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Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego

3623 messages,  Last post on Feb 13, 2011 at 9:08 AM

You are in the Ford Five Hundred/Mercury Montego Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, Sedan

Messages Page 323 of 363

#3219 of 3623 Remote start works, GM&Ford automatics by fsmmcsi

Mar 16, 2006 (8:38 pm)

Yes, living in California, I use the remote starter to get the cooling going. It sets it on maximum and really does make a difference, even in just the time between when I start walking towards the car and when I get inside. I would probably never have ordered it, but bought the GM car with every option during the "employee discount" promotion, and have since learned that it is a very handy feature.
 
Yes, for now just the 2007 Escalade (and I think the GMC Denali) version(s) of the large GM trucks and SUVs have GM's new 6-speed automatic, but they will soon use it in all of them. GM will also soon be using same Ford-GM joint venture 6-speed that Ford will install in the Five Hundred, Montego, Freestyle, Fusion, Milan, MKS, Edge, MKX, and various others in their front wheel drive cars.

#3220 of 3623 Re: Engine technology by bamacar

Mar 16, 2006 (9:42 pm)

Replying to: gtee (Mar 16, 2006 5:12 pm)
Its a new generation of GM engines even if it is old technology. The 5.3 in the trucks has 5 hp less and 30 less ft lbs of torque until the new model bows. Don't tell you about torque? It's a truck. Don't tell me about horsepower in a truck; means very little for a truck. Go drive a Corvette where horsepower is actually important. The next generation on the 5.4 will jump ahead of the 5.3 for GM. It always goes back and forth with each new engine update.

#3221 of 3623 Re: Remote start works, GM&Ford automatics [fsmmcsi] by barnstormer64

Mar 17, 2006 (7:51 am)

Replying to: fsmmcsi (Mar 16, 2006 8:38 pm)
and really does make a difference, even in just the time between when I start walking towards the car and when I get inside
 
Given that on hot days, it can take 20 minutes for the car to actually cool down to 71F where I live, I doubt that 30 seconds before I get in the car will make a lot of difference.
 
I did have a rental car once that had the remote start. It was kinda neat to play with, but I could certainly live without it.
 
On the other hand, if it were only $200 extra as a factory add-on, I'd probably get it. After all, I got the useless $800 moonroof.

#3222 of 3623 Re: Engine technology [bamacar] by gtee

Mar 17, 2006 (7:56 am)

Replying to: bamacar (Mar 16, 2006 9:42 pm)
Its a new generation of GM engines even if it is old technology.
 
Right, old technology engines are still able to have more power output then Ford's new technology engines. Why is this? You mentioned the new generation of 5.4L, when is this coming out? The lack of engine power is something that has effected Ford engines for a long time now. Just compare any car segment and you will find that Ford engines produces less power then the competition.
 
Ford 500: 200HP, competition 240-270HP
Ford Explorer V6 210HP, competition 240-290HP
Ford Freestyle 200HP, competition 225-270HP
Lincoln Navigator 300HP, competition 400 HP
Lincoln Zephyr 220HP, competition 250-280HP
 
I think that you get my drift regarding the lack of power from Ford's engines. What I don't understand is why? On paper these engines are competitive, they have features like OHC or DOHC. Most have variable valve timing. All of these features should increase the power output, but the completion manages to build engines with what seems like simpler technology and still have more power output. I just used the example of Chevy 5.3L because this engine still uses very simple construction technique and it manages to have high power output.
 
What I don't understand is why Ford makes engines with high output for other markets but not for America. Look Australian 5.4L DOHC BOSS 290 makes 388HP, why we cannot get this engine in America. Ford Australia makes a 4.0L DOHC engine which makes 250HP, we have to stick with a 4.0L OHC which makes only 210HP. I mean why does Ford send the best to other parts of the world, and we get the cheap stuff here in America.

#3223 of 3623 Re: Engine technology [gtee] by gregg_vw

Mar 17, 2006 (10:02 am)

Replying to: gtee (Mar 17, 2006 7:56 am)
I mean why does Ford send the best to other parts of the world, and we get the cheap stuff here in America.
 
Although I don't totally agree with the above (e.g., Ford GT, Shelby Mustang), one does wonder why Ford does not make better use of architecture and engines they use in other parts of the world. The European Ford line-up offers some great choices. However, they are not designed to be easily imported.
 
Perhaps this goes back to the Contour/Mystique? Those cars, while decent, did not reach sales targets because the back seat was too tight. Somehow they managed to make a space-robbing roofline look dumpy and anonymous. The next generation European Ford was light years better, but never considered for the US. It would have made a great Mercury model.
 
GM has a good idea. New Saturn models will actually be Opels. Thus, they will save development of two separate lines, and this clever bit of badge engineering will likely not hurt their reputation, as neither marque is sold where the other is.
 
Ford could do that with Mercury--or dump the poor old thing entirely and start a new more relevant-to-today division. Looking at Mercury production lately, it is dismal. The Montego and Milan and the new Mountaineer are all selling in embarrassingly small numbers, despite being competitive vehicles (and arguably better looking than their Ford counterparts).

#3224 of 3623 Re: Remote start works, GM&Ford automatics [barnstormer64] by pmerk28

Mar 17, 2006 (10:59 am)

Replying to: barnstormer64 (Mar 17, 2006 7:51 am)
"After all, I got the useless $800 moonroof."
 
Man you got that right. I had a moonroof on my three last cars and boy are they useless. Hardly ever used those stupid things. But if you want the higher trim models they almost always have moonroofs already. Dealers love to get cars from the factory with moonroofs.

#3225 of 3623 Landau Tops on Montego and Milan?? Please say it isn' so. by pmerk28

Mar 17, 2006 (11:00 am)

I saw them on the road. Awful just awful. Ford has lost it's marbles.

#3226 of 3623 Re: Engine technology [gregg_vw] by gtee

Mar 17, 2006 (11:09 am)

Replying to: gregg_vw (Mar 17, 2006 10:02 am)
I actually stand by my statement that Ford sends the best engines and cars to other parts of the world, but leaves the cheap stuff for North American market. Look at the following article in Detroit news.
 
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060313/AUTO01/603130342&Sear- - chID=73238747171141
 
It talks about how Ford is using the latest technology in China to build the new Ford Focus there. Notice that its the new Focus, not the old Focus that we have here in America. I think that its just plain silly for Ford to sell new generation of cars in China and have old generation of cars in America. Does this tell you something?
 
Look at even Ford 500. Sure its a nice car, but again its just a simplified version of Volvo S80. The changes were made to make it cheaper to build. Notice I said cheaper to build, not build better. Have you noticed how Honda Civic is the same car all over the world, same with Toyota Camry.
 
Maybe these Japanese are on to something here. Americans are not stupid. We don't want old cars and old engines. We also want world class cars with world class engines. I guess that Ford just does not want to send it here thats all.

#3227 of 3623 Re: Landau Tops on Montego and Milan?? Please say it isn' so. [pmerk28] by gregg_vw

Mar 17, 2006 (11:16 am)

Replying to: pmerk28 (Mar 17, 2006 11:00 am)
It's not Ford. It's the doddering idiots the dealers are catering to.
 
Anyone who is looking for an up-to-date, well-engineered machine, is unlikely to enter a dealership that promotes these montrosities. I've seen padded vinyl roofs on just about everything. I think it was originally to give the car the look of a convertible, but with cloth topped convertibles on the way out, I don't know what bad idea will surface next for dressing a pig in simulated pearls.

#3228 of 3623 Re: Engine technology [gtee] by pmerk28

Mar 17, 2006 (12:35 pm)

Replying to: gtee (Mar 17, 2006 11:09 am)
The Japanese have been onto something for 30 years. When you think about it the Lexus LS430 which is soon to be the LS460 offers all the luxury, engineering, technowizardy and dealer treatment of the Germans WITHOUT making a living in their respective repair shops.

Messages Page 323 of 363

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