DarrenWS6
The original Ford guy around here
Yep it is a long weekend for sure.. Can't wait for Monday appt with my Bank.
I havent read through this whole thread but have you actually driven all the vehicles? You can read a million reviews and opinions until your eyes pop out. But your entire view on them could darastically change after you drive them ALL! Not just one.
My girlfriend was car shopping last year, started with a mazda 3 base, hated the thing. We found it on a ford lot, decided to drive a used 09 fusion there, really liked it. Started looking at the midsized sedans. Went and drove a malibu, pretty nice car, ford then brought in a used 2010 fusion for us to try which is a complete redesign compared to the 09 so we drove that and wow, we both knew right away that was the car for us.
In the end, she bought the 2010 fusion, after driving all the other cars, the 2010 fusion was just a GREAT car to drive. 3.0 V6, 6 speed auto transmission, all soft touch interior materials, great stereo and very comfy to drive with lots of pep behind it when you want to pass someone. Personally for me, the fusion takes it compared to the malibu. It might be different for you but the only way you will really know if by driving them BOTH. Also the fusion SEL and sport models can be had with AWD which is a realy blast to drive as well, unfortunately those models were just out of her budget.
The malibu was a nice car, but nothing stood out about it that would make you say "oh wow, this is the one!". Everything was good on it but nothing really "great". You can live with good until you drive something great, then suddenly good just doesnt cut it.
Trust me, been through that before with vehicles, drove one and loved it and almost bought it until someone made me snap out of it and atleast try the competition and suddenly, that first vehicle was as good as i thought. Test drove a brand new 2010 f150, like it, power was ok, interior was ok, stereo ok. I liked it enough to factory order one, but i felt like i had to talk myself into buying it. Friends and family convinced me to atleast drive a dodge and boom, look at my sig! Wasnt even close!


Sorry to hear about the finance stuff. That credit game is murky and complicated. And that's for the guys who understand it!
The longer you wait the cheaper things get and the more $$$ you'll have saved up![]()