[Shotimes] First look at the new 500

[Carl Prochilo]

I have not driven it, but I did read some reviews.  It's funny how some
people (not you) can write that the car is good but then rattle off half a
dozen negatives about it.  I have heard that the ride is not very good.

Given that Ford doesn't plan to discontinue the Taurus nor the CV, and
both are good sized sedans, I really wonder what the point of the 500
(oops, Five Hundred) is.
-- 
Cheers,
Carl Prochilo
92 Ultra Red Crimson

On Tue, October 5, 2004 10:54 pm, Donald Mallinson said:
> Replacement for the Taurus?
>
> Huge step forward from the Taurus?
>
> Well my first look up close at the new 500 was underwhelming
> to say the least.
>
> At first impression the car seems HUGE!  Very tall, long and
> wide.
>
> First impression at getting into the car is "where did they
> hide all the extra room?".
>
> Less headroom by far than in the Gen III SHO at least, seats
> in front are very narrow compared to any year SHO, and
> positively skinny by typical Taurus or any other mid/full
> size car I can think of.
>
> Overall fit/finish inside is not a big step forward, but it
> does seem at least as good as my '96.
>
> Outside, my '96 has much better fit/finish than the 500.
> Usually after 2-3 years of stamping you start to see waves
> in the bodies as the dies get wear/tear.  If that is so,
> then the new 500 will look like a lake surface on a windy
> day after a year or two.  Rear quarter panels have massive
> waves (compared to the quality you would expect today).
>
> Paint quality was iffy, with much more orange peel than I
> remember in any Gen III Taurus (I am not that familiar with
> the Gen IV Taurus, or gen III if you count they way Ford does).
>
> The trunk was huge, and if I could play 8 games of golf at
> once, I would love the new car.
>
> For now I am waiting to see what else Ford comes up with,
> because this isn't the big step forward that I was led to
> believe.
>
> Didn't get a chance to drive the new one today, so I will
> have to reserve that evaluation for later.
>
> Others get a chance to see this car yet?
>
> Don Mallinson
> _______________________________________________
> Shotimes mailing list
> Shotimes@autox.team.net
> http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes