Sid P., Washington – $100
Ken G., Nevada – $100
Brad T., Wisconsin – $100
Tom M., Virginia – $100
Kathy F., New Jersey – $100
John M., Massachusetts – $100
Mike M., California – $100
Carol R., Texas – $100
James D., Georgia – $100
Martha B., New Jersey – $100
Kerry B., Pennsylvania – $100
NOTE: Since this was written in January 2007, Ford has changed the name of the Five Hundred to Taurus. This resurrects the recently dropped moniker of Ford’s once-top-selling Premium Mid-Size Car and applies it to the freshened and upgraded Five Hundred. Now, Taurus 500 would have had a ring to it.
2008 Facelift Addresses Power and Style Criticisms
When Ford introduced the Five Hundred for the 2005 model year, its package was praised but its 203HP V6 and bland styling took a lot of heat, and sales were not as robust as Ford was hoping. The facelift revealed by Ford’s newest executive, Alan Mullaly, at the 2007 North American International Auto Show, on sale in summer 2007, addresses both issues.
There is a far more impressive and substantial face to the new Five Hundred. The most notable change is Ford’s family three-bar grille, and perhaps the least important is the addition of side vents, some variation of which is popping up on nearly everything these days. There is a new sculpted hood and front fascia. Side-view mirrors are smaller, but offer improved visibility and reduced wind noise. The Limited adds more chrome, including on the side vents, door handles, and mirror caps. Oddly, the revised mirror does not add turn-signal indicators, a feature customers seem to appreciate and one that is becoming more and more common. In the rear, the taillamps and fascia are revised. Interior changes focused on a quieter ride, with a revised sound package. Ride is improved with revised shock towers, new dampers and springs front and rear, and a revised and retuned rear suspension.
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