[BlackMetalArms]

Hey all - I just took delivery of my V6 Sport yesterday and already have a few hundred miles on it. Definitely a great car... lots of usable power, it's quiet (minimal road noise) and it handles very well. I traded in my 2013 Focus ST and it's a night and day difference in power

 

[Dconlan4]

Congrats, looks nice!

 

[escape]

BlackMetalArms, is this magnetic?

Looks good, although I wish there was more contrast between the body and the wheel color.

 

[BlackMetalArms]

Yep, magnetic. I personally like the mono-chromatic look.

 

[17Sport]

Congrats on the new wheels! The color looks better with your real picture as opposed to the web builder. Also looks like the cat wants to take it for a spin.

 

[DuFFman]

Very nice, I got magnetic as well, happy to see it looks great.

 

[Ken Bury]

I am curious how you would describe the difference between the Fusion Sport versus the Focus ST. I currently own a 2013 ST. I like the ST but I would prefer something larger and more refined. I have at one time owned an Audi A6 but it was terribly underpowered but the handling was good. The handling is one of the things I like about the ST; it feels firmly planted when cornering etc. I am worried that Fusion gets the normal North American luxo-barge treatment and turning the car is an afterthought. Would you feel comfortable with the Fusion on a track or a twisty mountain run?

 

[FordPWR]

Love how it looks, not a thing I would change but on the body color you have I've seen people run black wheels. Some even just go black temporarily by spaying it with plasti dip which is forgiving on your wallet and wheels since it's cheap, easy to apply and easy to remove.

 

[Fuze]

Sorry.. couldn't really get anything from those pictures because I was stuck fixed looking at the kitty !

 

[BlackMetalArms]

I am curious how you would describe the difference between the Fusion Sport versus the Focus ST. I currently own a 2013 ST. I like the ST but I would prefer something larger and more refined. I have at one time owned an Audi A6 but it was terribly underpowered but the handling was good. The handling is one of the things I like about the ST; it feels firmly planted when cornering etc. I am worried that Fusion gets the normal North American luxo-barge treatment and turning the car is an afterthought. Would you feel comfortable with the Fusion on a track or a twisty mountain run?

The ST was definitely planted around corners and was a lot of fun because you could force the car to oversteer a bit if you wanted it to. I definitely don't see that being a possibility with the Fusion Sport. However, I did take the longer/windy way back home yesterday and I threw the fusion into some corners fairly hard. I was actually pretty **** impressed by the way it handled. I would definitely take the Fusion to a track day (if I still did that) - its speed is controllable and it's definitely planted in the corners... not to mention the brakes on this car are excellent, too. I was having a great time driving home after trading in the ST because I could hear myself think - the road noise in the ST was a little excessive.

 

[escape]

Did you play around with the Sport mode yet? Can you tell if it stiffens up suspension, or does it only affect trans programming?

 

[Brando632]

That color is gorgeous.

 

[akaye]

The ST was definitely planted around corners and was a lot of fun because you could force the car to oversteer a bit if you wanted it to. I definitely don't see that being a possibility with the Fusion Sport. However, I did take the longer/windy way back home yesterday and I threw the fusion into some corners fairly hard. I was actually pretty **** impressed by the way it handled. I would definitely take the Fusion to a track day (if I still did that) - its speed is controllable and it's definitely planted in the corners... not to mention the brakes on this car are excellent, too. I was having a great time driving home after trading in the ST because I could hear myself think - the road noise in the ST was a little excessive.

Great to hear. I love the handling in the FoST and I was worried the Sport would feel like an everyday normal car compared to it. What make and model tires does the Sport come with?

 

[don]

The Sport includes Active Noise Cancellation (like noise cancelling headphones). It is turned off in Sport mode. Perhaps you can disable it in Sync 3. I don't expect a stiff suspension in normal driving, but the adaptive suspension should keep it pretty flat when you throw it into a turn. That's the point of "adaptive."

 

[Bizuce]

Very interesting, thank you. I have a 2013 Focus ST as well. This short review really helps me! Do you miss the manual?

Still considering a 3.0 Lincoln MKZ, but thinking it's not worth the extra $$$. I was also considering the Jaguar XE, but same story plus higher cost of ownership.

 

[Ken Bury]

The ST was definitely planted around corners and was a lot of fun because you could force the car to oversteer a bit if you wanted it to. I definitely don't see that being a possibility with the Fusion Sport. However, I did take the longer/windy way back home yesterday and I threw the fusion into some corners fairly hard. I was actually pretty **** impressed by the way it handled. I would definitely take the Fusion to a track day (if I still did that) - its speed is controllable and it's definitely planted in the corners... not to mention the brakes on this car are excellent, too. I was having a great time driving home after trading in the ST because I could hear myself think - the road noise in the ST was a little excessive.

Thanks for the update. It sounds like the Fusion is hitting the right notes with you. I appreciate your comment about the ST's road noise it does get annoying on longer trips.

 

[BlackMetalArms]

Great to hear. I love the handling in the FoST and I was worried the Sport would feel like an everyday normal car compared to it. What make and model tires does the Sport come with?

It has Continental ContiProContact tires - 235/40/19

 

[BlackMetalArms]

Did you play around with the Sport mode yet? Can you tell if it stiffens up suspension, or does it only affect trans programming?

I have had it in the sport mode a few times - so far it just seems like an aggressive transmission setting.

 

[BlackMetalArms]

Here's a photo of the car with my GT3.

 

[don]

Great to hear. I love the handling in the FoST and I was worried the Sport would feel like an everyday normal car compared to it.

Don't expect it to feel like an everyday 4 door sedan, but it will be different from your Focus. My last two cars were an Audi Quattro and a BMW 330xi, both AWD. Expect very quick acceleration without all the drama due to the additional grip. Handling will be more neutral than either FWD or RWD.