Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego

frasierdog · March 2005

"Now, Cadillac has to use DOHC because its a prestige brand, and people like yourself see ohv as inferior so for a high market GM has to use DOHC."

From bottom to top, almost everyone but Chevy has DOHC engines. Per your definition, Toyota must be a prestige brand in the high end market.

Toyota - 2.4L DOHC
Maybach - 5.5L V12 DOHC
Ford GT - DOHC 5.4L

exalteddragon1 · March 2005

I'm not talking about Toyota, i'm talking about GM.

If toyota used Ohv's no one would be complaining that they are old.

exalteddragon1 · March 2005

I could swear i replied to this already but whatever, look if you don't like ohv buy something else and wait till your timing belt falls off in the middle of the highway.

BTW here is an article explaining allot about what is going on with US automakers...

http://www.forbes.com/business/global/2005/0314/029.html

pat · March 2005

Let's not get too far away from our subject, which is specifically the Five Hundred/Montego, okay folks?

badgerfan · March 2005

Not to beat it to death, but the 3.0 Duratech DOHC has timing chains, no timing belts, and some of the Japanese OHC engines are finally switching over to chains also.

pnewby · March 2005

Sorry to have to report this- saw a Montego parked out front by the road at the local dealer today. It would have been a nice looking car if it hadn't been for 1 thing. The full vinyl roof.

Blehhhh

gene_v · March 2005

My local dealer has a Montego with a full vinyl roof in their showroom. It also had a Gold treatment on names and trim.
Not sure I liked it.

badgerfan · March 2005

It's really sad what some people do to uglify their cars. I once saw a fake added convertible vinyl roof, complete with the fake stiffener ribs underneath, tacked on to a newest generation Dodge Intrepid. Hard to describe how bad that looked on probably the most aerodynamic looking car on the road.

Occasionally I have seen the same treatment on Mercury Sables, and just saw a vinylized new Lacrosse at a local Buick dealer. Just no accounting for bad taste, I guess.

maybrook · March 2005

I recently took possession of a mercury montego limited. I have few complaints, but the biggest by far is the small and unsupportive seats. I would like to contact a ford factory representative to find out if it is possible to aftermarket reupholster the seat bottoms minimally to provide side and leg support.. or maybe they can suggest a fix. Long trips as they are now are going to be hell!

buckwheat · March 2005

http://www.autonews.com/printStory.cms?newsId=11858

frasierdog · March 2005

"We are going to have a freshening not after four years but after two-and-half to three years,"

- - - - Woop Ti Do - - - -

Woow, in 2 years Ford will have a real engine and in 3 years Fod will make it look better.

By the time 3 years rolls around, I and many others will have bought new cars and switched brand loyalties.

If Ford was serious, they could rework the seats and interior trim panels by MY 2006.

And if they truly think the 3 bar grill is great, that would be easy for 2006.

Do you realize it will take less time to design all 3 variants of the F-35 fighter aircraft than for Ford to rework the 500?

How pathetic is that!

buckwheat · March 2005

Just take the 3.5L (Duratec35) Ford began this project in early 2000, and in 2003 Ford had multiple successful prototypes of the 3.5L which will not make an appearance until 2006. Nothing like keeping up with the competition or heaven forbid being ahead!

And of course that appearance won't be in the Five Hundred!

bruneau1 · March 2005

Has anyone had problems with either of the new transmissions in the 500 and Montego?

frasierdog · March 2005

In MY 2007 you will most likely see a new Camry with a version of the 3.5L from the new Avalon. By this time you should also see the new Accord.

Ford needs to quit ordering Decade-At-Glance and buy 12 month calenders.

Ford makes good trucks, maybe they should just stick with that.

exalteddragon1 · March 2005

Hey snappy,

Ford Makes good cars.

If you don't like them, buy another make, i'm sure toyota could use said "valuable" customers.

badgerfan · March 2005

Maybe by then Toyota will be able to design a Camry exhaust system that doesn't look like it was installed by a Midas Muffler School dropout.

--A happy Taurus driver for 15 years and counting (only two of them too). Next Ford will likely be a Fusion, but barring totalling out the current Taurus, that will be 5 years down the road.

Maybe Ford is building their cars too good!

garandman · March 2005

Do you realize it will take less time to design all 3 variants of the F-35 fighter aircraft than for Ford to rework the 500?

How pathetic is that!

Not especially. Some of the stamping dies used in automotive manufacture can take two years to build from scratch. You can build composite molds much more quickly because they don't have to last for one million aircraft.

Ford has been pilloried for a too-conservative design. But Toyota gets a free pass on their gag-me-with-a-spoon Avalon and Camry.

scottl · March 2005

I was excited when I heard Ford was going to make an AWD version of the 500. Finally, an AWD CAR (not a truck) from the big three.

Then I started reading about it. Then I actually SAW one.

Hmmm, underpowered, overpriced, no manual transmission available, looks about as exciting as my 1964 Fairlane.

I noticed they are already discounting down below 20K for AWD models here in Colorado. AWD sells big here, and they should be flying off the lot, but they landed with a huge thud. I've honestly only seen ONE 500 on the road here. Or maybe they are invisible.....

Another disappointing effort from the US manufacturers. Along with the stunning(ly bad) Pontiac G6, Buick LaCrosse, the Ford *star minivan....

ANT14 · March 2005

I doubt they are selling them under $20K since there's no major rebates or incentives on them at this time. Granted, any dealership can supposedly advertise one for say, hmmm $4K off MSRP...but after reading the fine print, that isn't the case.

The AWD are in higher demand, and short on supply because Haldex, the supplier for the AWD system, can't catch up with demand

Even with AXZ-Plan discounts for Ford family/friends/etc. you can't even get it below $24K for AWD models.

badgerfan · March 2005

Overpriced and yet in the same message you claim you can buy and AWD model for under $20K? So, which are they, overpriced or under $20K?

I've seen a few ads here in Wisconsin for new five hundreds at about $19K, but that is with every rebate available, you have to be a recent college grad, military, and under 5' tall but still able to dunk a basketball.

I highly doubt if you can touch an AWD version for under $20K unless its a used demo unit.

lkeith · March 2005

OK, how about a Montego FWD under $20K?

badgerfan · March 2005

How about it. Sounds like a good deal to me. You are getting a lot of car for under $20K in my opinion.

Likely there is much more demand nationwide for the AWD versions, which means the dealers are much more likely to discount the FWD versions more.

For most people, a front wheel drive car is more than adequate for 99% of normal driving conditions, even for those of us like me who live in the snow belt.

lkeith · March 2005

Yep, especially since i'm wanting the Premier FWD package. So far my dealer has come down to $23K, but no further. Any suggestions?

frizz2112 · March 2005

I can attest to the AWD demand scenario. My father ordered his AWD 500 in November, and it was originally scheduled for a January delivery. It's now coming on March 26. Ford has admitted to underestimating demand for the AWD versions, but this kind of wait list tells you something about overall demand. I don't know about Colorado, but in Maine these things are very hard to come by.

badgerfan · March 2005

Well the MSRP is over $27K for that car per Edmunds, so I doubt if you will get much lower than $23K for a new model in its first year of production, with fairly limited incentives available at this time.

You will probably have to wait for end of model year and see if any leftovers meet your needs or wait for fatter incentives, or go with a lower MSRP model of either Montego or a base Five Hundred.

buckwheat · March 2005

"We've had no data or dealer feedback saying that we're missing sales because we don't have more engine opportunities." "This is not on our list of problems," Earl Hesterburg, Ford's group vice president for North American sales, service and marketing, said of the Five Hundred in an interview with the Free Press on Thursday.

http://www.freep.com/money/autonews/ford21e_20050321.htm

gene_v · March 2005

Well then the dealers are not reporting. I have told two Ford dealers and a Mercury dealer that I would be interested when the Duratec 35 was available. Talk about "Head in the Sand".

fdcapt2 · March 2005

I was leaving my doctors office today I noticed a beautiful dark gray car in the next parking lot. It had really pretty wheels and just knocked me out. I drove over to check it out, and was surprised to find out it was a Montego Premier. I've test driven many of these cars, and the 500 also, but seeing this car from the angle I saw it from, it just didn't look like anything I'd seen before. I sat there for a few minutes drooling on myself, and feeling so down because as much as I love the way this car looks and drives, the fact that it only has 203 HP, keeps me from buying one. I can't wait until the 3.5 is ready, so I guess I'll just have to get on with life.....SIGHHHHHHHH, and buy something else

johnclineii · March 2005

Having just gotten back from a 800 mile trip where I averaged 30 miles per gallon with my SEL AWD, I am beginning to wonder if I really want the 3.5. The fuel economy was astounding for a 3800 pound AWD full sized car, to say the least.

Would I want more power? Yep. Am I SURE that the increased fuel economy isn't worth a little sacrifice in the power department? I just don't know. I really teeter on the fence.

But I sure do love the CVT.

dbc123 · March 2005

My Five Hundred just got 30.55 mpg on a 500 mile trip. I never lacked for power and with gas prices what they are now and are likely to be in the future, I would NOT want a larger engine in this car. The effecincy of the CVT makes this engine more than adequate.

frasierdog · March 2005

http://www.autoextremist.com/page6.shtml#table

Scroll down to:

Ford. Responding to criticisms about the underwhelming Ford 500

dbc123 · March 2005

I'm one of the 40,000 or so people so far who chose the "underwhelming" Five Hundred to put our hard-earned cash on. Most of us find the styling clean and tasteful unlike the grotesque Chrysler 300 and numerous other "exciting" cars. DeLorenzo decided early on that this car was to "bland" and in his usual frantic, repetitive style never wastes an opportunity to tell you so. Listening to him rave on and on is often more nauseating than looking at a Chrysler 300.

jrosasmc · March 2005

I'm just curious: How can you tell from the inside if a Five Hundred is equipped with the conventional 6-speed auto or the CVT? Is there a difference in the shift pattern on the detent gate surrounding the shifter, or do you have to find that out through the VIN?

dbc123 · March 2005

No way to tell by looking EXCEPT under hood. The 6 Speed has a dipstick and the CVT does not.

biscuit1941 · March 2005

The 500 seems ideal for my needs. I have two hangups. One, I would like a GPS nav system. More importantly, Ford and other domestic cars frequently have trouble their first year or two. Any experience to tell me it is a quality built car? Any opinions on 2006 adding a GPS nav?

badgerfan · March 2005

Why not buy an aftermarket GPS/Nav? Should be cheaper than any OEM and also portable from one vehicle to another.

I can't say that I have any experience with these portable (or any other) Nav systems, but likely you will save some big $ and also have the ability to move it from car to car.

As far as quality goes, only time will tell, but I believe Ford has made great strides in improving new design vehicle quality and all quality/reliability issues, both short and long term.

Quality differences have narrowed so much in recent years that I believe it is becoming a non-issue, however long held public perceptions are harder to change.

Certainly the Duratech engine has proven to be pretty bullet proof.

badgerfan · March 2005

Seems even Toyota can stub their toe once in a while.

http://www.freep.com/money/autoreviews/phelan24e_20050324.htm

explorerx4 · March 2005

i'd like to know what kind of mileage the 500 gets on a trip with 3 or more people and luggage through the 'hills' of new england and pennsylvania, especially the awd version.

johnclineii · March 2005

Well, in the hills of West Virginia and Maryland, with two people and way too many newspapers, magazines, books and luggage, about 27 mpg on the road...And this is the AWD version.

With one person in the flat lands of North Carolina, 30 mpg.

Much depends on the weather. The CVT does NOT like cold weather, and mileage suffers bigtime.

I can 't wait to see how much better this thing does in hot weather!

I should probably add that mileage has improved as I have put more miles on the clock...

ronbo10 · March 2005

I'm really surprised, impressed and interested to see such excellent mileage figures from this relatively big and not so light car.

I'm curious to see if their is a significant difference in mileage between the 6-speed fwd 500's vice the CVT AWD, or even the CVT FWD's (this combo available only in the SE, as I recall).

As a side bar, the Ford Fusion, set for fall release, will, according to Ford's website get mileage in the "high 20's" for the V-6 6-speed auto and the "low 30's" for the I-4 (available with either 5 speed manual or 5 speed auto- the 5 speed auto being a one-up on it's Mazda 6 sibling). The Fusion is somewhat smaller and lighter than the 500, with (presumably, in the case of the V-6 version) the same powertrain as the 500 (FWD model, at least). For that matter, will the Fusion have the same 6-speed tranny as the 500, or will it be the launch car for the new, GM/Ford joint development 6-speed. I wonder if the real world mileage of the Fusion may turn out to be a bit better than the EPA ratings, just as has been the case with the 500....

samnoe · March 2005

I've read the article about the quality issues in the new Avalon. Very interesting.

Even more interesting, that CR rated already the new Avalon for excellent reliability before testing it and before getting any reviews from their subscribers. Just one month out on the market, and is already rated. And the Ford 500 which is already out for about 7 months and did not have any reliability problems so far, is still rated as "NEW".

I really hope that the 500 will get an excellent rating for reliability. that's what Ford promised us, and what Ford really needs now.

ANT14 · March 2005

I'm glad someone else was able to spot those irregularities from Consumer Reports. I've mentioned this for years anytime they introduce a Toyota and a Ford.

badgerfan · March 2005

I imagine the Avalon interior flaws were isolated to very few initial production, or maybe it was isolated to just the sample Phelan got, however bad press is bad press, and it takes a lot to overcome.

What I found interesting was Phelan never mentioned an even more glaring deficiency which is the small trunk in the 05 Avalon. It is smaller than that in many compact cars. Kind of an odd combination that Toyota came up with on the new Avalon. Lots of cabin space, but a trunk smaller than a Focus sedan.

xmf314 · March 2005

After spotting a couple of new Avalons cruising in LA this week, I say the Avalon easily beats the 500 in the bland styling department.

samnoe · March 2005

My opinion, too. I don't like the styling of the new Avalon, but LOVE the design of the Ford 500, even though everybody is bashing it for being bland. I guess I just have a different taste than the press...

Interesting that when Audi introduced that design on the Passat it was praised, and now, all-of-a-sudden, it is too bland. Would they call it a "dated" design perhaps I would agree; but bland is just not the right word.

I'm not currently in the market for a large sedan, but if I would be, I would definitely take the 500. I would still like to see all the minor issues fixed, though. (I'm talking about the issues you can find above, as missing cabin air filter; unlighted controls and glove box; struts on the hood with a light for night time; etc.)

lexusrocks · March 2005

There are plenty of large sedans on the market now, so why not throw them together in a comparison test?

Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego
Kia Amanti
Toyota Avalon
Chrysler 300C
Buick LeSabre/Park Avenue/Lacrosse
Cadillac Deville?
Lincoln Town Car?
Ford Crown Victoria/Mercury Grand Marquis?
Dodge Charger?

biscuit1941 · March 2005

I have been looking at the two forums because I am on the verge of buying one of these or a Honda Pilot. The 500 forum talks of mileage, styling etc. The Freestyle forum has a lot of talk about intermittent transmission problems and malfunctioning CD players.

I understood that these two vehicles were identical except for body and seating.

When we drove both at the dealer, my wife felt the freestyle rode much rougher on pothole pocked streets. Are there differences?

Are the two forums different just because of who happens to write? Is the ride difference her imagination?

Appreciate any input/explanation.

savetheland · March 2005

I guess that CR rates old Avalon as having excelent reliability. Because new Avalon is the contuniation of Avalon line they do not distinquish two. BTW new Camry in its first year of production got "average" rating. So wait next year to see drop in rating.

500 is the new vehicle, there were no 500s before, so there is nothing to rate. I do not think CR is inclined to rate one brands higher than others. Look at European brands - their rating are awful. Still people desire them.

For me Milan is certainly more desirable than 500, though 500 is good vehicle, but just not for me. Milan actually seems to be very desirable, esp when I learned about suspension design - very promising, I almost anticipate how great it handles. 2.3L engine is very good - quite and smooth and powerful at the same time (I have one on my Focus). Duratec 3.0 is not so well balanced and transmission on my Sable sucks anyway, so I cannot really judge Duratec. 500 and Fusion are big step forward for Ford. With these two cars complementing Focus Ford finally has a great car line. Just drop Crown Vic and Taurus and there is nothing to shame anymore.

I fully understand that platforms and suspensions were not designed in Detroit and it is a good thing, very good actually.

savetheland · March 2005

Ford beats GM again.

danielj6 · March 2005

What cars will Ford use to compete against Camry/Accord/Altima?? Not that Taurus/Sable ever competed well against the Japanese, but if the 500
takes on Avalon there will be a void left by Sable and Taurus. Unless the Milan takes the fight against the Japanese.

I saw the Avalon and 500 in the street. Avalon has a dissapointing round shape and 500 looks more square, sober serious car. My totally subjective perception. I was truly and unexpectedly impressed by the 500. I find it to be a head turner.

I read some reviews and they're okay except for the 200 hp Duratec which it's found to be insufficient for the weight of the car.

Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles