2012 Ford Fusion – Car Buying Tips – Brad Your Car Guy

2012 Ford Fusion

A- Step-up from the Fiesta and Focus

First released in 2006, the 2012 Ford Fusion is a mid-sized car which comes with 2.5L four, 3.0L and 3.5L V6, and 2.5L Hybrid engines. This is a car which will suit buyers who need more space and power than the Fiesta or Focus but don’t want to compromise on fuel economy.

The 4 cylinder 2.5 gets 33mpg but the Hybrid is the real fuel miser of the Ford Fusion range. The 3.0L V6 engine in the V6 SE and V6 SEL models is Flex Fuel capable,  it can run on E85 (85% ethanol) or unleaded, or any mixture of the two.  This adds up to a reduction in fuel costs, something we can all benefit from in today’s world of uncertain oil prices.

The Fusion is Perfect for Stop and Go Driving

Amazingly, the Fusion Hybrid gets better fuel economy in the city (41mpg) than on the highway (36mpg) thanks to the regenerative braking system which puts over 90% of the energy normally lost in braking, back into the 275-volt NiMH battery every time the car slows down or stops. Similar to other hybrid systems like that in the Toyota Prius, this is perfect for stop-start city driving.

As this system reduces the use of the regular brakes, the owner will reduce wear on brake pads too, leading to a lower maintenance bill. Intriguingly, if the driver doesn’t try to accelerate too quickly, the Hybrid will stay in electric-only mode, using no fuel, up to 47mph. The gas engine only kicks in above 47mph, when more power is needed for passing, or if the battery gets too flat to drive the 35hp electric motor.

The 2012 Ford Fusion is Green and Environmentally Friendly

Pricing for the Fusion Hybrid is $28,700, similar to the most expensive Prius.  It doesn’t achieve the 51/48 mpg rating of the Toyota. However it is definitely for green Ford fans an environmentally friendly, thrifty drive in. Also this 2012 Ford Fusion is the top end on the Fusion line-up.

2012 Ford Fusion Adds a Little Kick for the Performance Minded

Performance oriented Ford fans, on the other hand will probably opt for the Fusion Sport. Here is how the Sport is optioned out with the following:

• 263 hp 3.5L V6
• 6-speed SelectShift auto transmission with the
• Nifty thumb shifter on the steering wheel.
• Leather seats,
• 4-wheel disc brakes,
•  Sport-tuned suspension and deck spoiler (for looks as well as aerodynamics).
• All-wheel-drive is available.

For those who prefer to save money right at the outset by paying less for their Fusion, the base model Fusion I4 S provides entry-level access to Ford’s big little car. Priced at just over $20,000, the 2.5L powered S is a good compromise between power and economy, while still coming quite well equipped. Shod with 16″ aluminum wheels, and fitted out with 6 airbags, trip computer and MyKey, there is a lot of value included.

For the uninitiated, MyKey is Ford’s electronic key system which allows the owner to program a key with certain limitations such as speed and stereo volume, so that younger, less experienced (or less mature) drivers can’t use the family car as a racecar when out of Dad’s sight. Definitely a good idea for families given the performance potential of this car.

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“1000 Miles”on One Tank of Gas and the Advice of One Hypermiler-Wayne Gerdes

1000 miles on a tank of gas, that is not a question that is a statement!

All that is needed is a little ingenuity.

There are two components to ingenuity,creative and functional.

One person that comes to mind for the creative component or the “how to do it” is Wayne Gerdes.

The functional aspect is in the hands and minds of the engineers at Ford Motor Corporation and the Ford Fusion Hybrid.

“The 1000 Mile Man” Mr. Wayne Gerdes

Mr Gerdes according to Wikipedia is a hypermiler; hook, line and sinker. Check this out, The word  hypermiler was even coined by the Mr. Gerdes himself. What the heck, no guts, no glory. It paid off more ways than one though. Gerdes’s passion could conservatively save our country and consumers millions and millions gallons of gas. Think about it. If you could get  twice the MPG on a gallon gas then  $4 gas becomes $2 a gallon gas. So it is not surprising that the word hypermiling was selected as the best new word for 2008 by the New Oxford American Dictionary.

Gerdes has developed Stealth techniques to achieve in excess of seventy miles to the gallon and can prove of over 75 miles to the gallon in a Honda Accord. The next target, 100 + miles to a gallon. That equals a 1000 miles per tank of gas. If you visit www.cleanmpg.com you will see documentation and proof of sustained 150 + mpg plus on a Honda Insight.

$2 Dollar Gas and Falling Asleep

Currently the price of gas has dropped off the radar and out of the news. With $2 a gallon gas in most of the US, it is just a matter of time before the price of gas will be back in the news and into our wallet. For this author I fear that our current low energy prices are only temporary. Complacency in the land of the rich, is usually what lulls us to sleep. Now is the time to become proactive instead of reactive.  Now is the time to start to practice the mantra of the hypermiler Wayne Gerdes.

Hypermiling and dangerous driving.

Back in the days when gas was cheap (by today’s standards) and my judgment at times was expensive, I practiced hypermiling, and I didn’t even know it.  At the time the term hypermiling was not in the dictionary, I was in college and my funds were always limited. At the end of the semester when it got down to eat or “fill’er up”at the pump, believe when I say… food came first. So I developed ways to stretch a tank of gas for as long and far as I could.

These are a few of the ways I stretched a tank of gas to get maximum mpg.(warning a few were outright dangerous)

1. Mind-set. The reason I got super mileage was that I had to. My funds were limited and I had to stretch every dollar. So I thought about it lot and paid attention to fuel consumption.

2. Drafting. This is dangerous. Back in my “no brains no headache days” I did a lot of unnecessary dangerous things, more for bragging rights instead of saving gas. Drafting is where you take advantage of the aerodynamic windshield or blocker vehicle in front of you. The technique is pull up as close as you can to the rear bumper of the vehicle (in my case it was always a semi) and let the air current and suction force pull you down the highway. When I did this I turned off the engine and put my car into neutral. I saved a lot of gas doing this. It never occurred to me exactly what I would do if the truck in front of me ever executed a panic stop. I’m fortunate to be alive to tell you this story.

3. Jack Rabbit Starts:I never had “lead foot” so I always avoided the unnecessary extra consumption of gas trying to see how fast I could get from one stop light to the next.

4. Hit Every Light: I used to “proud” myself on learning what streets and what stop lights I could synchronize. My goal was  how to hit every green light without having to stop and burn fuel and time sitting at a stop light. I think my all time best record was 11 lights in a row. How about you what is your record on this or any other gas saving technique? Leave a comment below, I would love to hear form you.

Call Me Crazy

Ford Motor Company have several vehicles on the drawing boards and in production that could get a 1000 miles to a tank of gas. This is how I would do it. Mix a 1000 mile Gerdes-Fusion cocktail. The only two ingredients would be the creativity of Wayne Gerdes and the functionality of the Ford Fusion Hybrid.

“Announcing The Bartlesville Oklahoma Ford Fusion 1000 Mile Challenge”

I need your help. Here is the scoop. I’m putting together a plan to drive from my automobile dealership, Doenged Ford Lincoln, Mercury Toyota in Bartlesville, Oklahoma to a destination at least a 1000 miles away on a single tank of gas.

My vehicle will be a Ford Fusion Hybrid. Help me with the following details:

1. What should be my final destination.?

2. What fuel saving techniques can you recommend?

3. Do you think I can do it?

4. How far do you think I can get?

Call me , E-mail me or leave a comment, I am very interested in your recommendation.

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