This was an unusual choice of transmission for Ford's big flagship sedans for a number of reasons. Not sure about the recommended service interval for a CVT, but the 6-speed says 150,000 miles in the manual, so chances are, unless the owner happens to hang out on this site and has read about the importance of changing the fluid sooner, that the car most likely would not have had a fluid change. Since this system will only be in production for a short 3 model year cycle, what will replacement parts/transmissions cost in 10 years? The Five Hundred feels very sure of itself on the road. transmission trust many people did it plus new Otherwise a solid car for the money. They have no feeling of connection between the accelerator and the engine during acceleration. The CVT never "hunts" between gears to find the best ratio; it just adjusts to it. This time, I saw two montegos from AZ and one 500 from TX in this weekend. That's something that can be addressed by Ford in the next redesign. G-Tech tested 0-60MPH 8.34 1/4 mile 16.38 @85.9MPH. sale near. Because of the linear nature of the CVT's operation, it's an unusually smooth and flexible transmission. You maybe need it. The steering wheel includes controls for cruise control and radio volume, which was a very nice touch. The most common type is the pulley-based, but some other types include the Toroidal CVT, which uses rotating discs along with power rollers to produce the same result as the pulleys. Many of us will trade our cars before they will need the 150,000 mile service. Free shipping on many . With the Five Hundred last year, and the addition of the Fusion this year, Ford has finally said Enough! and mounted a serious attack on the Japanese automakers dominance of the car market. The Ford Five Hundred entered production on July 12, 2004[8] at Chicago Assembly (the previous assembly site of the Ford Taurus), and became available to the public in September 2004. If you're going to try the CVT, be aware that it's a first for Ford, so you're an early adopter - and that might come with some unanticipated costs or, at least, inconveniences. Transmission: Six-speed automatic standard on most front-drive models; continuously variable automatic standard on all-wheel-drive versions and some front-drive models. Make: . Ford only recommends you service the 6 speed at 150,000 miles. tight on because 6 speed has a different Vin stored It doesn't have the rock-solid feel of the Volvo S80, but you can feel the influence. * 165,147 mi GOOD DEAL Houston, TX (832) 835-6998 Request Info No Image Available New Arrival Ride quality comparable to Buick, even Cadillac Loving it so far. Only lead-foots would have reason to whine. The sensation is similar to a conventional automatic failing to shift properly. Jeb Hoge has a degree in English and more than 10 years of experience as a technical/business writer supporting federal defense contractors and government agencies. Didn't need awd here in Texas. And the Five Hundred isnt nearly as bland as the generically styled Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. You sit down easily, like you would on a chair. The electronic all-wheel-drive system comes from Volvo, and we're not aware of any problems with it. Honestly, I think AWD is not necessary during all six time trips. [9][10], George Bucher, Ford's chief designer said "it was a challenge to sculpt a Ford-styled body around a Volvo chassis, and added that designers used what he calls plainer surfaces with taut lines to give the car a modern look without losing its passenger-car proportions. It's a shame this car hasn't attracted more attention, because it offers a helluva lot for less than 30,000 bucks. Unfortunately, geezer styling may prevent it from being the success it deserves to be. Everything is essentially where you'd expect it to be. by matte500 Sun Jan 02, 2011 6:11 pm, Post find cheap prew-owned vehicles for sale near you. In fact, we haven't made a mistake like that since we did it. A distinguishing feature of the Ford Five Hundred is its tall exterior height; at 61.5 inches tall, it was over 5 inches taller than the Ford Taurus sold alongside it. Repeatedly pushing a button is not as comfortable as turning a knob. would like to replace with six speed, but do not know if computer will allow change. inside you need to change flywheel transmission Check if this fits your 2005 Ford Five Hundred. Central WI winters are tough, but I never had a problem getting to work, (70 miles one way) I also feel more confortable on the gravel and when it rains. Manufacturer's Defect Warranty. More Details Email This Quote. register to join our community In place of the luxury sedan interior of the Five Hundred/Montego, the Freestyle was designed with a model-specific interior. "[27] Mays later conceded of the Five Hundred's styling: "It's just lacking in the emotional appeal that we should have put into it. In its development as one of the vehicles to replace the Ford Taurus, the model lineup of the Five Hundred/Montego was reduced to the four-door sedan exclusively. by angel500 Sun Jun 18, 2006 4:56 pm, Post You can't beat that slow ride comfort though. But we found the engine to be perfectly adequate. For an additional $1,850, you can get optional all-wheel drive - but that's only available with the CVT transmission. The 2016 Honda Fit features a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 130 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. There are limits on the engines that can work with a CVT in terms of power and size. View all Based on a platform shared with Volvo's S80, the Five Hundred makes extensive use of Volvo safety and all-wheel-drive technology. Automatic Transmission 3.0L 6 Speed Fits 2005-2007 FORD FIVE HUNDRED (Fits: Ford Five Hundred) $799.00 . Starting msrp listed lowest to highest price. The Five Hundred comes standard with front and side airbags up front. 8-year/100,000-mile (whichever comes first) BaseCARE EV Warranty coverage. Ford recalls Five Hundred, Mercury Montego sedans over fuel tank woes. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on LX and EX models, while a . I miss the AWD and will never again buy FWD. Even if you don't know much about how a transmission works, you have probably heard of the manual and the automatic. is transmission changeover from cvt to six speed possible. will help you decide. The exceptions are the seats, which are quite luxurious. Many of us will trade our cars before they will need the 150,000 mile service. Driving the CVT-equipped Ford 500 qualifies for a one-word definition: smooth. We expect servicing costs to be about average. I just bought it, an 06 SEL 6sp fwd with 117k (8/19/20) for 3650 plus taxes and bs doc fee, haggling involved, got him down from $3995. This means that no matter what the engine speed it, it is always performing at its peak efficiency. The engine in the Five Hundred is a three-liter, overhead cam Duratech design that's been around for a while. May email is gallagke at gmail dot com. I would recommend cars.com to anyone looking for a car. Ford claims best-in-class rear headroom and legroom, plus the largest trunk of any sedan a whopping 21.2 cubic feet of space. We are now at 262,000 miles. and still counting on our car continuing it's great performance. Since CVTs depend on the belts to operate, if these suffer from excessive stretching or too much wear, the transmission can completely fail. For example, since there are no shift points, the engine revs to a certain rpm and then stays there while the transmission varies the pulley ratio to produce acceleration. (Are you still with us?) by nabrum Mon Jun 19, 2006 11:33 am, Post So my preference was/is fwd. [9] Alongside standard dual front airbags, the Five Hundred was available with both side airbags and curtain airbags as an option. Cartalk.com is a production of Cartalk Digital Inc. We offer unbiased reviews and advice, bad jokes and a great community for car owners and shoppers. Options offered on all models include all-wheel drive ($1,700) and side-curtain air bags with rollover protection ($595-$795, depending on model). The SE starts you out with 17-inch wheels, a six-way power driver seat, full power accessories, air conditioning, a CD player and cruise control. It part of Fords strategy to revitalize its car business after years of concentrating on trucks and sport utility vehicles. See what power, features, and amenities you'll get for the money. It's worth a look for families on a budget, especially if all-weather capability is a must. We do have some reservations about the continuously variable transmission, which we noted earlier. [9], For the first time in a full-size Ford sedan, the Ford Five Hundred featured independent suspension for both front and rear axles, with MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear axle with coilover shocks; both axles were fitted with stabilizer bars. I belive that the transmission dipstick on a CVT ford 500 is located on the front of the transmission (drivers side between the radiator and trans). The ride is very stable. Even basic maintenance often needs to be done by a trained mechanic. Currently at 112,000 in 2019, the 2006 Five Hundred SEL has had an alternator swap, the a/c compressor is now going out for the second time, suspension work at 45k, a top engine mount replacement, multiple rear break changes, grandmas passing me on the highway like I was sitting still and lastly the 6 speed auto is slipping. It was well worth it, though. An evolution of the Volvo P2 platform (used in the Volvo S80), the platform marked the shift to front-wheel drive in full-size Ford sedans; an electro-hydraulic Haldex all-wheel drive system (based on that used on the Volvo S80 and XC90) was optional in all versions of the Ford Five Hundred or Mercury Montego. few more questions? Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. . A tall seating position helps wean SUV groupies off the habit, while providing excellent visibility and easy entry for passengers. The Ford Five Hundred is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the latter giving it more stable handling and better traction, particularly in inclement weather. The first of these is a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which has an infinite number of ratios and chooses whichever one best fits a given situation. You will either love it or hate it. What to Buy: Jeep Cherokee or Jeep Grand Cherokee? A CVT is lighter than a traditional automatic, and this, combined with the smoother operation, helps to improve the fuel efficiency of vehicles that come equipped with a CVT. One other thing to consider is preventative maintenance. Cost is not a problem. by Donaho Sun Jun 18, 2006 12:20 pm, Post A 72MPG diesel-electric hybrid designed as part of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles, the Prodigy would introduce much of the exterior styling of the Five Hundred; it was also the first Ford to use the horizontal "three-bar" grille (which made its production debut on the 2006 Ford Fusion). Contact him at (210) 250-3236; chambers@star-telegram.com. Some buyers even go looking for luxury ambience and sporty handling in a segment once written off for its blandness and lack of originality. The Five Hundred was marketed by Lincoln-Mercury under the revived Mercury Montego nameplate, slotted between the Mercury Milan and Mercury Grand Marquis. They spend 50 years making cars that you either have to fall down into, or climb up into. The Five Hundred looks as if Ford's designers started with a VW Passat, then sent it to Balco for steroids and made it a bit more plain looking. 2005. The 2007 Five Hundred remained unchanged, with the SE model discontinued. She's a land yacht with SUV space and comfort reminiscent of the old Galaxy 500. I never had a car with AWD until this one. I'll be honest I'm in the automotive industry and 15 years ago I was the last person backing a Ford product. Manual . I might just be getting lazy, but I will say this. In addition, the rear seat was positioned higher than the front seats. The ergonomics are very good in the Five Hundred. by johnclineii Sun Jun 18, 2006 3:51 pm, Post Every Ford Five Hundred comes with a 3.0-liter V6 rated for 203 horsepower and 207 pound-feet of torque. You may order presentation ready copies to distribute to your colleagues, customers, or clients, by visiting https://www.parsintl.com/publication/autoblog/. Now on my second Ford, this one the Fivehundred. Ford recommends that the CVT be serviced at 60,000 miles. One was a six-speed automatic transmission installed in the SEL and Limited front-drive models, but the other was a continuously variable transmission, or CVT, used in the SE front-drive model and in all of the all-wheel drive Ford 500s, as well as in all of the Ford Freestyle crossovers. The launch gear is almost like the first gear in a regular automatic transmission. The V6 provides adequate power for easy city driving, but buyers will wish for extra midrange torque for passing at highway speeds and climbing grades. can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. Like a CVT, an automatic transmission also has some downsides. I love my car, and to me it's worth the fix. You must have JavaScript enabled to experience the new Autoblog. The Ford Five Hundred sedan is available in one of three trims: SE, SEL and Limited. The six-speed-automatic transmission gets incrementally better mileage than the CVT: 21city/29 highway, compared to 20 city/27 highway. I find that driving the CVT has a different feel. Receive pricing updates, shopping tips & more! It goes where you point it, and doesn't lose its composure on turns. Automatic transmissions are less expensive to maintain. The Five Hundred comes with only one engine choice: a 203 horsepower, 3.0-liter, V6 engine. Some other reviewers (note: not owners) have complained about the lack of power available from the six-cylinder, 203 horsepower engine, given the weight of the Five Hundred, which is just under 4,000 pounds. Find aused certified pre-owned Fordfor sale. Deriving its nameplate from the ''500" suffix used by Ford on the Custom 500, Fairlane 500 and Galaxie 500 model ranges from the 1950s to 1970s, the Five Hundred was the larger of two model lines intended to replace the Ford Taurus (the Ford Fusion being the smaller vehicle). I haven't had a transmission last 150k yet. I would think that if you don't need all-wheel-drive where you live, the six speed, which would be front-wheel-drive would do you fine. everything else is great (like new). If you buy the all-wheel drive, consider purchasing an extended warranty. Marking the debut of the Ford D3 platform, the Five Hundred marked several firsts for full-size Ford vehicles, introducing front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive (as an option), unibody construction, and the first generation sold without a V8 engine (since the Ford Model A). Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. So far mine is OK. CVT is uncertainlty in future. Ford Five Hundred Transmissions. (CVT) Warranty: 36 Months/ Unlimited Mileage. 21/29 City/Highway MPG2007 Ford Five Hundred Limited Alloy Clearcoat Metallic FWD Duratec 3.0L V6 24V 6-Speed Automatic . Electric Cars vs. Gas Cars: Pros and Cons. What to Buy: Subaru Crosstrek or Subaru Forester? Base prices start at US$22,795 for a front-wheel drive SE and range to US$28,495 for an all-wheel drive Limited. A mid-year running change removed the exterior doorside trim molding on all trim levels in favor of a small sill molding at the bottom edge of the door. The Ford Five Hundred was the first full-size Ford sedan to feature a folding rear seat to supplement the 21 cubic foot trunk (larger than the Lincoln Town Car). Ford Five Hundred FWD to AWD & Mustang Wheels, what to do to increase faster horsepower and better performance. by nabrum Sun Jun 18, 2006 1:54 pm, Post We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. If it is so bad that I need AWD here than I best stay home or risk getting killed. The driving sensation is a bit odd, though. In lieu of the shapeless dash and seats found in the Taurus, the Ford Five Hundred has the crisp, clean lines popularized by the Passat. Thanks to its Volvo-engineered chassis, the 2006 Ford Five Hundred offers a pleasant balance between smooth ride quality and responsive handling. AutoDNA explains common CVT Cons include: According to Mister Transmission, while there are some advantages to having a CVT, traditional automatic transmissions also offer some benefits. Shuddering is also a common problem. The rear seats fold flat in a 60/40-split and this, along with the fold-flat front-passenger seat, allows owners to transport items up to 9 feet in length. Full-throttle starts have a moment of hesitation as the engine revs to 4,500 rpm before the car starts rolling, holding those revs until the desired speed is reached. All-wheel-drive models with the continuously variable transmission are rated at 19 mpg city/26 highway. [13] This became the final generation Taurus for North America. Customer Reviews. passenger cv axle. This is the top-of-the-line model, whose price starts at $26,380 (plus $675 freight) but has a long list of standard amenities including leather interior that fully justifies the price. The driver sits relatively high, gaining a commanding view of the road. The Five Hundred is a very nice car at a very good price. by Stoker1 Sun Jun 18, 2006 4:38 pm, Post Because the Five Hundreds chassis and body structure are borrowed from the S80, the car comes with the same crash-safety engineering features found on the Volvo, which have made that car one of the safest on the road. Get the best deals on Complete Auto Transmissions for Ford Five Hundred when you shop the largest online selection at eBay.com. I would buy another one in a heart beat. Choose a vehicle model. AT, (3.0L), 6 speed (trans code B on certification label) FIND YOUR TRANSMISSION. Two couples could go on vacation in this car, and not hurt for room. A CVT is similar to an automatic in that it doesn't use any input from the driver, but that is where the similarities end. Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings