It was wearing a Michigan “Manufacturer’s license plate, clearly stating that its not “from these parts”. From all outward appearances, it had all the bells and whistles: cool 18″ gun-metal snow flake wheels, wrapped in Continental 245/60 R18 sport tires, Silver Metallic paint, Black and dark grey Alcantra seats, the 6spd manu-matic, Nav system, rain sensing wipers, and all the power equipment. It was missing the third row of seats.

It didn’t look like a “Test mule”, but I didn’t see any marketing material in the trunk; so; I don’t think it was out trolling for public approval. I really can’t remember the last time I saw a Ford Motor Co. product that made me stop in my tracks, (Has there ever been a Ford product that made anyone stop and say “Ooooooo”?)but this one made me think about going to harass my local Ford salesman.

Its what the Mazda 5 should have been, way cooler than the Pontiac Vibe could ever be, a Mercedes R-Class for the masses. Hopefully Ford has realized that a Euro-styled car can actually be sold in the States.

Our plan: 2 very small vehicles for around town, something more spacious for occasional travelling – will be sport wagon, or van.

Failing this, Goddess, I’d appreciate a shift in the management of the big 2.5 to a leadership that knows what it’s doing and can produce desirable vehicles that won’t embarrass us poor consumers when we want to be environmentally conscious or preserve domestic employment.

Then again, just scrap all that and give me a few million bucks to live where I want and drive something nice.

What does that mean? Is the Chinese market considered to be more sophisticated than the US? Or does Ford intend to export these vehicles from China?

Interesting news, with odd implications.

4. It’s ugly.

Skitsnack, as we say back home.

Since about the turn of the century, Ford Europe is putting out ever better-looking cars.

One would hope that the S-max was designed to be compatible with worldwide requirements.

The posters here demand daring looks and design. But when presented with such , regardless of the vehicle in question, we get this same post.

From now on, I’d like to know from which ever poster posts this, to tell us which car they feel is not ugly.

This is a minivan.

How many esthetics are there for this kind of vehicle?

1. It’s a Ford diesel (powerchoke anyone?).
2. It’s a diesel that gets crummy milage for the size. In fact terrible milage.
3. Interior is too small.
4. It’s ugly.

but will it be brought stateside? Why even bother asking!

We tried that with the Contour once. As a midsizer, it was just too small to take on the Camcords of the time.

My take: I rented a 97/98 Contour. It was very good on fuel and it looked great, but it had the worse rear legroom on a car this side of a Mazda MX3 (nah, noone’s gonna remember that tater tot of a car).

I haven’t had my Mazda5 long enough to get a fix on its fuel economy, but am expecting to get about 5mpg better than my Sienna (18.5mpg). Low numbers are likely due to its high weight (+350 on the Mazda3s), short gearing to keep acceleration peppy, and lack of a 5-speed autobox available on other Mazdas.

I think worse is appropriate when one one hand you have a stylish and efficient automobile and on the other you have image concerns and fear of the unknown.

A Mazda5 hybrid (well, the first hybrid minivan of any size) would cure this failing and holds the potential of being able to revive US minivan sales in a big way.

I know it kills people on this website, but Americans have different tastes – not better or worse, but different.

If they could sell them for $18-$20k, they would have a chance. More than that, forget about it.

I would need a Miller Lite chaser with this. I was never completely comfortable with drinking bread.

But if the dollar is so weak against the Euro, why the heck aren’t the Big 2.5 (or at least Ford and GM) producing cars in the US for export to Europe?

Great question. Might want to take a look at what Mercedes and BMW are doing in the South.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thbjmDGCtOI

I realize that it takes time to tool up a factory, and that it might be difficult to close down operating factories in Europe, but it sort of seems like a no-brainer to me.

It looks like a loser.

Unfortunately, this is the attitude that dooms cars like the S-Max and Euro cars in general.

Imagine: Mercury Mondeo, Mercury S-Max, the list goes on…

Yep, just like they did with the Merkur XR4Ti, the Mercury Mystique, the Mercury Cougar (the small one that was based on the Mondeo).

Mercury can only sell old cars to old people.

Besides by selling European models, how can the dealers make more money selling fake wire wheelcovers and “landau” vinyl tops?

It’s like the original small Honda Odyssey that didn’t sell and that was replaced by the big minivan of the same name, or like the Mitsubishi Expo, the Nissan Stanza Station Wagon, the Nissan Axxess, or even the Mazda MPV.

It looks like a loser.