NickF1011 Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Hmmm...not quite sure how I feel about the name change. I guess it will probably turn out to be a good thing if a couple things happen: 1. If quality remains good, it may slowly change perceptions of the public because the model name was previously associated with a recall-laden heap of crap. If they see that the NEW Taurus is built much better, they may start to believe the rest of their old cars are better too. 2. They don't relegate it to being a fleet queen again. We know what that will do to it. I'm kind of hoping they keep the Five Hundred name in there somewhere though just to maintain a little continuity. Maybe they could call the fully-trimmed out SEL's the Taurus 500 or something along those lines? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Does the 500 look like a Taurus to you? NO! Yes does, its what ford should have done in 1996, instead of releasing that Turd that it did... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inteller Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 (edited) Yes does, its what ford should have done in 1996, instead of releasing that Turd that it did... no, it looks like something granny takes on her last trip to the nursing home. There is NOTHING good about the 500. I could direct air traffic from atop the high roofline. Ford should take the Interceptor concept and make THAT the Taurus. That thing actually looks like a bull and it has BALLS. Edited February 6, 2007 by inteller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Ford should take the Interceptor concept and make THAT the Taurus. That thing actually looks like a bull and it has BALLS. Yeah, because so many previous owners of the Taurus would just be thrilled to step foot into a boxy RWD V8 sedan instead of what they actually liked before. Ford can certainly offer BOTH of them you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inteller Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Yeah, because so many previous owners of the Taurus would just be thrilled to step foot into a boxy RWD V8 sedan instead of what they actually liked before. Ford can certainly offer BOTH of them you know. the 1st gen Taurus is boxy by todays standards. The second gen Taurus carried a V8. Also, both gens existed in a time where FWD was king, since then RWD has made a comeback. The 300C started out pretty pedestrian, then DC decided to give it balls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igor Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 they should have waited for a full redesign, make the FH replacement a revolutionary car again, and make a huge introduction campaign with "the Taurus is back" it would have been more effective .. watch for new Ford Death Watch to come out at TTAC on this ... Farago likes easy pickings (he can't properly digest complicated issues). Igor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 the 1st gen Taurus is boxy by todays standards. The second gen Taurus carried a V8. Also, both gens existed in a time where FWD was king, since then RWD has made a comeback. The 300C started out pretty pedestrian, then DC decided to give it balls. I wouldn't really say RWD has made a "comeback". The vast majority of midsize/large midsize sedans are still FWD. And let's not forget the Five Hundred (Taurus) offers AWD. It's a lot closer to what a Taurus buyer would expect a Taurus to be. I really DO hope Ford produces a version of the Interceptor, but it would just be rather confusing if it was the Taurus since it deviated from the original concept so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 they should have waited for a full redesign, make the FH replacement a revolutionary car again, and make a huge introduction campaign with "the Taurus is back" it would have been more effective .. watch for new Ford Death Watch to come out at TTAC on this ... Farago likes easy pickings (he can't properly digest complicated issues). Igor Could Ford have waited that long though? With as small a blip that the Five Hundred has made on the global automotive radar, I don't think a lot of people will even notice that they were renaming an existing car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCK Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 (edited) I agree with other people that say it should have waited for the full redesign, but either way it does not matter much. One thing that better happen is a full redesign for 2010, 5 years is when vehicles should be fully redesigned escpecially in the mid size and large car segments. I do like the fact that with the name change it shows descisions are now capable of moving quickly within the company. Edited February 6, 2007 by DCK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inteller Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 that entire platform has failed for Ford, the Freestyle, the 500. They should shitcan that entire design and start over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NLPRacing Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 that entire platform has failed for Ford, the Freestyle, the 500. They should shitcan that entire design and start over. Too bad Bill didn't know about you before he hired Mullaly! Anyway.... I think this is a good move. The Taurus name is more recognizable then Five Hundred and should immediately help. The 08 FiveHundred/Taurus is leaps & bounds better then the 06 Taurus, bigger, more powerful, safer, AWD availability, etc. Nothing but good will happen from the bold move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lfeg Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Switching the name of the Five Hundred to the Taurus will be a good move if it is done right. If it is timed along with a significant restyle, and if the marketing is done right it will work. Also, with no Five Hundred in the lineup, if the interceptor ever gets built it can be the Galaxie 500. The rear driver gets a name with a lot of equity, as does the front driver. And yes, when a significant restyle occurs, change the Freestyle to the Taurus Country Squire. And have a somewhat deconted version (no 3rd row seats standard, removeable washable vinyl floor mats, utilitarian/durable upholstry and such. Call it the Ranch Wagon and aim it at the crossover / active lifestyle market. Then there is also the Mercury Colony Park - a Montego wagon with all of the luxury features. Then get the marketing department in gear and sell the things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2005Explorer Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Hmmmm....this might be getting a little crazier by the minute....I just noticed this line from another report..... http://www.kotv.com/news/national/story/?id=119764 "Ford also sold another 2 million Mercury Sables, the Taurus' nearly identical twin. It is likely that the Five Hundred's Mercury counterpart, the Montego, will be renamed the Sable." Anyone else see another report state this??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fordowner Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 if they could figure out a way to make the tri bar grill fit in an oval grill opening and then put an oval rear/back window like the 2000 Taurus, that would be great. I always liked the 3rd gen ovalized taurus. Actually it was a leap forward in moderatly priced 4 door car interiors - company cars before that were always very boring inside and out. And the oval taurus' lines made for easy waxing. Oh and the new focus lights aren't escort's they and the front of the hood look more like the 99 and 2000 contour. But yea, I think its a good idea to call the 500 Taurus - could drop the 500 horsepower mustang shelby svt engine in the 500...er Taurus, and call it the Taurus 500 SHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Hmmmm....this might be getting a little crazier by the minute....I just noticed this line from another report..... http://www.kotv.com/news/national/story/?id=119764 "Ford also sold another 2 million Mercury Sables, the Taurus' nearly identical twin. It is likely that the Five Hundred's Mercury counterpart, the Montego, will be renamed the Sable." Anyone else see another report state this??? I hope not, the Sable doesn't have the same cache as the Taurus name wise and the redesign on the 08 is MUCH better then what I've seen in photos for the now new Taurus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reynolds Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 (edited) :unsure: ......... I can understand why it is timed in the way that it has, so that the Taurus name doesn't fall completely off the radar. Although if I had it my way, I would have pulled forward a full redesign (something a lot more dynamic) and waited to re-emerge the Taurus name. In the end, it was probably best to do it now vs what we have seen with the Cougar and T-Bird Edited February 6, 2007 by Michael Reynolds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasonj80 Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 And yes, when a significant restyle occurs, change the Freestyle to the Taurus Country Squire. And have a somewhat deconted version (no 3rd row seats standard, removeable washable vinyl floor mats, utilitarian/durable upholstry and such. Call it the Ranch Wagon and aim it at the crossover / active lifestyle market. Then there is also the Mercury Colony Park - a Montego wagon with all of the luxury features. The Mercury Wagon version should have the Boss in it and be called the Turnpike Cruiser. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2005Explorer Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 (edited) I hope not, the Sable doesn't have the same cache as the Taurus name wise and the redesign on the 08 is MUCH better then what I've seen in photos for the now new Taurus. Oh I agree with you on this. Although I did own a Sable at one time and had great luck with it, I prefer Montego. However, I would say that Sable has a lot more brand recognition then Montego does even though Montego comes from Mercury's past. Here is a good editorial on the move to bring the Taurus name back... http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article.../702040613/1014 I like this line from the editorial... If this seems trivial, think again. When you've got a weak lineup, you don't yank out one of the props supporting your sales: name recognition. Dropping the respected and established Windstar badge helped drive Ford out of the minivan business. The Windstar was a slightly above-average vehicle with a loyal following, largely due to excellent crash-test scores. It was replaced by the nearly identical Freestar in 2003. Sales plummeted more than the van's flaws merited, and Ford exited the minivan market last year. The debacle cost Ford customers, cash and market share. "What were they thinking?" asked Joe Phillippi, principal of consultant AutoTrends in Short Hills, N.J. That is very true with regards to what happened with the Windstar. Edited February 6, 2007 by 2005Explorer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 that entire platform has failed for Ford, the Freestyle, the 500. They should shitcan that entire design and start over. Let's see...what other vehicles are also on derivitives of that platform? Oh yeah: Volvo S60 Volvo S80 Volvo V70 Volvo XC70 Volvo XC90 Land Rover LR2 Yep. What a waste of a platform. They never should have developed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reynolds Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 SHO?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NLPRacing Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 (edited) Here's a great example of why the Taurus name needs to come back: 1. I've had two Taurus's previously and loved them. I was a little disappointed to see the Taurus go away. I've been to NAIAS and checked out the 2008 Five Hundred and thought the new make over was really nice. If this does become the Taurus, I would take definite consideration. There are many former Taurus owners that will never buy a FiveHundred, but would buy the "All New" Taurus. Name recognition means a lot! SHO?!? With the TwinForce V6? :yup: Edited February 6, 2007 by NLPRacing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2005Explorer Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 SHO?!? Well a Supercharged 3.5 V6 might make for an interesting new Taurus SHO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reynolds Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Well a Supercharged 3.5 V6 might make for an interesting new Taurus SHO. A Turbo'd D37 would work for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Well a Supercharged 3.5 V6 might make for an interesting new Taurus SHO. TT V6 from the MKR!!! :happy feet: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh Posted February 6, 2007 Share Posted February 6, 2007 Well a Supercharged 3.5 V6 might make for an interesting new Taurus SHO. True Force anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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