Have you ever stopped and realized just how good you have it? I’m fairly certain most of you reading this are American or from a “first world” nation, so I can say this with confidence: We’re a very prosperous society. The luxury of having time to sit down and read articles on this site is a pleasure that cannot be enjoyed by literally billions of people on this planet. The same goes for buying the toy cars you see before you.
So how did I purchase the two Fusions? Via Amazon, with the click of a button. Internet shopping has evolved to the point where you can buy items for a certain price and have the shipping completely taken care of. That’s where the Matchbox Lincoln Navigator comes into play.
Having not exactly kept up with the companies that still make toy cars these days, I had thought that only Hot Wheels and Matchbox were left. I mean, the recession must have killed off some of these corporations, right? Wrong.
A recent trip to my local Toys ‘R’ Us proved that capitalism, while bruised, is certainly still alive and kicking. While walking down the same aisles I used to run through as a child, I apparently came across the only toy car manufacturer that makes non-souped up Fords.
Obviously, I’m way past the age when I played with these as a child. At least I’m not draining my parents’ bank account anymore. Progress!
Let’s go back to the Fusions for a bit. They’re 1:43 scale and look reasonably well done. Not the quality of Tom’s insanely detailed ‘cuda, mind you, but I’m guessing both cars came in at a fraction of the price. That is why I’m willing to forgive the company for that pitted windshield.
Both models are Titaniums, complete with MyFordTouch, chrome exhaust outlets, and the 18″ wheels. I’m guessing they both have a 2.0 turbo under the hood, but since it can’t open, that information could not be verified.
The Fusion is on fire. Sales figures are through the roof, and last month it was the top-selling mid-size sedan in Canada. AWD and Hybrid models have a habit of obtaining new owners as soon as they get off the truck.
But I didn’t buy everything you see before you. Working at a dealership has many advantages, one of which is Ford swag, which has helped bolster my Miniature CC collection.
Since we’re in the Tri-State area, its only logical that we’d have a stash of these. Yankee Stadium is a direct stop on the Metro-North line that runs east of the Hudson River. It would take me about an hour to get to the Bronx from my house.
Here’s a Focus ST model, again with a Yankees paint job. Funny story: a real life, non-ST Focus with the Yankees paint scheme showed up on a tow truck one day. Turns out the owner thought (thinks?) that by not using it (for many months, by the way), the car will eventually become valuable. I wonder if it will be worth the repair bill they got after our service department was through with it. Probably not.
Bam! All three in one place. There are more models, but I generally have to ask for one at the right time. Maybe I’ll try my luck for another one this week.
Life is good when you have multiple places to buy toy cars on your day off from selling real-life ones. Here’s Greenlight’s take on the Fiesta Titanium. I have no idea what color they slathered on this example because Ford doesn’t offer a blue like this for 2013.
They do, however, make the Escape in black; Tuxedo Black, to be specific. The real-life vehicles are surprisingly nimble. They also sell like iPhones at an Apple store.
Unlike the rest of my die-cast collection, these fine examples are going to be in service for quite a while. Their new home? My desk at work. However, my love for the Ingot Silver Fusion was too great–it’s sitting beside me as we speak. All that’s left to say is that I’m thankful for what I have at a time other than Thanksgiving. Progress!
How fun!. I guess you can sit at your desk and “Watch the (little) Fords Go By.”
Awesome ad. Thanks for sharing!
Blech! My Ford salesguy Father in Law has a new Fusion for his demo. I like the outside, but I hate the inside.
All that stupid Sync FordMyTouch stuff, and you can only get a manual transmission with the 1.6 liter Eco Boost motor. 20+ buttons on the steering wheel, and another 20+ below the HMI screen.
Makes perfect sense that it is selling well, since I seem to be 180 degrees out of step with the world of new vehicles…
That’s exactly why I passed over the new Fusion when shopping for a new midsize sedan- despite really liking my first gen Fusion. I just can’t get over the sea of buttons and electronics. Our ADHD consumption obsessed culture would find anything less than a thousand in car electronic distractions to be regressive.
Yup, I’d love to buy a brand new 2001 Focus, but since they haven’t been available since 2001 I’d probably go for a new Jetta. 2.5 liter 5-speed with just the horn button on the wheel and no excessive electronics. I can’t blame Ford, they’re just making what most people want.
Also on the subject of die cast toy cars, yes they are just for grownups now. My boy was never interested and went directly from wooden Thomas the Tank Engine toys to pocket video games. Oh well..
Advice from someone who had a 5 speed Jetta GL… Don’t. It will only bring pain and stress. You can still find the attributes you are looking for in cars like the Sentra and Focus, lower trims of course. After the umpteenth huge repair bill, I replaced the Jetta with a Versa hatchback. Stick shift, power windows and locks, CD player, nothing else. I’m happy as a hamster with a paper towel tube! And if you are looking for a “Germanic driving experience” my new car is superior in almost every way to the Jetta except for two things, tires and suspension dampening. Better, wider tires would probably solve both.
As someone who worked in the repair field for many years, I second that motion.
No GM products on your desk, I assume 🙂
Yeah…I don’t think management would be too pleased with competitors models on my desk Paul!
Nicely detailed little toy cars. They look like they cost more than the usual Matchbox/Hot Wheels variety. I’ve kinda swore off buying more toy cars; I’ve given away a lot. I gave four of five away at Christmas, all in original packages to relatives’ kids. The kids didn’t seem too thrilled about them.
I still have a bunch, bought in my second childhood in the 1980’s.
I have a few of these, I’ll have to keep an eye peeled for a non-pinstriped Focus ST and hope they’ll do a facelift Fiesta in 1/43. So far the only non-Ford they make in the bigger scale is a Jeep Wrangler.
@DougD: Technically, since 2004 since that was the next time they changed ’em.
I almost bought a used ’03 Focus – 5 door, manual, sunroof, every option except leather – but someone beat me to it because I had to work a grand opening (which flopped) that weekend.
These are nice. I would have killed for these when young. I’ve loved “toy” or “scale model” cars ever since I was a kid. Some of my favorites came from cereal boxes. What you see in the photo is just what sits in front of my computer. I’ve got a couple of thousand more stashed around the house, some quite collectible.
Very nice!
A co-worker recently bought a new Fusion, the full-sized kind. I glanced at it while I was riding in to work on my bike, and for a fraction of a second, it looked like an Aston Martin to me. The illusion was gone before I could complete the sentence, “how did that jerk afford an Aston?” Nonetheless, I bet that this very intentional resemblance is selling a few cars.
Regarding toy or scale model cars, I just made a pilgrimage yesterday to the LeBay Museum in Tacoma. I faced enormous temptation in the gift shop, but I managed to walk away with just a commemorative cap and one of those toy cars that runs on salt water.
Nice! I’ve seen the Greenlight Fiesta, albeit in Lime Squeeze, not blue. I may have to go back to Gordmans and pick one up. Thanks a lot 🙂
I never sold any Fiestas during my brief sales career in 2011, but demonstrated several for buyers and thought it a nice little car. The base models have manual windows–I kind of liked seeing that!
So Ed, what do you think of the C-Max? I stopped at Dahl Ford yesterday to look one over. They have quite nice interiors; I was surprised to see that leather was available in them. The Focus sedan looks great too, especially in Race Red or Blue Candy, with the five-spoke alloys.
Getting even MORE off topic, lately I’ve really gotten into the little Mazda 2. There is a bright metallic green one at the local dealer that really looks nice. It also makes my Volvo wagon look like a tank!
I have the Lime Squeeze Fiesta. It’s a very nicely done diecast. The color is so ugly that I love it. My eyes feast on it when the sun hits it (when I hold it up to the window).
Tom,
The Fiesta is a very nice car. I sold a base model not too long ago, and yeah, it is surprising to see what features it doesn’t have. The only negatives with the Fiesta are the buzzy engine and the somewhat awkward controls, which they may have rectified for the 2014 refresh.
The C-Max is an excellent vehicle. Ford refers to it as a MAV (multi-activity vehicle) for some reason. Basically, it is a Focus on stilts, which isn’t a bad thing because the car boasts a high level of refinement and handles nearly as well as its lower priced brethren. We have trouble keeping them on our lot.
Interesting. I thought it was based on the Focus as the dash appears to be the same. When I was at Dahl in 2011, the C-Max was at that time intended to be offered in both gas and hybrid versions. A couple months later our sales manager told us Ford changed their mind and we were only getting the hybrid in the U.S.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever get a hybrid, but I appreciate the C-Max’s technology and excellent packaging. But what I really want is a Fusion or Focus wagon!
Another question, Ed. What is the real deal with the 1.6 engine. You said Escapes are going fast, and I’d like one. Economy is more important than power, but we need AWD in Maine. Would you recommend stretching for the 2.0, or is the 1.6 ok now?
Thanks!
The 1.6 is okay Morris. I believe the instance of fires for that engine was 12 out of 80,000 – so the odds of encountering a problem were already pretty slim to begin with, and they’ve all had their recalls performed.
If you read reviews of the Escape, the consensus is that the 1.6 handles a bit better than the 2.0 due to its weight. And for what it is, it moves pretty quickly. I definitely wouldn’t feel like I lost out on anything if I bought one over a 2.0 model.
Thank you!! And thanks to all readers who allowed me to hijack the thread for a moment. It was really helpful.