# What About the Ford 500? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 31, 2005, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-ford-500/287521 "2005-01-31T02:44:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-ford-500/287521/1 "2005-01-31T02:44:50Z")
My mom wants a Ford 500. She sat in one the other day and likes the old-fashioned big-car feel. (She will be trading in her Lincoln Towncar, so anything short of a Hummer is a small car to mom.) It is a new model. Where the heck on the net can I find unbiased (free) reports on this mountain of a car? (I bet a single 500 can eat three Toyota Priruses for lunch without noticing.) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-ford-500/287521/2 "2005-01-31T03:03:33Z")
[Here’s one](http://www.automedia.com/autoReviews/2005/ford/500/rts20041101fh.asp?affid=) [Here’s another](http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/FordFiveHundred/) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-ford-500/287521/3 "2005-01-31T03:17:11Z")
When I was buying my car 2 years ago, [http://www.edmunds.com](http://www.edmunds.com) was a huge help. My car (Escape) had already been out 3 years or so, so there were alot of reviews. But it looks like there’s already a good number of Five Hundred reviews [here](http://www.edmunds.com/new/2005/ford/fivehundred/100396835/ratings_consumer.html?tid=edmunds.n.review.leftsidenav..16.Ford*) (if that link doesn’t work, go to [http://www.edmunds.com](http://www.edmunds.com) -\> New Cars tab -\> put in your zip -\> scroll down to the bottom of the reviews page and the 500 should be one of their latest “Vehicle Overviews” -\> on the left of the 500’s page you’ll see a link to ‘consumer reviews’) ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-ford-500/287521/4 "2005-01-31T03:35:01Z")
The Ford 500 is not a large car. Its barely midsize. Its more along the lines of the Ford Contour. I think its even smaler than the Taurus. Certainly smaller than the Crown Vic. Much, much smaller than her Towncar. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-ford-500/287521/5 "2005-01-31T03:44:14Z")
Spoke to soon. The 500 Is a bit larger than the Taurus: [http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/taurus/features/specs/](http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/taurus/features/specs/) [http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/fivehundred/features/specs/#dim](http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/fivehundred/features/specs/#dim) They are within a few inches on all major specifications, though. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-ford-500/287521/6 "2005-01-31T03:58:20Z")
A review of the 500 several weeks ago in the Sunday auto section indicated that it is essentially a replacement for the Taurus, but you could also view it as Crown Vic Lite. Both Taurus and Crown Vic are solid sellers-well made cars. ---
**Author:** ![mike1dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@mike1dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mike1dog)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-ford-500/287521/7 "2005-01-31T03:58:56Z")
I work at a Ford dealer, so you may think I’m biased. I like the car, even if it’s a little boring for me. I noticed in all the literature ford sent us one of their main selling points was the huge trunk. It could hold something like eight sets of golf clubs. Since the car can’t hold but six people, I never understood why this was a selling point. Since it is so new, it’s hard to say anything about its reliablility. It does have a CVT transmission, which is a question mark in such a large vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![chaparralv8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@chaparralv8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaparralv8)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-ford-500/287521/8 "2005-01-31T05:27:14Z")
Well, It’s huge (almost Crown-Vic size), heavy, clean-handling especially for a car that large, and based on the Taurus and Volvo S80, both of which are reliable. However, it’s got only 200 horsepower and it weighs 3800 lbs. It’s not going to be quick (0-60 in 9 seconds or so), and the mileage isn’t going to be good. Try a Nissan Altima (big, leaner, very quick), or (outside shot) a Mazda6. ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-ford-500/287521/9 "2005-01-31T05:57:46Z")
> [@mike1dog](#): > > I noticed in all the literature ford sent us one of their main selling points was the huge trunk. It could hold something like eight sets of golf clubs. Since the car can’t hold but six people, I never understood why this was a selling point. They’re selling to people like my grandparents who believe a trunk is the be-all end-all of automotive technology. I don’t get it, either. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-ford-500/287521/10 "2005-01-31T06:11:40Z")
> [@mike1dog](#): > > It could hold something like eight sets of golf clubs. Since the car can’t hold but six people, I never understood why this was a selling point. I thought the same thing about the Chrysler minivans. Seats eight. Seventeen drinks holders. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? But people buys 'em. We used to rate the size of the trunk by the number of bodies one could transport in it. My friend’s '66 Impala was a four cadaver car, easily. We never actually moved any bodies (at least, I wasn’t involved) but still…it gives you that feeling of morbid confidence to know that you could. > [@](#): > > Since it is so new, it’s hard to say anything about its reliablility. It does have a CVT transmission, which is a question mark in such a large vehicle. Interesting. I’m surprised they’d put a CVT on such a large, mainstream “fleet”-type car. I had a Subaru Justy with a CVT (don’t ask, wasn’t my decision, not gonna go there) and it was the only reason I ever had to curse Fuji Heavy Industries. Still, that was years ago, and maybe the technology has improved, but…mmmmm. Get that warranty. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-ford-500/287521/11 "2005-01-31T11:58:38Z")
Thank you all for the good links. Now let me review them. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-ford-500/287521/12 "2005-01-31T17:10:15Z")
Not _all_ the 500’s have CVT’s – I though it was only the AWD that did, or the converse. Trunk’s _are_ important. My car at home is a Continental, and with just my wife and me we can fill it up (it’s huge). I currently drive a Mondeo, which is smaller than a 500/Taurus (but kind of fun), and it’s got a mediocre little trunk that hardly befits the rest of the car. Yes, the 500 is essentially a Taurus replacement. It’s slightly larger, but the interior space is much more spacious feeling than a Taurus. I’ve always felt super-cramped in a Taurus (and to a small degree I do in the Continental). But the 500 is actually completely comfortable (to honest, I’ve not driven one; only sat in some evaluation units). Coming soon is _another_ Taurus replacement: the Fusion (and Lincoln Zephyr and Mercury something). It’ll be slightly larger than a Mondeo (which isn’t in the US) or Contour, and cavernous compared to a Focus, and don’t even compare it to a Fiesta or Ka (if you don’t know, just be thankful). Oh, back to the 500 – _Rick_ will be along shortly, I hope. But the 500 structure (and the Freestyle, a non-ugly Pacifica) is basically “carryover” from Volvo. It means that for reliability purposes, this isn’t your old-fashioned, bad-quality Ford. They really can compete with Japan in quality. That reminds me, Fusion is carryover Mazda 6. In the American market, the only American-engineered new vehicles left are trucks and Mustang, and even the Escape is a co-Mazda. Paul, if you think that your mom may be swayed into a non-Ford corporation car, write me offline first, and I can _try_ to incentivize her to stick with a Ford. Also have her check out the Freestyle (note: _not_ Free_star_). ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-ford-500/287521/13 "2005-02-01T21:27:48Z")
I’m here **Balthisar**! From my understanding the 500/Freestyle is [ul] [li]Built on the Volvo S80 platform[/li][li]Uses the fully networked Volvo electrical system (state of the art)[/li][li]has the same multi-link rear axle as the S80 (but in stamped steel, not cast aluminum like Volvo[/li][li]Has available all the same airbags as the Volvo (side and side curtains are optional, I recomond you buy them)[/li][li]The AWD unit is a straight lift from Volvo (still has Volvo stamped on the case)[/li][li]Has the same huge trunk that the S80 has[/li][/ul] The engines and transmissions are Ford units, not Volvo units. Overall I think of these cars as the “Plain wrap” or generic versions of an S80/XC90. Perhaps they should be sold in white with a blue stripe. 😃 Now the S80 when it came out was not the most perfect car, there were some issue with quality. But since the MY 2000, the quality has marched steadily upward and it is now on par or above the quality of other cars in it’s class. So I would expect the 500 / Freestyle to be excellent as far as quality goes. I spoke with a Ford technical guy who has been driving a Freestyle for about a month. He flat loves it. His comment was that it was the best car he had driven in a long time. If you have any other questions, I am sure that between Balthisar and myself we can get them answered for you. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-about-the-ford-500/287521/14 "2005-02-01T21:47:38Z")
> [@Stranger On A Train](#): > > I’m surprised they’d put a CVT on such a large, mainstream “fleet”-type car. > Stranger Tractor manufacturers use CVT’s, so size and rugged use doesn’t necessarily disqualify the technology. That said, I have no idea how Ford’s version would hold up.