we LOVE our 2005 Ford Five Hundred! Still running (and we bought it new in 2005) - CVT transmission AWD!!! Wonderful car Ford! thanks so much! you are the BEST!
I never liked the first or second generation Taurus, but when the Ford 500 became the 3,Rd generation Taurus then I knew they were headed in the right direction finally.
I had a third generation Taurus a 1996 I then had a 2001 Mercury Sable LS Premium which was a 4th Generation technically this is a different platform it would be a late revised 4th or 5th Generation.
Back in 2004 when this aired, Ford was still reeling from the Firestone debacle. This rename from Taurus to Five Hundred was the work of Mark Fields, getting into a fisticuffs with another Ford executive over renaming every Ford car to "F", to suckup to Bill Ford Jr. When Alan Mullally took over, he put the Taurus name back on the refreshed '08 Five Hundred.
@@unknownuser5585 Refresh? Those LX cars were new from scratch. 300C vs 300M. Refreshes use off the shelf components. The Five Hundred name might've been in response to the 300C prototype showcases in 2003, but only the Ford Five Hundred trademark filing dates with USPTO might tell the story.
The funny thing about that moment where Mark Fields tried to punch out one designer guy, was how Bill Ford Jr. was literally the guy who had to pull him apart from socking the other guy.
I think both are correct. One idea was to replace the Vic (because aging platform) but enough customers wanted to keep it, so Ford decided to replace Taurus with two cars: Fusion and 500. Then just a few years later Ford went full size with the Taurus and replaced the 500 name.
@@danielferstendig Yes....and I'm not a Ford history buff, so my knowledge is limited. The D3 platform was meant to replace the Panther platform. So, you are right that the 500 was supposed to replace the Crown Vic. But then Ford decided to keep the Panther platform for the Vic......and so the Taurus was replaced by two platforms: the Fusion and the 500.
The 2007 i have, its the best ford ever made with a small 3.0 engine. 32mpg The 2008 and newer is a faster 3.6 but one water pump leak will toast the engine because it inside the motor.
I just bought a 2007 limited ford 500 and it is so fun to drive
I've owned mine for 7 years now. It's a great car
we LOVE our 2005 Ford Five Hundred! Still running (and we bought it new in 2005) - CVT transmission AWD!!! Wonderful car Ford! thanks so much! you are the BEST!
The keypad is really cool
Este fue un sedan extraordinario muy amplio para mi lo mejor de ford ,hojala y vuelvan a ensamblar sedanes como este ya se extrañan en ford
I never liked the first or second generation Taurus, but when the Ford 500 became the 3,Rd generation Taurus then I knew they were headed in the right direction finally.
Beautiful this Ford Five Hundred
I had a third generation Taurus a 1996 I then had a 2001 Mercury Sable LS Premium which was a 4th Generation technically this is a different platform it would be a late revised 4th or 5th Generation.
@@careavis Ford Five Hundred is nice and pretty car
Front end- Lexus LS, Rear End- Mercedes S Class, side- Audi
About to buy one of these off my younger brother, can't wait to fix it up and drive it around
Back in 2004 when this aired, Ford was still reeling from the Firestone debacle.
This rename from Taurus to Five Hundred was the work of Mark Fields, getting into a fisticuffs with another Ford executive over renaming every Ford car to "F", to suckup to Bill Ford Jr.
When Alan Mullally took over, he put the Taurus name back on the refreshed '08 Five Hundred.
Mulally must be 100 now, but Ford needs him back.
Surely it didn't have anything to do with Chryslers refreshed 300 that came out just before it 😂
@@unknownuser5585 Refresh? Those LX cars were new from scratch. 300C vs 300M. Refreshes use off the shelf components.
The Five Hundred name might've been in response to the 300C prototype showcases in 2003, but only the Ford Five Hundred trademark filing dates with USPTO might tell the story.
@@ronhoover5516 Yeah, but at 78 he was likely forced out before he turned 70. Ford is very particular about retirement at or before 70.
The funny thing about that moment where Mark Fields tried to punch out one designer guy, was how Bill Ford Jr. was literally the guy who had to pull him apart from socking the other guy.
This was going to replace the crown victoria.
Actually no. It was replacing the Taurus. Which it technically did, though ford changed its name back to the Taurus
I think both are correct. One idea was to replace the Vic (because aging platform) but enough customers wanted to keep it, so Ford decided to replace Taurus with two cars: Fusion and 500.
Then just a few years later Ford went full size with the Taurus and replaced the 500 name.
@@warrenny you meen the panther platform.
@@danielferstendig Yes....and I'm not a Ford history buff, so my knowledge is limited.
The D3 platform was meant to replace the Panther platform. So, you are right that the 500 was supposed to replace the Crown Vic.
But then Ford decided to keep the Panther platform for the Vic......and so the Taurus was replaced by two platforms: the Fusion and the 500.
I liked these when they came out, but it turned out the styling was too anonymous and dull
I remember people said the roofline looked too much like a VW Passat at the time
Tengo uno 2007 limited ,y creanme este carro es lo mejor de ford me encanta
The mercury version of this was the better car.
I agree, the Montego was better.
Well, it should've been.
Didn't look as good IMO aside from the tail lights.
@@9999AWC yeah that and the brightwork. Gave it elegance although top of the line 500's were nice
@@Aaron.Crow512 It's what I drive lol. First car and loving it!
I think that the new name hurt them didnt it?
I miss my 500, 😢😢 got into an accident in 2016 messed my car up.
Basically a Volvo with Ford badge.
And a ford engine
I wish ford 500 had a police and taxi pack package.
Looks like a rolling bubble
Volvo with a Ford badge and a Porsche designed engine
scotty kilmer likes them so they must be decent. This body style never really caught on.
The 2007 i have, its the best ford ever made with a small 3.0 engine. 32mpg
The 2008 and newer is a faster 3.6 but one water pump leak will
toast the engine because it inside the motor.
@@birddog3130 how do you get 32 mpg?? is this highway only? I can barely get 26 highway on flat roads
3.5******@@birddog3130
Huh my last name is davis
Volvo's Haldex was utterly useless! I have Torsen because I actually want my AWD to work true 50/50. Passat 2004 1.8T 4motion, same as Quattro.