Actually Have My Mom Looking at Cars Online

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
12/22/2014 at 19:15 • Filed to: None

She likes the Chrysler 200S V6 and Ford Fusion SE 2.0L EcoBoost.

Both come in at around $30,000 the way she has them optioned and both would finance for about the same with the same down payment and trading in the Vue. She'd actually have to go and drive them to pick. Though right now she keeps saying she's not getting a new car, but with the transmission issues the Vue suddenly started having over the weekend, it might be sooner rather than later.

My brother is adamate we're getting something GM, but the Malibu isn't great and the Regal costs too much. She'd get an Impala but it doesn't have the options she wants in the price range she's looking. I recommended the Mazda 6 but she doesn't think my dad will approve of buying Japanese, which is probably true.

DISCUSSION (49)

ranwhenparked > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 19:21

Ordinarily, I'd go Fusion every time, but Chrysler is doing some fantastic incentives right now and a nicely loaded V6 200S is a hell of a lot of car for surprisingly little money.

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 19:22

Would'nt she be interested in a German-American?

Kinja'd!!!

jeffywk > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 19:23

NO GM! Weighing all the options and constraints I'd go with the Ford. Or you could try to convince everyone that Mazda is now American, (which might be partially true. Do they manufacture in the US?)

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > ranwhenparked
12/22/2014 at 19:24

My exact testaments. The 200 is one helluva car.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Vicente Esteve
12/22/2014 at 19:25

Both my parents think German = Expensive in every aspect. So doubtful.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > jeffywk
12/22/2014 at 19:26

Saying no GM to a household that has three GM cars might be a hard sell.

ranwhenparked > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 19:27

My parents have been toying with replacing their '09 Malibu, and it looks like you can get the basic 200S V6 for around$25k right now- FCA can't be making much of a margin on options at the moment.

mazda616 > jeffywk
12/22/2014 at 19:29

Ford dumped their share of Mazda. So, Mazda isn't American by any stretch. They do manufacture in Mexico as well as Japan, though.

I'd steer clear of a first year redesigned Chrysler product.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 19:33

Try and get her to look at the Legacy. It's made in Indiana.

Kinja'd!!!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
12/22/2014 at 19:34

Brother said Subaru and that was an instant no.

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 19:34

And if the Passat ends up being unreliable, which it might (Hate to admit it) you will get constant bashing for choosing it.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Vicente Esteve
12/22/2014 at 19:38

Which sucks because it's actually the best value here price wise. The 1.8T might be underpowered for my parent's standards though.

PS9 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 19:38

Kinja'd!!!

But...

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > PS9
12/22/2014 at 19:39

I don't fit in the back of an ATS, and that doesn't have Nav.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 19:39

Well.... Good luck with the ford or chrysler. I strongly question the reliability of both. Maybe you could try to talk her into 2.5 N/A fusion, as I feel that it is less likely to grenade itself.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
12/22/2014 at 19:40

I don't understand questioning the reliability, but okay. We'll risk it.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 19:42

I'd worry about the 9 speed transmission on a first year redesigned Chrysler, and Ford just scares me in general.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 19:48

IMO get a mazda. they are killing it right now and are very reliable cars. also skyactive engines get great mpg

PS9 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 19:51

Kinja'd!!!

But...!

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > PS9
12/22/2014 at 19:53

I'll be damned.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
12/22/2014 at 19:54

That'd be my choice, but might be a tough sell to my dad who is strictly American only.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 19:55

used to be owned by ford and still use some of their parts

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
12/22/2014 at 19:57

Oh if only it was that easy. I'll see what I can do.

ranwhenparked > jeffywk
12/22/2014 at 20:01

Not anymore. They transferred their stake in AutoAlliance International to Ford, who uses the plant to make Mustangs and Fusions now. Ford owns less than 3% of Mazda now too, so there's very little American connection.

ranwhenparked > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
12/22/2014 at 20:01

They still rust though, don't they?

BrownMiataDieselWagon > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 20:08

What's wrong with the Malibu? We had one as a rental and it was very comfortable.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > BrownMiataDieselWagon
12/22/2014 at 20:10

Mom's not a fan on the looks and from what I've read the back seat is tight.

BrownMiataDieselWagon > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 20:20

You might be right with that. I sat in the front, very roomy. Backseat legroom looked tight with the front seat moved all the way back. I'm 6'5" and I don't think I would have fit.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > ranwhenparked
12/22/2014 at 20:37

Not as bad as they used to. Early 2000's was bad

ranwhenparked > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 20:51

It is, GM saved money on the current generation by using the SWB version of Epsilon II developed for Europe, rather than developing a separate LWB for North America like they did for Epsilon I. It's a relic of GM's financial constraints during the bankruptcy and not at all how they would have preferred to do it.

jeffywk > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 20:53

haha well I guess you ARE the GM guy

jeffywk > ranwhenparked
12/22/2014 at 20:54

I see. Thanks for the research!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 20:57

But one of the two cars you posted is a Fiat...

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
12/22/2014 at 20:58

But it has a Chrysler badge, it's "American"

Just gotta conform to the requirements.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 21:01

Hah, just tell him to get a Pontiac Vibe then. After all it does have an American badge on it wink wink

shop-teacher > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 22:19

It is, they shortened the wheelbase 4" with the redesign, and most of that got whacked out of the back seat.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > shop-teacher
12/22/2014 at 22:25

And I just barely fit comfortably in the back of an old one.

shop-teacher > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/22/2014 at 22:31

Between those, I'd go with the Fusion. Its the best looking sedan under $40k, IMO, and I'm not convinced that FCA has quality control under ... Uhhh ..... control. Although I'd get a Mazda 6, but I understand why that may not fly in your house.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > shop-teacher
12/22/2014 at 22:33

I have a feeling it's going to be a 200. The minute I showed her a Vivid Blue 200S she was kinda awestruck. And I'm not too sure how approving my parents are of turbocharged 4s in place of V6s yet.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/23/2014 at 07:11

Just don't get the Fusion Ecoboost without AWD. Even with AWD you can burn all four wheels off the lights if you turn the trac off. And I don't mean "chirp"—I mean "eventually feather the throttle to save some tires for later".

spanfucker retire bitch > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
12/23/2014 at 09:02

They don't really share anything anymore. The chassis, engine, transmission, infotainment - pretty much everything is all 100% Mazda designed right now.

William Byrd > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/23/2014 at 09:58

I own said SE 2.0L Fusion. It's fantastic.

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/23/2014 at 10:35

VAG engines are Underrated. VERY underrated.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
12/23/2014 at 11:11

Her car now does that. Turn the traction control off and put your foot down and it's wheelspin for days.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
12/23/2014 at 12:08

The Vue will burn all four? Sweet! Is that the Honda engine or the 3.6?

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
12/23/2014 at 13:40

Ours is FWD, but something tells me AWD would have about the same result. 3.6, such a wonderful little motor. All 248 ft-lbs of torque comes in at 2100 RPM.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > spanfucker retire bitch
12/23/2014 at 17:53

Design yes. But u can still find some parts on them that say FoMoCo. My Brother in laws 2012 mazda 3 had a few things

spanfucker retire bitch > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
12/23/2014 at 18:24

Yes, that was in 2012. In 2014 basically everything changed. The Mazda3 was still using the 3/Focus chassis up until 2013, which was the last year of that generation of Mazda3. The 2.5L was the same shared engine as well.

That's not the case anymore though. I don't know what, if anything they might share in new models.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > spanfucker retire bitch
12/23/2014 at 22:20

Gotcha. Thought they were still using that chassis structure just changed the body