Well all, the time has come for mom to find a 2nd vehicle (or for her, a vehicle.) Don't have a ton to spend, but today I ran across a 2005 Ford 500 SEL. Interior and exterior are absolutly mint, couldn't believe the thing has 168K. The dealer has been sitting on it for a few months and offered it to us for $3500 cash. I know Ford's pretty well, but I'm not well versed on this model. If anyone could tell me more about them, or if this would be a good purchase, that'd be great! Thanks!
2005 Ford 500...?
- Thread starter renegade_987
- Start date
- Status
Its a Taurus. Ford changed the name to "500" briefly (3 years, after googling it) then when Alan Mulally came aboard as CEO said, "you had one of the THE most identifiable brand names in the auto industry in 'Taurus' and you quit using it just so all the product names would start with an 'f' sound? No!" So the name Taurus came back after a 3 model year absence. Its the same D3 platform as the Taurus.
I wish someone had done that for Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Plymouth, as well as giving them fresh products.
I wish someone had done that for Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Plymouth, as well as giving them fresh products.
It's like the newer Taurus. One our nephews has one he inherited from his grandparents, it's been a great car, although a little on the generic side.
I think it was similar to the Ford Taurus with a 3.0 v 6 not Vulcan. I think that name only lasted a short time before it was called the Taurus. Later models of the Taurus used a 3.5 v6
Make sure you get a trusted mechanic to check it out first.
I think you could get the CVT or the Aisin transmission in these. Avoid the CVT. Aisin is an extremely solid transmission though & so is the 3.0L V6.
If it is AWD, beware of the transfer case (power transfer unit) issues in Ford AWD systems. The transfer case is not equipped with a drain plug & Ford says to never change the fluid, period, unless the unit gets submerged in water. The transfer case fluid usually sludges up, turns to grease & the transfer case starts spitting fluid out of the vent giving a burning smell. This usually occurs at 70,000-100,000 miles. Very common in ALL Ford AWDs. I know, I own two. The solution is to remove the transfer case fill plug & suck the old fluid out with a pump & refill. Best to do this every 30,000 or 1 year, but the PTU is likely to already be sludged of you get past 50,000. Catastrophic failure of the PTU is likely by 100,000 miles in ALL Ford AWDs unless you go against Ford's advice & change the fluid. This is usually a $1,500-$2,000 repair.
If it is AWD, beware of the transfer case (power transfer unit) issues in Ford AWD systems. The transfer case is not equipped with a drain plug & Ford says to never change the fluid, period, unless the unit gets submerged in water. The transfer case fluid usually sludges up, turns to grease & the transfer case starts spitting fluid out of the vent giving a burning smell. This usually occurs at 70,000-100,000 miles. Very common in ALL Ford AWDs. I know, I own two. The solution is to remove the transfer case fill plug & suck the old fluid out with a pump & refill. Best to do this every 30,000 or 1 year, but the PTU is likely to already be sludged of you get past 50,000. Catastrophic failure of the PTU is likely by 100,000 miles in ALL Ford AWDs unless you go against Ford's advice & change the fluid. This is usually a $1,500-$2,000 repair.
Last edited:
Originally Posted By: NHGUY
Based on a Volvo,with I believe CVT transmission.
Correct. Based on the S80 I believe. It is a huge car on the inside, even for tall people. My in-laws had one, went over 200k miles on the original CVT until it died. 3.0 Duratec was still going strong when the trans died.
Based on a Volvo,with I believe CVT transmission.
Correct. Based on the S80 I believe. It is a huge car on the inside, even for tall people. My in-laws had one, went over 200k miles on the original CVT until it died. 3.0 Duratec was still going strong when the trans died.
The 2005 Ford 500 was the first year for that model. There was already a Taurus up to 2007. The 500 got renamed in 2008 to Taurus when they stopped making the older body style. That one only lasted a couple years until a new body style came out in 2010. I believe the early 500's only had the 3.0 Duratec engine, later years got the 3.5 Duratec. They didn't sell as many like the Taurus which ranged from about 200k to almost 400k per year. Don't know too much about them, but the Duratec engine has been pretty reliable.
A FWD, 6 speed one of these would be a good , reliable car. The Ford Duratec 3.0 is a great engine and Aisin automatics are always super reliable.
PDUs explode on the AWD ones
PDUs explode on the AWD ones
Looks like it's already been covered but if it's front wheel drive and 6 speed transmission I would buy it. If it's either AWD or CVT I'd avoid it.
Takes an even 6 quarts of 5w20 also FYI.
Takes an even 6 quarts of 5w20 also FYI.
I have one. 2005 Ford Five Hundred with the Duratec 3.0 (Only engine option available), FWD with the Aisin 6 speed transmission.
Excellent, comfortable, relaible car.
The 3.0 Duratec is bulletproof. It had the reputation of being underpowered, but I have not found that to be true.
I have had no unexpected problems with this car; only normal maintenance items.
If you haven't already found it. here is a good resource:
http://www.fordtaurus.net/forums/
Scroll down the page to the Five Hundred/Montego forums.
An afterthought: Rereading the OP's note, I see this is for his mother. Great far for us older folk; easy in & out and nice tall, upright seating with great visibility (Ford called it "Command Seating.") FWIW, I'm 6'1" and 220 lb. and this is a very comfortable car for me.
Excellent, comfortable, relaible car.
The 3.0 Duratec is bulletproof. It had the reputation of being underpowered, but I have not found that to be true.
I have had no unexpected problems with this car; only normal maintenance items.
- Brake job
- replaced battery
- new tires
- replaced trunk struts
If you haven't already found it. here is a good resource:
http://www.fordtaurus.net/forums/
Scroll down the page to the Five Hundred/Montego forums.
An afterthought: Rereading the OP's note, I see this is for his mother. Great far for us older folk; easy in & out and nice tall, upright seating with great visibility (Ford called it "Command Seating.") FWIW, I'm 6'1" and 220 lb. and this is a very comfortable car for me.
Last edited:
I had an '06 Montego (got totaled by some jack-^& last December). I simply loved that car. I bought it with 119K on it for $5500 OTD. Super clean. Aisin trans is awesome and has a drainplug (my fluid changes are documented here). Car has room for days and is a capable performer too. Duratec is awesome, back three spark plugs are a PITA to change and the plenum has to come off unless you are AntMan. The only issue that they really have is the stupid accumulator piston for the A/C compressor. There is a fix, but it requires an expensive evac and recharge to get it done correctly. The A/C works well at speed but does nothing in slow traffic or around town cruising.
Also, check out the top engine isolator bushing on the crossbar in the engine bay. Chances are it is rotted out and doing nothing. I bought a wheel caster from Menards and sanded it to fit in the spot and pressed it in with a C-clamp and some wood. It held up for two+ years and caused no unwanted vibration issues either.
Also, check out the top engine isolator bushing on the crossbar in the engine bay. Chances are it is rotted out and doing nothing. I bought a wheel caster from Menards and sanded it to fit in the spot and pressed it in with a C-clamp and some wood. It held up for two+ years and caused no unwanted vibration issues either.
My cousin has one and its a POS. Water leaks in the doors among other issues.
there is a simple fix for the water leak. All you do is razor slit the weather stripping that blocks the drain. Mine were plugged with debris but a simple hose out cleared it all and it never had a rust issue. The hood on these (and the trunk I think) is aluminum and the underskin is steel so they do suffer from galvonic corrosion and sometimes bubble the paint a bit, but no rust.
- Status
