When I test drove the Fusion in Nov 05, I
just fell in love with the handling, the high seating, superb visibility,
responsive engine, amazingly tight turning radius, amazing brakes...I could go
on and on. Although my budget could have accommodated a City (the Fiesta was
yet to be launched), the Fusion won because of the sheer driving pleasure and
the SUV feel. A spanking new Fusion from South City Ford at Noida,
arrived home in Dec 05. Registration number DL CAN 0968. I am based at Delhi and two quick trips
to Jaipur were rather good. The car felt solid and true on the highway even at
130/140 kmph.
But the fun lasted all of 3 months. Then the problems started. Till date the
car has done 42, 000km, is less than two years old and has been driven by me or
my driver (who has been with me for a long time and is an excellent driver).
This is what happened:
1) Doors and rear hatch started rattling sometime between the first and second
free service. After 3 visits to South City Ford yielded no results, I sent the car
to Harpreet Ford at Motinagar, Delhi.
. After 2 visits and one whole year of trying they finally fixed the rattling
by changing all the door beadings/linings. By that time the one year warranty
had run out and I had to pay for the rubber linings.
2) I found the front tyres wearing out. It went twice to Harpreet Ford and by
that time tyre wear had worsened. Finally they changed the shock absorbers and
some other suspension parts. Again after the one year limit and hence I had to
pay - dont remember exactly how much but around 6K.
3) The power steering started making a funny noise and Harpreet Ford diagnosed
it as failure of the power steering motor. Now - they couldn’t change the motor
only so the steering rack with motor etc had to be changed. Cost about 30K.
4) The car came back from Harpreet Ford after the steering change and on
reaching office all the hydraulic fluid drained out all over my office parking
lot! They took the car back and even charged me for more hydraulic fluid!
5) The airconditioning copper coils developed a leak and had to be replaced at significant
cost. Don’t remember how much.
6) Rear shock absorbers had to be replaced again on full payment.
7) One of the wiper motors went and had to be replaced - again on payment.
8) The rear left window motor failed along with the controlling switch and I
was charged.
9) The music system has stopped playing CDs for about 6 months now although the
Radio works. They said they will have to send the player to Chennai to get it
repaired and it would take 2/3 weeks. All that while there would be a gaping opening
in the dash. That and the prospect for paying more for repairs made me decide
against getting it repaired.
10) By now I have spent some Rs 80, 000/- on the car! The car had gone to either
Harpreet Ford at Motinagar or South City Ford at Noida for a total of atleast
20 times.
Over the last 3/4 weeks a peculiar noise is coming from the engine as if a
bearing has gone faulty. I am so traumatized that I am scared to take it to the
service centre - they will again slap a Rs 5K or Rs 10K bill.
I know its a silly thing to say but believe me - the Ambassadors I had owned in
the ’80s were more reliable and certainly the Maruti 800s that I owned in the
’90s.
Hence guys - do consider carefully before you decide to buy a Fusion.
Oh one more aspect - I have been trying to sell of that car for the past two
months - nobody is willing to pay more than Rs 2.5 Lacs - it cost me Rs 6.5
Lacs on road (including taxes, duties, insurance etc.).
The Fusion has made me pay through my nose for the pleasure of wonderful
driving experience. Never would I commit that mistake!
Arup Ghosh