So i am planning on buying this 2006 mercury montego premier from a guy for 2500 with 150,000 miles. Is this a good first car or not?
They can be good cars, they are basically Ford 500.Although, I would avoid the AWD and CVT transmission on those.
Have a mechanic check it out, especially the transmission.
Hi, according to Scotty, the CVT is the one to get over the 6 speed automatic, funny enough. Maybe you've had different experience, but just wanted to put that out there.
The CVT of those are the beginnings of Ford CVT and was not good.
Understandable... I guess neither of them are particularly good, importance of pre-purchase inspection seen again.
I purchased a 2006 Ford five hundred limited 3.0 with Asin 6-speed, fwd. I have around 150,000 miles on it, I don't drive that much anymore as I'm retired. I keep up with maintenance on it regularly, including transmission oil changes. I try to preach this to my kids and Grandkids, that an oil change cost a lot less than a new motor, same with transmission. Maintenance is key, and that's all you can do, keep it up and take care of it. Thanks
They are OK cars. The transmissions are a little weak but $2500 doesn't get you much these days. If a mechanic says its in good shape then why not?
Scotty's video on the Ford 500 (Mechanically identical to the Montego):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pREmM3dPFmk
Common problems reported by owners of Ford Five Hundreds:
https://repairpal.com/problems/ford/five-hundred
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Ford/Five_Hundred/2006/
Probably the most notable thing about the Ford Five Hundred is that its based on a Volvo derived platform and is known for its high safety at the time. Reliability wise, CVTs are known for being weak, but the AISIN 6 speed automatic is particularly weak on Ford V6 sedans like the Fusion and Five Hundred. If a mechanic says the transmission is in good shape, and the car was maintained, it could be a decent car. If you the most reliable car you can find for that price range, I'd get a late 90s early 2000s Toyota Camry. But for a few years, it could be a good first car because of its safety and decent reliability. Don't expect much though from a $2500 Ford.