The Ford 500 ...observation

Vortex said:
Hey, I stand corrected. I had asked at the dealer how much it costs for a cargo net and they said $60 so I bought a generic one at Pep Boys for $20. I like that organizer, I wonder how much those go for?
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It's about $300 retail. It's a Ford part, through the accessories catalog. The wife loves it. The netted section you see also folds back down so the entire thing is flat like a trunk floor.
 
Power Surge said:
It's about $300 retail. It's a Ford part, through the accessories catalog. The wife loves it. The netted section you see also folds back down so the entire thing is flat like a trunk floor.
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Give Ray (The Dealer) a call and he'll hook you up.

BTW, I saw one (my first) at the L/M dealer's today, a Montego, and agree that the world has passed this car by. It's roomy, comfortible, and I suppose, with the new 3.5 engine, should be able to get out of it's own way. You guys are right about the trunk, it's a friggen cave, and I kept looking in, then up, to see how it managed to go so far forward with the seat up. I think the Lincoln version, the MK-Z, or some such, will prolly tip the 40K mark, but am guessing you can get basically the same car somewhere in the mid-twenty's, with a blue oval on it. :)

No matter, you still have to wonder at the way Ford markets their products, or not. :nono:
 
Actually I don't think there is a Lincoln version, and if the Town Car goes away, Lincoln will not have a big sedan anymore...

The MK-Z is the "Zephyr" but somehow FLM figured why have a cool name like "Zephyr" becuase a few letters and a dash are much cooler as a name.

The Zephyr is on the same line as the Fusion/Milan

So you get Fusion/Milan/Mk-Z

and then

FiveHundred/Montego/Aint-Nothin!
 
Mike Poore said:
I propose a new game while traveling ....spot the Five Hundred. I'm not sure I've ever seen one, although it might simply be a problem of picking out the amorphous transportation appliances from the crowd. :shake:
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Personally, I like the Ford Five Hundred. :D Have had one twice as a loaner while the Marauder was in the shop for service work. It is definitely NOT a Marauder; but it was a nice car. Had even considered one for the wife when she was looking for a new car. However, she opted for the Ford Freestyle LTD (crossover) instead.

I just wish that FoMoCo wasn't fixated on putting that 3-bar chrome grill on everything they make. :rolleyes:
 
gpfarrell said:
The Taurus had revolutionary styling... when it was introduced just over 21 years ago. Since then it's continually muddled it's way toward mediocrity. The 3rd gen jellybean cars at least made an effort to be a conversation piece again, it's just nobody had much nice to say about how they looked.
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Funny. I thought the first Tauras was just an insipid box.

the jelly bean style with everything round was actually the best of them all. (quality wise etc, not entirely style wise) The roundness was toned down for the next year.
Taurus only suffered from lack of further development. In many ways Ford is still suffering from the effects of Nasser.
 
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The neighbor has an AWD Five Hundred. I got to drive it. It isn't quick but it handles pretty well for a car that size. The CVT feels strange until you get used to it. I'd be happy if dad or mom bought one. It's not a bad car, it's just dull as dishwater.
 
Bluerauder said:
I just wish that FoMoCo wasn't fixated on putting that 3-bar chrome grill on everything they make. :rolleyes:
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Amen. I actually prefer the current looks of the car and wish they would just update the powertrain. But I guess Ford considers it a failure to sell > 100K units of a "bland" car when Chevy considers it a success to sell 100K HHRs because they are "hip". Seems like Ford would be making more per vehicle on a Five Hundred than Chevy does on an HHR too.
 
I test drove a 500 the day befire I got the MM.

The car uses a CVT Transmission. No shifting at all.

The car had zero acceleration worth noting.

But.....it has "Command Seating" :woohoo:

KillJoy
 
The 500 is based largely on the Volvo S80, which went on sale in 1998 as a 99 model, but was 6-7 years in development, as the shape was first seen at a car show (Frankfurt I think) in 1992.

So while it may be a nice car, it really is a little long in the tooth......Like the 500 AWD though. A good AWD value right now(Volvo AWD's are awesome in inclement weather due to the Haldex AWD system....if the 500 has this system even better) vs. Audi, Subarau, and the other overpriced Germans.
 
You are right, it is based on Volvo engineering. Have to say again it is rock solid and though it isnt close to a sports car, it make much more sense for most family needs than those 4WD SUVs I see everybody driving. I pass lots of em when they are stuck at the gas station.
 
Just a little more ....the 2008 Model

From what I'm reading the less than stellar performance will be addressed by the replacement of the 3.0 with a 3.5L V6 engine, boosting HP from the torrid 203 to at least 260. Also, a 6sp Auto will be added and the CVT dropped. Perhaps, by then, they'll have found some way to loose the Gillette razor look, they refer to as a front grille. I still find it incredible that Gillette has a face/leg shaving product called a Fusion. :D
 
Mike Poore said:
From what I'm reading the less than stellar performance will be addressed by the replacement of the 3.0 with a 3.5L V6 engine.
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I've seen and heard that power criticism on both the Freestyle and the Five Hundred; but to be honest --- both have enough power now to meet the need. The CVT keeps it in the proper power band all the time and the acceleration is quite deceiving. My wife noticed that during the test drive when she jumped quickly to 65 and still thought that she was under 45 mph.

While some folks may prefer the 3.5L and increased HP for greater loads or towing capacity, I see very little advantage with a 15-20% decrease in gas mileage.

On the highway at cruising speeds in the Freestyle, that little Duratek 3.0 will make the jump from 65 to 90 for passing in a heartbeat. That is my observation. I just haven't noticed the "anemic" performance that "Car & Driver" seems to claim.
 
Well, maybe some of you guys have driven duds, but my 06 3.0 CVT AWD 500 is pretty damn quick. Not going to win any races against any real performance cars, but it's far from slow.

And for what it's worth, my decision on this car for the wife, was to replace her Explorer. I was looking for great and comfortable interior room, good gas mileage, versatility, and all weather traction. Basically, I wanted a car that could take the place of an SUV, and the AWD 500 does the job in spades.
 
Good car but dull car... Fact is that it does not sell. I think that FORD should have released the "new interceptor" (see other threads) rather than the 500. The "new interceptor" would have been coming later but sure that lots of buyers would have accepted to wait. Would have been all better for FORD : less investment (the 500 does not replace anything in their range) and more sales...

JP
 
GAMike said:
The 500 is based largely on the Volvo S80, which went on sale in 1998 as a 99 model, but was 6-7 years in development, as the shape was first seen at a car show (Frankfurt I think) in 1992.

So while it may be a nice car, it really is a little long in the tooth......Like the 500 AWD though. A good AWD value right now(Volvo AWD's are awesome in inclement weather due to the Haldex AWD system....if the 500 has this system even better) vs. Audi, Subarau, and the other overpriced Germans.
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Yes, It does use the same Haldex system that is in the Volvo. I like the Fusion style grille, and the Duratec 3.5 should make it a pretty good ride. Ford didn't take any chances with the styling though, very conservative, like a suit and tie. But I am starting to like them, especially with the improvements coming. I wonder if it would have sold better if they just called it the Taurus?

I have 145,000 miles on my 03 Taurus with the 3.0 Duratec...maybe in a couple of years, I will have to trade it in on a used 500.
 
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Mach1 said:
I wonder if it would have sold better if they just called it the Taurus?quote]

From everyone's comments, this is a very good transportation appliance, and exactly nailed it's intended purpose. Mainly, it seems to me, Ford's marketing people always miss the mark, Mustang excepted, and royally screw up anything they touch. I go back to the Probe debacle, then the Thunderbird, said 500 Hundred, now the Edge-uhh.
The first ads for the 500, as I recall was a gentleman and very elegant woman driving serenely down a wet street with cars spinning/sliding at them from all directions, with the lady seemingly not noticing. My Barbara would have sh1t her pants! :eek: Now the $30,000 Edge-uhh driving on the side of buildings by people who will never be able to afford them, except on the used market. Another home run, that just slips on the wrong side of the foul pole?
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