http://www.familycar.com/RoadTests/FordFiveHundred/

 

lol...The latest rental car...

 

Ford is doomed.

My agency works as part of a larger corporate marketing deal for Knight Ridder newspapers (Miami Heald, San Jose Mercury News, Philly Inquirer, etc.) and we had to present Ford with some newspaper campaign ideas.

This car has ZERO going for it. Besides some safety bits they swiped from li'l sister Volvo, the big selling point is—get this—it's got the biggest trunk in its class. And let's all salute the LAST generation VW-Audi body design. J Mays has started stealing from himself.

The best part? Ford's marketing department gave this as a theme to build on:
Ford 500. Original Thinking.

 

 

and its not that appealing either....I wonder how it will sell.

 

I guess that's gonna be the next NASCAR template for Ford huh?

It doesn't do anything for me...

 

It might not be a great car against the competition but at least it's better than the predecesor. I wouldn't mind renting one of those. I wonder if the 6 speed auto has a manual shifting option?

 

200 HP pulling a 3800 lb car? Ouch. I'm glad to see it has a CVT option though; thats the only type of automatic I would ever buy (or SMG, but that doesnt count.)

God, is that steering wheel straight from the F150 or what?

 

The ultimate platform to share with.

 

ok......but "500" what?

 

Looks aside, I will reserve judgement until I actually ride or drive one of these. I think it's one of Ford's best efforts in recent memory (not withstanding that the side came from an A6 and the taillights came from an MB). The interior looks light years ahead of the Taurus, hopefully the fit and finish are on par. Engine might be a bit weak but for most people 200hp will probably be adequate unless the car is fully loaded for a summer vacation.

 

I was in a room full of police officers when an ad for this piece came on the TV. You should have heard the buzz of excitement. Hmmm...wait a minute...maybe they were reacting to the KrispyKreme "cops eat free Wednesdays" promo that came before the Ford ad. Hehe...

Seriously, there's a certain market segment that no matter what newest model is offered, the chance of me giving a damn is always gonna be nil.

It's like watching a Buick ad. Sure, Tiger looks great in front of all that grotesque metal, but nothing in the world will make me alter my opinion that the Rendevous is possibly the goofiest looking SUV ever, and something I'd refuse to drive even if my life was in danger.

I like how Ford went with "fivehundred" instead of 500. I guess they were worried about people thinking that Ford's 500 was better than Chrysler's 300, and then reacting with disgust when the test drive told them otherwise. Hehe..

6 speed auto? Can you say marketing gimmick?
"Wow honey, this 500 has a 6-speed auto!"
"Those high performance German cars all have them!"
"I'm getting it at a fraction of the cost!"
"Ford rocks!"

I will criticise no further. The new Mustang deserves the majority of abuse IMO.

 

The concept picture shown was so much better looking.

 

Look everyone, another market share Ford can't have...

 

long wheel base Focus?

 

When people buy AWD sedans, I think they had something a little tamer in mind, as opposed to this...

 

Is it just me or those it still look like a Ford Passat?

Is J May just out of ideas or what? The interior and the exterior of this car look like the current Passat. BIG improvement for Ford, but not much of a reason to buy a Ford version of something, now is it?

Junkster, who thinks Ford is losing it completely

 

The number of TSB's it will eventually have

 

Reminds me so much of an old Hyundai. And that's not good.

 

I think this car is basically worthless, but I'd venture to say it's going to be a sales success. Every middle class blue-blooded American (read: buys American cars only) is going to want one of these things. And at least it comes with a 6AT. The RL doesn't have that. My ONLY point is that it offers some things much much better cars don't offer and the average American won't know any better.

The average American doesn't buy cars on resale or reliability, they buy on price/rebates and country of origin. This car will sell.

 

I think Joerockt hit it square. It's going to win because of the rental fleet sales. Coming to a Hertz near you!

(Just think Chevy Classic).

 

I don't think it will sell as well as Ford would like. I think Americans are at least capable of spotting the "American" car, eg Crown Vic, with its long hood, long trunk and upright cabin, vs. this Euro knockoff looking design. And I assume Ford might have a hint of that, as the PR for this car has specifically stated that this car is not the Crown Victoria's replacement, as rumored.

 

I dunno man, Americans are pretty stupid. Look at how much support Bush gets.

 

Had to throw that in there didn't you?

 

 

 

Looks like it shares a strong family resemblance to the 2004 Mercury Sable. Maybe even a few pieces of common sheetmetal ?

http://www.ipublishers.com/autos/sable.htm

 

Nope, its a new platform all together.

from c&d

"Riding on the Volvo P2 (S60/S80) platform, the new Five-Hundred is the first of Ford’s two-player replacement team for the Taurus. The upcoming Mazda 6-based Futura will join the Five-Hundred in another year or so, and will attempt to lure drivers looking for a sportier sedan. The more sedate Five-Hundred offers ample room for five adults as well as 21 cubic feet of trunk space. Prices will start at about $22,000 for a 3.0-liter V-6 front-drive model with a new continuously variable transmission and will top out at around $30,000 for an all-wheel-driver with the CVT. It goes on sale in September. The Mercury Montego clone will follow a few months later."

Except it wont be called the futura anymore because Pep Boys sued the crap out of them. (gay cheap futura tires)



Its a 'nice' looking car. which is what most non enthusiast buy american steak and potato eating americans want.. Unfortunatly i think it will do quite well.

 

lol... this can be safely ammended to "look how much support Bush gets from Americans who think Iraq planned 9/11".

 

Beat me to it... except my caption would be "Look out H2!"

 

It may be "nice" looking now but it is doomed to be as mundane as the car it replaces. Leave it alone. It won't get you laid.

 

It's just hard for me to see this selling in comparable numbers with the Camry, Accord and Altima... and with others in the market that are gaining on the segment (mazda6, Hyundai Sonata), it would be hard so such a bland car to make a name for itself.

At least it will make a great fleet car.

Junkster, who thinks Ford needs to really cut back on the fleet thing

 

I didn't think the Chevy Impala was much to look at either, but it sold amazingly well for GM too, so I think there definitely is a market for a vehicle like the Five Hundred. The Impala can be had with up to 240hp (180hp base), and the Intrepid can be had with up to 250hp (200hp base), so I have to agree the Five Hundred is at a power disadvantage vs. its competitors. However, the Five Hundred has a 6AT and optional AWD, which may sway customers in its favour. All in all, I think it's a good attempt by Ford in a crowded marketplace and it will do well enough for them.

As Ford, I might not care so much about lots of fleet sales if it helps corporate objectives re: sales and profits, unless it creates such a large resale market that it hurts sales of new Five Hundreds.

lokman, who would rather have the Australian Ford Falcon over the Five Hundred

 

Here's more marketing perspective. The brief our agency got also pushed the cars higher "SUV-like" seating position. I guess that comes from the Volvo platform roots. I think the S60/80 spawned the XC90 right?

I an hear the average Ford sales dude spewing this but I don't know if it will make it into the general market ad message.