West Hollywood, California (Monday, June 29, 2009) - I am so happy. I let go of my Lexus GS430 lease and bought a 2010 Ford Fusion hybrid. 
2010 Ford Fusion hybrid. WeHo News. |
I was going to buy a Toyota Prius, but my assistant Joey enthusiastically told me the Fusion hybrid would be way better for me.
I checked it out, and in some ways it beats the pants off my 2006 Lexus GS430 for about $500 a month less money.
The Fusion hybrid cost me about $32,000 loaded up with all the bells and whistles and a four-year, 60-thousand mile service plan, too.
The steering and drive are far lighter than either of the two Lexus's I've owned. I also owned a 2003 Lexus SC430 sports car.
The Fusion hybrid’s electronics are far more sophisticated than the 2006 Lexus.
The navigational unit has more useful functions, and the stereo is pretty good, not as super as the Lexus, but very good, relatively speaking. Beats the pants off the 2009 Prius. 
2010 Toyota Prius. WeHo News. |
The 2010 Prius is supposed to have a better sound system than the 2009, but I haven’t heard it yet. The 2009 Prius was noisier than hell inside – I could hear every road noise, while the 2010 Fusion is pretty quiet inside. More like a luxury car.
Prius may have fixed this noise problem, which was the worst thing about the Prius, I think. Other than that, I was waiting to buy a new one when the dealer got one with my color choice.
Consumer Reports said the Fusion hybrid beats the Toyota Camry hybrid for just about everything. Ford Fusion hybrid can get 41 mpg, 8 mpg better than Camry. Pricing is pretty close to a loaded Camry hybrid, too.
Ford, who did not take loan money from the government, is competing like crazy and I rewarded them with a purchase. It was nice to buy American after 30 years of buying Japanese.
Ford must have stolen the look from Lexus and maybe a bit from BMW because it's pretty sexy looking. Nicer than Prius.
Ford Fusion engine. WeHo News. |
The car is a little smaller than the Lexus GS430, but the interior is plenty spacious, and my long legs have no problem with having enough room.
For performance, I was greatly surprised that the Fusion hybrid can go fast, sometimes in some modes faster than my Lexus GS430, probably because it’s lighter.
But also, an electric motor has instant torque, unlike a gasoline motor that has a little bit of stall when you hit the gas pedal. At driving speeds, I hit the pedal and the Fusion can go instantly fast. I was surprised at this.
It makes driving safely easier because I can avoid being close to other cars and then just hum along once I am at a speed I want.
The Prius fuel cell. WeHo News. |
Next for me are rooftop solar panels. I'm going to be the first in my neighborhood with solar panels.
When a solar panel salesman asked me if I minded people seeing solar panels on my roof because he had other clients express concern that solar panels might screw up the curb appeal of their property, I said, “I’d like to make it fashionable to have solar panels!”
I’ve been studying solar panels and I’ve pretty much settled on SunPower Corp panels, so I have an appointment with their rep for this week.
Their panels are about 50 percent more efficient than any other panels. That’s why the US Government Department of Energy in Washington, DC, and retailers Macy’s and Walmart chose them for their roofs.
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