- sedan 84,938
- Poway, CA
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- autoshopper.com
- sedan 84,938 red automatic
2005 ford five hundred review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Ford's magic new number. introductionthe five hundred is ford's interpretation of the modern american sedan. But ford's new flagship is larger and more substantial and comes with much more standard equipment. the five hundred boasts a body structure and safety technology developed by volvo and first used on volvo's s80 luxury sedan and then for its highly acclaimed xc90 sport utility vehicle. Ford acquired the swedish automaker famous for its passenger-protecting innovations in 1999. When it came time to develop the five hundred (and its upscale cousin, the mercury montego), ford imported volvo's best structural and safety engineers to work on the project. The five hundred is available with a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the latter giving it more stable handling and better traction, particularly in inclement weather. ford developed the five hundred as a successor to the taurus and to compete with cars such as the brand new chrysler 300, the venerable toyota avalon, and the aging chevrolet impala. The driver sits relatively high, and the roomy front seats offer a commanding view of the road. Back-seat passengers will not complain about being cramped, either. The back seats fold down to increase cargo capacity. The six-speed automatic transmission that comes standard helps the engine deliver responsive performance and good fuel economy. All-wheel-drive models come with a continually variable transmission that performs the same feat. lineupthe ford five hundred is available in three trim levels: se, sel, and limited. each is powered by a 3. 0-liter v6 called the duratec 30, which is tuned to provide 203 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. That power flows through either of two very effective transmissions. Also available are a safety and security package for the se with side and canopy airbags, anti-theft perimeter alarm and lights and a safety package for the sel and limited with the side and canopy airbags. walkaroundford first used the five hundred designation in numerical form on the highest trim version of its 1957 fairlane model and the car helped ford overtake chevrolet in the sales race. When ford launched a new flagship, the galaxie, in 1959, it again used the '500' badge to indicate the most upscale version. It also rides on a wheelbase that is 4. 5 inches longer, which not only gives the car its solid, luxury-car stance but enhances smooth ride quality. the chief designer says it was a challenge to sculpt a ford-styled body around a volvo chassis, and adds that designers used what he calls 'plainer surfaces with taut lines' to give the car a modern look without losing its passenger car proportions. The five hundred's rounded forms offer a definite alternative to the more upright, angular chrysler 300. the five hundred's face has large, jewel-styled and multi-bulb triangular headlight elements on either side of a wide, trapezoidal grille. Chrome accents the front edges of the bumper. There are similar chrome accents on the rear bumper and another that bisects the doors and provides a visual bridge between slightly flared wheel arches. Chrome also frames the side windows, which include large third windows that give the five hundred more of a luxury car profile. the tall trunk lid has a spoiler-like lip along its top trailing edge. Those who need even more space for people and cargo can opt for the freestyle, a crossover wagon based on the five hundred. Those who want a smaller and less expensive vehicle will next year be able to get the fusion, another mid-size sedan that's smaller than the taurus. interioralthough the 2005 ford five hundred's exterior is a foot shorter than the full-size ford crown victoria sedan, the new car has nearly as much passenger room (107. 1 cubic feet for the five hundred vs. 108. 2 for the crown vic). The five hundred also has a larger trunk (21. 1 cu. The center stack has audio controls at the top with climate and other controls beneath. The dashboard has either silver or wood-grain trim with metal used for the door releases and around the base and top of the gear shift lever. We found the switchgear well designed and easy to use. one cautionary note (well, actually two of them): a steeply raked windshield can reflect a lot of glare off the top of the dashboard (at least it did in the car we drove with a tan-colored 'pebble' interior; 'shale' and 'black' interiors also are available), and a driver wearing sunglasses can have trouble reading the darkly colored gauges in the se and sel models. Power Locks✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Climate Control✔ CD Changer✔ Air Conditioning✔ CD Player✔ Aluminum Wheels
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