I test drove a Five Hundred SEL (500SEL) today. Most impressive is the amount of room in the interior and the trunk. It really didn't have a luxury car feel, but for a price of $26-$29,000 with available AWD and side-curtain airbags it is a bargain. Styling is very conservative--probably a little too sedate. I suggest a big-pimpin' edition.

The press is dissing it for lack of power. Only a 3.0 litre is available. The mileage with the 6-spd automatic is 21/29. I guess it depends on one's priorities. I believe the car, and the new Ford Freestyle, is derived from the same platform as the Volvo S80.

I tried to get the salesman to let me stop and pick up a dead armidillo, but he wouldn't let me!! :cookoo:

Looks like a promising package but like the press, (and like our Catera) it needs more power. The name, also, makes no sense for the car.. Five-hundred?

Other than that its great, good looks, good looking interior etc.

I believe that you meant to say the Volvo S60. The S80 is a luxury car, topping off at $57,000 fully contented. Different understructure as well....
500SEL That's a good one!! :D

Ford Five-Hundred? Strange name. Maybe thats how much the used car salesman will give you when you trade it in; $500 for a POS ford... :lildevil:

That car sucks. That is the lamest, most boring, and unoriginal design I have ever seen. Ford is always going to the past for styling ideas and rarely comes out with anything original. Retro isn't cool thats why it's retro.

^^^^Main stream america likes ugly looking average cars...just like the camry and accord.................my moneys on the new XG380 when it comes out.

Main stream america likes ugly looking average cars...just like the camry and accord

ugly - yes. Average - no. Thats why people buy camrys and accords - they're not average. They're reliable (and are consistent for being reliable) they have good gas mileage, and they have low depreciation values, wheras american cars... :histeric: well, they don't - ESPECIALLY CADILLAC.(not trying to be harsh, but its true - thats how all of us can afford those mid 90's STSs :sneaky: )

Fords crown vic has been out for about 8 years now, you think the 500 is the crown vic replacement? I really dont see it as a police car, not agressive looking at all.

Fords crown vic has been out for about 8 years now, you think the 500 is the crown vic replacement? I really dont see it as a police car, not agressive looking at all.

in the new road and track it has an update of all cars and ford is still producing the crown vic and even making slight changes so I don't think it is being replaced by the terrible 500.

Ford used to have a Galaxie 500. Ford is trying to name its new vehicles by using the letter "F." We now have "Five Hundred" and "Freestyle" with "Fusion" still to come.

The 500 is supposed to be replacing the Taurus. I have a brochure for them from last time one of our cars was at the dealer for service and I don't like the way they look too much either. I like the Taurus better.

The 500 is supposed to be replacing the Taurus. I have a brochure for them from last time one of our cars was at the dealer for service and I don't like the way they look too much either. I like the Taurus better.

I can definately see it as the replacement for the Taurus. It looks like the next big "company car" or "fleet vehicle" (Taxi cab material). It will probably sell pretty well to rental companies, which will make its resale value about the same as the Taurus.

Ok, that makes more sence, it does look like it would be a replacement for a Taurus. Wonder what the next crown vic will look like then.

I like it OK, but I don't think it will fare too well against Chrysler's 300 being that they're close in pricing.

I thought that at first too, but then realized that the 300 doesn't offer AWD. That may make the 500 attractive to a different market.

Also, the 300C is head and shoulders above the 500, but it's price starts in the mid-thirties. For the price of the Ford 500, you get one of the underpowered 300s. I don't see enough performance difference there to sway the opinions of the Ford faithful...

Personally, if I had to drive a large car in that price range, I would pick the 300 due to it's styling and the common misconception that they all are 300C's. Of course, if interior size isn't a priority, there are dozens of better choices in that price range...

What disappoints the most is that it could have looked like this (damn you for not following through, Ford!):

Ford 427 Concept from 2003 NAIAS

http://www.new-cars.com/concept/2003/photos/ford-427-concept-rear.jpg

http://www.new-cars.com/concept/2003/photos/ford-427-side.jpg

http://www.new-cars.com/concept/2003/photos/ford-427-front.jpg

J Crizzle that is hideous! Thank you Ford for not following through.

is it me or does that car look like a Deville with the new STS front end? Look at the tail lights, almost identical to Deville's. Just goes to prove my earlier point that Ford is unoriginal with all their new designs.

that looks like a redesigned deville....very unoriginal...

but to fords credit, i will admit that the 05 mustang looks MUCH better than the current model.

The Ford Five Hundred is just a Taurus replacement. The transmission will go out, the engine will blow a head gasket and lose compression, and the interior will rattle like a can full of nails. Junk and more Junk. Parents owned two Fords, nothing but trouble.
Ford=Found on Roadside Dead!!!!!!!

Ford=Found on Roadside Dead!!!!!!!

and don't forget:

FORD = Fix Or Repair Daily :p

I stopped by my local ford dealer the other day to check out the new 05 GT. I was walking around the lot when I saw the 500. At first, I thought it was a big Taurus. When I walked around to back of the car, I was very surprised to find that instead of just "500" it actually says "Five Hundred" on the back of the car. That, I thought was the most rediculous thing I've ever seen. That like Cadillac writing "Seville Touring Sedan" instead of just "STS" on the back of their cars. Honeslty, who has time to read that going down the road. It's only two words, but still, I think that just 500 would have been better. I hope it comes with a decent powertrain warranty...hehe

One its not really a Taurus replacement.....thats the Fusions job and two, its actually worth its weight, a first for Ford in the past couple years.

Im 6'5" and after sitting in it at the car show I found it to be extremely comfortable and the trunk in amazing.......all in all I feel that for a every day driving car this more then excedes what most people need and in my opinion it has a nice refined not too flashy look which really suits it......on the road it looks pretty nice too........yada yada yada about the engine too.....but the new one will be pretty powerful.....I think what Dutch Mandel said about it pretty much sums up the whole car and what he basically said was that people need to stfu about this car, its better then most cars out there and it doesnt have that look at me look..

To me Ford is back on track......we plan to get a GT stang when replacing the 97'......in all actuallity im glad to see that almost all the American companies are back on track......20 yrs later....but better then never..

The 300 offers AWD now for 2005. I also dig the 500 for its clean styling. I cringe whenever I see a 96 Taurus on the road.

and don't forget:

FORD = Fix Or Repair Daily :p

Freaking old rebuilt Dodge is what I say. ;)

Yup, the trunk space is incredible, but make no mistake, it is very conservative and not that exciting. A good basic transportation vehicle.

I am kind of a Buick fan so I like the LaCrosse. My uncle has owned buicks and they have been great cars for him. I think the LaCrosse is somewhat built off of the '95-'97 STS. One of the mags I was reading in ths store compared the two.

Yeah I think 500 is a better name than Taurus. I think the wood inside it looks really cheap and so does the leather. I do though think that it is a imporvement and that it will be better to look at on the road than a Taurus.

I know someone with a '95 Taurus v6 and its leaking oil. I would rate it as so so. 124k

I am no Ford fan. I have always wondered why do Ford people buy Dodge and dont like Chevy which Chevy buyers buy Chevies and Imports.


Found Over-Rolling Downhill

I cringe whenever I see a 96 Taurus on the road.

I know someone with one and its always dieing. So now they are a Camry fans cause thier '89 Camry never dies.

and don't forget:

FORD = Fix Or Repair Daily :p

Or...FORD = Fix On Race Day

In Spanish

FORD = Fabricacion Ordinaria, Rotura Diaria

Translation = Lousy Manufacturing Daily Repairs

Some of you guys need to stick to the "found on roadside dead," these acronyms.. :vomit:

Ford used to have a Galaxie 500. Ford is trying to name its new vehicles by using the letter "F." We now have "Five Hundred" and "Freestyle" with "Fusion" still to come.

My "used to be" beloved Chevrolet does this a lot with the "C". Hmmmm... that reminds me.... I still want my Corvette.....

Adam

Just wait till a 500 w/ the 3.5 270 hp V6 w/19" or 20" rims comes out.....that will be something clean and nice to drive if priced right.

Contrary to popular opinion, the 500 IS the replacement for the Crown Vic. Last production year for Crown Vic is 2006. You will see a host of new engine options for the 500 as model years pass and perhaps an SVT. Taurus/Sable are dead. Gran Marquis is next. Look for a new Town Car as well. (Got this info from insider at Ford)

So far thats not 100% correct though, this is the one topic that Ford still cant decide on its really only 50% on then there are about 2 other possiblilities......one is they revamp the bof construction heavily once again with 429 inspired styling and the 3v 4.6 standard and the second choice is to go hand and hand with Ford of Australia and the falcon platform which already holds the 5.4l V8.

Being that the crownvic platform has been paid off for over 20 yrs it makes sense to keep it around as it is a great platform that rides very nice, with improvment only gets better.

The Crown Vic and Town Car are bigger. They aren't going to replace them with it.

The Crown Vic and Town Car are bigger. They aren't going to replace them with it.
You might be wrong about this. I've read two different stories in Automotive News that Ford IS studying the possibility of streching the 500 platform and replacing the Town Car/ Grand Marquis/ Crown Victoria (The Town Car would be AWD only). At the time, no decision was yet made, but it is being considered. The dreary fact is, Ford cannot afford to develop a new rear-drive, big car platform right now. Another study going on is modifying the current platform (again), first introduced when I was in High School. Either way, it's going to be quite a while before Lincoln has much new to offer.

The 500 Platform IS the S80 platform, absolutely bar none 100 percent certain about this and can prove it... so theoretically it COULD replace the Crown Vic and Town Car platforms. This also means it most likely will not shake, rattle and roll like Moms Taurus. (Did someone here actually say they LIKED that abomination?... ok I did like the 86 with digital dash).

Also, the Mercury Montego, is tons better loaded, looks better (an odd trait, a Mercury looking better than its Ford counterpart) and has cool gadgets like LED tail lights. If they stretch this platform out, they could really have a good TC replacement, but the TC gets better all the time too, especially now that it has Navigation and THX sound. It is quite possibly the smoothest riding sedan Ive ever driven, and the big fat wood steering wheel is nice.

^^^Only if they put the damn 3V V8............damn ford at times.

Those pictures look more like the new Malibus really.

Plus the Tauras wasn't discontinued, as you can see 2005's are still being made, but the Tauras WGN <- was discontinued.

I'm pretty sure mercury will do the same thing since it wants to release a newer version of the cougar aimed at a younger generation of buyers.