2005 Ford Five Hundred SEL Fwd 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl 6A)
We have had our SEL FWD for 14 months now and have driven it about 12000 miles. We have three cars, so this one isn't driven every day, but we are always sure to take this one when we go on longer trips because it is very comfortable and gets good mileage. When cruising on the freeway, this car is quiet and smooth, but the engine is a little bit noisy under brisk acceleration. The 6-speed transmission behaves well and helps the somewhat underpowered 3.0L engine performs as well as it possibly can. The car has been very reliable so far, but I have had to take it to the shop for rear suspension noise (brake cable grommet) and to have a new dash storage compartment lid installed (bubbles).
Interior styling is excellent. Seats are very comfortable. Although the stereo won't blow you away, the ability to play MP3s is nice. Trunk space is incredible! Rear passenger leg room is fantastic even for large adults. Overall, this car handles very well and is a joy to drive.
The engine is not quite powerful enough for a car of this size and it is more noisy than I would expect under firm acceleration. Perhaps the 4.0L V6 would be a nice option? Need to find a permanent fix for the clunk in the rear - greasing the brake cable grommet only fixes it for a while.