Hubby's new car

My last apples to oranges rant is the Civic is a compact car while the "more expensive" Fusion is a midsize car.<br>
Bigger car=higher price and lower fuel economy....but let's not look at this logically.

<font color="#993300">Adam, I know that but apparently the Einsteins at Ford don't. There should be a U.S. small hybrid and there isn't . So when someone tries to buy American and goes to Ford/Mercury they will encounter this car Fusion or Milan hybrid and immediately will dash to the nearest Toyota or Honda dealership. The Accord hybrid was cancelled more than 2 years ago and the Camry hybrid doesn't sell that much. Ford should've put that technology on a smaller car. <br><br>A new Focus is coming to the USA as well as the new Ford Festiva and the new Chevy Cruze. Why don't they also have a hybrid version of these cars if these are the cars so that they can compete with the Prius and the Civic Hybrid and the new Honda CR-Z . (Ok , I don't the mileage of this CR-z hybrid so don't rake me over the coals if the mileage stinks.) Hmm, maybe I should apply for a job at Ford or Chevy.<br><br><br><br>maribell</font>

Adam, you are now having a different conversation than me. <br>
But since you brought it up, yes the Fusion is 1 foot longer than the Civic. So a more apt comparison would be to the Camry. It's size is about the same as the Fusion, but the Fusion gets better gas mileage, but it is still more expensive than the Camry to the tune of $1800 for the base model. So you win on mileage.<br>
But let's say someone doesn't want to spend 26 to 28k on a base Camry or Fusion hybrid. Let's check on Ford's slightly smaller hybrid and compare that one to the Civic. Whoops, they don't have one.<br>
Logical enough for you?

If that was the initial comment made, then no beef from me...but that's not what was stated. <br><br>
And they probably don't (currently) make one for the same reason Honda doesn't make trucks, or Toyota/Nissan making HD trucks, that's not what their traditional customer base wants.<br>
Like I said before, times are changing. :)

I probably don't need to say this, but I'm going to pipe up here anyway: Cars like Ford's new Fusion and Fusion Hybrid are going to save that company. In these parts, I actually see more of the latter version than the prior...

<blockquote>Cars like Ford's new Fusion and Fusion Hybrid are going to save that company.</blockquote>I would agree.<br><br><br>

<font color="#990000">I didn't say that it's a bad car but they should have that technology available to drop it in the new Focus and the new Festiva when they arrive. Toyota is still churning out at least 10,000 PRIUS's per month. Honda has the Civic and the Insight hybrids. Soon they will also have the FIT as a hybrid and the upcoming CR-Z. There might be another hybrid from Toyota through Scion. Whatever the Japanese car companies put out, the American car companies need to clone and throw it out there inorder to compete.<br><br><br>maribell</font>

No, they need to do as they once did and lead the technology.

I first looked at this thread before it got any responses (it IS a nice, nice car), and have come back to it happily amazed at the discussion it sparked. First off, the hybrids are unquestionably leading the way with new technology. How can anybody not like seeing advancement? How can forward thinking NOT be good for a carmaker? (Excepting Chrysler's Airflow). <br><br>My take on the debate of foreign versus domestic: What the heck is foreign anymore? Nissans, Toyotas, Hondas, BMWs and others being built right here in the USA, while GM and Ford build some vehicles and subassemblies in Mexico; my Buick and some other GM critters come from Canada. It may take some time after decades of dinosaur thinking but America's carmakers will rebound. And I'll betcha, they've already dissected countless Priuses already. They ARE watching and listening.<br>Regarding quality, there's going to be good and bad of each, but more room for improvement with the domestics. Maybe we need a new union contract that involves tighter build standards.<br><br>It also comes down to what most consumers WANT. Gas is high again, and SUV sales are down, but there's still plenty out there, still selling, often to single people without a family to haul around. America made lots of small economical cars in the '70s and '80s, but hardly anybody is buying them now. Whatever happened to mini-pickups and hatchbacks, anyway? Even the mini Toyotas (Echo, Yaris) are far fewer than their earlier Tercels, and I think that's true among the Honda and Nissan counterparts.<br><br>The thing that mystifies me the most, though, is that Ford and the General build many economical cars that sell well around the globe, but aren't offered on this continent. Go to a well stocked newsstand and check the auto magazines published in faraway lands, and you'll see plenty of "why can't they sell those here?" vehicles.<br><br>(Pre-emptive note: I do not bring up the following to agitate, but because it's appropriate to the thread) Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't the faulty Toyota gas pedals manufactured here in the U.S.?<br><br>Hey, don't mind me. My dream car has hand crank windows and a bench seat.<br>

<font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><b><font class="Apple-style-span" face="monospace"><br></font></b></span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="monospace">What a great question...I've been wondering the same thing for years. Whatever happened to small Toyota 4X4s - the Tacoma, which is a great truck, is huge. If I wanted to replace my 'wheeling '90 Toyota, with its short wheelbase, narrow track, manual tranny and auto-hubs, there is NOTHING new on the market today that I would consider. I'd probably import a Hilux that was never sold here...</font></span></font><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="monospace">Alas...a divergence, and just venting aloud...</font><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-size: medium; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><font class="Apple-style-span" face="monospace"><img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/ohwell.gif">...maybe I'm just cranky and need a beer. And, for some reason, the font changed and...good grief, things are getting worse...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; "><img src="http://static.yuku.com//domainskins/bypass/img/smileys/laugh.gif"></span></font></span></span></font>