Ford to rename 500 model the Taurus

[Tom Schindler]

I work with a guy that has a 1997 Taurus. He has his first alternator go bad. Brakes have been replaced a few times. He is on the far end of going around the clock the second time. Within 15 to 20 thousand miles.





Tom

 

[Gavin Allan]

2008 Five-Hundred = BORING...



Jeeze Ford, get a clue. Go look at a Chrysler 300M and at least get an appealing design.

 

[WXMotorSports DecalsPartsAccs]

The Tauras was a great car in it's day. You liked it or hated it. However, Ford sold a ton of them. Top 10 model for numerous years. Now the big BUTT...lol The 500 didn't sell well at all. So, renaming it to the Tauras is a bait and switch.



Just another "Bold Move" by Ford where they should of kept the Tauras name and made the 500 the new Tauras when they introduced the 500 a few years ago.

 

[Thomas Rogers]

For those that couldn't get my paraphrased quote, here is a hint:



[Broken External Image]:

 

[Tim Turner]

Just read that the Mercury Montego will be renamed the Sable and the Freestyle renamed the Taurus X. These vehicles will go on sale at the end of the summer.

 

[A K]

Jeeze Ford, get a clue. Go look at a Chrysler 300M and at least get an appealing design.

They sort of did. It's called the Interceptor. Of course, it's more of a 300 and not a 300M, but nevertheless...



[Broken External Image]:



I think we've discussed previously this here.

 

[Tom Schindler]

I wouldn't call it a bait and switch. It is more of using a familiar name. People know what a Taurus is. What is a Fivehundred?



Ford is redesigning it and the last pictures I have seel look pretty good. I honestly now think it is a wise move on Fords part.



Lets see if those that were Taurus fans will go to the dealer to look at the new Taurus.





Tom

 

[Thomas Rogers]

I figured out where Ford is getting its grill designs from:

 

[Fred]

:lol::lol::lol:

 

[FlipTrac_511]

The 08 Freestyle also gets a similar facelift and will now also share the Taurus name. The 08 Freestyle is now the "Taurus X". Regardless of their names I've always thought these were good cars. They look even better with the new grilles and, more importantly, they get 260Hp. I hope sales improve for these two models.

 

[Ryan Schaecher]

Wow.... uh.....









Wow....:huh:

 

[Rich Stern]

The Taurus was a very solid brand for a long time. The product quality was quite good. Even Consumer Reports, that lapdog of Honda and Toyota, recommends Taurus as a used vehicle purchase.



Few people get excited about a Camry or an Accord, either. It's a bread and butter category. Performance sedan buyers are not comparison shopping the $40K 300M to other family sedans, like the 500. They are comparing them to BMW, Audi, etc. Different customer.



I think this is a smart move for the long term. You might not like the Taurus nameplate, but it has an established reputation that people who don't follow the car industry still identify with. In fact, what "Taurus" means to people who don't pay attention to the automotive world is far more important than what it means to people who do pay attention to such things (folks like us).



Is this meaningful in Ford's turnaround? I don't know. I don't think Ford has anything to loose by ditching a brand name that wasn't working (500), and not wasting time trying to develop another brand name. By all accounts, the 500 is a quality product. Ford has a marketing problem with the brand. This is a marketing step to try and fix it.



We'll see.

 

[Tom Schindler]

Rich Stern...



Another "confusing" reason to kill the name of the "500". It is not the "500", it is actually the "Fivehundred". Sure 500 means five hundred, but that is not the name of that Ford vehicle. The name is actually Fivehundred.



Does that make a difference? Possibly not, but like you said yourself. The Taurus is a brand name that people feel comfortable with.



Can anyone say Toyota makes some exciting looking cars? Corolla, Matrix, or even Camry?



Does anyone think a Camry looks as good as the Fusion does.



In my opinion, the Fusion looks stunning. The Camry is all right looking, but it has some goofy curves to it.





Tom

 

[Fred]

People are going to buy Toyotas no matter what they look like. That's become obvious.

 

[Josh Langel]

Rich Stern...



Another "confusing" reason to kill the name of the "500". It is not the "500", it is actually the "Fivehundred".

I just don't think Rich felt like spelling it out.. that's all.



No, it doesn't make a difference, both reference a dull rattle trap.