[Shotimes] First look at the new 500

[Tom Smith]

I saw one at the dealer this weekend (did not drive) I agree,
it looks big from the outside. The roofline was very tall and
I could not help think Ford built a nice copy of a Passat from
the side with Mercedes looking rear lights. The nose seems pushed
in to fit the tallness of the rest of the car. The one I saw had
a sticker of over $30k and had 18 inch rims. Shame the car will
"only" have 200HP.  I went to look at the 500 at the Ford dealer
after driving 8 different Mercedes at a local beat the cars and
drive event. Drove the SL500 conv. 6 times around the course. Fun
sliding a $90k car around some cones, so I was spoiled when I went
to look at Fords ;)

Tom 91+ 95MB MTX

On Tue, 5 Oct 2004, Donald Mallinson wrote:

> 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
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