Truth be told, I am actually considering a future purchase of a Ford Futura. Right now the Mazda 6 has some things that annoy me, and I expect that Ford will change them:
1)Red dashboard illumination. I want green.
2)The stereo is impossible to upgrade (integrated with the climate controls) so I couldn't swap the Sirius tuner/head unit from my Contour into it.
2a)The climate controls display console seems to be very fragile, and I've read several reports of it not working after it was R/R'd.
3)Mazda parts prices are high compared to Ford parts prices.
3a)You can't order Mazda parts from Bill Jenkins
4)Not really an annoyance but...Ford is working on a 3.5L engine which is to be available in the Futura in it's 2nd year of production. That alone makes me think that waiting might be the best option.
5)Also not an annoyance...My sister works for a Ford dealer so I could get the D-plan on the Ford Futura.
As far as keeping a car, one of my co-workers had a new engine installed in his '93 Chevy Malibu (I think?) so he can drive it for another 10 years. This guy is rumoured to make 6 figures, so it's not as if he couldn't afford a new car.
And, Merry Christmas!