Route 66

Hi, Whitney! Are there any plans to update the Brazilian version? Mine is running GEN1 V4.0.2 and the portuguese language pack V1.4.1.P They're dated September 18, 2012. My car is a 2012 Fusion V6 FWD Thank you, Carlos Mauricio

Hi! Just a hint for you, guys! I had an annoying noise when I started my 2008 Fusion 2.3 every morning. Took it to a shop and they told me I had to replace the belt tensioner, because of a defective bearing. It would cost me $220 in parts and $50 in labor (here in Brazil parts are expensive and labor is cheap). Then I've found out that you have the same problem in the US: You can't buy the pulley, only the whole tensioner. And for $100 there in the US. But I've also discovered that the GM Blazer V6 pulley has exactly the same size and uses the same bearing. And the good part is: It costs only $18 at amazon.com. I have a friend who went to Orlando last month, so I bought it online and had it delivered to his hotel. As soon as he got back to Brazil, I went to the shop and asked the mechanic to change the pulley for me. It fitted PERFECTLY, the size is exactly the same as the Fusion pulley. Instead of spending $270, I've spent only $68. And the car is working parfectly. If you have the same problem, just buy the AC Delco 38008 pulley for $18 instead of spending $100 in the whole tensioner. Carlos

Hi from Brazil. I've sold my 2002 Chevrolet Vectra (something like the Saturn L-Series) to buy a 2008 Ford Fusion. Things I'll miss: Global closing (all doors and windows close together with keyless entry system) Moonroof What I love about the Fusion Spacious Quiet Audio system

Not a Fusion like ours. Our Fusion has a japanese DNA, it's based on Mazda6 platform. Japanese cars are known for being well built and for the reliability. This new one will be based on Ford's EUCD plattform, the european Mondeo platform. Mondeo was never a great car in America nor in Brazil (where I live). The old and the new will have nothing in common but the name.

Final update: I've just bought the first Fusion I first wrote you about. It was 13.5k MILES, but even being a 21k km car, it is perfect. I'll have it on next monday. Thank you all and I hope to come back here a lot to talk about my new Fusion. It's a 2008 Fusion 2.3 SEL, black and no moonroof.

Thank you for your kind replies, guys! One thing I dislike first is dishonesty. And the dealer was disonest trying to convince me the car had only 17k KM, when I had already told him I've seen MILES on the odometer, he still insisted it was km. I had to show him I knew how to switch units from english to metric on the speedometer for him to admit it was 17k miles or 28k km. From that moment on, I didn't believe a word he said, because I knew he'd lie as much as he could to make me buy the car. He didn't offer me a bad value for my car (below market value, of course, but nothing out outrageous), but I can't make a deal with someone I already distrust. And car dealers here are known for not being trustworthy at all. Ok, after all you've said, I think the car may actually have 28k km... This weekend I'll check on the 13,5k km car.

Just a follow up: I went to see another Fusion today, advertised as "17500 km". When I got there, in fact, odometer showed 17500 miles (28000 km), they've changed the odometer from km to miles (we use metric units here in Brazil), trying to fool the customer. And I've seen some things I didn't like: The front tires had been replaced a year ago (they were manufactured in march 2010), and as a pair of tires mounted on front wheels of a FWD car are supposed to last 25000 miles, I think this car had something like 30000 miles at least. Also, no records of oil changes or visits to the authorized dealer. So I think there's a way to roll back the odometer, so be careful when buying used Fusions there in the US. Suspicious... And I'm still searching for the right Fusion. Just FYI, a brand new Fusion 2.5 SEL costs R$ 80000 (50k dollars) here in Brazil. A 2008 Fusion 2.3 SEL is worth R$45k ($28k). Our government hits hard on taxes!

Hi! My name is Carlos and I live in Brazil. I want to buy a 2008 Ford Fusion 4-cyl SEL and I've found one advertised with only 13.5k km (8.4k miles). As a mileage this low sometimes seems too good to be true, I'd like to know if tampering with the Fusion odometer is possible or if I can trust this awesome low mileage. Have any of you ever heard of a Fusion with a rolled back odometer or can I assume this particular digital odometer is tamper proof? Looking forward to be one more happy Fusion owner, Carlos