Review: 2006 Ford Five Hundred
11-26-05, 10:23 AM
#1
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Review: 2006 Ford Five Hundred
http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/fivehundred/
This new vehicle, since its introduction, has generated a lot of controversy, both on CL and in the auto press in general. Two features, especially, have received numerous comments......power level and styling. I personally had a rather favorable view of both this car and the similiar wagon-body Freestyle when I first saw them, but have not commented on it in detail until I had a chance to examine the car in detail and drive it.......although I did say publically in CL that I felt the efficient CVT transmission on AWD models would help counteract a low power level. Do I STILL feel that way? Read on.
I recently received a request from a well-respected CL member to review this car and promised him one this weekend....so here you are, plus any other CL members who are interested in it. In addition, I was quite interested in the car myself, not necessarily as a purchase but to see how well the domestic companies have come up with an AWD passenger car that can compete with the Subaru Legacys and Outbacks I think so highly of. As you will shortly see.......Ford IMO has done well indeed.
Model Reviewed: 2006 Ford Five Hundered Limited AWD
Drivetrain: 3.0L Duratec V6, 203 HP, 207 ft.-lbs. torque, CVT ( Continuously-Variable Transmission), Volvo-derived Haldex AWD system
Base Price: $28,030
MSRP: $29,255
Color: Merlot Metallic, Beige, woodtone-trimmed, leather interior
PLUSSES:
Bargain for the price....lots of equipment with the Limited trim.
Good interior fit and finish....much better than the typical domestic-nameplate car.
Solid-feeling hardware, switchgear, and trim....with one exception.
Heavy, solid-feeling and sounding doors.
PLENTY of trunk space....one of the largest in the buisness.
Good ride-handling combination...reasonably smooth ride with little body lean in turns.
Firm-feel in the power steering....not overboosted like in many other domestics.
Smooth CVT transmission...but takes getting used to.
Seamless AWD system
Good brakes with only a slightly spongy-feel pedal.
Electrically-adjustable pedals.
Classy, attractive paint colors.
Handsome, wood-trimmed dash and well-designed, easy-to-read white gauges.
Quiet at cruise in spite of rather aggressive foul-weather tires.
Plenty of back-seat leg room even for people my size and the the front seats back.
Dual rear-seat on-and-off reading lights....an unusual touch
MINUSES
Engine power level marginal for the car even with the efficient CVT.
CVT durability questionable in the long run...and Ford's warranty is only 3 years.
No locking gas cap or filler door.
Poorly-designed wiper arm and radio antenna.
Base versions of the car rather cheap-looking inside.
Slippery, rather non-supportive leather bucket seats.
Unimpressive paint job........typical for domestic-nameplate vehicles.
Thick leather stiching on inside of steering wheel somewhat uncomfortable to grasp.
Ultra-lightweight-aluminum hood.........this seems to be getting more and more common with both domestics and imports.
OK.....the first impression of this car, as you walk up to it, is that of a somewhat oversize last-generation VW Passat. The car's general styling is rather muted but handsome, IMO, and, while not really anything to write home about, the car's looks outside, in most cases, will turn neither heads or stomachs. This is not a car to buy if you want to attract attention..........except from people interested in a good bargain. The rather conservative exterior styling, fortunately, translates into a lot of interior room and LOT of trunk space. This car will hold anything, within reason of course, that you want to take on vacation with you.....but it will probably be taxed in the mountains ( more on this later ). If you need even more space inside to carry things, consider the wagon-liftback Freestyle.
The second impression, when you look at the sticker price and see what you get inside, is that ( as I mentioned before ) of a pretty good bargain. Not only did the 29K sticker of the car I drove include the CVT and an AWD system, but it included a nice thick polished wood-tone strip across the whole dash, ( Limited and SEL versions ), heated front seats with a dual-memory system, electrically-adjustable foot pedals, a power sunroof, push-button key-pad keyless enytry for the doors, dual-zone climate-control, CD changer, dual push-button rear-seat reading / map lights, a well-designed, WELL-feeling brushed-metal-trim console and shifter, ( and without that idiotic ziz-zag shift pattern so common on today's vehicles) , electrochromatic mirror, and many other features. And, unlike so much of its GM, Chrysler, ( and even other Ford ) competition, this car uses generally high-quality materials and switchgear inside.The glove box door felt solid and closed solidly. All of the switches except for the cheap-feeling headlight switch....a round, rotary, dash-mount switch typical of domestics... operated smoothly and slickly. I was pleased with almost everything inside except for the too-slippery, unsupportive leather bucket seats and the stitching on the leather-wrapped wheel that was too thick and uncomfortable. Folks....... inside, this car is a BARGAIN.
Some of the fit-and-finish and quality on the exterior, too, is well-done, like the chrome and swivel-mechanism on the two outside mirrors, but the paint job could be better...it has the same low-gloss and orange-peel typical of so many other domestics. Fortunately, it offers some pretty nice colors to compensate. And, after cleaning the windshield, the passenger's-side wiper arm has to be carefully lowered by hand and tilted down to avoid hanging up on the radio-antenna mast....a poor design.
On the road, though, I did have some mixed feelings about the drivetrain. I have to revise some of my earlier statements in CL threads about the power level being OK with the CVT transmission. With the 203 HP V6, The CVT does deliver smooth but rather sluggish performance. This car will generally keep up with traffic, but you're not going to win any drag races. Fully loaded with passengers and luggage, I would not recommend it for mountain driving...it would be taxed going up steep hills. For the more level parts of the country, though, generally no problems...it would be a great car for all-around use, particularly in foul-weather. Still, though, I now have to agree with many of the rest of you....even with the CVT, Ford needs to seriously consider more power for the next-generation of this car when it is redesigned....or find a way to put more engine into this one.
Speaking of foul weather, the Volvo-derived Haldex AWD system, like the ones in Subarus, operates seamlessly. Virtually all of the time you are not even aware of its presence...there are no tugs or shakes in the steering wheel, even starting up from rest. Unfortunately it is not as simple mechanically as the Subaru system...the sideways-mount V6 and CVT requires a more complex set of transition gears than the Subarus do, with their straight-back engine output shaft.
This brings up another concern with the rather unconventional drivetrain in this car. Ford, like most domestic makes, has an El Cheapo 3 year / 36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. Despite's Ford's statements to the contrary, this transmission, as far as I can tell, is relatively new and untested in consumer hands in the long run. CVT transmissions, up to now, have been used with only very low-powered 3 and 4-cylinder vehicles. Ford (and Audi) are the first manufacturers to attempt to use it with a V6 in the 200 HP range. (even though, as previously noted, this V6 won't win any drag races). Ford advertising ( and the glowing rhetoric of the salespeople ) say that the metal drive belt , the traditional CVT weak point, has been tested to the point where it is expected to last the life of the vehicle. Still....I am not convinced. My opinion is that Ford should cover this potentially weak transmission part for longer than just 3 years, along with the rather complex AWD system.
Well, the transmission itself, as you would expect from a lack of stepped gears, operates very smoothly, but, compared to a conventional automatic, takes some getting used to. Press the gas pedal and the engine RPM jumps to a given pre-programmed range ( generally around 2800 RPM or so) and the transmission feels like it is slipping until the car's speed ( slowly ) catches up with the engine. If more power is desired, pull the well-designed and slick-feeling shift lever back into " L " and you DO feel the car shift down into a lower drive range and the RPM's jump up to about 3500 or so......I had to watch that I didn't exceed the 4000 RPM generally recommended for a new car. Still.....it was more noise than actual power.
The chassis and suspension ( also Volvo-derived ) are clearly a step above most Ford products. There was very little body lean on turns, even when cornering rather sharply, and the ride ( with 55-series Pirelli foul-weather tires ) was quite civilized in spite of this. You could feel and hear bumps as rather muted thuds and there was some, but not much, impact harshness. The good fit-and finish and quality of assembly translated into a lack of squeaks and rattles.....again, noticeably better than the typical domestic-nameplate car. The 4-wheel disc brakes with standard ABS operate well and have only a slight touch of sponginess in the pedal.
So......in a nutshell......this IMO is the best domestic AWD competition that the domestic car industry ( with Volvo's help ) has come up with yet to the Subaru Legacy and Outback.....and this car is larger inside and out than just about any Subaru. It offers a lot of features for the price, and good interior fit-and-finish. While noting that Ford needs to do a couple of things like give it a little more power, offer a longer drivetrain warranty, and refine just a couple of things in the otherwise well-done interior, I could easily live with this car as a daily driver, and for the more level-parts of the country where you don't have to deal with steep hills, I recommend this car.
This new vehicle, since its introduction, has generated a lot of controversy, both on CL and in the auto press in general. Two features, especially, have received numerous comments......power level and styling. I personally had a rather favorable view of both this car and the similiar wagon-body Freestyle when I first saw them, but have not commented on it in detail until I had a chance to examine the car in detail and drive it.......although I did say publically in CL that I felt the efficient CVT transmission on AWD models would help counteract a low power level. Do I STILL feel that way? Read on.
I recently received a request from a well-respected CL member to review this car and promised him one this weekend....so here you are, plus any other CL members who are interested in it. In addition, I was quite interested in the car myself, not necessarily as a purchase but to see how well the domestic companies have come up with an AWD passenger car that can compete with the Subaru Legacys and Outbacks I think so highly of. As you will shortly see.......Ford IMO has done well indeed.
Model Reviewed: 2006 Ford Five Hundered Limited AWD
Drivetrain: 3.0L Duratec V6, 203 HP, 207 ft.-lbs. torque, CVT ( Continuously-Variable Transmission), Volvo-derived Haldex AWD system
Base Price: $28,030
MSRP: $29,255
Color: Merlot Metallic, Beige, woodtone-trimmed, leather interior
PLUSSES:
Bargain for the price....lots of equipment with the Limited trim.
Good interior fit and finish....much better than the typical domestic-nameplate car.
Solid-feeling hardware, switchgear, and trim....with one exception.
Heavy, solid-feeling and sounding doors.
PLENTY of trunk space....one of the largest in the buisness.
Good ride-handling combination...reasonably smooth ride with little body lean in turns.
Firm-feel in the power steering....not overboosted like in many other domestics.
Smooth CVT transmission...but takes getting used to.
Seamless AWD system
Good brakes with only a slightly spongy-feel pedal.
Electrically-adjustable pedals.
Classy, attractive paint colors.
Handsome, wood-trimmed dash and well-designed, easy-to-read white gauges.
Quiet at cruise in spite of rather aggressive foul-weather tires.
Plenty of back-seat leg room even for people my size and the the front seats back.
Dual rear-seat on-and-off reading lights....an unusual touch
MINUSES
Engine power level marginal for the car even with the efficient CVT.
CVT durability questionable in the long run...and Ford's warranty is only 3 years.
No locking gas cap or filler door.
Poorly-designed wiper arm and radio antenna.
Base versions of the car rather cheap-looking inside.
Slippery, rather non-supportive leather bucket seats.
Unimpressive paint job........typical for domestic-nameplate vehicles.
Thick leather stiching on inside of steering wheel somewhat uncomfortable to grasp.
Ultra-lightweight-aluminum hood.........this seems to be getting more and more common with both domestics and imports.
OK.....the first impression of this car, as you walk up to it, is that of a somewhat oversize last-generation VW Passat. The car's general styling is rather muted but handsome, IMO, and, while not really anything to write home about, the car's looks outside, in most cases, will turn neither heads or stomachs. This is not a car to buy if you want to attract attention..........except from people interested in a good bargain. The rather conservative exterior styling, fortunately, translates into a lot of interior room and LOT of trunk space. This car will hold anything, within reason of course, that you want to take on vacation with you.....but it will probably be taxed in the mountains ( more on this later ). If you need even more space inside to carry things, consider the wagon-liftback Freestyle.
The second impression, when you look at the sticker price and see what you get inside, is that ( as I mentioned before ) of a pretty good bargain. Not only did the 29K sticker of the car I drove include the CVT and an AWD system, but it included a nice thick polished wood-tone strip across the whole dash, ( Limited and SEL versions ), heated front seats with a dual-memory system, electrically-adjustable foot pedals, a power sunroof, push-button key-pad keyless enytry for the doors, dual-zone climate-control, CD changer, dual push-button rear-seat reading / map lights, a well-designed, WELL-feeling brushed-metal-trim console and shifter, ( and without that idiotic ziz-zag shift pattern so common on today's vehicles) , electrochromatic mirror, and many other features. And, unlike so much of its GM, Chrysler, ( and even other Ford ) competition, this car uses generally high-quality materials and switchgear inside.The glove box door felt solid and closed solidly. All of the switches except for the cheap-feeling headlight switch....a round, rotary, dash-mount switch typical of domestics... operated smoothly and slickly. I was pleased with almost everything inside except for the too-slippery, unsupportive leather bucket seats and the stitching on the leather-wrapped wheel that was too thick and uncomfortable. Folks....... inside, this car is a BARGAIN.
Some of the fit-and-finish and quality on the exterior, too, is well-done, like the chrome and swivel-mechanism on the two outside mirrors, but the paint job could be better...it has the same low-gloss and orange-peel typical of so many other domestics. Fortunately, it offers some pretty nice colors to compensate. And, after cleaning the windshield, the passenger's-side wiper arm has to be carefully lowered by hand and tilted down to avoid hanging up on the radio-antenna mast....a poor design.
On the road, though, I did have some mixed feelings about the drivetrain. I have to revise some of my earlier statements in CL threads about the power level being OK with the CVT transmission. With the 203 HP V6, The CVT does deliver smooth but rather sluggish performance. This car will generally keep up with traffic, but you're not going to win any drag races. Fully loaded with passengers and luggage, I would not recommend it for mountain driving...it would be taxed going up steep hills. For the more level parts of the country, though, generally no problems...it would be a great car for all-around use, particularly in foul-weather. Still, though, I now have to agree with many of the rest of you....even with the CVT, Ford needs to seriously consider more power for the next-generation of this car when it is redesigned....or find a way to put more engine into this one.
Speaking of foul weather, the Volvo-derived Haldex AWD system, like the ones in Subarus, operates seamlessly. Virtually all of the time you are not even aware of its presence...there are no tugs or shakes in the steering wheel, even starting up from rest. Unfortunately it is not as simple mechanically as the Subaru system...the sideways-mount V6 and CVT requires a more complex set of transition gears than the Subarus do, with their straight-back engine output shaft.
This brings up another concern with the rather unconventional drivetrain in this car. Ford, like most domestic makes, has an El Cheapo 3 year / 36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. Despite's Ford's statements to the contrary, this transmission, as far as I can tell, is relatively new and untested in consumer hands in the long run. CVT transmissions, up to now, have been used with only very low-powered 3 and 4-cylinder vehicles. Ford (and Audi) are the first manufacturers to attempt to use it with a V6 in the 200 HP range. (even though, as previously noted, this V6 won't win any drag races). Ford advertising ( and the glowing rhetoric of the salespeople ) say that the metal drive belt , the traditional CVT weak point, has been tested to the point where it is expected to last the life of the vehicle. Still....I am not convinced. My opinion is that Ford should cover this potentially weak transmission part for longer than just 3 years, along with the rather complex AWD system.
Well, the transmission itself, as you would expect from a lack of stepped gears, operates very smoothly, but, compared to a conventional automatic, takes some getting used to. Press the gas pedal and the engine RPM jumps to a given pre-programmed range ( generally around 2800 RPM or so) and the transmission feels like it is slipping until the car's speed ( slowly ) catches up with the engine. If more power is desired, pull the well-designed and slick-feeling shift lever back into " L " and you DO feel the car shift down into a lower drive range and the RPM's jump up to about 3500 or so......I had to watch that I didn't exceed the 4000 RPM generally recommended for a new car. Still.....it was more noise than actual power.
The chassis and suspension ( also Volvo-derived ) are clearly a step above most Ford products. There was very little body lean on turns, even when cornering rather sharply, and the ride ( with 55-series Pirelli foul-weather tires ) was quite civilized in spite of this. You could feel and hear bumps as rather muted thuds and there was some, but not much, impact harshness. The good fit-and finish and quality of assembly translated into a lack of squeaks and rattles.....again, noticeably better than the typical domestic-nameplate car. The 4-wheel disc brakes with standard ABS operate well and have only a slight touch of sponginess in the pedal.
So......in a nutshell......this IMO is the best domestic AWD competition that the domestic car industry ( with Volvo's help ) has come up with yet to the Subaru Legacy and Outback.....and this car is larger inside and out than just about any Subaru. It offers a lot of features for the price, and good interior fit-and-finish. While noting that Ford needs to do a couple of things like give it a little more power, offer a longer drivetrain warranty, and refine just a couple of things in the otherwise well-done interior, I could easily live with this car as a daily driver, and for the more level-parts of the country where you don't have to deal with steep hills, I recommend this car.
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-26-05 at 02:46 PM.
11-26-05, 02:52 PM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
Excellent review (again).
As for the risk on the CVT, of course every dealer sells an extended warranty, which is what we got with our Ford F-150 since it was our first Ford and first truck. For $1400 I think we extended to 7 years and 100,000 miles. So even adding that to the price of the Ford 500 and it's still a steal.
As for the risk on the CVT, of course every dealer sells an extended warranty, which is what we got with our Ford F-150 since it was our first Ford and first truck. For $1400 I think we extended to 7 years and 100,000 miles. So even adding that to the price of the Ford 500 and it's still a steal.
11-26-05, 03:09 PM
#3
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by bitkahuna
Excellent review (again).
As for the risk on the CVT, of course every dealer sells an extended warranty, which is what we got with our Ford F-150 since it was our first Ford and first truck. For $1400 I think we extended to 7 years and 100,000 miles. So even adding that to the price of the Ford 500 and it's still a steal.
As for the risk on the CVT, of course every dealer sells an extended warranty, which is what we got with our Ford F-150 since it was our first Ford and first truck. For $1400 I think we extended to 7 years and 100,000 miles. So even adding that to the price of the Ford 500 and it's still a steal.
You can save money, gas, weight, and complexity, of course, by buying the FWD model....and get maybe better acceleration as well. The FWD model will have much ( not all ) of the AWD model's traction but, of course, will be excessively nose-heavy and place a big load on the front tires.....this will require a lot of tire rotation to even out the wear.....usually not as much of a problem with AWD. The FWD model also has a conventional 6-speed automatic with the two top gears being overdrives, so you will not have the concern with the CVT's potentially weak drive belt.
As far as extended warranties go, I agree that for the CVT it may be a wise investment, depending on how long you plan to keep the car, but you shouldn't have to spend extra money to get an adequate warranty.......Hyundai, Kia, and Mitsubishi have proved that.
It also should be emphasized that the Volvo-derived Haldex AWD system generally works only on the front wheels until slippage is detected, then an electronically-controlled clutch pack re-routes torque to the rear wheels, or to just one rear wheel if necessary if the other one is slipping, until equal rotation on all four wheels is again acheived. This, of course, is similiar to many other car-based AWD systems.
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-26-05 at 03:24 PM.
11-26-05, 03:45 PM
#4
Lexus Test Driver
Nice review and I am glad to hear postive things about the car. I really would like the domestic market get on the ball and start developing some quality cars. It seems as though Ford has consistanly been behind in the power category. Hopefully they can put together a V6 engine with something like 270HP and they may have a better car. I own quite a bit of Ford stock so I want things to start heading in the right direction for them 
.
.
11-26-05, 03:58 PM
#5
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by TexasGS
developing some quality cars. It seems as though Ford has consistanly been behind in the power category. Hopefully they can put together a V6 engine with something like 270HP and they may have a better car. .
The Mustang's 4.0L V6 ( a RWD design ) has 240 ft.-lbs. of torque, 33 more than than this one, but I guess that engine was either unsuitable for this car or would not fit the CVT and AWD hardware. And it is unlikely, either, that Ford could go to Volvo for a better V6 since Volvo specializes in turbo in-line 5's.
11-26-05, 07:47 PM
#7
Lexus Champion
I think the 500 would be a good car if the styling and power was better. The cabin is very Mercedes-like in the space compartment, and it's a big upgrade from the Taurus. I wouldn't mind having the AWD version as a Tahoe car.
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11-26-05, 08:24 PM
#8
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by nthach
I think the 500 would be a good car if the styling and power was better. The cabin is very Mercedes-like in the space compartment, and it's a big upgrade from the Taurus. I wouldn't mind having the AWD version as a Tahoe car.
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-26-05 at 08:28 PM.
11-28-05, 02:57 PM
#9
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
A new Continental?
One important thing I forgot to mention about this Five-Hundred / Montego platform is that I think, that with the former Lincoln Continental nameplate gone, this would make an EXCELLENT platform for a new Continental.....though, granted, it would probably not be a car that a lot of you CL guys would want. The Continental has traditionally been a conservative luxury sedan ( in the non-Mark versions ) . This Five Hundred platform is big by today's standards, well-designed and equipped inside, made with some pretty good materials for a domestic, and has a well-designed and solid Volvo chassis under it. All Lincoln would really have to do with this car, in either FWD or AWD versions.......is give it a little more power, a better paint job than Ford and Mercury do, a little softer suspension and tires for a luxury ride, and put some slightly better seats inside. Believe me.....this is a s**tload of a better platform than the last Continental...a stretched Taurus.
I plan to talk to the Lincoln-Mercury people about this at the D.C. Auto Show in January.
I plan to talk to the Lincoln-Mercury people about this at the D.C. Auto Show in January.
11-28-05, 03:18 PM
#10
Speaks French in Russian
Nice review as always. When I worked for Volvo we mistakenly got one at our dealership(I dunno how that happened, lol), but I got the chance to check it out. This was probably one of the first ones to hit the market, nad I couldnt believe how big this car is. It sits rather high, and has a very spacious interior. Part of it due to its HUGE windows all around. Rear leg room is rediculous as well. I was somewhat impresssed with the interior quality. Not just the build, but the quality of the materials. its pretty good. I think the interior looks a lot better than the Chrysler full size family of cars. Cant comment on the power as I never drove it, but I'm sure its rather slow.
Oh, and Nissan also offers CVT trannies in the Murano truck as standard I believe, not just Ford and Audi.
I too really like the Haldex AWD systems as well. Its actually very good for a FWD biased system. I remember reading the Press Releases and other Dealership info about the system and how it would only allow 1/7th of a turn in order for power to be sent to another wheel, while other similar systems require 1/2 a turn. Now they have the Haldex system with the Pre-Charged technology. I didnt get to check out how the newer system works, but I'm sure its a nice improvement. I think some 60lb-tq are always on stand-by for the rear wheels, basically minimizing FWD biased lag that is common in these AWD systems. Pretty cool stuff. For now its only available in the XC90 V8 and S60/70R models.
Oh, and Nissan also offers CVT trannies in the Murano truck as standard I believe, not just Ford and Audi.
I too really like the Haldex AWD systems as well. Its actually very good for a FWD biased system. I remember reading the Press Releases and other Dealership info about the system and how it would only allow 1/7th of a turn in order for power to be sent to another wheel, while other similar systems require 1/2 a turn. Now they have the Haldex system with the Pre-Charged technology. I didnt get to check out how the newer system works, but I'm sure its a nice improvement. I think some 60lb-tq are always on stand-by for the rear wheels, basically minimizing FWD biased lag that is common in these AWD systems. Pretty cool stuff. For now its only available in the XC90 V8 and S60/70R models.
11-28-05, 04:10 PM
#11
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by magneto112
Oh, and Nissan also offers CVT trannies in the Murano truck as standard I believe, not just Ford and Audi.
I .
I .
Thanks. I had forgotten about Nissan using the CVT in the Murano. Up till recently it was strictly a tranny for low-powered fours. Ford says the drive belt will last the life of the vehicle....I'm not convinced. The belt has traditionally been the CVT's weak point.....it has to accelerate and decelerate the weight of the whole vehicle and transmit the engine's full torque as well....and even though the Duratec V6 is not a powerhouse it still has a good 207 ft.-lbs. of torque...more than most of the fours that traditionally been used with the CVT.
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