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Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego
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Comments
http://www.freep.com/money/autoreviews/odyssey7e_20050407.htm
To which I might add, "Among teenage buyers."....
I have a '99 Grand Marquis that has been a great car. I considered the 500/Montego as a possible replacement. That is, until I sat in and drove one. Loved the trunk space. However, the center console ruins it for me as it does not leave enough leg room for me. I want to be comfortable, not cramped in my cars. I would seriously consider it without the space-eating console. The FWD is also a problem as I like RWD.
So, why should I downsize when I can still get a Vic or Marquis? Heck, they were advertising a new '05 Grand Marquis GS for $16495 after rebates here last week.
Anyone heard more about the Montego wagon version (of the Freestyle)? Last I read it was a 2007...
EXERIOR CHANGES • Colors Added: Silver Birch • Colors Deleted: Silver Frost Clearcoat Metallic
FUNCTIONAL CHANGES
• Traction control optional on FWD. (Standard on
AWD)
• FWD SE, Continuously Variable Transmission is
the only transmission available
OPTION CHANGES
• Family Entertainment System available on SEL
and Limited
• Leather Seats (H) available on SE
• Navigation System Available on Limited
Well navi will be here for 06.
Mark
What IS up with FoMoCo and Sirius? GM puts XM in darn near everything that moves.
Oh, well. Matters not much to me, I'd rather have a PNP3 anywho! (PNP3: Aftermarket portable from Audiovox that also can be used as a home unit with the proper cradle and antenna)
1. What, if any, are the differences between these two cars?
2. Has the problem in the ordering/getting the AWD Montego's been resolved?
3. Will incentives ever kick-in on either model?
4. How long have people waited on their ordered AWD cars?
Also interested to know changes to the '06 Freestyle, if any.
Right now even some good "hints" will suffice.Another thing I want to add is that the '05 Freestyle Limited FWD ( which unfortunately was Not Available) was originally very well packaged in Canada as everything was standard equipment except for AWD & DVD.That was too good to be true.
Here are the changes for the 06 Freestyle
• Colors Added: — Silver Birch
• Colors Deleted:— Silver Frost Clearcoat Metallic, Norsea Blue
FUNCTIONAL CHANGES • Traction Control Optional on FWD (Standard
AWD)
OPTION CHANGES • Navigation System Available
again, no public link is available.
Mark
I've kept my 1995 Explorer XLT with leather, because I am not happy with the Montego. The 1995 Explorer's seats are my Idea of comfort. They are 1-2 inches wider in width and longer in depth, provide some lateral support, have power side bolsters, and adjustable pull out thigh supports. If only I could have this in the Montego. You should try this Explorer seating. I don't know if they retained that seat beyond 1995. Another vehicle that seems to have very comfortable seating is the Trailblazer/Envoy.
http://www.carbuyersnotebook.com/archives/2005/04/test_driving_th_7.htm
Thanks
Steve1313 :confuse:
Maybe the 2006 models will be a nice surprise.
Since my 2006 Magnum has not come in yet, I sat in a Montego again a few days ago and confirmed that I just can not find a comfortable seating position without a telescoping steering column. Either my legs are squeezed together or my arms are straight out to reach the steering wheel. Any chance that a telescoping column will be available for 2006?
The seats lack lumbar support, but that is not much of an issue, since it is easy to add some foam in the right place. The hump in the floor to the left of the dead pedal is also a nuisance, but again it is somewhat easy to fix.
Ford just needs to realize that some (and probably many) of us would be glad to pay more for the car to get things such as the telescoping column, satellite radio, Bluetooth, dimming exterior mirrors, bigger and quieter engine, and rain-sensing wipers. The high sales level of the Limited and AWD models are strong evidence of this. The excellent crash test results, the presence of both side and head curtain air bags, and the all wheel drive more than make up for the lack of stability control. Ford got so many things right, it is unfortunate to see the lack of simple things which must be in the parts bins for other Ford models holding the Five Hundrerd / Montego, and Freestyle back.
I paid $195 per tire ordering them through TireRack. NTB would have ordered the same tire for me for $250 a pop. So even paying for mounting and balancing I still came out on top.
www.tirerack.com
Mark
Yes, I know that Ford has some reason, but it is a bit odd that a telescoping steering column isn't available when Ford includes them as standard in so many of their other vehicles.
If you live near one of TireRacks warehouses, you can even just drive over to it and they will mount and balance the tires for free. No shipping charges that way, either!
Yes, legions of Ford, Honda, and Toyota owners are streaming to Hyundai dealers to look at the smaller, less powerful, and more expensive to own (as calculated by the Edmunds TMV) XG350. Or not....;-)
The rear end of the 350 is proof that Ford's decision to style the 500 conservatively [ie, tastefully] was the right one for the large sedan market.
lizzzard
Adaptive steering column
Collapses in different ways during frontal impacts, depending on the amount of crash energy, the driver's size and seat position. An energy absorbing "bend sheet" holds the upper and lower portions of the steering column together. The shape of the bend sheet helps control the collapse of the steering column in an impact. Using components of the Personal Safety System,™ a computer "brain" determines how quickly the steering column should collapse.
Mark
To me, the Montego and Magnum are both cars with big cargo areas. The Montego Premier AWD with every option except the sun roof has almost an identical invoice price ($27,581) as the Magnum SXT with the head curtain air bags, power pedals, Bluetooth, Sirius, and upgraded sound system ($27,406), but the Montego has the following features not on the Magnum:
Uses regular gasoline
Side (torso) air bags in addition to the head curtain air bags
HID headlights
LED tail lights
No blind spots
Top crash test ratings
All wheel drive
Compass
Homelink
Reverse proximity sensors
Automatic headlights (although the 300C switch is easy to add)
Classy appearance
Bottle holders in doors
Automatic two zone air conditioning
Leather seats with perforations
Heated seats
Leather steering wheel
Trip Computer
More color choices
Steering wheel radio controls
The Magnum has the following features not on the Montego:
Telescoping steering wheel
Wider seats and more spacious interior
Factory Bluetooth option
Factory Sirius radio option
Stability control
cabin air filter
dimming exterior mirrors from the 300C could be installed
rain sensing wipers from the 300C could be installed
~alpha
http://www.safercar.gov/Index2.cfm
(You have to select the 2005 Dodge Magnum from that link. Only one entry will show up, and when you click on it, you will see that it was not tested with side airbags).
~alpha
If you look at the crash test of the Five Hundred, you will notice that it was not tested with the option side airbags either. I remember hearing that the Five Hundred is the first car to ever receive a 5-star side impact rating without side airbags. Has anyone else heard that? Is it true?
I just read the list of 2006 production start dates. They will start production of the 2006 Five Hundred / Montego / Freestyle on July 18, 2005. That is only three months away, so I wonder why we do not know more about the changes?
If this car can establish, within a couple of model years, a sound reputation for reliability and fit/finish to rival the Japanese, then they will have nothing to worry about. That's the make-or-break issue for me, not the grumbling about this or that missing feature. It's already a great package, if they can only prove they know how to screw them together properly....we'll see...