And the price for the new Ford FiveHundred is...

$22,795 for front wheel drive.
$24,495 for All Wheel Drive.

If you want a Mercury, the Montego is $24,995 for a fwd model and $26,695 for the AWD model.

Ford's new crossover based on these cars, the Freestyle, will start at $25,595 for fwd and $27,295 for AWD.

Production started last month at the Chicago plant that used to make Taurus & Sables, and expect incentives to be limited.

The cars are based on Volvo's "D3" platform.

http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=100587
http://www.detnews.com/2004/autosinsider/0408/11/a01-239332.htm

Not bad, not bad at all. Maybe they are starting to get the fact that cars are way over priced.

That's alot of car for the money.

wow, very not bad at all, and i wouldnt say the prices are over priced.....their 2005 ford taurus are 21k and they are pretty descent cars.
saw pics of the new 500 on ford's site, very sexy.

Ford one doesnt sound bad, but why am I spending more for the Merc? Its teh same car with a different grill?
What options does the 500 offer? What is standard? Right now, they are giving away Taurus for 15k.

Ford one doesnt sound bad, but why am I spending more for the Merc? Its teh same car with a different grill?
What options does the 500 offer? What is standard? Right now, they are giving away Taurus for 15k.

The 500 has it's own fan website already (believe it or not) that might answer any questions.

http://www.myford500.com/

Is this the same montego platform that is used here in Europe? (Haven't seen a pic yet)

These are excellent cars for the money. Some of the enthusiasts will argue that they are not rwd (although awd is available), but they can wait a year or 2 until the svt comes out. I won't start the rumor here, but the sports sedan crowd is in for a treat...

edit: look at the epa #'s!!

EPA Fuel Economy and Emissions

Two-wheel drive (mpg) All-wheel drive (mpg) Emissions
Ford Freestyle 27 hwy/20 city 24 hwy/19 city Tier 2 Bin 5
Buick Rend. (3.4-liter) 26 hwy/19 city 24 hwy/18 city Tier 2 Bin 9
Toyota Highlander (3.3-liter) 25 hwy/19 city 24 hwy/18 city Tier 2 Bin 5*
Chrysler Pacifica 23 hwy/17 city 22 hwy/17 city Tier 2 Bin 9


Ford Five Hundred (6-sp.) 29 hwy/21 city Tier 2 Bin 5
Ford Five Hundred (CVT) 27 hwy/20 city 26 hwy/19 city Tier 2 Bin 5
Toyota Camry (3.0-liter) 29 hwy/21 city AWD not available Tier 2 Bin 9*
Chrysler 300 (2.7-liter) 28 hwy/21 city AWD not available Tier 2 Bin 8
Chrysler 300 (3.5-liter) 27 hwy/19 city 24 hwy/18 city (est.) Tier 2 Bin 8

Two-wheel drive (mpg) All-wheel drive (mpg) Emissions
Ford Freestyle 27 hwy/20 city 24 hwy/19 city Tier 2 Bin 5
Buick Rend. (3.4-liter) 26 hwy/19 city 24 hwy/18 city Tier 2 Bin 9
Toyota Highlander (3.3-liter) 25 hwy/19 city 24 hwy/18 city Tier 2 Bin 5*
Chrysler Pacifica 23 hwy/17 city 22 hwy/17 city Tier 2 Bin 9


Ford Five Hundred (6-sp.) 29 hwy/21 city Tier 2 Bin 5
Ford Five Hundred (CVT) 27 hwy/20 city 26 hwy/19 city Tier 2 Bin 5
Toyota Camry (3.0-liter) 29 hwy/21 city AWD not available Tier 2 Bin 9*
Chrysler 300 (2.7-liter) 28 hwy/21 city AWD not available Tier 2 Bin 8
Chrysler 300 (3.5-liter) 27 hwy/19 city 24 hwy/18 city (est.) Tier 2 Bin 8 :think: Why again do we need CVTs? Or, more appropriately, why for this vehicle are they offering a CVT and a six speed that betters the CVT in mileage?

I guess Ford wants to keep going with the Taurii's infamous recalls and stick with CVT's?

and the tagline goes, "one new platform, 3 new cars and boundless recalls to follow. the 2005 Fords are coming.'

So the Taurus is being phased out? What part of the market is this going after? Pontiac sedans?

and the tagline goes, "one new platform, 3 new cars and boundless recalls to follow. the 2005 Fords are coming.'

GM's been the recall king of 04;).

I guess Ford wants to keep going with the Taurii's infamous recalls and stick with CVT's?

Just because GM can't get CVT's right doesn't mean no one else can. In fact, many other manufacturers sucessfully build and sell cars with CVTs.

That 200hp 3.0 Dura-tech V6 is a joke. People won't buy this car for power but many still might be disapointed in its lackluster performance. I personally think its sad to launch an all new car with an old engine (just like GM and the 3400 Equinox! :D

Mazda and Jaguar have managed to get some more power out of it but Ford just plods along.

I see the Buick Allure (Lacrosse in the USA) as a main competitor. However it has GM HF 3.6L

I loved the first gen Taurus SHO--that car invented the family sports sedan and what do they have now? Sqaut

Looking at the fan site (Guion's post) I noticed that only CVT is available with AWD option. I don't like the sound of CVT (constant engine hum with no gear shifts), and is the 6-speed not compatible for AWD applications?

Looks like a great car, but I bet that the pictures there are of the top model. I am also glad to see them go to a more conventional stereo size. Have fun/good luck trying to replace Taurus' oval stereo...

Looks like a great car, but I bet that the pictures there are of the top model. I am also glad to see them go to a more conventional stereo size. Have fun/good luck trying to replace Taurus' oval stereo...
yeah but the digital displays are still 1980's "space age" green. :yuck:

and the tagline goes, "one new platform, 3 new cars and boundless recalls to follow. the 2005 Fords are coming.'


:lol: :bow:

You would figure after almost 20 years of the same Taurus chassis, they would have most of the recalls ironed out.

Taurus will be replaced by the 500 and the "Fusion". The 3.0 duratec is worthless in the Taurus, I can just imagine in a larger, AWD car.
This is fodder for the upcoming Impala. :D

:think: Why again do we need CVTs? Or, more appropriately, why for this vehicle are they offering a CVT and a six speed that betters the CVT in mileage?
if you believe the numbers on that 500 fansite, the CVT gets 21 city/28 hwy in FWD configuration. wich is only 1 MPG short of the 6sp auto on the highway in AWD config. which is still not saying much about the CVT but at least its not as bad as those numbers you got up there. The 6sp auto is more than plenty when it comes to fuel efficiency. all they need now is a 6sp manual.

any speculation on the engines if this car is ever turened into RWD? maybe the 4L from the LS?

That 200hp 3.0 Dura-tech V6 is a joke. People won't buy this car for power but many still might be disapointed in its lackluster performance. I personally think its sad to launch an all new car with an old engine (just like GM and the 3400 Equinox! :D

Mazda and Jaguar have managed to get some more power out of it but Ford just plods along.

I see the Buick Allure (Lacrosse in the USA) as a main competitor. However it has GM HF 3.6L

I loved the first gen Taurus SHO--that car invented the family sports sedan and what do they have now? Sqaut

3.5 Duratec is only a year or so away. Power should go up considerably.

As for the SHO, it is greatly missed in the Ford lineup, but there's definitly something in the pipeline. Expect to see a sports sedan with SVT badging in the not so distant future.

Looking at the fan site (Guion's post) I noticed that only CVT is available with AWD option. I don't like the sound of CVT (constant engine hum with no gear shifts), and is the 6-speed not compatible for AWD applications?



Driving the CVT is not at all an unpleasant experience. The engine revs up and down the RPM range normally...as if you're driving a conventional tranny.....but without feeling the trans shift. Imagine driving a '79 Caddy with smoother shifts...and that's sort of the sensation.

The poor souls at myford500.com are already fretting about how the car lacks remote start, nav, and XM... all of which are available on the 05 Grand Prix :cool:

Yeah, but they still got a 500 instead ;) Most of that stuff is easily done aftermarket (and probably cheaper too).

Yeah, but they still got a 500 instead ;) Most of that stuff is easily done aftermarket (and probably cheaper too).

Yeah..200hp, AWD slug. They should be so proud. :rolleyes:

Who cares about the aftermarket, the GP has an option. Aftermarket is aftermarket. GM offers it, Ford doesnt.

Yeah..200hp, AWD slug. They should be so proud. :rolleyes:

Who cares about the aftermarket, the GP has an option. Aftermarket is aftermarket. GM offers it, Ford doesnt.

The car drives just fine with 200hp. FWD or AWD.

I don't think it's competing with GP...maybe more with Malibu.

The upcoming Fusion...especially in SVT guise may be a more appropriate Grand Prix competitor.

The 500 is way bigger then the Malibu, it is more inline with the fullsize sedans, Impala, Grand Prix, LaCrosse, 300, Charger.
The Impala vs 500 battle will be big, I forsee.

Just fine is totally subjective. I bet a Malibu could beat it! Although I'd never own a Malibu

Just fine is totally subjective. I bet a Malibu could beat it! Although I'd never own a Malibu


I'd doubt the target market for these cars are swayed by who's got the fastest 0-60 times.