New crash ratings show most vehicles do not protect REAR PASSENGERS from rear-end collisions.

Who cares about rear passengers anyway?

Certainly not folks who drive Toyota or Honda cars!

Ford should advertise the heck out of rear passenger safety!

Are you listening Mom?

Especially, if they put a telescopic steering wheel in it. (my biggest complaint with my Taurus)

What’s not to like? Big trunk, 5 star crash ratings all around + air curtains, available AWD, bullet-proof reliability and more power along with better fuel efficiency, should make this car a runaway hit.

Not to mention a 5-year warranty…This is a family sedan for people who don’t watch cartoons anymore.(and don’t like ‘climbing’ in and out of a vehicle)

For folks that can’t identify with the former…There’s a Chrysler/Dodge Hemi powered ’soul train’ looking truck, or ‘Rapper bling’ car, waiting to drain your pocketbook as you pass everything but the gas station and repair shop.

Or, there’s the Toyota/Honda/etc…For folks who couldn’t care less about keeping their legs in an accident as long as they only have to worry about gas and oil fill-ups…Or, USA made content for that matter.

Pay your money, take your choice.

My guess is that in the 500, no more than 20% of buyers will actually get the 3.5L because they’ll find the 3.0L adequate. The only reason Ford needs that engine there is so that idiotic posters who post on message boards like this won’t bemoan the 500’s “weak” engine and “poor” performance having never been behind the wheel of the car. If you had been, you’d realize that the media thrives on talking points and all of us ignorant fools take those points at face value.

I’m pretty sure that George Pipas mentioned this on the sales call, but advertising for the 500 had stopped, which is always going to reduce awareness of a product. Right now, sales are driven by word of mouth and personal research. That along with the fact that the 500 sold a record 12,500 last year in August, translates into poor comps this year. The truth though is that fleet volumes have been drastically reduced, meaning that the vast majority of those sales are high value retail sales. Overall, though, the large car segment is softening a little as competition increases. You’ll notice that the Avalon’s sales were weak. In fact, I think only GM’s 50% fleet Impala had decent sales in August.

But seriously, I agree with 2006300C’s comment…. it was a big mistake for Ford not to put the Ford 427 and the Continental Concepts into production. The Five Hundred is simply BORING! And the upcoming Lincoln MKS is a yawner also.

Good luck, you’re really going to need it!

Are you in grade school? Because your writing level and thought processes are.

501 reasons would be just the start. If I didn’t want to think them up on my own all I would have to do is poll a small percentage of the thousands of folks who passed up Ford’s hunk of crap to buy a Camry instead.

The only way to regain any position is to change the design dramatically, like the Taurus accomplished in the 80s and 90s, and at the same time build with a “QUALITY IS JOB 1″ mantra.

You’re wrong with your four point plan if the exterior is not addressed.

The other factor, unfortunately, is Ford’s reputation. I see only design as the way out of this mess … it’ll be hard to change the minds of those who turned their backs on Ford.

They should have built the 427 or some affordable version of it.

The 300C will be a modern legend no doubt. Great car.

/that is all.

Again I ask, how many people who knock the Montego/500 have actually ridden in or driven one?

It really is a nice car. Its styling is simple, clean, and elegant…like an Audi, but with better door handles. It doesn’t take you to 0-60 in 5 seconds, but it accelerates well enough for the people that Ford wants to sell this to. The interior is cavernous; my family of four (Dad is 6′5″, Mom is 5′11″, sister is 6′0″, and I’m 6′7″) fits in this car better than my Mom’s Mountaineer. The interior styling is nice…certainly not outdated.

After staring at a Montego in my backyard for awhile, I decided that the only thing I didn’t like was the front end, but they’re fixing that now, so it should be a nice looking car all around.

Montego Premier rims are really nice too

Why is it that if Ford makes conservative vehicles they suck and if Toyota makes a conservative vehicle it’s awesome? (as per public perception)

It says that it will go on sale in April ‘07, but they will offer it with the new 3.5L engine in July ‘07, UMMMM isnt the “weak” engine the reason why the sales are slow?? Nice move, Ford! The Edge will have 3.5L when it comes out this October, why the delay with the 500??? They’ve built all the new engines and ready to install in all cars and CUVs! Just lame!

I like the modern look to the taillight in that pic and the flashy headlights.

This new 2008 verison is gonna be good. Def my mom’s next 500 when the lease is up next spring.

Jaguar & LR have notoriously poor maintenance reputations that are well earned so increasing the available dealerships for service and sales is a must to attract more buyers.