Personally, the Taurus name doesn't evoke good thoughts in my mind. I'll agree the first couple of generations were good cars and sold well, but the last generation was total garbage (I'm excluding the SHO). I've had a few Tauri for rental cars and found them to be uncomfortable, badly underpowered, boring interior and exterior, and about as refined as a Yugo. The name may work for old Taurus owners and diehard Ford fans, but for those of us that grew up on Asian cars, the Taurus name will not generate any interest- more likely a few laughs. From what I've read, the problem with the 500 isn't the name, it's bland styling and an engine 50 hp short of the competition.
2008 FORD TAURUS!!!
The 500 will be renamed for 2008....here's the story:
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8N48NI80.htm
Welcome Back TAURUS, Now if only we had the SHO back too.
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8N48NI80.htm
Welcome Back TAURUS, Now if only we had the SHO back too.
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
"... From what I've read, the problem with the 500 isn't the name, it's bland styling and an engine 50 hp short of the competition."
I believe you are right on the money, Ming. Slapping a new badge on the 500 is not going to change very much. A rose by any other name still smells the same. The 500 may be a fine car but it just doesn't seem to fit anywhere in today's marketplace.
Supposedly, the 500 (nee Taurus?) will get a Fusion-like front clip for 2008. As a Fusion owner I've always considered it to be the new Taurus anyway. FoMoCo is making things too confusing. As names go, the new Edge is the best of the lot and the TV commercials are sharp (pun intended) too. Boz
I believe you are right on the money, Ming. Slapping a new badge on the 500 is not going to change very much. A rose by any other name still smells the same. The 500 may be a fine car but it just doesn't seem to fit anywhere in today's marketplace.
Supposedly, the 500 (nee Taurus?) will get a Fusion-like front clip for 2008. As a Fusion owner I've always considered it to be the new Taurus anyway. FoMoCo is making things too confusing. As names go, the new Edge is the best of the lot and the TV commercials are sharp (pun intended) too. Boz
I totally agree Boz- the Fusion was, in my mind, the replacement for the Taurus.
I'm a Taurus Fan, getting Broadsided at 50mph and Walking away, actually driving away from that accident (after all the paperwork was done of course) The Taurus Brand strikes "Safety" in my mind. Having a little one (18months old) sitting next to the door that was hit and seeing that even with a hard shot in that door there was no intrusion into the passenger compartment, I bought another Taurus to replace it. It may be an 05 SLO, but peace of mind is worth the money. I too thought that the Fusion was the Taurus replacement, but if they want to rebadge the 500 and call it a Bull to try and sell a few more cars, I'm ok with it....When my Fusion lease is up, I'll see if they do the SHO thing with the new Taurus or and SVT-GT-SHO thing with the AWD Fusion. If I don't like my choices, I may go for the Challenger.
I think the Taurus's were great cars, though incredibly bland... but that doesn't mean I think they should bring the name back. The time of the Taurus is done.
I drove a new Taurus a couple of years and was perfectly content with it. Granted, it was a company-owned car and I didn't put a lot of miles on it due to out-of-state travel requirements. Boring, yes, but nonetheless, I had no complaints regarding the general quality, comfort, and reliability.
[quote author=MZ6ZoomZoom link=topic=68808.msg1190304#msg1190304 date=1170795528]
I think the Taurus's were great cars, though incredibly bland... but that doesn't mean I think they should bring the name back. The time of the Taurus is done.
[/quote]
FoMoCo would seem to be taking a step backward instead of forward. Boz
I think the Taurus's were great cars, though incredibly bland... but that doesn't mean I think they should bring the name back. The time of the Taurus is done.
[/quote]
FoMoCo would seem to be taking a step backward instead of forward. Boz
[quote author=RB link=topic=68808.msg1190329#msg1190329 date=1170796056]
I drove a new Taurus a couple of years and was perfectly content with it. Granted, it was a company-owned car and I didn't put a lot of miles on it due to out-of-state travel requirements. Boring, yes, but nonetheless, I had no complaints regarding the general quality, comfort, and reliability.
[/quote]
I agree. My father has always had Taurus's (well, Sables) since... god, a long time... 10 years ago? Now he has a Milan, of course. I had, and he had, no complaints about his Sables. But, their time is done. The 500 also doesn't really take the same spot in the lineup that the Taurus did.
I drove a new Taurus a couple of years and was perfectly content with it. Granted, it was a company-owned car and I didn't put a lot of miles on it due to out-of-state travel requirements. Boring, yes, but nonetheless, I had no complaints regarding the general quality, comfort, and reliability.
[/quote]
I agree. My father has always had Taurus's (well, Sables) since... god, a long time... 10 years ago? Now he has a Milan, of course. I had, and he had, no complaints about his Sables. But, their time is done. The 500 also doesn't really take the same spot in the lineup that the Taurus did.
If FoMoCo really wanted to confuse the world (and consumers) it should re-name the Fusion as Taurus and re-name the 500 as Fusion.
The 500 needs a whole lot of something besides a new name. It was sad to see the Taurus left to die on the vine but it's gone and should be left to rest in peace. Ford's name game is not going to improve sales.
Boz
The 500 needs a whole lot of something besides a new name. It was sad to see the Taurus left to die on the vine but it's gone and should be left to rest in peace. Ford's name game is not going to improve sales.
Boz
killing off the taurus must not have been good enough the first time, so they're going to do it again :chuckles: . The taurus was a good car until it was left to rot
The name is cool but it has negative rep. I've known two people with taurus actually three. They were definetly bland inside, out and in terms of driving. They were imo very uncomfortable (these were cloth seats no heat etc) and poorly built I've even heard of screws being visible in the interior.
The five hundred is a decent car but lacks style though this new one is better. Taurus is a better name than 500 if it weren't for the names negative history.
The five hundred is a decent car but lacks style though this new one is better. Taurus is a better name than 500 if it weren't for the names negative history.
[quote author=mica3speedy link=topic=68808.msg1190762#msg1190762 date=1170806896]
killing off the taurus must not have been good enough the first time, so they're going to do it again :chuckles: . The taurus was a good car until it was left to rot
[/quote]
Dollars to doughnuts says your prediction is right on the money. I don't see the Five Hundred (Taurus) having a very long life. It's a nice car but doesn't seem to fit the marketplace, has no niche. Boz
killing off the taurus must not have been good enough the first time, so they're going to do it again :chuckles: . The taurus was a good car until it was left to rot
[/quote]
Dollars to doughnuts says your prediction is right on the money. I don't see the Five Hundred (Taurus) having a very long life. It's a nice car but doesn't seem to fit the marketplace, has no niche. Boz
This is just foolish. The car is not selling well so change the name? How about change the product to make it something that people want to buy?
I also read that the Freestyle is going to be renamed to "Taurus X."
ARGH!!!! Come on Ford, wake-up. Renaming a so-so product is not the way to win customers.
I also read that the Freestyle is going to be renamed to "Taurus X."
ARGH!!!! Come on Ford, wake-up. Renaming a so-so product is not the way to win customers.
Well they are doing a facial redesign at the same time, Big_Bill. But I agree with you.
While I don't agree with renaming the 500 the Taurus, I can almost see why. But the Freestyle to the Taurus X?? WTF?? Sounds like some Roman ruler or maybe a pope in the middle ages.
Won't people who are used to the Taurus (and Sable) being a mid-size car be surprised when they discover the new Taurus is a full-size car? Isn't this sort of like there being a Mustang station wagon?
how mad are we going to be when the "NEW" Taurus launches with a SHO package ...... :lol:
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
FordFusionClub.com
A forum community dedicated to Ford Fusion and all Ford vehicle owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance for the Focus, Fiesta, Taurus, Mustang and more!
Full Forum Listing
Recommended Communities
