I'm in the market for a new car, and just saw the fusion sport and it caught my attention. I had my choice down to a golf r or a 2016 Taurus unless the 2017 is an improvement. Just need some input to help me decide, or is it to early to decide on the fusion as it just came out. Thanks
Fusion or golf r or sho
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I was actually looking at similar choices originally. For me the golf didn't meet space requirements since I now have a rear-facing car seat requirement (and didn't want the front passenger seat to become useless). I was going to pull the trigger on an SHO but had a **** of a time finding one without a sunroof. The sunroof design on the Taurus is terrible for tall people as there's a big bulge in the roof right where your head ends up.
As I was going to order an SHO with no sunroof, the Fusion Sport page popped up on Ford's site and I started doing some research. I concluded that for about the same interior space I get more modern styling and a more modern platform (thinking long term ownership repairs and service) for less money overall. After sitting in a standard fusion and liking the ergonomics I placed my order for a Sport model. It doesn't have some of the options I was going to order on the SHO such as the "massaging" front seats, heated rear seats, electric rear shade, etc... But I'll be fine - that's what came with the reduced price.
I was also looking at VW CC, Passat V6, Tiguan R, Edge Sport, Nissan Maxima, Accord Touring, Charger R/T, 300S, Infiniti Q50, and BMW 535. It was ergonomics, options (No sunroof!), performance, initial price, and total cost of ownership that led me to go with the Fusion Sport.
Good luck!
Personally I think the Fusion sport kind of takes the SHO out of the equation. It seems just as fast, with more interior space, 500 or so lbs lighter, and is $9k or so cheaper to start. I can tell you the VW will handle better, have less space, ride harsher, and cost more to keep running if you plan on keeping it over 50k miles. real world acceleration is probably going to be about a draw (look at 5-60 mph times in magazine tests for a better indicator of how it feels). Also, pretty sure you can still get an R with a manual, if that's a big deal to you.
I had a 2011 SHO (and they have not changed in any notable way since) and can say that they're fast in straight line acceleration, but handle like crap. I currently have a 2014 Fusion Titanium (while I wait for my Fusion Sport) and when I test drove the Titanium, it was like going from a big boat in the 80s to a sports car. In every way the Fusion out handled the SHO, but was definitely slower.
On paper (since no one has performance numbers on the Sport yet), the Fusion Sport will very likely be faster than the SHO. It weighs several hundred (or more) pounds less than the SHO, has more torque (though a little less HP) and shares a transmission (AFAICT).
There are a couple of options missing on the Sport that the SHO has, but nothing major (rear sunshade and the massaging seats) and it has several things the SHO does not - most notable (IMO) the adaptive suspension and the noise cancellation tech in the cabin.
I still thing (despite it's flaws) the SHO looks better, but for me looks are very secondary to options/performance/handling. Since I'm sitting in it when I drive, I really couldn't care a whole lot what it looks like and when I'm not driving it sits in the garage and I'm not sitting there staring at it.
On paper (since no one has performance numbers on the Sport yet), the Fusion Sport will very likely be faster than the SHO. It weighs several hundred (or more) pounds less than the SHO, has more torque (though a little less HP) and shares a transmission (AFAICT).
There are a couple of options missing on the Sport that the SHO has, but nothing major (rear sunshade and the massaging seats) and it has several things the SHO does not - most notable (IMO) the adaptive suspension and the noise cancellation tech in the cabin.
I still thing (despite it's flaws) the SHO looks better, but for me looks are very secondary to options/performance/handling. Since I'm sitting in it when I drive, I really couldn't care a whole lot what it looks like and when I'm not driving it sits in the garage and I'm not sitting there staring at it.
thats the thing that is keeping me away from the golf, if im going to buy something from the dealer, i plan on keeping it for a good amount of time. Also would probably get the dsg as i dont know how to drive manual. How reliable are the fusion,
yeah i also like how the sho looks, and it seems that you can get both for around the same price. IS your sho tuned? if so how does it drive.
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To revive an aging topic (recently joined, couldn't discuss previously), I'm looking at similar cars. For me, the Golf's lack of a sunroof is kind of a deal-breaker for me, but I currently have a convertible (interestingly, it also has a sunroof) and losing that much sky is just unbearable. Had a rental (16 Corolla) for a month and every time I looked up I was disappointed. Hoping that when the Golf moves production to Mexico or whatever then we can get at least the choice to have a sunroof. I understand they're currently based on the electric golf which has no sunroof and that's why the R can't either 
I was also considering a slightly used BMW or something because it seems I could get one for approximately 40K which is where the Fusion would be for my configuration.
When I test drove an SHO it was disappointing. I loved the old ones as well and the new one is much too big and disconnected.
I was also considering a slightly used BMW or something because it seems I could get one for approximately 40K which is where the Fusion would be for my configuration.
When I test drove an SHO it was disappointing. I loved the old ones as well and the new one is much too big and disconnected.
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