Okay ladies and gents-the answer you've been waiting for. I've test driven both the M/T Fusion SE and the Focus ST and based on what I felt and experienced,it's official:
I'M GOING FOR THE FUSION!!!
I'll explain why.
Driving report on the Fusion SE:Wow,this car is QUIET!!! Hardly any road noise,even at 65 m.p.h.the Fusion has a lot of insulation canceling out the road noise.The seats are very comfortable(I'm 6'2" and 300 lbs so I need a big seat). The 1.6 liter EcoBoost won't win any stoplight races but it's no slouch either,plenty of pulling power to get the car moving. The ability to move the power seat and the steering wheel into the perfect driving position is top notch. This car was made for long and short road trips. There's a LOT of technology put into this particular Fusion(MFT,SYNC,etc) that will keep you entertained,driver and passenger alike. The 6 spd manual is one of best(if not I dare say,THE BEST)manual transmissions I've ever driven. It definitely makes good use of the EcoBoost engine's powerband with each gearshift going in with Honda-like quality. The woodgrain is a nice touch,something you wouldn't expect in a midsize mainstream family car. There's plenty of trunk space for suitcases and golf clubs. It looks smaller than my Focus but it still has plenty of capacity.One unusual feature of the Fusion is that it has an electronic parking brake, Flick the switch on the center console to activate it and do the same to deactivate.With that being said,this car becomes you,and it certainly evokes good emotions.
Driving report on the Focus ST:This car is a HOOLIGAN and a half!! Excellent acceleration,lots of torque to get you moving in a jiffy. Instrument panel is nicely laid out,but there's lots of hard plastic on the dash and the doors,surprisingly. The seats really are buttpinchers(this particular ST had the cloth seats instead of the full leather mind you) and takes away from a fun driving experience. Also,the pedals are spaced a little to close together-a couple of times I almost hit the brake while trying to depress the clutch-not good. The 6-spd has good closely spaced ratios,while an upshift indicator light in the info center tells what gear to upshift to. Again,a lot of tech in the vehicle,with MFT,SYNC and a Sony subwoofer in the cargo area. The ride is a little bumpy,not helped by the fact that STs come from the factory with summer only tires so there was some noticeable "vibration" from the car sitting a while on the lot.The center exhaust with the chrome tip is a nice touch.
Although both cars stickered around $29K,the Fusion actually is CHEAPER than the Focus ST with the sale price Portsmouth Ford is having($25,495 versus $26,065).
So there you have it folks,my evaluation of both vehicles. Monday I'm taking my Focus up to get appraised and to see what numbers I get and if I like it,the Fusion may come home the same day. Any questions,feel free to ask me.