[Two Sheds]

I must admit recently I've been getting a bit bored of my bmw (330xi). It's partly due to the wife expecting our first kid, looking at moving to a house (from a small condo) so my costs are going to double or triple so I've been thinking of downgrading and trying to think about saving costs.

Anyways today we needed 2 cars and we only have the one so we rented one and my wife took the bmw since it's cheaper for me to rent a car than her (my credit card covers insurance) and I ended up with a ford fusion for the day.

What a POS. It felt like I was driving along the road on a water bed, absolutley no feel of the road and at 120 kmh (70mph) it felt so wobbly and unstable I really didn't feel as if I could go any faster or go round any corners. I think it claimed to have a V6, but it sounded and felt whiney and lacked grunt. To top it off the stereo was awful and tinny and just didn't seem to have any ooomph. Even cranking the volume up it just didn't seem to get any louder, it just sounded hollow.

After getting back in the BMW this evening I fell in love with it again and am happy I've got it for another 30 months and am already a bit depressed at the thought of having to downgrade at that time. Guess I'm going to have to put into action my super secret get rich quick in 29 months scheme....

[nyc3r]

Never drove a Ford Fusion before but I rented a Ford Focus before and THAT was a POS. Especially the steering and breaking. Granted it only cost 15k (sticker was still in the car).. but the car just didn't drive right. I'd much rather be driving a Civic or Altima.

Get a lease on a 335xi at the end of your current lease.

[SpecC]

I know how you feel! except i'm with a Scion tC until the weekends when i get my 330i back which makes everything so wonderful haha
it makes me feel like a man again

[bmwexecutive]

The Ford Fusion is no BMW. That's for damn sure! But in all fairness, the Ford Fusion is a car that costs $15,000 less than your car, both at base.

[BK]

Originally Posted by Two Sheds

It felt like I was driving along the road on a water bed, absolutley no feel of the road and at 120 kmh (70mph) it felt so wobbly and unstable I really didn't feel as if I could go any faster or go round any corners.

Nice description.

[Two Sheds]

I'm not sure if it's because I'm used the bmw now, I haven't had a car for the last 3 years and have rented a lot - pontiacs, buicks, chevys, toyoatas, nissans, but never ended up with a ford in North America, but nearly always a ford when renting in UK (mondeo or focus). From memory the other cars I rented felt a lot better than the fusion and the fords I have driven in UK (I am from the UK originally) were also a lot better.

Guess next time I'll have to force the missus to drive the rental

Originally Posted by nyc3r

Get a lease on a 335xi at the end of your current lease.

mmmmmmmmm 335xi, that reminds me of the amount of wheelspin I got trying to get going in the fusion, can't even get that if I try in the xi

[742]

One of the many grossly stupid things that both Ford and GM do in North America is de-content and downgrade their fleet cars. So the Ford or GM car you get from Hertz/Avis etc. may be a very different animal than what you would buy from the dealer.

That said, and if you are going to downgrade, a 4 door Golf/Rabbit makes a great small family car while still having reasonable driving dynamics. IMO of course.

[King Luis]

its weird how german cars drive so different then ameican cars. night and day.
when my car went to the body shop (someone backed into my car), they gave me a old neon....and what a pos. steering was so numb, no power at all, brakes were mush, quality and feel of the interior were total crap too.
bah...glad i got my e30

[bronco]

1) It is a FORD
2) It is cheap
3) it wasnt meant to be a drivers car

[abc9475]

Originally Posted by bronco

1) It is a FORD
2) It is cheap
3) it wasnt meant to be a drivers car