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Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » Fusion...SEL or Hybrid

Oct. 22, 2011 2:17 a.m. SillyImportRacer Reader

We are planning to buy my wife a new Ford Fusion, probably next month. We drove a SEL, 4 cylinder auto, and really liked it. She saw a commercial for the hybrid version and is interested in it. I have no experience with hybrid cars...or Fords. We tend to keep cars a long time. What long term maintenance issues can I expect out of the each? How long will the batteries last? She drives 35 miles, one way, daily commute, mostly rural. Which would be the better long term solution? What other variables should I look at when comparing these cars? Any dealer guys have any input, horror stories?

Thanks, David
Oct. 22, 2011 7:20 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork

by the sounds of her commute, I doubt the hybrid is what she needs. Hybridz do great in short hops that have lots of stops and goes.. the 35 miles of steady state highway/rurual driving just means you are lugging extra weight in all those batteries and motors about for no reason
Oct. 22, 2011 8:48 a.m. Cole_Trickle Reader

I cant speak for the models that you are looking at, but I love my Sport. It has a great fit/finish, options and drives like a champ.
Oct. 22, 2011 9:03 a.m. Datsun1500 SuperDork

This is an easy one. How much more is the hybrid? Take that amount and figure how long it will take just to break even on the purchase price. With only a 4 mpg difference on the highway, it will take a long time....
Oct. 22, 2011 2:51 p.m. 1988RedT2 Dork

I have a neighbor that has the Fusion Hybrid. He absolutely loves it. But we don't talk that often, so I have no idea if he's had any issues with it.

I agree a hybrid is a better choice for short urban hops than lengthy rural commutes.
Oct. 22, 2011 3:10 p.m. alfadriver SuperDork

Datsun1500 wrote:

This is an easy one. How much more is the hybrid? Take that amount and figure how long it will take just to break even on the purchase price. With only a 4 mpg difference on the highway, it will take a long time....

Also, you must very much factor the kind of commute it is, too. If the speeds are up and down a lot, where the hybrid part matters, then it can pay off faster. If not, the road MPG's are pretty close to each other, so it will take a while.

As for reliabilty- I have not heard a thing. Good bad or ugly, but I know the engine is good. Just like everyone else.
Oct. 22, 2011 3:10 p.m. integraguy SuperDork

I'm cheap, so when I looked at new Fusions I stopped at the "S" trim level. HOWEVER, I do know that Ford's many different rebate programs NEVER include the Fusion, and if you forget about the "added" hybrid powertrain for just a moment, the hybrid is THE most expensive Fusion with a 4 cylinder engine. The cheapest one I ever saw was nearly $29K.

My sister thought she needed a hybrid car and bought a new Prius 4 years ago. I rode in that car a week ago...it still has only 47-48K miles on it, and she no longer works the job she bought it to commute to. If you are buying a hybrid, Ford and Toyota build the best. But if it were me? I'd do like a previous poster suggested: figure out how long your payback will take and then decide if the difference in price is "worth it".
Oct. 22, 2011 3:21 p.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

Here is a place that will calculate the savings for you.
Go to www.fueleconomy.gov
Once there, at the top left you will see an option for "find a car"
Pull up the 2011 Ford Fusion 4cyl 2.5L
Once open then choose the option to "compare"
Now pull up the 2011 Fusion Hybrid

In the mid section of the comparison you will see an annualized fuel cost.
$2088 for the 4 cyl
$1338 for the hybrid
$ 758 savings for the year or $63.16 savings per month.

I suspect that the price difference to purchase the hybrid is more than $63.16 per month??

These annualized costs are based off the assumption of 45% hyw and 55% city at today's prices of $3.48 per gallon at 15,000 miles of driving per year.

NOW HERE IS THE BEST PART: In the fine print under the dollar amounts there is a little hidden link that allows you customize. That way you can see what it would be if you were 80% hyw (which btw reduces it to only a $453 savings or $37.75 per month)

At this 80% hyw settting, compare in a 2011 Hyundai Elantra 4 cyl and the Fusion Hybrid and the Elantra comes out at an even tie!

If you want want to know what the savings would be if gas hits $4, it can do that too. It also adjusts for the increased price of premium or diesel

I do like the Fusion and really like that you can get nice things like leather and climate control w/o having to buy the V6 engine.
Oct. 22, 2011 4:24 p.m. Datsun1500 SuperDork

I looked at Edmunds for the true market price. I went with a 2011 Fusion SEL and a 2011 Fusion Hybrid. I added leather to the hybrid because it is standard on the SEL, but no other options. MSRP on the Hybrid is 30,585 and the SEL is 26,095. Since there is a 2000 rebate on non hybrids the amount they say the cars are selling for is 28930 for the Hybrid and 22805 for the SEL. That is a $6125 difference. I figured 75 miles a day, 5 days a week, 50 weeks a year for a total of 18,750 miles. The Hybrid is rated 41 city and 36 highway, so lets say 39 at the best. The SEL is rated 23 city and 33 highway so lets say 26. At those numbers you would use 480 gallons of gas on the hybrid per year and 721 gallons on the SEL. Lets go high and say 3.75 for gas. The Hybrid costs 1800 per year and the SEL costs 2703. You save 903 per year with the hybrid so you break even in 6 years and 9 months.

Does the Hybrid take premium gas? Does she drive more highway then city? Will the hybrid cost more to maintain during the 7 years? All of these will change the time it takes to break even (it will take even longer, the 6.75 years is best case)

The math does not work for me. When the cars are 2 years old they will both be selling for about the same amount (a used fusion is a used fusion) and it might make sense then...
Oct. 22, 2011 4:51 p.m. SillyImportRacer Reader

Thanks. I think I'll be steering her toward the gasser.

Thanks again, David
Oct. 23, 2011 10:45 a.m. chuckles Reader

SillyImportRacer wrote:

Thanks. I think I'll be steering her toward the gasser.

Thanks again, David

I drove one with a stick and regret not buying it. They're fairly available.
Oct. 23, 2011 12:09 p.m. Wally SuperDork

We are thinking of getting the hybrid, but mostly from the geekey hi tech point of view, not so much the practical end. She pointed out that I never really "need" a v8 either, but i still think it's cool to have.
Oct. 23, 2011 6:00 p.m. DaveEstey HalfDork

As a Prius owner I say go hybrid. I don't think Tue EPA has a good test regimen for hybrids so the numbers are softer than reality. Frequently on rural drives in Vermont and new Hampshire ill average high 50's, and that's not hypermiling. It's rated at 48 on the highway and I've never seen a tank that low in 5 years and 80k miles.

Hybrids are are good at a lot more than city driving and a few driving adjustments easily net better mileage than advertised.
Oct. 23, 2011 8:13 p.m. Datsun1500 SuperDork

In reply to DaveEstey:

The math is still not in your favor. Using the OP example of 18,750 miles per year, even if the hybrid got 57 MPG it is only a savings of $1400 per year or 4 years and 4 months just to break even on the buy in cost.
Oct. 23, 2011 8:18 p.m. Greg Voth HalfDork

I have a 2010 Fusion SE company car. Over 40,000 miles on it and no problems yet. According to the computer I am averaging 27mpg which is pretty even split maybe favoring highway. I get about 30mpg on the highway running 80mph. Averaging 60 mph it can gets a little higher.

I also had two 2008 Fusions and put about 60,000 between the two of them. Again no problems with either.

They handle better than you would expect as well.
Oct. 23, 2011 8:28 p.m. szeis4cookie Reader

Datsun1500 wrote:

In reply to DaveEstey:

The math is still not in your favor. Using the OP example of 18,750 miles per year, even if the hybrid got 57 MPG it is only a savings of $1400 per year or 4 years and 4 months just to break even on the buy in cost.

I disagree with your conclusion. If you are planning to keep the car longer than 4 years 4 months, then the hybrid wins. If I bought a car new, there would be a very good chance that I would keep it longer than 4 years and 4 months.
Oct. 23, 2011 9:11 p.m. Datsun1500 SuperDork

szeis4cookie wrote:

Datsun1500 wrote:

In reply to DaveEstey:

The math is still not in your favor. Using the OP example of 18,750 miles per year, even if the hybrid got 57 MPG it is only a savings of $1400 per year or 4 years and 4 months just to break even on the buy in cost.

I disagree with your conclusion. If you are planning to keep the car longer than 4 years 4 months, then the hybrid wins. If I bought a car new, there would be a very good chance that I would keep it longer than 4 years and 4 months.

But see 4 years and 4 months is a best case scenario. If the Hybrid takes premium and the gasser does not, it takes longer. 4 years and 4 months was based on averaging 57 MPG on a car rated at 42 (because the other poster says that is what his hybrid (different make) gets), anything less than that it takes longer, etc.

Edmunds did a Hybrid comparison and this was the conclusion:

The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid (base price $27,270) was the most expensive car in this test, but it was also the biggest, the most comfortable, the most luxurious and achieves the best safety scores. Among the small group of hybridized family sedans, this is definitely the one to buy. However, it'll take eight years to recoup the hybrid's price premium over the regular four-cylinder Fusion with fuel savings

8 years to break even. How long are the batteries good for?
Oct. 23, 2011 9:22 p.m. DaveEstey HalfDork

Mine takes regular gas. And since it's a 2006 I'm pocketing hundreds a year in fuel savings. It's an appliance and shows no signs of slowing down. Just change the oil every 5,000 miles and rotate the tires.

Don't forget federal and state tax breaks on hybrids. They add up quickly and knock that starting price down.

He also noted that he tends to keep cars a long time. So in the end a hybrid can come out ahead over the life of the vehicle.
Oct. 23, 2011 9:54 p.m. Datsun1500 SuperDork

In reply to DaveEstey:

Did you buy it new? How many miles a year do you drive?
Oct. 24, 2011 7:49 a.m. Fit_Is_Slo Reader

Another thought hybrid cars/suvs almost never need brakes due to the regenerative braking..
Oct. 24, 2011 9:48 a.m. DaveEstey HalfDork

Datsun1500 wrote:

In reply to DaveEstey:

Did you buy it new? How many miles a year do you drive?

Bought new. 5 years later it has 90k miles so an average of 18k miles annually.
Oct. 24, 2011 10:38 a.m. Otto Maddox Dork

I've shopped used hybrids a little. They seem to hold their value really well. So, your gas savings don't have to make up the entire purchase price premium.

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