I’m looking for a car under 10,000 dollars and I found a Fusion with some cosmetic dents. It has a 2.0L engine with EcoBoost which I hear might not be great. It’s listed for $9900, has a clean title, and only 47000 miles. Should I go for it or is it likely to have issues later on?
I have a 2015 SE with the 1.5 EcoBoost and it has 160k miles and runs great. I might be mistaken, but I think the 2.0 could actually be better. The only downside is sometimes the turbo lag is noticeable, but overall it’s a fun drive and I’m happy I got mine.
@Val
That’s awesome to hear! I’ve heard mixed things about the 1.5L but your experience makes me feel better.
Aza said:
@Val
That’s awesome to hear! I’ve heard mixed things about the 1.5L but your experience makes me feel better.
Just stay on top of maintenance and monitor your coolant levels to avoid any possible issues, and it should last a long time.
@Val
I own a 2013 SE with 177k miles and it’s still going strong. They aren’t performance cars, but they’ve reliably gotten me where I need to go since I bought it new.
Drew said:
@Val
I own a 2013 SE with 177k miles and it’s still going strong. They aren’t performance cars, but they’ve reliably gotten me where I need to go since I bought it new.
They definitely aren’t race cars, but they sure want to be. I heard the 1.5 can handle a decent amount of boost before issues arise. I kind of hope my turbo gives out when it’s a good time financially so I can upgrade.
@Val
Is it possible to add a bigger turbo? I’ve heard you might need to change a lot of other parts to make it work. But I’ve noticed the cold weather seems to give it a bit more power.
Drew said:
@Val
Is it possible to add a bigger turbo? I’ve heard you might need to change a lot of other parts to make it work. But I’ve noticed the cold weather seems to give it a bit more power.
Yeah, I’d guess I’d need to change a few things to upgrade the turbo. I found a boost limit when I was curious about the stock turbo size.
It’s a good vehicle, but I’m worried that the car might be traded in because of coolant problems. I just had my Fusion checked and it passed, which gave me peace of mind. I’m concerned that a car with under 50000 miles could have been traded in for issues.
@Uma
Should I just take a mechanic with me to check it out? This is from a dealership that sells vehicles with cosmetic issues, and there’s no mention of coolant problems in the listing.
Aza said:
@Uma
Should I just take a mechanic with me to check it out? This is from a dealership that sells vehicles with cosmetic issues, and there’s no mention of coolant problems in the listing.
Or get a warranty if you can, also check the coolant level. Look to see if it’s between the max and min marks and that it looks clean and orange. They should pressure test the system to see if it holds for 24 hours. If it does, that’s a good sign. You’ll notice pretty quickly if it uses coolant or if there’s white smoke coming from the exhaust when starting after sitting for a while.
The 2.0 engine can be great, but the EcoBoost version might not be the best choice. The 2.0 and 2.3 versions are considered the best in the EcoBoost lineup. I think the 2017 to 2019 models were not great. If you have doubts, trust your instincts. The low mileage is a bit concerning, and I wouldn’t rely on the dealership to check for coolant problems.
@Lin
Should I keep searching then? I’ve been looking a lot and I don’t really care much about specific brands or models, just want something under 10k that’s reliable. I thought this Fusion was a great deal but I wonder if I’m missing something.
@Aza
Hybrid Fusions offer incredible value and would fit your budget.