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Comments
The higher level models of the 500/Freestyles have an insulation package that makes the vehicles a bit quieter. She might be noticing that. Also, the AWD models have differently tuned shocked on the rear, so she might be feeling those models riding a bit harsher, but it's not that much of a difference unless you look for it.
Daniel,
Ford will ahve the Fusion to compete with the Accord/Camry, you can visit that forum here on Edmunds for more info.
Mystique,
Acceleration with the CVT are a bit quicker because of it's taller transmission gearing, although perception might tell you the 6 speed is quicker because you feel it snapping the shifts. Overall, they aren't that different in acceleration from one another.
This is the problem. Ford in the past based its assumptions on future mix by past sales. The problem with sales data is it assumes that all car buyers buy their first choice automobile rather than just settling for what the dealer had in stock.
For instance, GM thinks that 29% of Miami, FL residents want a black Corvette because that is the percentage of black Corvettes sold in that market. According to Edmunds.com though only 19% of Corvette buyers in Miami want a black car. The other 10% just settled for black.
Another example of this type of F up was when Mazda launched the Mazda6 and piled dealer lots with 4 cylinder automatics instead of the zoom zoom 6 cylinder manuals.
TO try to prevent a repeat of this mistake, Ford is making the new Fusion "buildable" at www.forddirect.com. Ford has already found a much higher interest in heated seats in the southeast then they anticipated.
Mark
More research and test drives.
What do you all think of going to a small local dealer for test/data and then looking for lowest price via Inet? I thought I would take I net quote to lcoal guy and ask him how close he can come. a hundred or so extra would seem OK for the local, but 5-600??
Buy from the dealer you feel comfortable with. Granted the guy who has 20 Five Hundreds with more on order will probably give you a better deal than the guy with 5 on the lot. But it should not be that big a difference in price.
Mark
Thanks
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=105147?tid=edmunds.h..insid- eline.promo.2g.**
~alpha
The 2006 will have minimal changes, but nothing revolutionary either. Those begin being produced in April actually. I'll find out the specific items being changed, which is just shuffling some items around on the options list. The biggest change will be SE which will come solely with a CVT FWD combination.
The 2005 have a short run, since the '06 will be ramping up in the next month or so (I don't have paperwork in front of me at this time).
Don't expect much incentives in December since the Fusion will be debuting in the fall. If they slap a $4K rebate on a 500, it makes the Fusion pointless since it's almost in the same pricepoint. And the thinking about it, keeping it without rebates/incentives so those who may not like the Fusion, have something bigger to grow into.
Of course, all this could change if there's a depression or some mass war going on, and the sky is falling. But that's the thinking long term for this year.
I'm currently in NYC for, hmmm a trip... So I don't have too much info in front of me at this time. Next week I should have specifics.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=105147/pageId=63175
Toyota has priced Avalon pushing it into the luxury market. I can see their approach, figuring that Avalon will never be a huge mainstream seller, since if it were priced with much overlap with Camry, it would siphon sales from Camry. So they might as well reposition it into the luxury market and make a good profit from each sale even though the volume will be relatively low. However I would bet it may siphon sales from some of the Toyolexus products.
Chrysler 300 has made a big splash with its styling, however in the long run a lot of prospective buyers are going to be turned off by the high beltline and resulting compromised visibility and I for one would certainly not go with a strictly rear wheel drive version where I live in the snow belt. I would have to go with their recently introduced all wheel drive, which would push 300's price point up a good bit as well. I've been there done that with rear wheel drive in the snow belt. You can do all you want with traction control, etc, but a rear wheel drive vehicle is just always going to be less effective.
La Crosse? Ho-hum, another reskinned old platform from GM and a bit overpriced at that, though with GM's customary rebates, it will likely be price competitive, but what exactly does it have going for it? I am not sure, and don't see what advantage it really has over my 2000 Duratech powered Taurus, except a plusher interior and it is probably quieter, but with a more cramped cabin and less comfortable seats. I'd go with an Impala, even on it's current aging platform before LaCrosse in the GM line.
Badgerfan, Toyota hasnt exactly repositioned the Avalon as a lower volume high margin vehicle. Sales target for this year was stated as 85,000 units, and early indications point to a good start towards that goal.
Also, for those interested, theres a good article in the WSJ online regarding how the Five Hundred's sales numbers are steadily increasing. At the pace of current March sales, the vehicle would be on target for 100,000 units this year, but given that Jan and Feb have already passed, the forecast is about 87,000 units, IIRC.
~alpha
Given that Ford has only one plant for Freestyle, Five Hundred and Montego, probably 100,000 Five hundred is the most they could get out of one plant anyway.
On a separate note, I was quite amused at viewing some interior shots of Avalon's dash. The speedometer tops out at 160 MPH! A bit overoptimistic, methinks. It is probably electronic governed at 100-110 max anyways to keep the tires from throwing shrapnel, but a top speed of 160? I kind of doubt it. Maybe they are expecting a big tuner aftermarket? LOL
The Ford Five Hundred has been criticized by many for bland styling and a weak engine. The styling is great! Nothing offensive, quite conservative the perfect vehicle for those who don't want to stick out in a crowd. The Chrysler 300 really sticks out in a good way, because of it's killer styling. Yes, the engine performance is weak. Ford will probably offer a new engine with about 250+ horsepower a year from now. In light of all this I take issue with a certain comment derived from the Second Opinions section of the test.
"While the three other vehicles could learn a lesson from the Avalon's functional and consistent package, Ford's Five Hundred lags far behind the rest."
The Ford Five Hundred lags far behind the rest? Then why did it finish third and not fourth? A car that has the largest interior, the largest trunk, loads of value and a balance of ride and handling lags far behind the rest? How is that possible?
The only car that lags far behind the rest is the Buick Lacrosse. It offers nothing special over the other competitors. The Avalonn offers good engine performance and tons of luxury, the 300 has great driving dynamics and tons of exterior style. Get a 300C with a HEMI and you'll have killer engine performance as well. The Ford Five Hundred has a spacious and comfortable interior, a huge trunk, value as well as uncompromising safety. The Lacrosse is a typical GM product - mediocre. It has a few cheap bits, a high price tag, a small interior compared to the other cars. It's handling, braking and performance are nothing special either.
I don't if the editors comment was a mistake, but I sure hope it was. The Five Hundred is a great car, even the comparison test says so. If you can get over the lack of engine performance, the cra has a lot to offer. Again, it has the largest trunk of any current sedan, a low price, a spacious interior and good handling a nice highway ride. I can get over the engine performance, and I would have no hesitation buying or recommending this car. The way I see it, only the Buick lags far behind the rest.
Some people just jump to the end results to find a summary of the test taken, instead of reading between the lines as to the goal.
In fact, one "game" I play with friends upon receiving one of the car rags claiming they did a comparison test, is just read the first page, and we can already guess who the winner is based on their criteria. Then we list them on a piece of paper, then advance to the end and see what they had selected. And we have it down to a science already.
Sometimes I believe the car rags just one to point out a specific vehicle they like, and work AROUND the comparison to make sure it's mission is accomplished of which message they would like to send.
In the end, just take the information they share, and compare it with yours, experiences of others, etc. Don't take it too seriously... What you might find as a positive, someone else might find as a negative, and vice versa.
I ask only because a rep at the New York International Auto Show told me it would NOT be. I was aghast, to say the least....
Say it ain't so!
Otherwise, it was interesting to see the comparo test. Nothing new from the old GM, just the same lack of ideas and soon to be placed in number 2 spot after Toyota. Ford 500 (I have great interest in this car) seems to have potential with good amenities and an affordable price.
My dentist just bought a Chrysler 300 with the Hemi engine. He loves it and especially because of its speed capabilities. Don't know where he finds a span of highway to floor it though. Really nice car, indeed. Avalon superb, especially in the power department. How can Toyota put a 265 hp engine under the hood of its Avalon and Ford just gives a 200 hp motor to a brand new model with Ford's high hopes that it'll be a hit?? It's beyond me Ford's and GM's, for that matter, lack of vision and attention to detail.
At almost $39,000, I'd still buy the 500 and decide what to do with the rest of the dough. I don't need to get from 0 to 60 in 5 milliseconds and have a cop catch me speeding.
These are my reactions and immediate thoughts after reading Edmunds' evaluations.
I doubted he knew what he was talking about, but as I have thought about it longer, even I am beginning to wonder.
That was a real nice red F150 4x4 on the first level, by the way!
Ironically as we talk about "it's coming soon, it's 2 years away, it's almost here, etc"... Turns out, we are about to hit "Coming soon"... soon enough.
Model year 2006 will be a long one for the 500/Freestyle, while being a short one for 2005. There's a reason for this...
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john, I'm sure CVT was in that conversation it just got by you, but you did notice that she was nicely dressed!
ANT, how is it a short 2005, were not the Five Hundreds rolling out of Chicago in early Aug. 2004 and this years production begins in mid July with the cars leaving in late July, if that is what you meant by short, that is really a short - short.
I'll bite on that cryptic "There's a reason for this"...
i disagree. i think the design of the avalon is a direct result of the disapointing sales of the es330. it's an attempt to capture some of those lost sales(to the competition).
Instead of taking a long year, the model run was just around 7 months. Unusual right ? This is a trick to improve residual values, as well as some other items that are pointless to get into detail over. MY 2006 will have a longer run though, this allows for more changes in the next year, and or, move up a model year forward to allow more drastic changes for the MY year after that (pulled forward).
I think I lost you....
Jags,
You could run into buying possibly a demo version for around that price, but as I tell people in real estate, "Before the foreclosed house hits the market, how many other people in the bank did it fall on their lap, before it eventually got out into the public".
I'm off now on a trip, so I'm limited on specific information. MY 2006 won't have many changes, just shuffling some items around, and that's about it. The AWD is in high demand so that's what most are craving.
FDCapt,
Definately not for MY2006.
I wanted a full size AWD without a Lexus, Volvo, or Audi price, and decent milage, the Montego provides this. Sure glad I didn't get a larger engine the way gas prices are going. The 3.0 is adequate. Ford could add a few more bells and whistles but up goes the price. If I want kicks I roll out my fairly hot reworked '65 Corvair rag top.
The seemingly preference for foreign marques mystifies me. Most of them are assembled here now including clones.
Swede
My wife and I are close to ordering a Montego Luxury FWD.
We've been looking at buildout dates and are confused. Should we order a 2005 right away, or wait for a 2006? (We are in no rush, getting it in June or October doesn't make much difference.)
From what we have seen here and other places it appears little will change, at least until deep into calendar year 2006. We also want RSS which apparently can delay delivery by a month or so. Would we even get a 2005?
We like most everything about the car the way it is set up now, and the price is right. (Although we hope they don't ladle on the rebates just after we bought one.) The only thing we can't get that we really want is some sort of stability control, and we don't see that becoming truly widespread on mid-$20K cars (that fit our needs) for a year or two.
Any thoughts?
The idea that because it's a 2005, and the 2006 are coming out therefore maybe you'll get a better rate on the 2005 won't hold much water since those are selling pretty well. Hence, such an idea usually works when it's a vehicle a manufacturer is having a hard time getting off the lot.
If your looking at the FWD versions, they will be a bit more willing to bargain though, over the AWD versions which are in high demand.
I have been wanting the answer to the nav system. I will buy a 500 LTD or Merc the microsecond they put a nav in it.
I went to blue oval and could not find anything. can you give me a specific location for the data? I will watch for ANT reply as well.
Those dvds or cds you get with your factory system go out of date.
and also as anyone who has a ford expedition could tell you, the Ford Navi system is a pain in the butt to use.
Mark
Make sure the info you are reading from these sites, are talking about MY 2006, or 2006 as the year. This year, it's MY 2006 vehicle coming out next month, but in 2005. They could be stating MY2007, debuting in 2006.
The info has been compiled, but because of my trip I haven't yet been able to read it. When I see it with my eyes, I'll let you know.
1. I live in the boonies and do not have nextel as a possible cell carrier.
2. My poor old eyes don't see well enough for the small screen
3. Need the voice commands thru audio system to follow.
I have been looking at all possibilities and want the navi. Need it? no! I even remember having to put my hand out the window and make turn signals because turn signals were only available in cadillacs and such. But, we get used to fancy stuff and want more, more, more.
it seems to me that the knob to turn it is in the passenger side, and that everytime to turn to adjust it, your hands will block the heater/cooler vents?
Just imagine it is were upside down, like in the CTS were the vents are above the screen, and the knob is toward the passenger. ANT, does that not make more sence?
now, i think is wonderful that Ford is gonna have modern features in its cars, i predict, all things equal, a market share gain for ford, at least slightly. The Union and health benefits are still gonna do it in, in the long run unless something is done otherwise, but this is great. If they put xenons at least into Mercuries as standard than meybe even younger ppl like myslef would look into some of these new products.
I know this isn't exactly for me, but i would not mind a montego with 250-260hp, Xenon and Nav, 18inch wheels and the two tone interrior. Not bad. Meybe they will add a nav to the mustang???
The fleet sites indicate the '06 order bank opens in mid-April and the '05 bank closes in mid-May anyway. An '06 built August/September-ish and delivered to us October/November-ish would be fine.
We'll be looking forward to hearing what the changes for '06 are, once you get a chance to read up on them!
Do you have any idea what changes might be coming on the '06 Montego?? I know there won't be any engine upgrades, but what about the rest of the car.
http://tinyurl.com/3mw3j
You have to get to the last page, and then there it is!
Someone thinks a 3.6 V6 is a V-8? Or do they have some sort of special exclusive? Weird...