[Shotimes] First look at the new 500

[Paul L Fisher]

4 years 50,000 miles is the worst?

I agree with your other statements, however. It is frickin' ridiculous that
you need a computer to check you automatic transmission fluid level!


Paul L Fisher

1999 Ford Taurus SHO TR 68K - Kirk'ed 2/29/04.

 - Amsoil Series 2000 0W-30
 - Amsoil TS-124 Oiled Foam air filter

Visit my website: http://www.paul-fisher.com
SHOClub Member: http://www.shoclub.com
Amsoil dealer: http://www.paul-fisher.com/oil


-----Original Message-----
From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of alfitz@alfitz.com
Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2004 11:12 AM
To: Ron Porter
Cc: _ShoTimes
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] First look at the new 500

IMHO, VW has brought it on itself with their lousy service, high priced
parts and probably the worst warranty in the business.


Al Fitz
alfitz@alfitz.com

GET YOUR YAMAHA-SHO EMBLEMS AT:
http://www.alfitz.com/sho/yamaha-emblems.htm

****************************************************************************
PLEASE INCLUDE A COPY OF THIS EMAIL IN YOUR REPLY
**************************************************************************


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Porter" <ronporter@prodigy.net>
To: <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2004 10:51 AM
Subject: RE: [Shotimes] First look at the new 500


> The styling (500 & Freestyle) is the most bland & boring that I have ever
> seen!! The grills look like something that I would cobble up in my garage
> with Home Depot parts.
>
> It is technically not the Taurus replacement, although it was going to be
> built at the plants that built the Taurus until they gave Hapeville a
> reprieve at the Taurus will live on for a little bit.
>
> It's like they allowed a bunch of the stylists' kids to design them!!
After
> having great styling on other cars (as well as the Taurus), IMHO they have
> seriously missed the boat WRT the competition in that price segment for
> style and performance. They should at least have made all of them AWD,
> instead of having an option.
>
> I'm driving one of the cars in that price range, and the 500/Freestyle
would
> not even be on my radar screen for $30K.
>
> BTW, VW is having a bunch of trouble just staying afloat. Looking more &
> more like they may hire Wolfgang Bernhard at VW:
>
> http://tinyurl.com/4v3ou
>
> Ron Porter
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]
> On Behalf Of kerbyh@netzero.net
> Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2004 8:01 AM
> To: dmall@mwonline.net
> Cc: shotimes@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: [Shotimes] First look at the new 500
>
>
> I haven't seen one in person, but I think they are really banking on the
> wagon/SUV version, and the car is an afterthought.  But neither one have
> enough power to make it big time.  If this is the car to save Ford, I
wonder
> when VW will end up buying them?
>
> Kerby
>
> -- Donald Mallinson <dmall@mwonline.net> 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
> _______________________________________________
> Shotimes mailing list
> Shotimes@autox.team.net
> http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes
> _______________________________________________
> Shotimes mailing list
> Shotimes@autox.team.net
> http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes
> _______________________________________________
> Shotimes mailing list
> Shotimes@autox.team.net
> http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes
_______________________________________________
Shotimes mailing list
Shotimes@autox.team.net
http://www.team.net/mailman/listinfo/shotimes