asians are allowed to sell bland looking vehicles. the public and press still will not allow it to be ok for domestics to do so.
the 500 is developing a cult following but has not hit mass market appeal yet. i do believe the lack of hp and bland styling are to blame. the old folks drawn to this car will not buy it after driving it because it has steering and handling more like a euro car instead of a domestic. they will not like the firm seats, instead they would prefer barcalounger seats. finally, the engine revs well and has a throaty sound, but lacks torque and the lazy feel that the geezers love. whatever marketing points they score with the oldsters on the high seating postion, space, value and conservative style, they lose on everything else. geezers don't like the big console and floor shifter either.
however, the 500 is meant to be a boomer car, and aging boomers won't excuse the lack of tire shredding power and the anonymous styling.
its reprehensible that Ford did not nail it 100% from the start with this car, however, it doesn't mean the car is total crap. its a pretty good car overall, in spite of its weaknesses. I'd bet the Impala will score higher in comparo tests. For me, the Impala I would have been able to live with (SS) would have cost me much more to get into and does not have an adequate back seat.
Ford will fix the problems, hopefully in 12-18 calendar months. We'll see.
I will say this, the car is SOLID. Damn thing is WELL BUILT. Its like a brick crap house. The strut tower brace alone looks like an insane street fighting tool.
BTWthe 06 impala is selling like gangbusters here......