A uncommon six-speed stick inches the enjoyable issue of immediately’s Good Value or No Cube Fusion nearer to its Aston Martin-aping beauty. Let’s discover out if this household automobile is priced to make adoption a viable possibility.
Some of the widespread songs by Minnesota-based lo-fi band Low is the duet “Plastic Cup.” A fragile lament on the lack of autonomy and the misplacement of value, each symbolized by the titular plastic cup, it grew to become a live performance staple for the band.
The plastics within the 1977 Chevy Camaro R/S we checked out yesterday appeared to have held up shockingly properly over time, as had the automobile’s bodywork, paint, and, as finest we may inform, its mechanicals. There was no misinterpretation of the worth of any of these parts, because the Camaro introduced properly and, laudably, claimed to be a two-owner automobile. There was, nevertheless, disagreement over the vendor’s asking worth of $13,500. A lot of you took problem with that asking, with the end result being a slender however decisive 54% ‘No Cube’ loss.
Final sedan standing
Taking a look at Ford’s present U.S. lineup, one may be struck by the shortage of variety in its client choices. Underneath the auspices of the “SUVs and automobiles” class on the corporate web site, just one automobile is obtainable with a separate, lockable trunk. That is the two-door Mustang, the final automobile of any variety on the corporate’s roster. The whole lot else is both a five-door wagon with a hatch, or the Bronco’s swinging gate, provided on two and four-door editions. There’s not a single sedan in Ford’s North American lineup, nor has there been for the previous 5 years.
The query, in fact, is “Can we miss them?” Ford eradicated sedans from its lineup resulting from market calls for, not out of spite. Its final sedan so far was a 2020 Fusion that rolled off the road on the firm’s Hermosillo, Mexico meeting plant on July thirty first of that yr. Now the plant makes the Bronco Sport, which sells in decrease volumes than did the Fusion on its worst day, however is probably extra worthwhile for the corporate in the long term.
Ecoslow
Right this moment, we’ll have a look at an older Fusion, this 2013 Fusion SE, which comes with an attention-grabbing drivetrain alternative for what’s mainly a easy household sedan. Underneath the hood is a 1.6-liter Ecoboost 4, a turbocharged 16-valve motor that, on this mannequin, made a claimed 178 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. Whereas considerably mild on each numbers for the Fusion’s 3,590-pound weight, this automobile has an ace up its sleeve. That is an sudden six-speed handbook sourced from Getrag and including a bit spice to this sedan.
In fact, there’s solely a lot {that a} stick shift can do, and this Fusion’s present proprietor acknowledges the automobile’s economic system over efficiency {qualifications} by humorously becoming it with a conceit plate that reads “ECOSLOW.”
Regardless of that, there’s lots to love a few automobile of this measurement and capabilities. Its usefulness as a household automobile is clear within the shot of the again seat, which may swallow two kiddie seats with room to spare. It additionally has the sedan’s secret weapon of a separate trunk to maintain valuables apart from the kiddos protected and safe.
Hecho en Mexico
As famous, Ford constructed the Fusions at its Hermosillo plant, they usually should have executed a reasonably good job of screwing this one collectively down there, since right here, properly over a decade later, this one nonetheless appears to be like to be in strong form. Loads of that has to do with upkeep and care, in addition to the automobile’s moderately low 98,800 miles.
The blue paint nonetheless pops and reveals no proof of dings or dents. The bodywork beneath it’s also noteworthy for being what’s arguably one of many best-looking automobiles Ford has ever produced, showing very very like an Aston Martin from a variety of angles. The black-coated manufacturing unit alloys are a take-it-or-leave-it component, however are a simple repair if disliked by the following proprietor.
The cabin additionally seems to have held up properly, and as a mid-level SE mannequin, it provides leather-based seating surfaces, powered and heated entrance seats, and some different bells and whistles. All in all, it appears to be like like a cushty place to spend time whereas in automobile line or on the commute to work.
Updated
In response to the advert, the automobile has a clear title, a worry-free Carfax report, and has handed its state security inspection. That makes it able to rock for the following household, and all it’ll take to get behind the wheel is to pay the vendor their FIRM $6,800 asking worth.
What’s your tackle this Fusion and that agency worth? Does that appear like an inexpensive deal for somebody seeking to buck the development and persist with a sedan? Or does that worth put a damper on such quaint notions, and even the attraction of this automobile’s six-speed stick-shift?
You determine!
Good Value or No Cube:
New Hampshire Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to Whatsupdohc for the hookup!
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