Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
Volvo seats would be much more expensive to use, the Montego, Five Hundred, and Freestyle all use the same seats up front, which will probably excedd Volvo's current sales volume on the S80 et al.
If you've got little kids spilling stuff, I'd seriously suggest looking at investing in a set of seat covers. Much easier to clean.
noticed the seat was high, but there was no power so i couldn't adjust it. seemed like plenty for room to me; front and back.
it's a bigger car than i thought it would be.
the freestyle seems smaller(interior) than i though it would be.
I really need need to drive one AWD Montego car for longer distances on the bad LA concrete freeways, or if that is not possible, to bother several scattered dealers and drive several different cars until I have a better feel for it.
Looking at the Honda Pilot, upon which the new Honda car-trunk will be based, it seems that the Ford cars should not be much worse than the 7.4 zero to sixty of the Pilot (255HP /250 Ft.-Lbs. and 4,431 Lbs. for the Pilot, 203 HP / 207 Ft.-Lbs. and 3,930 for the Montego AWD with a CVT). Ford does claim 7.45 0-60 for the base Five Hundred. If Motor Trend says 8.6 seconds, maybe they made a mistake or had a defective test car.
Could be that the cvt is more suited to a running start that a streetlight race, especially if there's no need to hunt for a gear when the pedal is stomped.
~alpha
When questioned about CVT durability—that issue killed GM's CVT—Ford engineers assured us that has been adequately addressed, and they expressed no additional concerns about having a CVT with all-wheel drive. The engineers point to the belt in GM's unit as the weak point and claim the Luk chain (the same supplier of Audi's chains) used in Ford's version will not cause problems. We hope they're right, because with every all-wheel-drive Five Hundred and all Freestyles teamed with the gearless box, Ford will soon be building more CVTs than anyone else. Any problems could turn off the public's acceptance of the CVT and spell disaster for Ford
On the plus side, the CVT (and the six-speed) has a broad ratio span (highest gear ratio divided by lowest gear ratio, which is six for both transmissions), which can offset the lack of power. But we're not sure the driving public is prepared to accept wringing this engine out at its noisy power peak to achieve the so-so performance we experienced behind the wheel in a brief drive at the preview
Transmissions: 6-speed automatic, continuously variable automatic
Wheelbase: 112.9 in
Length/width/height: 200.7/74.5/60.1 in
Curb weight: 3650-3850 lb
C/D-estimated performance:
Zero to 60 mph: 8.6-8.8 sec
Standing 1/4-mile: 16.7-16.9 sec
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=19&article- _id=8533
PLEASE be aware that if the car has side airbags (and MOST of the ones with perforated leather seats will), there is a warning NOT to use seat covers, as their use could interfere with the air bags or even cause injury.
Just a note...
With my Mini CVT, you have to unlearn old gas-pedal habits, much like having to learn to keep your foot down instead of pumping the brakes with ABS -- try easing up or "feathering" the throttle, and it bogs and stumbles like mad. Also jerks and stumbles when crawling along at single-digit speeds in traffic or looking for a parking space; the problem didn't seem as noticeable in the 500.
As it is, there's over 50K orders for the 500 that need to be filled before you see that happen. Almost 40K for the Freestyle.
Five Hundred/Freestyle/Montego for the month of Oct. a combined total of 5,787 were sold, at that rate it appears there will be long waits.
http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=19488&ma- ke_id=trust
As for the Five Hundred in Hertz rental fleets it is just a matter of time. I recall James Rogers, then VP of Lincoln stating that the Lincoln LS would not make its way to the rental fleets, well, thats hstory they are quite prevalent.
So thanks!
~alpha
He'd like to know why you chose to buy your vehicle, what other vehicles you comparison shopped, and your impressions so far. Please e-mail jfallon@edmunds.com, or call Jon at 212-367-4872 no later than November 17, 2004.
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews
Thanks, this site has been beneficial in many ways to many people.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1- &item=2497668842&category=6238
(edit)
i just skipped over to the freestyle thread and he was being quoted over there, too!
And why not follow our advice on how to improve your vehicles???......
Just kidding....
If I were in the helm, I would concentrate a bit more on Lincoln. Possibly import other Ford vehicles not found here, and introduce them as Mercury or Lincolns. (Next generation Mondeo, Fusion/Ecosport as Mercury's...Co-develop next generation Falcon and Territory along with Ford AU, and offer them as Lincoln vehicles. Import the Fiesta as a Ford entry vehicle and push the Focus a step up where it can be made a bit more prodittable.
What I'm quite excited over, is the availability of AWD on numerous sedans that will debut in the next coming years, let alone the Haldex AWD system which is superb. And the possibility of diesel offerings.
But like everything, it takes time...That's quite some turn-around from those bleeding red ink days of 3 years ago, to now. And the product onslaught which has been none stop and will continue.
Unfortunately I lack something called "Political Correctness", therefore I would not make a good CEO.
Are you just kidding? I would say that you handle everything, at least on this forum, with significant finesse.
PS- I know this isnt a Fusion forum, but when is that car debuting again?
~alpha
How do you folks think it compares to the chrysler 300? I worry about reliability with any American car - but expecially the chrysler relative to the ford. The 300, IMO, is a much nicer looking car - at the very least it is "less standard." I am also waiting for the new avalon - but would really prefer AWD (snow country and a steep driveway).
I'm also a little concerned about all three models being new - and as yet, untested. In the Ford's case, I worry a bit about the cvt transmission.
Any thoughts?
Talking of money and power, it occurs to me that I, and probably many others, would have no problem whatsoever paying $500 more for a Five Hundred / Montego / Freestyle with a 3.0 with higher compression, and a more aggressive camshaft profile, even though it would require premium fuel. The cost to Ford - A dollar more aluminum per engine, plus a dollar or so per engine for emissions certification of the engine. The profit - big.
coug2: I and others have commented extensively above regarding the 300/Magnum (and upcoming Charger). I would not worry about reliability with any of the vehicles you mentionned. The 300 is mechanically excellent, and is available with AWD. If you are of average or shorter height, you may be able to see out the front of the 300, but the view out the sides may be a problem. For a taller person, the view out the sides is better, but the view out the front is bad - you would have to be way away from traffic lights to see them, although one solution is to buy one of those prisms they made for the '55 - '57 Chevy's from Danchuk.