The Taurus was extremely popular with the senior-set.
Because it was CHEAP, the same reason the rental fleets bought tons of them - not because it was good.
The 500 isn't anywhere near as cheap to buy as the last Taurus was.
Indeed it was, but most seniors have gone over to the Japanese automakers, my grandfather included.
I bought a Mercury Montego back in '05 and love it. Of course, I was driving around late 70's-early 80's cars (box Chevys and Impalas), so this new car thing is still fresh for me. One thing I will say, though, in regards to this article, Ford is STUPID for sticking with the "three-bar grill" on their autos. I think it completely cheapens the car, and it was a HUGE turnoff for me to getting a 500 or a Fusion at the time.
My mother bought a Milan last year, and she loves it as well. The styling of Mercury vehicles vs. their Ford cousins is leaps and bounds above. I agree that Ford needs to start designing cars that people will actually want to drive, otherwise they're on their way to being relegated to the scrapheap of automaking.
Technically, I am a senior (now age 59) and bought a Taurus in 03. I wanted a sedan and the Japanese cars (Camry for ex) were more expensive and had less room. The real senior car would have been the Crown Vic. My Wife told me that was an old person's car. I like the 500, and it makes sense to rename the car.
My best friend has an Avalon, and it is nice, but expensive compared to the 500.
The Taurus was running neck and neck in sales with the Camry in 1992 as America's most popular model. Ford was also making a lot of profits in 1992. I owned a 1992 Camry and still think it was the best car I ever owned.
Among others. Unless I misremember, it was the last American-made car to be the best-selling model in the US -- it's been all Civic, Tercel and Camry since then. It was also offered with a police package, and after the old Thunderbird was discontinued, it was Ford's fastest car and its NASCAR package.
It grew long in the tooth, but when it was introduced, the Taurus was hugely influential -- the curved lines you see on every almost every car model today can be traced back to the Taurus. It wasn't the most inspiring car in the world, but it wasn't a K-car, and it was a step in the US automakers' comeback. Which appears, sadly, to be short-lived.