Starting this year, environmentalists will be a little more timid when they gripe about SUVs.
That’s because sport utility vehicles — long criticized for their gluttonous appetite for gas and dirty emissions — are turning green. Several manufacturers are planning more efficient models for the coming years, and the first to the market is Ford’s 2005 Escape Hybrid. Read more…
I had high expectations when I stepped inside the Ford Five Hundred, especially after seeing the hot GT and the sexy new Mustang. They prove Ford still knows how to make cars sizzle.
This big sedan, though, left me feeling lukewarm after a week behind the wheel. It’s not a bad car — certainly an improvement over the stale Taurus — but it lacks the pizzazz Chrysler has created with its 300C masterpiece.
Sadly, it could have been so much better. Read more…
A Midlife Makeover For The Best Selling Small SUV
The small SUV class has been doing well for quite some time and the same can be said for Ford’s Escape. Nevertheless there have been some new competitors who are trying very hard to steal the title of Best Selling Small SUV from the Blue Oval. Chief among these is Chevrolet’s handsome new Equinox, which has been well received by consumers and critics alike. Ford knows this and refreshed the Escape for the 2005 model year to try to maintain its lead spot in the sales race. Is the midlife makeover good enough to keep the Escape out front? You’ll have to keep reading. Read more…
Ford Free of Style?
The suits must have finally tired of watching paying customers bypass the Blue Oval store on their way to make a down payment on a Chrysler Pacifica, because it didn’t take long for Ford to jump onboard the crossover train. It may be a few years late to the party but Ford’s entrant is here nonetheless. The Freestyle is the vehicle that the bean counters hope will claim a piece of the ever-expanding crossover pie for the house that Henry built. But to do that it will have to offer generous doses of comfort, value, safety and drivability. A bit of style wouldn’t hurt either. Read more…
Science Meets Sheetmetal
“Is that the thing that runs on water?”
“Pardon me?” I exclaim, with a half confused, half grimaced look on my face; yet another classic example of mainstream media leading to public confusion. Current events mix with auto tech about as well as the weather and sports. Sure, you still get the score, but what does the dewpoint have to do with the bases being loaded? Not much. But with fuel prices looming in the stratosphere, even the cameraman has something to say about gas savings. So without further ado, lets dive into the meat and potatoes of this FrankenUte (and no this isn’t a culinary review either)! Read more…
Do The A&W Waitresses Still Roller-Skate To Your Car?
Ford was on to something when they introduced the T-bird concept back in 2000. Then they waited until 2002 to release it. Orders came quick and the early ‘Birds were gobbled up by graying Baby Boomers. Then the lust disappeared. All those who remembered the classic T-bird had theirs already and Ford just couldn’t bribe the young’uns into taking one. So this latest model has sailed along smoothly, the winds of time, unfortunately, not in the ‘Bird’s favor. The reign of the Thunderbird ends this year—again. The flight was to be a short one and lack of sales has not spurred a model year extension. So we found it necessary to take one last cruise before this bird joined the Dodo. Read more…
Making It Even Easier To Hear That Sound
When we reviewed the Mustang coupe this past summer, we told you one of its best features was “that sound”. More specifically, the unabashed noise that pours from the stainless steel dual exhaust every time you step on it, and makes you question aloud how this thing could not be breaking every noise law in the book. It’s the sound of power. And now that we have driven the drop-top ‘Stang, we can report one thing with utter certainty: power has never sounded better. It’s true, our convertible tester’s voice was slightly less brazen than our pre-production coupe’s, but its V8 answered plenty loud and you can be assured that when cruising town on a perfect summer night there’ll be a lot of eyes on you. And it’s in that same scenario that you’ll notice something else too; the new Mustang convertible is pretty good. Read more…
My Screaming Yellow Stallion
Call it retro, call it heritage, call it old style; whatever you call it, it looks good. Ford hit their mark with this one. The 2005 Mustang looks fresh and timeless, new and old blended together in one hot product. Looking at this Screaming Yellow Pony car brings back mental images of the 60’s and early 70’s Mustangs. That’s no bad thing. Read more…
Oh, If Only My Office Chair Had A Hide This Nice
As you are reading this 2005 Super Dutys are arriving on dealer lots and hitting the roads. However, we got the impression that there were enough diehards out there in favor of the old trucks that we figured we would give ‘er a final go round. Not to mention there are plenty of 04’s still on the lot ready to be put to work. So keep reading, because this truck is a workaholic and there is always another tree that needs pulled, or a horse trailer needing hauled.
Read more…
