2005 Ford Five Hundred First Drive Cumberland MD

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Introduction

Ford Five Hundred -- 2005 First Drive: You can only sell a million trucks a year.

And then, sooner or later, you have to sell a car or two. Lately, that seems to be a bit tricky for domestic automakers, especially where Ford is concerned. The Focus is a fine car, but it's too small for that great gray middle of the market. The Taurus is, well, the Taurus - and, as in Rocky 5, the champ is flat busted and living back in the rough part of town, known to car companies as the rental fleet. Ford needs to sell cars one at a time, and do it the way it used to - before it relied on SUVs and pickup trucks.

Ford needs to start selling an "everyman" car.
For good or ill, the 2005 Ford Five Hundred is it - at least until the 2006 Ford Fusion arrives next year. Whether it makes the grade will be, of course, up to how many of you plunk down hard-earned cash on it, and, ultimately, how many come back for more. After a weekend of driving this erstwhile domestic people's champion, however, one thing seems certain: The Ford Five Hundred will please you on the outside, wow you on the inside and, unfortunately, put you to sleep when you jump on the slender pedal.

Such a shame. Ford was so close to building what would have been heralded as the perfect mid-sized sedan. With a nice euro-design and Ford sensibilities, the Five Hundred is just a little light under the hood, that's all. But the lack of grunt is a damning crime in the eyes of most Americans, especially when its competition, the overly muscular Chrysler 300, offers a power charge, with looks meant to intimidate. Yes, the Five Hundred is "thousands less" than the Chrysler 300 Limited or the Hemi-powered "C" version, but it's a sorry day when Ford markets itself as a discount carmaker.

Oops. They did that already, with all the rebate nonsense.

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Sävy Strategic Creative

The Finest in European Automotive in Bend.

1.541.359.3068
Service Rd
Bend, OK
http://www.getsavy.com/

The Finest in European Automotive in Bend.
The moment one walks through the doors at German Master Tech in Bend, Oregon, its meticulously kept, white floored shop currently home to an impressive lineup of detail and restoration in progress: the bright silver Porsche spec racer being built in the center of the room, the Porsche 911 S undergoing a full restoration and the variant of others, from BMWs to Ferraris, it is quickly understood why German Master Tech, with some of the finest European auto technicians and restoration specialists in the country, supports some of the finest European cars on the West Coast. This German-apprenticed, master-trained company, that refers to its work as “a craft”, is known to many by the unmatched service and support they provide their racing and restoration clients across the country, to others by the niche expedition preparation service they provide all-terrain vehicles, and still to their most dedicated customer, the fine European car enthusiast, German Master Tech is truly the one to many in this town.
German Master Tech’s President, a BMW Master Technician, Tim Morris, brings with him over 25 years experience in the industry and has been awarded several achievement and master technician status awards though BMW specialized factory schools. Tim has also achieved BMW’s Center of Excellence Award twice and is a seven-time BMW President’s Club Technician. German Master Tech’s co-founder and past partner, Jay Audia, won the 07 SCCA Regional Championships for GT2 in his German Master Tech-prepared Panoz. The company’s third founder is one of Bend’s most passionate Porsche enthusiasts, John Audette.

“Restorations have been a large part of our focus,” said Morris, describing some of his company’s award winning roots. “From our very first restoration, a 58’ BMW Isetta 300, which we took to the Forest Grove Concours d’ Elegance in 05 and won our class, in addition to taking home the President’s Award, which was judged by Pacific College’s President as “the car the college student would most want to drive,” said Morris. “I drew on my past car show and restoration experience to pull off a surprise win. It was a good deal of timing and the right car, with the right colors. We stole the show with a micro car, it was great!” Morris said standing next to his red Porsche hot rod parked inside his shop. “Car shows and racing are my passions,” he said with a smile.
“Our tuning business is the best around,” continued Morris of the company’s capabilities. “The application of our developed performance packages to already great cars really creates a ‘wow’.” German Master Tech provides full warranty BMW performance upgrades as a Dinan-authorized dealer, and Porsche performance programs that take the 911 to the next level. “Our tuning business has led us to organized racing, which has been a life-long dream of mine.” Included in German Master Tech’s list of champion racing cars are a 64’ BMW 1800 TISA owned by Steve Walker of Salem. The 1800 TISA is BMW’s first post-war racer based on a production car in regional vintage racing. A 911 Porsche racer owned by Bend’s Mark Powell will be racing in one of the West Coast’s fastest growing amateur racing classes, Spec 911. “Mark’s car is special as it ties together the whole business: a restoration with an extreme tuning package.”

“German Master Tech has worked on all my cars, including a Range Rover, BMW, three Ferraris and a Porsche,” said Ervin Richards, a long-time German Master Tech customer. “I bring my cars here because they consistently do it better and because they’ve always gone way beyond the call of duty in their service and support of my vehicles.” “If I can bring it to German Master Tech,” said Richards, “I will.”
To learn more about German Master Tech, contact them directly at 541.322.9647.