it would be best to very the loads as much as possible, ie. drive through cities where you will get some stop and go, drive the speed limit for 30 minutes and then take a county road at 40 for 10 miles, etc. Don't set the speed control for one speed for 3 hours at a time. Occasionally let the engine rpms drop from 2-3,000 RPM to idle (under load) as the backpressure will help seat the piston rings (2 or 3 times over the 1,000 miles).

It's all about the weight and resulting fuel economy_ One of the articles said---

"The team eliminated 125 pounds versus the 2009 Fusion. The size of the radiator, for example, was able to be reduced by one-third with no degradation in performance. Also, 16-inch aluminum wheels helped reduce weight and aid aerodynamics while still delivering top performance."

One of the primary reasons for not promoting the Taurus to fleets is to hold the resale value up. Higher resale value = better lease rates, lower cost of ownership and ultimately lower incentive cost to the Company.

Pushing fleet sales can have unintended consequences, and I think Ford has learned this lesson. The argument is that an incremental unit only has to cover variable costs, but there are effects that often get overlooked. The old Tauri experienced this phenomenon- resale values sucked because fleets dumped their old units on the used market and that eventually drove buyers away.

If a fleet order for an SEL includes option 88D, then the leather heated seat is replaced with cloth without heated seat.

There must be significant savings, but I have not seen it in the price lists.

Hello all!

 

I received my VIN last week and my dealer told me that the build date is Nov 2nd, with Delivery by Dec 1st.

 

I called Ford Customer Care today and she told me the Build Date was November 6th with a Delivery of November 30th, arriving at the dealership on the 7th of December...

 

Now, correct me if im wrong, but from what i gathered it takes far less time for things to get moving once the vehicle is built. From what i read (or maybe i mis-read) it appears that usually the vehicle is received 2 or 3 weeks tops after build date.

 

Im just very excited and im hoping all of your insight could help narrow down my actual, not estimated date. I need to square away my trade (Ford offered me $5500 for my Jeep, but i think Carmax may do better....ive had good dealings with them, ) and get financing (preferably from my credit union who is offering 4.9 for 60 mos!!!! lol!

The Ford scheduling system is updated on Thur. evenings so Fridays are the best time to get revised dates. Ford quotes "week of" for production to dealers, so that means the Nov.2 week. Might be Monday or Friday of that week depending on the commodities the plant has at the time. Once it is produced, you will get a better idea of delivery timing.

Sounds like the customer service rep was being conversative. Actually, the system the dealership goes into is the better source. I'd call them Friday morning and ask them to give you a call back with the latest schedule info when they can get online or they download their reports.

They are comming in faster now, but you can still be stalled as they fill railcars and route trucks from the railheads. They have been known to wait a few days to optomize their truckload deliveries.

The status on Nov. 6 or 13 will give you a better estimate of delivery timing.

FYOM - From your owner's manual

BREAKING-IN YOUR VEHICLE

Your vehicle does not need an extensive break-in. Try not to drive

continuously at the same speed for the first 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of

new vehicle operation. Vary your speed frequently in order to give the

moving parts a chance to break in.

Do not add friction modifier compounds or special break-in oils since

these additives may prevent piston ring seating.

BTW - there is a lot of info in there!

2010 SEL----

• Seats

— 1st Row – 8-way Power Driver's Seat

— 1st Row – 6-way Power Passenger's Seat

— Leather Trimmed and Heated Seating Surfaces

Congrats. That will be one rare vehicle in the Queen's domain. She may even want a ride.

Keep us informed of your experiences.

Let the local Ford Offices know you have it - you might be invited to some special events.

And thanks again for your service. :happy feet: :happy feet:

Add the pink where you can easily remove it - license plate frame, window decal, etc.

Good luck :happy feet:

My manual says nothing about every 5,000 miles I have to go in for maintenance every 7,500 miles...

The Hybrids have a 10,000 mile oil change interval which may be close to 7,500 miles (Engine Hours) on a non-hybrid.

I'm new to this as this is my first car, but does it affect the warranty if you don't have a dealer/service station do the recommended maintenances? Or does it affect also if/when you sell the car and the buyer sees you don't have records to show it was maintenanced as suggested?

I does affect the warranty if you do not follow the minimum maintenance schedule requirements. If you do not use the F/L/M dealership then insist they use products that meet the Ford specifications spelled out in your owner's manual.

Keeping the receipts for your maintenance is a good idea, both for resale value and for maintenance verification if there is a lubrication related problem. Most lubrication related issues won't be warrantable, but at least the receipts will help point a finger at the neglectful maintainer.

DRL's are usually an option for fleets in the States. (If this was purchased used, it may have been ordered as a fleet unit with the option.)

Several Fusion owners on another forum have done this on Fusions older than the 2010 model. Is the 2010 different from earlier years? All that is done is to ground the marker lights to the turn signal power wire.

Doesn't sound right to me, but I don't have access to the wiring systems any more - just going by what I have read on the trailer light wiring requirements.

Let us know what you find.

I finally got my MMH tonight! It only took 15 weeks!

 

I also found out what the hold up was. When I asked for a copy of the DORA, they also included a copy of an e-mail they received from Ford advising them that they needed additional info to complete the order. I placed the order on 7/11, but the e-mail was dated 9/23. There was a hand-written note at the bottom saying that the order was resubmitted that day. Good thing they got it in before 9/30.

I believe that several of the orders that took longer than 10 weeks did so because the dealership forgot to "Verify" the order as retail (Copy of the purchase order and your drivers license faxed to HQ). 2 or 3 days after you give the dealership your order, ask for the DORA, ask for the DORA, ask for the DORA - if they don't have it they need to verify the order. In your case, the order only took 4 weeks from verification to delivery--- I suspect they went to their Regional office and asked to prioritize the order since they goofed. What priority does your DORA reflect?

You did not really need to worry about the order submission date to Ford as long as you have a dated copy of your purchase order with the dealership. The DORA just backs up the fact that you placed the order. Any sign of commitment to purchase before 9/30 is good enough.

I'm sure we will have good dialog after the first of the year and we see what the Tax software providers have done to simplify the credit caliming process.

No, I'm in US, STL, MO. So the dealer has to do it?

Yes, unless you can find a shop that has the correct diagnostic equipment to access the lighting "brain".

Lighting systems have feedback provisions and are controlled through a smart junction box. That is why you can't just tap wires to add trailer lighting, etc.

You might be able to get a trailer wiring kit that is compatable with your system and wire the turn signal circuits to your market lamps. The kits are pretty expensive however.

Only the Maintenance plans will cover wear selected items. In the case of a Premium Maintenance Plan for 6 years and 100,000 miles, there is a slight possibility you would have the shocks and/or engine belts and hoses replaced if they exhibited escessive wear. Your dealership won't automically replace something, just because the plan might reimburse them for it. The parts would need to exhibit a "Condition" that justified replacement under the terms of the warranty.

I didn't include them in my "Value" calculation because they are so iffy.

For me, I did consider that my first maintenance service is free and that by 40-50,000 miles I would need tires, thus negating another tire rotation. YMMV.

BTW - the air filter is a 100,000 mile unit - so only one service in 100,000 miles.

I have not priced out the plans, but as I read the maintenance manual, you are prepaying for:

11 tire rotations

10 oil/filter changes

3 air filter changes (There may be a conflict here as I have read they are a 100,000 mile item)

Replace the coolant and spark plugs at 100,000 miles.

Additionally, you may get a set of wiper blades and a set of brake pads if the dealer agrees that they are worn.

Assuming I needed all of those services and I used my coupons ($32.95 for oil change and tire rotation), I would expect to be out of pocket $600-$700 over 6 years and 100,000 miles.

I expect the Maintenance plan cost will be considerably more than that. Let us know what you find.

Mirrors my experience- drove 100 miles from Roswell to Lake Wedowee in Alabama on Hwy. 5. Speed control set at 45 and got 54.1 MPG. Speed limit for most of the way is 45 so I didn't hold up too many people. Took the Xpressway back and went up to 75 MPH getting 39 MPG. :happy feet: :happy feet:

Hello all! I'm a new excited Fusion owner and new to the site. I turned in a 2007 Mustang GT for the new Fusion. I know, some will ask why? For one, I live in the Cleveland OH area and driving in the snow sucks. Even with snow tires and 200 lbs of sand the Mustang was a very difficult car to keep planted in the snow. I was very skeptical of the Fusion. I was on the fence until I drove the car for the first time. On the test drive I was blown away! The AWD is great and the power the V6 makes is much more than I expected. The interior is top notch also. Ford seems to be making great strides to improve their over-all quality of their cars. This SEL I purchased has almost all the options except the Nav. I can't see paying $2000 for what a $150 Garmin will do. But I guess some see it worth it. I love the car and the tuxedo black looks great in the sun with the metallic flakes in the paint. I can't say enough about this car so far. No gripes!

 

I'll post some pics soon. With fall here I won't get too many chances to get good clean pictures of the car.

 

Well, enough about that, I'm glad to be here and look forward to meeting you all!

 

Take care!

 

Marc

Welvome Marc--

I think you will find the forum interesting and entertaining. Most of us here are more concerned with an outstanding ownership experience than bench racing, ET's and social issues.

I felt the same way about the Navagation system until I saw there was a $1200 discount on the package (502A FFH) that included it. That made it viable for me and now we love it.

Look forward to the pictures. :happy feet:

I'm sorry. Do you mean that all US 2010 Fusions purchased outside the fleet purchase program in all trim levels can have DRL's enabled/disabled through the SJB at the dealer? (I think that's what you're saying.)

 

I sure hope so! Thanks.

bbf2530 is correct (as always). If you have already taken delivery of your vehicle and did not agree that the DRL's would be turned on as part of the purchase agreement, the service department will likely charge you an hour of labor time to turn them on. If the service advisor doesn't realize this can be done, suggest they talk to their onboard computer tech for more information. They have likely run into the SJB lighting menu before.

If you have not actually purchased the vehicle yet, tell them you want the DRL's turned on at delivery and they may just throw in the programming at no charge. It does take technician time, but if they do it as part of predelivery, it doesn't cost the dealershi8p that much more. The service department doesn't usually charge the new vehicle sales department as much as they charge you and me.

My big concern is whether Ford is making any money on the sale of hybrids. I remember reading an article last summer that had a Toyota exec saying that they still havn't broken even on the Prius yet.

 

As a life long fan of the blueoval, I have to say that I can't believe what Alan Mulally has done to reshaping Ford. As a Ford stockholder, I have to say that I would want noone else running Ford.

I believe the FFH 500A package might be a marginal producer. The loaded 502A and MMilanH vehicles should produce good revenue, profit and advertising value. Based on September YTD Hybrid sales (over 26,000 units), Ford must have found a way to obtain a lot more battery packs. :happy feet:

Do you think that its necessary to use synthetic oil in the Fusion Hybrid???

What is necessary is that you oil and filter products that meet the Ford specifications. We are limited to 5w20 or 0w20 that meets the WSS-M2C930-A specification. Those will all be synthetic blend or full synthetic.

I always use Motorcraft because I know that every batch produced will meet the specification every time. Other suppliers may meet the specification one time out of 10 (but that is the result they will use to show their formulation met the spec.) Others don't even say they meet the specification and declare it doesn't make any difference. And usually, there won't be any issues unless you have a lubrication related failure - which is almost always owner responsibility.

Search some of the threads on motor oil. You will get some opinions that differ from those of the Ford Engine Engineering Group. Some people actually believe their corner lube guy is smarter than the Ford engineers. I don't.

There may be a requirement that you maintain possession of the vehicle for a period of time to qualify for the tax credit. We may have to wait until the IRS instructions come out for 2009 filing. So, don't count on the credit, if you sell "early".

A lot of us got our orders in before 3/31 and will qualify for the $3,400 credit. The dealership employee did not understand the rules!

Would you supply me with the name and location of the dealer that gave you the equivalent of $1500.00 off on an extremely hard to get FFH? It would appear that the dealer not only gave you $500.00 off for school but also did not add on the universal "local area price adjustment" of around $1000.00 which is really unusual.

The $32000.00 I paid for my FFH the 29th of June was the same price as every test and review article posted on the internet.

I have read a number of comments in this forum and others of the long wait, usually several months, to get a new FFH and then often not in your color or equipment choice. Another comment on this page mentioned that you got the $3400.00 Federal Tax credit, but it is my understanding that credit expired long before the first FFH hit the dealers lot. Was he wrong? I purchased my FFH in June just before the $1700.00 Federal Tax Credit expired.

Qualifying for the tax credit is based on when you ordered/purchased your FFH. That could be months before you take delivery. So, if you ordered before March 31, 2009, you can claim the $3,400 - no matter when it was delivered.

Same for the $1,700 credit - if you ordered after 3/31, but before 9/30.

$850 credit - if you order between 10/1/09 and 3/31/10.