After a few years with my customized Mustang convertible (COAL), my automotive interests were shifting. My project car focus was now on my Aspen station wagon (COAL). Gas prices were starting to skyrocket in San Diego. I rationalized it was time to purchase a more sensible and efficient car as a daily driver. That’s how I came to own a 2007 Ford Fusion SE.
My list of criteria for this sensible car wasn’t very long. It had to be good on gas. I definitely wanted a manual transmission. It had to be fun to drive. It had to have decent room in it. It had to be under $20K out the door. Finally, since I had no plans to be modifying this new car, I wanted a new car with a full warranty. I initially looked at a Mazda 6 station wagon, to have a modern long-roof to complement the Aspen. But the price was out of reach from my budget. Since we had owned 5 Ford products over the last 10 years, I kept drifting back to the Ford lot. Much had been said about how much fun the 1st generation Focus was, plus the Fusion was getting high marks on handling as well.
[Wanna-be boy racer Focus ST with Street Appearance Package.]
I first looked at the 2007 Focus ST. A 4-door Focus, with the 2.3L DOHC engine from the Fusion. Sports tuned suspension, manual trans and good fuel economy. It definitely ticked all the right boxes on paper. The drive, was another story. The car handled well and had some punchy power, but the seating position for me was awkward and the rear seat was really cramped. The real deal killer was that every ST within a 200 mile radius had that awful looking Street Appearance Package. They were really trying to target the younger “Fast & the Furious” crowd, but it was not for me.
After the drive, I walked through the Fusions on the lot. They looked nice, but I was only able to find a few with the 4cyl/5-speed manual combo, all of them were either the S or SE model. All of the SELs on the lot were automatics. I didn’t drive one, but grabbed a brochure and went home to do some more internet research. At home I discovered a late availability option package in the brochure, the “I-4 Appearance Package”. The package was only available on the 4-cylinder SE models only. It consisted of 17” aluminum rims with painted pockets, a black chrome grille, body color fog light bezels, a black vinyl interior, black and red cloth inserts in the seats and door panels, red contrast stitching on the seat and steering wheel, and a brushed aluminum center console bezel. The package was only available on Black, Redfire, or Tungsten Silver.
[I-4 Appearance Package interior.]
I didn’t remember seeing one of these on the lot I was at, so I hopped online to browse inventory of a few other local dealerships. I located one at El Cajon Ford, Redfire Metallic with the manual transmission. A couple of days later, I went in and drove the car. It shared the same 2.3L engine and 5-speed manual with the Focus I had driven, but this car was a much better drive. The seating position and ergonomics fit me better, and the car was a lot roomier front and rear. I went home and surprised James that I was ready to give up the Mustang and go sensible. It took a few days of convincing him. He didn’t believe me that I wanted to give up the Mustang. After tax, title, and license the cost came in just under the budget I was looking at and I was the owner of a new Fusion.
I loved the way the Fusion drove. As a mid-size sedan, it held the road better than some of it’s competition I have driven in or ridden in. The power delivery was smooth and the 5-speed shifting was very light and precise compared to the Mustang. With 160 HP, it had enough power to move along nicely, it just wasn’t what I would say quick. Again, I was coming out of a Mustang. It was adequate. However, that 160 HP and slick 5-speed translated into very nice fuel economy. It was rated at 23/32, and I routinely got between 29 and 31 in my day to day commuting.
[2008-2009 Fusion Sport Appearance Pkg with 18″ rims. Not mine, but wish I had waited.]
My first twinge of regret came about a year later. The 2008 Fusions came out with a much improved Sport Appearance Package. In addition to what mine had on it, it also received a sport tuned suspension, a rear lip spoiler, and 18” machined aluminum rims (taken from the Ford Edge). The subtle tweaks definitely made the Fusion appear sportier. Had I only waited until the next year to go sensible, I could have had those rims and a better suspension. I contemplated snagging a used set of rims, but I never made the purchase.
[He’s ready to go for a ride.]
This car turned out to be the most reliable car I’ve ever owned. I never once had to take it into the dealer. Everything worked on it, just as it should. As is the norm for me, I performed all the regular maintenance on it. The first oil change did provide me with a little bit of a surprise. I went and purchased the oil and the filter from the local parts store. When I got up under the car, there was no spin on/off filter. Instead there was a canister filter. I had to go back and buy the correct filter. I had never seen one before, but I liked it. It did make for some less messy oil changes. Before anyone in the comments chides me about selecting the incorrect filter; the parts book listed both filters. I just assumed that it was the spin-on filter because that was all I had ever known.
There isn’t much else to say about this car. After the newness wore off, I came to the realization I had bought an appliance. A conveyance to get from point A to point B, with little drama or fuss, all while getting great gas mileage. It should have said Maytag on the side. It was a little more fun to drive than your typical sedan, but that’s about it. The Appearance package and manual transmission made it stand out to me (like a stainless steel dryer compared to a plain white dryer), but it really blended in. It did it’s job, never complained, and never had a single issue.
What’s worse, it didn’t even inspire me to break out my camera. Next to cars, photography is probably my next biggest passion. I’ve gotten lots of compliments on the quality of my photos from the fine readers here at Curbside Classics. This car did not inspire me. It never had the urge to take the car out for a photo shoot. These are the only photos two photos I could find of it, and they were a couple of crappy cell-phone pics.
After a couple of years, I started to miss things while I was driving. I had lost my way. I really missed having a car with character. I really missed the joy of driving. I missed having the wind in my hair. The Fusion just wasn’t cutting it anymore. A good friend of ours was in the market for a replacement car. With that opportunity, we sold him the Fusion and I ended up in another convertible. My friend still owns the Fusion (I just saw it, and it’s just over 100K miles), and as far as I know has given him just as much trouble free service has it did for me.
What is this car? I never even knew it existed – is that the US version of the Mondeo?
No, its actually Ford’s spin on the first generation Mazda 6 and it was built specifically for the American market to replace the Taurus, another mid size that stayed mostly in the states.
Thanks – the greenhouse to me shouts VW Bora, it stumped me for sure.
Mondeo and Fusion are pretty much the same car, I drove a 2010 Mondeo hatch my BIL had with the Peugeot turbo diesel engine and six speed auto and quite liked it, once the depreciate at bit further I’d look at getting one.
The current generations are the same car, but this generation of Fusion was based on the Mazda6 platform not the Mondeo.
And the 6 DNA comes from………
The Mondeo… Where else?
I’ve rented the 2006 Fusion SE with the 2.3 liter 4-cylinder engine a number of times from Avis. While I liked the sharp styling with the 5-spoke alloy wheels, I remember the 4-cylinder engine being raspy and loud during acceleration and only returning a rather mediocre 26MPG in combined city/highway driving. I really wanted to like this car but was let down by the chintzy gauges, cheap seat upholstery, no overdrive (only PRNDL), fuel filler door that does not lock, sun visor that always fell out of its catch when flipping it down and 1980’s green stick figure characters in the radio display.
I have a 2007 Ford Focus SE. It has the automatic. They do have overdrive. You have to push a button on the side of the shifter to turn it off
The first-gen Fusions had a 5-speed automatic. The second-gen was updated to a six-speed.
Some dear friends have a 2008 Fusion with the 4-banger, and I’ll agree it’s a bit raspy-sounding. But, it seems to have fine power, still runs great approaching 140,000 miles, and they still really like the car even now that it’s paid off. I disagree with your assessment of the interior-it was perfectly competitive in 2006 when it debuted, and I find the seat upholstery decent-looking. Their interior is a good detailing away from looking brand new, even despite being driven by a vet tech hauling large dogs in it frequently. I don’t know if the dash is soft-touch material or not because, well, I’m a sane person and I don’t reach out and pet the dash as I’m riding in my friends’ car.
What I will say is that the style of the thing does harken to the era from which it came, but I don’t take fault with that.
Your experience is why the midsize sedan is a dying breed. People want vehicles they can get excited about and at the end of the day a fwd 4 cylinder sedan seems old and boring to most shoppers these days.
People get excited about a Honda CRV?
If you want better functionality than what a sedan offers and you’ve had a sedan for years than yes a crv rav4 cx5 can be exciting.
As exciting as cold oatmeal.
I’d say that low gas prices are partly to blame too. People have short memories.
That’s a lot of it. I think many people, even if they aren’t car enthusiasts would much rather spend their money on something they can be proud of. People will settle for economical and boring when outside forces make that decision for them.
Or very long memories. 🙂
Since the first oil price spike in fall 1973, the spikes have been relatively short lived and then followed by years long stretches of sometimes very low cost fuel. The United States is in its 6th year of cheap fuel since the last spike.
Not everyone has the stomach for it, but buying a discounted gas guzzler during a fuel price spike has proven to be the right bet in every price spike we’ve had.
Currently, this is the time to buy a fuel efficient car – there is a lot of cash on the hoods right now, even some of the popular Toyota and Honda models.
Yeah, I think that’s part of it. The image that the vehicle projects. A sedan is just that, a sedan. Middle of the road, rental car. At least with an SUV/CUV (which seems to be replacing the sedan), you get that rough & rugged look, but still get the drive-ability of the sedan it’s based off of. Plus, the added cargo capacity compared to a sedan. That’s why the CUV is killing off the sedan. The days of the Camry/Accord being the best selling cars is numbered I think.
I’ve had a couple of Fusions (2010 and newer) from this body style as rentals and really liked them. Plenty of room, good driving and handling, and I liked the style. They’re one domestic that I would seriously consider buying.
I’m one of a minority that actually prefers the crisper styling of this generation Fusion to the current faux-Jaguar look of the current.
And I really like the black/red trim on those seats, very, very sharp.
Very nice car, a person could do much worse (especially considering high-20s in fuel economy).
I’m happy to hear from MB that the car was so trouble-free for him, and is serving its next owner well. Paul F, I echo your thoughts about the styling, and somehow wish I could find a next-to-new “older style” one somewhere to give a loving second home. I’ve got an Escape of similar vintage; good mileage, and the 160hp is, really, enough for any driving I’m doing (I remember Pintos and early Escorts with barely half that). Goodness, I sound like a total appliance-car convert, it seems…..
Uh-oh, CC is putting ideas into my head again: a previous-styling 2011, 4cyl, 5-speed, under 15K miles, under $14K: https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/683404246/overview/
Same here. I much prefer this generation to the current Fusion. The new one’s an excellent car, I understand, but the bar-of-soap styling strikes me as undistinguished, personally.
You are not the only one. I am not a fan of the current Fusion’s styling. I find it too busy, especially the maze of cutlines on the rear of the car. I find this version has a much classier look.
It really was a good car, it just ultimately ended up not being the right fit for me. I would recommend it to anyone who is considering a nice reliable used car. The midcycle refresh (2010-2012) had a little bit more up to date styling, and the fancy sport model as well with the bigger 3.5 V6 in it.
I do think the midcycle refresh was a good effort–the original isn’t bad at all, but this gives it a little more visual “muscle” without going all angry-face like so many cars currently have. Plus the clean side profile wasn’t changed.
I like the new one just fine outside, but on the inside, different story–it’s got obtrusive console disease. Feels like two separate bunkers up front.
Nice car…. Especially for under $20K. I certainly understand what you are saying about having a car that is a joy to drive outweighing overall reliability considerations. Life is too short for boring cars; you’ll have plenty of time to be bored when you’re dead.
( Looks into automotive safety-glass Crystal Ball )
I see an Italian Car in your future…
“Life is too short for boring cars; you’ll have plenty of time to be bored when you’re dead.”
Pretty much the smartest thing Ive seen on the internet in a LOOOONG time!
“Life is too short to drive boring cars” is a sentiment shared amongst many in the online car community. I would say that was one of the factors in getting rid of the Fusion. But everyone has their own definition of what isn’t boring. Your definition of boring may be way different than mine. 🙂
And while that Alfa does look sexy, probably not in my future. I’d rather go German or British before Italian. HAHA
Here in Brazil this Fusion mk1 was a hit, even today it’s hard to find one 2nd hand stranded in car shops as any other same sized sedan. Usually people with low income use to look for used sedans from Honda and Toyota, but Fusion mk1 and mk2 could afford they interests too. Ford had big problem to repeat the same success of the Taurus mk2 here, people just stayed away from the Taurus mk3 “cat fish” and although Mondeo was sold here since 1995, any of its generations could sell significant amounts, the worst one was the Mondeo mk3, when Ford replaced him to the Fusion mk1, for they good luck it works beyond they expectations! Today the current Fusion also is doing fine despite the bad situation of our economy.
A reliable, economical, reasonably fun-to-drive 4-cyl sedan is condemned as an “appliance.” There’s just no pleasing some people!
I kind of think along the same lines.
Think it is more just the inner need to switch back and fourth. When Brian has the Mustang, he craves the sensibility of the Fusion and vice versa.
Perhaps next a new Mustang convertible with the smallest, most economical engine.
Another Mustang convertible (for me) is coming up soon…. but not with an economical engine. 😉
Perhaps it’s less “condemned” than regarded wistfully as potential adventures lost. That time you and your future wife got caught in the rain trying to put up the Austin-Healey’s top, finding the charms of a nice little town when the Audi Fox breaks down at a stoplight, discovering the kindness of strangers when the Monte Carlo catches fire in the restaurant parking lot….
I actually wouldn’t call it a condemnation of the Fusion, but more a reflection of my state of mind at the time I owned it. Everything that you list there are all of the reasons that drew me to the Fusion. 90% of cars that are bought are for the sole purpose of point-A to point-B conveyances. After a while I realized that I had slipped into that mindset when it came to my daily driver. I think I slipped into a bit of a mid-life crisis. Where as most people who have always had boring cars get the “fun” car for their mid-life crisis… mine was the exact opposite. I ended up slipping from fun cars and cars that i was excited about to get something sensible.
I can sympathize with that, though for a different reason. With a longer commute than I had to start the year, and with my DD approaching age 20, I’ve started seriously pondering whether it’s the time to move on. But if I do, due to budgetary constraints and the commute, it’s going to have to be new or nearly so, smallish, and economical. And yet it’s exciting in an odd way…far from a done deal though and probably not for a few months at least.
If I do go for it, I’m sure I’ll bore quickly. But right now it’d be nice to not have to think about potential repairs every time I get into the car, and to get more than 21 MPG highway. That’d be exciting, LOL.
I don’t remember this car being available in Canada. I kinda like it, at least the beltline isn’t too high and the windows aren’t just gunslits. The front seats look like they’re exactly the same ones from the Focus, in shape, size and even stitching pattern they look just like the seats in my ’07 Focus wagon.
There is nothing wrong in driving an automotive appliance, esp. when it’s dead reliable.
Well, in my neck of the woods, this is a Ford Fusion… (Johannes Dutch, Roger Carr, T. Turtle and some others will recognise this shape…)
I certainly remember it, the MPV-version of the Fiesta, introduced in 2002.
Of course we do. Neighbor got one. An honest, no nonsense vehicle.
I love honest, no nonsense vehicles. I think the peak was the Honda Civic or Toyota Tercel AWD wagons. Ok maybe the original Honda Odyssey or Mazda MPV too.
Another well written COAL, Brian. I like the Fusion, because it is sensible. Wasn’t that why you bought it? So it wasn’t exciting after while but exciting and sensible at a budget leaves a very small area of overlap, maybe nothing at all.
I drove a Mazda 6 4cylinder 5 speed. I loved it. I drove a Mercury Milan 4 cyl, automatic. It was fine. But I needed a wagon…..
Do you recall what specifically made the Focus’ ergonomics awkward to you?
Thanks Wolfgang. You are right, that is exactly why I bought it. It was a great car. Like I said in one of my comments above, I don’t condemn the car for being sensible and an appliance, it was more a reflection of my state of mind at the time I owned it. I would recommend a 1st gen Fusion to anyone looking to buy a decent, reliable used car. My current roommate was in the need for a car, and I tried to steer him to a 1st Gen Fusion SEL V6/auto. He ended up not getting it and got a Mk5 Jetta instead because the Fusion was too ‘plain’ for him…. I won’t go into how that went.
As for the Focus, I just remember being put in a weird driving position when sitting behind the wheel. I felt like I was sitting up too high compared to the height of the car, and I couldn’t get the wheel in a comfortable position when I had the seat at the right position for the pedals. I felt like I sat in the Fusion, I felt like I sat on the Focus (if that makes sense).
I remember liking these, but have had next-to-no exposure to them, other than seeing quite a few on the roads. Ford really seemed to nail the segment with this car. I did get a ride from a co-worker who got one of these as a loaner from Carmax when his used Acura was in for a warranty repair. His was actually the Mercury version, and I was a little let down by the trim level in it.
I don’t think I knew that these came as a stick. You could have done a lot worse in choosing an appliance.
I own a 2006 Fusion SE with the 2.3L and 4 speed auto. It was my daily driver for many years and now with 106K mostly trouble-free miles I’ve handed it down to my son. I still admire the styling after 10 years, especially in black with the blingy chrome grille and wheels, inspired by the original Ford 427 concept that was such a sensation at the Detroit Auto Show. My Fusion is the best sedan I’ve ever owned, with athletic handling and a reasonable balance of performance and fuel economy, all while being roomy and reliable. The only complaint is that the tail lamp bulbs burn out every few months, so much so that I keep a stash in the garage. Fortunately, it’s a simple 5 minute operation to change them.
Re your tail lamps, my hypotheses: voltage regulation, resonance (if they’re incandescent).
My wife’s 2010 Ford Edge went through 9 brake light bulbs in 5 years. Thankfully it was a 5 minute job to change it out.
I WISH that was the case for my Outback’s headlights – you have to take the front bumper assembly off or go through the wheel well liner. Argh.
They actually put a MANUAL in this car?!?!! That’s hard to believe! A midsize sedan seems to me about the very last type of vehicle that you could move with a stickshift. But if this same power unit (engine/transaxle) is shared with the Focus, then I guess it wouldn’t take much to get it in here. Wonder how many manual Fusions were ever sold.
OTOH, one of the major gripes on the Dodge Charger (a sedan with a MASSIVE enthusiast following) is the lack of a manual.
The Mazda powertrain is sold throughout the world, so there are markets where manuals are preferred.
My mother has a Mazda 6 hatch from the era as Brian’s Fusion, although in her case it was the first automatic vehicle she’d ever owned, with the 5-sp auto. Previously she’d had a 92 2.0/5-sp manual, a combination that would get 35 mpg (US).
Yup, there was a manual available but only on the 4-cyl cars. Ford was trying to match up Honda and Toyota across the board. I know that the Accord came with a 4cyl/5-spd manual combo during those years… not sure about the Camry though. If only they had offered the V6 with the manual, I may have stretched my budget a little bit to get that combination.
Yes, the lack of a manual in the Charger is a big gripe from the Chrysler LX community (i’m a part of it, you’ll read about later). I don’t think that the take rate would be substantial for a manual Charger, but the same basic platform in the Challenger has a manual trans. But the floorpans between them are different for that manaul Challenger… and Chrysler hasn’t modified the sedan platform to accept the manual trans. There have been several aftermarket retrofits.
Funny thing is that last year I was up in PN’s part of the world, and I got a 2015 Camry from the rent-a-car people. It felt like Toyota tried to copy the Fusion, from the contrast stitching on the seats to the driving dynamics (they didn’t quite nail it, but way better than Toyota circa 2003 was!).
The Fusion may not have been the driver’s car your Mustang was, but the fact that it was OK for an enthusiast shows how the state of the art has advanced. A ’56 Ford sedan would be very mediocre (as anything other than a grocery getter) by today’s standards.
The Fusion sounds like a car I wouldn’t have minded owning.
An excellent article about an excellent car. A friend of mine purchased a 2006 Fusion SE (his first new car in 20 years) and a few months later, I bought a 2006 Mazda 6S. I knew both cars shared a common platform and many mechanical bits, so it was fun for me to compare various aspects between the two… until I realized that, more often than not, his I4 (automatic) Fusion was superior to my base six-cylinder Mazda for most day-to-day driving. It was also much more reliable, mostly thanks to my 6 dropping its automatic transmission at 19,000 miles.
One of the details I found curious between the cars is that the Ford’s center digital display included a compass, but no outside temperature readout; vice-versa for my Mazda. (The compass would have been more handy.)
Curiously, he and I also owned these cars longer than usual for either of us. I traded my Mazda after five years of ownership; he later leased a new 2013 Fusion but kept his older car around for his 16 year-old stepdaughter to drive. Earlier this year, the 2006 Fusion saved the lives of her and three friends in a single-car rollover accident.
Anyone who liked the 4 cylinder 5 speed combo on the first generation Fusion would LOVE the 1.6 Ecoboost 6 speed on the current generation. Lots of power when you need it and 36 MPG on trips. Too bad my 2014 SE was about the last 6 speed manual made. I bought it used with about 800 miles on the clock. I think someone bought it and their spouse refused to drive a manual.
My sister just got a 2017 Honda Civic and had nothing but praise for my 2012 Fusion SE after driving it. Huh??! She even mentioned the decent power coming from the 2.5L 4 cylinder. Wow! This coming from an owner of a spanking new Honda to driving a prior gen. Ford. Who would have thought?
Anyway, I used to have a Ford Ranger 4.0L and a supercharged Merc 1.8, both torquey motors – rwd, so I had to furrow a brow a little and act shocked when she mentioned good power, but then figured she’s right, it does have decent power for a base mill and agreed.
I do miss the torque of a large motor and the dynamics of rear wheel drive, though. I had to learn all over again what a 4 cylinder front wheel drive car feels like and how the gas pedal seems like nothing but a mouse button signalling intent and then letting the transmission do the grunt work rather than simply toeing the throttle pedal to make direct vehicular movement from the rear — especially when transitioning to uphill pulling duty.
Besides the power aspect, everyone else who has driven the Fusion has said the same things about how well it drives and handles, etc.; and on those points, I would definitely have to agree. It drives wonderfully and I love the steering in particular. So creamy, nicely weighted, and responsive to conditions. Super helpful when I need to drag myself out of the house to go shopping or something. Just like with the old Mercedes (but without the horrifying upkeep and heavy steering), I actually think about driving the Fusion and suddenly traffic and Safeway doesn’t seem so blah and I even reach a level of giddiness. lol.
It’s a car!
….So, this vehicle is definitely a keeper. I absolutely adore it. Even though I have a natural tendency for getting bored with vehicles and trading them in every three years or so, I intend on holding on to this Fusion for a long time. If it’s anything like my mom’s old 626 (which Wikipedia says it is), it might take a while.
(touch wood…)
Family member had an ’04 Mazda6, the same red as the pictured Fusion. 2.3 4 speed auto. Bought it last year for $2300. Agree it was a good driving and fairly powerful car for a 4 cylinder. Nice looking as well. Had to be careful getting in and out, though. The low roof line required some ducking, at least if you forgot the door weatherstrip provided some padding! It had 177k miles on it and still ran well, although was using a quart of oil about every 600 miles. It took 6 month to get it’s recalled Takata driver side airbag inflater replaced, though. A couple of months ago we got a recall notice for the passenger airbag, which now has been recalled as well. Checked the “car has been destroyed” box and sent the reply card back.
Her daughter totaled it about 9 months ago when a 16 year old girl in a SUV (which also was totaled) turned left in front of her a block away from home. Airbags deployed, no serious injuries. Was glad the airbag recall had been done, no metal shards flew out from either bag.
It did only get about 20 MPG around town, but it was a fairly heavy car. All in all, a nice, under appreciated car. Too bad she only had it for about a year, but she did get $5000 from the other drivers insurance, so more than twice what she paid for it.
I know a few people that have had or still have this generation of the Fusion (they were a hit with the Ford crowd when they came out and suddenly the lot was filled with ’em!). Working at the Ford at the time, seeing Ford finally seize their own destiny instead of making bland me-too-mobiles was genuinely refreshing! Seeing that car the first time in WHQ before they released it was the point I knew Ford had a fighting chance.
One person had a 52-mile commute one way, and she hit 200,000 with hers pretty easily. Dear friends still have their 2008, and despite hauling large dogs with it pretty often it’s only a good detailing away from looking new inside. I liked the interior in these overall-thought it was a nice clean and attractive design-a great balance between being too spartan and too busy. Now, I actually find myself liking the green backlighting-after years of blue and white, I think it adds a nice mood to the dark charcoal interior.
My hubby had a 2012 (second-generation) for awhile. Gen 2 kept the great driving dynamics of the gen-1, and the interior and exterior upgrades made it an even better car than the gen-1 was. The gen-1 was a fantastic car, and I’m glad it’s still giving great service.
A nice story on an often-overlooked car. The Fusion arrived at a critical time in Ford’s history, and gave its passenger car business a much-needed boost.
At that time, the only sedans Ford Division offered were the Focus and Five Hundred (the old Taurus had been relegated to rental car duty). Good reviews and good scores in the Consumer Reports reliability surveys helped put Ford back on the map among sedan buyers. It seemed to me that these Fusions were the cars for people who were wary of domestic quality, but were still reluctant to buy a Toyota or Honda, for various reasons.
BTW, the Maytag metaphor is dated, for a series of management mistakes destroyed their reputation for reliable if unexciting appliances.
Yep. All their stuff is now Amana or Whirlpool rebranded….
Is there a suitable replacement metaphor though? Any good, reliable appliance makers left?