[Polopolisgeorge]

As I've been reasonably happy with the Fusion Sport I have for a few months as a company car, I'm going to make a case for it.

- 325hp / 380 ft-lbs, not slow by any means
- AWD, if you're into that sort of thing
- Only uses a little more than half the $50K to get one fully loaded
- Better ride and less road noise than my F80
- Surprisingly comfortable seats (good for your road trips)
- Will return 30 mpg cruising at 70-75 mph
- That combined with the size of the tank gives you a cruising range of around 500 miles

However:
- She's a bit hefty
- The only engine noise is played through the speakers
- Interior may not be nice enough for some (but you could go for the 3.0TT MKZ instead)
- Has that rotary dial transmission selector, which some may find offensive

Oh, plus I just looked in the trunk and there is a spare tire.

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Problem solved .....

http://www.hsv.com.au/GEN-F2-2017/see/ClubSport-R8-LSA/

This would be ideal for long trips with lots of shit to carry though ....

http://www.hsv.com.au/GEN-F2-2017/se...R8-Tourer-LSA/

We don't get either versions in NA. We got the watered down version called the SS. Would love to have that Tourer, though Would have definitely solved my problem

Originally Posted by Polopolisgeorge

As I've been reasonably happy with the Fusion Sport I have for a few months as a company car, I'm going to make a case for it.

- 325hp / 380 ft-lbs, not slow by any means
- AWD, if you're into that sort of thing
- Only uses a little more than half the $50K to get one fully loaded
- Better ride and less road noise than my F80
- Surprisingly comfortable seats (good for your road trips)
- Will return 30 mpg cruising at 70-75 mph
- That combined with the size of the tank gives you a cruising range of around 500 miles

However:
- She's a bit hefty
- The only engine noise is played through the speakers
- Interior may not be nice enough for some (but you could go for the 3.0TT MKZ instead)
- Has that rotary dial transmission selector, which some may find offensive

Oh, plus I just looked in the trunk and there is a spare tire.

Does the Fusion Sport have the same drive train as the Taurus SHO? My buddy blown his engine on his Taurus SHO on our last road trip together

[Steeler]

2004-20xx GTO but only 2 door

[Z K]

No one has brought the car up but it is what I bought for my daily driver and road trip car for longer trips (M3 has no spare).

I got a VW GLI.

- It has a full size spare, not a space saver. I actually used that and drove on it over 2 weeks while I ordered replacement tires when I had a flat once.
- It is the same size and space as a F30 3 series sedan with a huge trunk, you can fit a 2 full size suitcases with space to spare.
- It is fuel efficient .. normally 24 city /32 highway MPG on premium
- It doesn't have a lot of power (200hp/200tq) but with a tune it gets a nice bump (260hp/300tq) Given the car only weighs 3000 lbs, it is pretty quick when not loaded up. It'll outrun just about any WRX/Focus ST and give cars like a stock STI and Golf R a run.
- DSG Twin clutch transmission - it bangs out shifts super fast and you can slog through traffic having it shift for you
- XDS Torque vectoring for cornering - sends power to the outside wheel to help rotation and brakes the inside wheels to help
- It looks like an A4... there's so many times people have asked me about my Audi... only for me to tell them its a VW
- It's only $25k new or $15k used

Anyway, not a very grand entry but a budget conscious one. I would not replace my fun car with this... but it's a great daily.

[DerekS]

Originally Posted by XMetal

Actually, I don't mind a donut. I don't like the ride and feel of run flats either and in some situations, that run flat is worthless as well.

I hate the fact that car manufacturers are removing that donut, and don't even have an option for one

The useful range for donut spares is no greater than RFTs, about 80 km or 50 miles. Both donuts and deflated RFTs are limited in maximum speed as well, to 80 kph or 50 mph. Given these significant limitations, I always carry a real spare tire/wheel for long distance trips, together with a BMW Mobility kit and a tire jacking kit.

Being stuck with a flat tire in the mountains, 200 kms or 120 miles from the nearest garage, has taught me to "be prepared" by carrying a real spare tire !

[Polopolisgeorge]

Originally Posted by XMetal

We don't get either versions in NA. We got the watered down version called the SS. Would love to have that Tourer, though Would have definitely solved my problem



Does the Fusion Sport have the same drive train as the Taurus SHO? My buddy blown his engine on his Taurus SHO on our last road trip together

It's not the same drivetrain. The fusion sport has the 2.7L twin turbo from the Edge Sport/current F150 while the Taurus SHO has the (now pretty old) first gen 3.5L ecoboost shared with the Flex/Explorer/previous F150.

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by DerekS

The useful range for donut spares is no greater than RFTs, about 80 km or 50 miles. Both donuts and deflated RFTs are limited in maximum speed as well, to 80 kph or 50 mph. Given these significant limitations, I always carry a real spare tire/wheel for long distance trips, together with a BMW Mobility kit and a tire jacking kit.

Being stuck with a flat tire in the mountains, 200 kms or 120 miles from the nearest garage, has taught me to "be prepared" by carrying a real spare tire !

I don't believed there's a limit on the range of a donut spare - only a maximum speed limit up to to 80 kph or 50 mph.

[1MOREMOD]

Right some people make use of them for long ass time

[RM7]

Other thing about the SS, yeah, we don't get some of the absolutely nuts Holden versions, but it's got pretty good mod support due to the GM drivetrain and established parts makers.

[BEM-S4]

Just discovered something on Benzes. You could def get a CPO either CLA or C450 in your budget. You can give them $2500 to extend CPO to 3 years (comes w 1). So assuming the car is a 2016 you could have 5 years and unlimited miles covered by a full factory warranty.

Just something to keep in mind as you shop.

[MSups6]

How about Acura TLX Aspec ?

45k so $ left over for a full size spare thrown it in the trunk plus a intake and exhaust it you want more vroom sounds.

[XMetal]

Thanks everyone, for all the excellent suggestions. I had decided to go with the 2018 Audi S3, which ticked 90% of my boxes. What a fun little car. Can't wait for the next road trip with it. Here are the specs:

2018 Audi S3 Premium Plus
Navarra Blue Metallic
Magma Red Interior
S Sport package
Technology package
Black Optic Dynamic package

[c1pher]

You made an excellent choice. You will be very happy. Congrats.