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Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Sedans Pre-2008

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Comments

  • sculldog33sculldog33 Member Posts: 19
    Hey, I almost forgot. Styling wise, the Sable has very nice, sort of classic sedan lines, and some more character/style than some of the more wind tunnel derived competitors. New Accord for example is a bit tough on the eyes, and the Camry's a pretty bland, basic wedge. Chrysler is still the one to beat these days on styling, but FoMoco isn't doing too badly....
  • phatbunsphatbuns Member Posts: 20
    Allright, I'm cheap. So far (3 weeks) I LOVE the '96 Taurus wagon with it's primitive under-engineered Vulcan 12V, and $4.5K is a hulluva long way from $20K (or 30K for a Passat), plus I'm in Mass, so high insurance, sales, and property tax I'm not paying for. I only put about 9K miles a year, so if I can keep the coolant system from rotting, head gaskets intact... Plus, lest you fergit, I traded a 152000 mile '86 Sable on this car, and Mum has a '96 Sable with nary a problem. I conservatively estimate that if I get 5 years out of it and spend less than $14000 in maintenance and repairs, I'm ahead of buying a Passat wagon.

    Or, to put it another way, I could buy 4 '96 Taurus wagons, and if one is still running in 2007 I'll be ahead.
  • badgerfanbadgerfan Member Posts: 1,565
    I agree with you 100%.

    There is also the issue of looks. Obviously, this has nothing to do with more important attributes of a car, but I just cannot abide by the exterior styling of the current Camry. I know this is illogical(I am generally a logical person, being an engineer) but I cannot help it in this case. The rear end is too wide looking, the trunk lid too flat on the trailing edge, and the belt line too high. The low hanging exhaust pipe I cannot abide, it looks like a design error/afterthought. The pseudo "fastback" rear roof line leaves me cold and cuts into the fore aft accessibility to the trunk.

    I cannot comment on the new Accord, as I have yet to see one on the street and it is hard to judge pictures. They certainly haven't sold many in the Milwaukee area to date. I've seen more Hummer H2's!

    VW Jetta and Passat do look nice, however. Nissan Altima is not bad except for the boy racer tail lights. Impala is marginally acceptable, as is Grand Prix now that they are dropping some of the cladding. Buick is OK in a classic understated sense, but has been around too long.
    From the GM product line, the Intrigue had the best styling, but it is now gone.

    I think the current Taurus styling is quite classy and well integrated. The only thing I might do different if I was designing it is some minor mods to the C pillar shape (the doors and side glass carried over from the last generation), but it is by no means ugly. The previous generation Taurus, while innovative, proved just a little too ovoid, and I was glad to see the 2000 restyling come along.
  • sculldog33sculldog33 Member Posts: 19
    Got to thinking of some other pluses the Sable has over the competition. A coworker has a 2000 Camry, went in for the regular 60K service. While not recommended by Toyota, the dealer strongly urged a timing belt change, at a cost of about $200. I'm about 99% certain the Sable Duratec has a timing chain, and won't require changing till 150K plus. Total cost of the Camry's 60K service was close to $700!! Ouch!

    My neighbor has an Accord, a 2000 or 2001, and the transmission went in the Fall at 30K. Covered under warrenty but she was stranded by it. Also, a week or two back said her heater died -- not sure what caused that, might have only been a thermostat, but pretty nasty when you live in New England and it's snowed for 12 of the past 16 days.

    Now I'm sure that others can tell horror stories of S/T's, but just sort of by the seat of my pants, I feel I'm still in the running with my Sable. I'm sure I'll have some problems with it down the road, but perhaps no worse than what other car owners have experienced, and at a minimum I'm saving a few hundred on basic maintenance.
  • upsetter1upsetter1 Member Posts: 205
    My friend spend $1,300 on Camry 60k service and plus had engine overhaul (blue smoke coming from pipe) under varranty. Any engine with time belt requires belt and water pump change at 60K.

    Duratec has actually two chains (because has double cams over each 3 cylinders). You can see that chain if you remove oil filler cap.
  • plainluckyplainlucky Member Posts: 4
    Hi Guys !

    Still arguing about cars I see. Well let's see if I can create a stir by adding one to the mix. Anybody checked out a Hyundai lately? Look out car industry - Hyundai's getting better and better each year - and for THOUSANDS less than domestic or other imports. After all, the trick is to get the most for the least, isn't it?

    By the way, I am a Sable owner, but while having my oil changed at a dealership the other day, I strolled the Ford dealer's lot and glanced at the Hyundai's he also sells. Based on the price tags, I was quite impressed ! So much so, I went into the showroom to find out what was wrong with these cars. Sorry, again I was impressed. They're well built cars - especially the top end models. I was particularly attracted to the mini SUV Santa Fe. What a long list of standard features in the basic model, culminating to "everything" in the LX version. And for a city/highway driver like me, the fact that the Santa Fe is mounted on a Sonata chassis makes it even more attractive since the ride is more car-like than truck-like. Edmunds says the 177 HP V-6 is underpowered. Haven't driven one yet, but at only 23 HP less than my Sable, how underpowered could this 3600 lbs vehicle be?

    Edmunds also doesn't like the body styling. To each his own. I like it because it doesn't have the "boxy" features like other SUV's. Edmunds DID like the it's value, however. Who wouldn't?

    Here's some other features to nibble on. How about that warranty? 5years or 60K bumper to bumper, and 10years or 100K on the drivetrain? Who compares with that? And when you're in for service, Hyandai believes you should have a loaner car of equal value. So what do they do? Well they provide the dealer with factory fresh cars that are designated as "Factory Loaner", meaning they're not for sale - period. Saw the loaners, and they say exactly that. So, if your new Santa Fe goes in the shop, you get a new Santa Fe to drive until yours is done.

    And all for THOUSANDS LESS !! Tempting? I'm going to drive one, and if that 177 HP is O.K., I'll have bought that second car I've wanted.

    O.K., let's have the cons, but they better be good. Convince me to spend thousands of dollars more on a vehicle that will be driven less than 10K per year.
  • pluto5pluto5 Member Posts: 618
    I agree, Hyundai will continue to improve and no doubt be a force to be reckoned with by higher cost manufacturers like Ford. I am impressed by the Kumho tires I'm running on my Chev, also Korean which are priced below Firestone and Goodyear and are better quality. No doubt we are in a global economy!

    I wouldn't put much stock in Edmunds reviews since the purpose of this site is to sell advertising (hate those pop up ads) and the quality of any content is purely accidental!!
  • venus537venus537 Member Posts: 1,443
    the sticker price of my 2002 1.8t gls jetta was $22,875. from my research the current generation of jettas have excellent resale value. but i may have been in error about getting $17k for it.

    badgerfan: don't happen to agree with some of your points this time. i did notice the way the exhaust pipe hangs low on the camry though. it does look strange. something i may have never noticed if i didn't read about it here. what checked this car off my list when i first saw it was the design of the gauge cluster.
  • venus537venus537 Member Posts: 1,443
    since s and n korea are in the news right now, i wonder how propesctive buyers will respond to this.
  • pluto5pluto5 Member Posts: 618
    IMO most people don't consider politics when buying a car but I don't think Iraqi or No. Korean cars would be too popular here right now, if they even are such things!
  • venus537venus537 Member Posts: 1,443
    i don't know about that. i think "buy american" is a factor for some domestic buyers.
  • pluto5pluto5 Member Posts: 618
    I agree but two of my 'merican cars were made in CDN! So the def of an American car is just a legal distinction IMO.
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    I own a 99 Taurus (SHO) and its been the most solid car I have ever had (knock on wood, cams). The 96+ Taurus' in my experience have been incredibly solid. My brother in law is up around 120k miles on his 97 SHO with NADA an issue. I had a friend who put a combined 170k miles on his 96 and 97 Taurus company cars. Only on the 96 did he have a transmission issue and that was fixed via warranty. I believe Ford corrected that defect in the design. Otherwise the car was great he said......he said he would actually buy one and that is from an import lover who currently has a Honda and Subaru.

    The rental Taurus I had in 2001 I found to be a really good car as well.

    What Taurus lacks right now is some market credibility. Folks know the car has been basically the same since 96. They need to generate a buzz and build some brand equity in creative ways. Ford ought to drop the Vulcan engine....make the Duratec 200hp motor standard and develop a higher output version like they did with the Contour....the same motor, just add some free flow intake tricks and timing mods, etc. Pump it up and offer it as optional at about 240hp. I think if then they upgraded the interior (nicer leather and a more driver oriented dash) and some performance options or models......some special editions, then they would be in business again. keep the good prices.

    It wouldn't hurt to try to get some sharper definition in the character lines of the car.....replace the fenders and door skins with a crisper looking design, that can't be too hard.

    I keep wishing they'd bring back my v8 pumped up to 275hp in the current body with a manual tranny and other goodies, but that ain't gonna happen i bet. I'd settle for a Taurus 'SVT' with a pumped up Duratec v6 of about 230-240 hp and a 6 speed. Tart up the interior with nice leather but lay off the gadgets and keep the price low, under 25g.....sign me up.
  • riswamiriswami Member Posts: 192
    you'll see Ford dump the Vulcan. Read Warren Brown's (Washington Post)transcript from this week's Detroit Auto Show. Looks like Ford has some financial restraints. They are backing off Hybrid engines.

    I doubt if they have the manufacturing capacity to insert Duratecs into every Taurus/Sable.
  • upsetter1upsetter1 Member Posts: 205
    No they going to add 2.4L engine developed jointly with Mazda to the next Taurus based on Mazda6 platform. Next Taurus will be a bit smaller. They cannot afford to loose market share anymore.
  • atcersatcers Member Posts: 26
    Oh great back to a 4 cylinder engine in a mid-sized family sedan! Yes I know that a 4 cylinder engine can be as, or more powerful than a 6 or even a v8 but I don't believe for one minute that Ford will invest the money or resources into a 4 cylinder powerplant that will be as smooth as those found in a 3 series BMW or Acura. Most 4 cylinder engines are "buzzy" at highway speeds and let's face it, the Taurus is a family sedan that carries mom and dad and all the little ones to grandma's house on Sunday over in the next town. These cars should be reasonably good at all types of driving, including highway comfort. To obtain a 4 cylinder powerplant with the refinement necessary to propel a 3000lb family cruiser in reasonable comfort will be just as expensive as making the Duratec V6 standard. Just because Mazda is involved in the project doesn't convince me that we won't see the next generation of Taurus with an underpowered, overtaxed weeze-bag 4 banger much like those found in the mid 80's. So Ford's answer to the Vulcan is a 4 banger? This makes me sad!
  • upsetter1upsetter1 Member Posts: 205
    Yeah, but most popular family sedans sold in this country are 4 cylider Camries and Accords. You have to drive Camry some day to see the difference. It feels much more like 6 cylinder than Taurus with V-6 Vulcan. It is also more economical, more smooth, more quiet, accelerates fasterand cruise with 2,000 rpm on 65 mph on the freeway, more everything in other word.

    Duratec is kind of modern 6 cylinder, high revving engine. Not much people need so much power or ready to pay for it.

    Believe me Mazda knows how to make engines. Try Duratec with Mazda developed variable cam head in Mazda6.
  • badgerfanbadgerfan Member Posts: 1,565
    Duratech in a Taurus matches Camry with a V-6 in acceleration. Mileage is also about a wash between these two. The Taurus has nearly the same smoothness, and you can buy a Duratech equipped Taurus much cheaper than the V-6 Camry. (And, you don't have to drive the butt ugly Camry-my opinion)

    I agree the Camry and Accord base 4 cylinder engines perform smoother and with better mileage than the base Taurus Vulcan V-6.

    The acceleration numbers 0-60 for the 03 Accord are pretty impressive for the four and the V-6 also has impressive 0-60 times, with impressive mileage numbers.

    It also must be noted for every day driving these absolute 0-60 numbers are nearly meaningless, and the Duratech Taurus is more than adequate. Much of the horsepower race going on today between Nissan Altima and Honda Accord is in the upper RPM ranges that most people rarely attain in everyday driving.

    No doubt, in recent years, Ford has been concentrating most of their US development efforts on trucks and SUV's. I would expect you eventually will see more competitiveness in cars now that Bill Ford is straightening out the mess left by Nasser. Note, for instance, Focus all along has been rated at the top of the heap by most reviewers. The recalls and reliability for the first two model years has been the only rap on Focus. From a design and performance standpoint, Focus does show that Ford can design state of the art cars.

    Remember when Ford introduced Taurus in the mid 80's, it was pretty much a state of the art vehicle. It can happen again. Look what strides Nissan has made in a few short years when the leadership from the top was straightened out.
  • plainluckyplainlucky Member Posts: 4
    I agree with you. What progress ! A 4 cylinder sewing machine engine in a Taurus. Just imagine the family sedan all loaded up for vacation - kids, luggage, etc. Dad then switches on the A/C for comfort, then tries to pass a truck on the highway. Uh, uh says little four-banger, I don't have the guts. What - do you think my name is Offenhauser ? Too much car, too much load, too much wishful thinking.

    And yes, be sure to make the Taurus/Sable smaller. I've wanted a reason to switch on my next vehicle, and now you've provided it. Without the Duratec and the roominess of the present body, I'd still be driving a Grand Marquis.
  • upsetter1upsetter1 Member Posts: 205
    Try to pass with Vulcan, good luck. Fords plans for Taurus a future as a cheapo midclass car with fleets in mind. Current Taurus' will be replaced by bigger Ford 500 that is supposed to have Duratec (hopefully with Mazda itterations) and based on Volvo S80 platform. And there will be smaller Mazda6 based upper scale Mercury, probably sporty one.

    But plans are always changing, I am sure only about 500 and cheap new Taurus.
  • venus537venus537 Member Posts: 1,443
    i think if you would drive 4 cylinder versions of the latest passat, altima, accord and altima you'll be surprised by the available torque and smoothness of these engines. low rpms at highway speeds too. if you're one to carry heavy loads then the duratech should be the engine of choice anyway.
  • atcersatcers Member Posts: 26
    I have driven and owned a 96 4 cylinder Altima and a 95 V6 Camry. Now I realize that I am talking 6-7 year old designs here but in recent years I have driven sister-in-laws 2001 4 cylinder Camry and brother-in-laws 2000 4 cylinder Accord. I once owned a 97 VW Cabrio with a 2.0L 4 cylinder. The best of the above bunch was the 95 Camry with the very smooth V6. I do not dislike any of the above vehicles but for all the acclaim the Accord and Camry get I still dislike the 4 cylinder equipped models. In my humble opinion I do not think a 4 cylinder engine should be put in a mid-sized vehicle. Not to offend anyone but at 65-70 MPH they are "buzzy". You can feel the vibration of the high RPM powerplant even if it is very slight. Even a very slight vibration will wear on a driver after a trip of several hours. Now several of the vehicles I mentioned are newer and of the current production run but they are just not as smooth as their V6 counterparts. If I am going to spend $20k on a family sedan I want to be able to drive a 300 mile trip without fatigue from a "buzzy" engine. It's not the 4 cylinder engine I am against per se, it is the comfort level a consumer should get from spending $20K plus. If it were up to me there would be NO 4 cylinder Camry or Accord. The larger the displacement the better the ride except for the most advanced engines. Even with a V6 Duratec in my Sable it is no secret that at 70 MPH in the middle of August with 4 passangers and the climate control set to 70 degrees the V8 in the Grand Marquis is light years ahead in smoothness under the same conditions. So unless Ford is going to spend big for an elite design on a 4 cylinder engine the Taurus/Sable will take a step backwards. From what upsetter1 says it appears the new 500 will be a better choice for me.
  • badgerfanbadgerfan Member Posts: 1,565
    My Taurus with Duratec seems plenty smooth at cruising speeds. Probably not quite as smooth and quiet as a Grand Marquis, but these are completely different vehicles anyway. The Grand Marquis is more of a boulevard cruiser with large V-8, body on frame construction, compliant suspension. I will gladly give up a certain amount of smoothness and quietness for a little more responsiveness and tighter handling as long as it is not jarring, which is why I think Taurus has got it just about right in the current generation.

    Our other "car" is a short wheel base 3.3L V-6 '96 Caravan, and it is really hard to beat it
    for overland cruising. Smooth, quiet, panoramic view, comfortable upright seats. I would take the Caravan any day over a Grand Marquis for freeway long distance trips.

    Finally saw an 03 Accord sedan this morning on my drive to work. My first reaction from a styling standpoint: Nothing particularly objectionable, but nothing particularly exciting either. Looks better live than in pictures. I think it has Camry beat in the styling department. Taurus, in my opinion has them both beat on exterior styling.
  • riswamiriswami Member Posts: 192
    sure that the 500 is a replacement for the Taurus. Thought I read in Warren Brown's chat transcript that the 500 will be limited production.

    I like the design of the new Accord. Honda makes a nice 4 cylinder and that engine is more than sufficient for everyday driving. I think the same can be said for the 4 installed in the Camry.

    What are the torque and horsepower #s for the proposed 2.4 that will be installed in future Taurueses?
  • badgerfanbadgerfan Member Posts: 1,565
    Per Autonews.com, Calendar year North American Auto production(Canada, Mexico, and US) for 2002:

    Taurus: 375,219
    Sable: 106,633
    Total: 481,852

    Camry Sedan US: 311,610
    Camry Solara: 42,044 (Canada)
    Total: 353,654

    Honda Accord US 336,231
    Honda Accord (Mexico) 42,404
    Total (includes Coupes) 378,635

    I do not know how many Accords and Camrys still come from overseas.

    Still, Taurus+Sable totals are not too shabby!
  • upsetter1upsetter1 Member Posts: 205
    Actually they are talking about 165 hp 2.3L engine. They don't mention Taurus, but Taurus will be smaller car, like Camry, and I-4 with 165 hp seems to be a natural replacement for Vulcan. I hope they are not gonna decide to keep Vulcan another fifty years, make new Taurus body on the frame or put live axle in the rear (just kidding).


    http://www.bonforums.com/powertrain/engine_newsmallengines.htm

  • plainluckyplainlucky Member Posts: 4
    I guess you guys are right about the Vulcan. Never owned one, but test drove one not too long ago. Nearly fell asleep behind the wheel from boredom! Afterward drove a Duratec, and immediately bought the car.

    I've always avoided small engine cars that used the descriptions, "peppy", or "spunky" or otherwise. To me that means you're surprised with what you get, but in reality, it isn't really enough when your foot makes the call for that raw horsepower.

    Even the Duratec I have doesn't get it in higher speed situations. Having owned bigger block V-8's, there's no comparison when you lay down the hammer at 60 MPH to get by a vehicle quickly. Unless of course you have a very light vehicle, which means you need a rubdown after 4-6 hours of constant driving.
  • badgerfanbadgerfan Member Posts: 1,565
    Yes, and to save time, maybe you can find a combined gas station with a masseuse to save time, as you will certainly be stopping for gas more often with that big block V-8!

    Actually, the current V-6's perform quite comparable to many of the old V-8's of the 70's and early 80's. More power per cubic inch and less vehicle weight.

    Even the Vulcan, when it came out was very good compared to most of what was out there. I was pleasantly surprised at the performance of the Vulcan in my 90 Taurus, after having driven a Chevy Celebrity with the old "Iron Duke" 2.5 Litre 4. The Taurus ran rings around the Celebrity and had more room and better mileage.
  • venus537venus537 Member Posts: 1,443
    "Not to offend anyone but at 65-70 MPH they are "buzzy""

    this is simply not true of the new accords and camrys. just over 2000 rpms doesn't sound buzzy to me. you'll have to go over 80 mph to get any kind buzziness. that said, if i get an accord it's going to be with the v6.
  • atcersatcers Member Posts: 26
    Venus,

    I guess it is a matter of personal taste. While you state "it is simply not true" I feel it is. Please state where you found a 2000 rpm estimate at 80 mph on any Accord or Camry ever made? To run at 2000 rpm on a 4 cylinder engine you would need a pretty high final gear ratio that I doubt you will find in any automatic transmission. In general 6 cylinder engines are smoother than 4 cylinders and 8's are smoother than 6's. You do not appear to be a Ford supporter so do you honestly think that Ford will invest enough money and manpower in the design of a 4 cylinder engine that will rival Honda or Toyota and still power the next generation Taurus? I'm a Ford supporter and I don't believe they will. It is my humble opinion that the Duratec should be made the standard engine and a tweeked version with variable valve timing the upgrade. To me a 4 cylinder in the next generation Taurus is a step backward that is sure to be exploited by other car makers. If we here on this board notice Honda offering a 240 hp V6 Accord and Nissan offering up a 255 hp V6 Maxima and Altima then Ford must surely know that keeping the 200 hp Duratec as the "upgraded" powerplant and reverting back to a 4 cylinder "base" engine will do nothing to hold or reclaim market shares for this car class.
  • upsetter1upsetter1 Member Posts: 205
    It is just a busyness okay. Its all about making money. Ford currently doesn't make money on Taurus and Sable. And Toyota and Honda and making good profits on midsize sedans. So don't tell me that Ford is gonna to make money offering expensive 24 valve aliminum V6 in every each midsize sedan. So only way Ford can compete with Toyota and Honda in this segment is sell Taurus for less, not because Accord and Camry are better cars (they are if to compare with current Taurus), but because of Fords reputation for reliability and quality.

    Now any German and Japanese 4 cylinder is smoother and is MORE EFFECTIVE than cheap American V6 like Vulcan. Technology is moving on, it is already 21 century man. What makes the sence continue to use engines from 60s and loose market share every year.

    And Ford already designed the line of modern I4s in cooperation with Mazda. And they are going to use flexible platforms and manufacturing like Honda. Most of the people don't care about I4 or V6 under the hood. They are happily buying 4 cylinder cars from Japanese and Germans in ever increasing numbers.
  • riswamiriswami Member Posts: 192
    thanks for the link upsetter1.

    Now I got to disagree with you on the Vulcan being cheap and ineffective. For most people and the day to day driving they do the engine is fine. It has modern pollution controls, fuel injection, distributorless ignition etc. Just because it has push rods doesn't make it a dinosuar. Is the Duratec a better engine and more modern design? absolutely.

    One other thing. I keep seeing references that there were significant changes with the 2k Taurus. Don't think much changed besides styling and a bump in power for the Vulcan and the loss of dual exhaust for the Duratec. Car and Driver barely reviewed it. Way too early to talk about reliability improving; hasn't been out long enought. Everyone that I know or spoken to has had good luck with 96s on.
  • upsetter1upsetter1 Member Posts: 205
    Vulcan has fuel consumption of Duratec and power of typical 4 cylinder. If you want better and more effective V6 pushrod - 3.4 and 3.8 from GM.
  • atcersatcers Member Posts: 26
    Well Upsetter think about what you just said. Ford doesn't make money on Taurus? Then wouldn't it be cheaper to get out of that segment of the market? Either Ford is going to compete with Toyota and Honda or they are not. If they are going to compete isn't the objective to profit and win or in this case keep up with market share? Now you may have misunderstood what I previously said, I never said keep the Vulcan! I said to compete Ford needs to move into the 21st century like you refer too. Use the Duratec!!! It appears that Edmunds just changed their website layout and I wasn't able to find the additional cost of the Duratec engine but if memory serves me correctly it is about $1200 in consumer cost NOT Ford's cost. The Duratec is not a modern technological "mystery" it is a modern up to date V6 engine and to revere it as anything more is a little off as Nissan, Honda and VW already have more advanced engines. It is exactly the type of engine that a forward thinking and moving company would use as a base standard. If Ford is to gain ground on it's competitors it needs to offer a better product, PERIOD.
  • badgerfanbadgerfan Member Posts: 1,565
    When I bought my Taurus in 2000, the Duratec was a $695 MSRP option and was $619 invoice, so it really is not too big a price adder when you look at a car that is going to cost you about $17-19K out the door. Ford could probably make the Duratec standard without taking a big hit on sales, however they would definitely lose some who are looking to minimize their out of pocket cost. Whether this would be made up for with increased sales for those looking for a higher performance at a reasonable cost is debatable.

    It is a little less easy to figure out what Ford wants for a Duratec now as they have rejuggled the option lists and you cannot break out the price of the Duratec alone.

    I did just recently go through the numbers for buying an equivalent '03 SES, and with the current $3000 rebates, it appeared to me I could buy a nearly equivalent(actually slightly better equipped) '03 SES with Duratec for about $1000-$1400 less than I paid 2-1/2 years ago! This would buy it for probably less than $17K. Certainly an attractive price.
  • atcersatcers Member Posts: 26
    Badgerfan thank you for finding the price on the Duratec. That is a good price on a 03 and what you just stated is my angle exactly. Now that the Taurus/Sable are getting good write-ups from the press, reliability is up, and content versus price is better than the import makers Ford should run with it. I think Honda and Toyota are great cars but a SES with a Duratec V6 at $17k is a great value! Hopefully a good enough value to have a few Accord and Camry owners take a look.
  • riswamiriswami Member Posts: 192
    was the Vulcan first produced?

    I thought I read that Duratec engines make up approximately 15% of Taurus sales. So how fast could Ford convert manufacturing to install that engine in all Tauruses? Is there that much of a demand for that engine, given the average consumer has no idea what he/she is buying.
  • fdthirdfdthird Member Posts: 352
    Before you ask Ford to put the Duratec V/6 in every Taurus, remember that that same engine is used in the Escape and Mazda Tribute and is the basis for several other engines from Mazda and Jaguar.

    Whenever you talk about why certain engines are standard and other's optional, you also have to understand manufacturing considerations. For example, several times during its lifetime, Ford has had 6 cyl Mustang specials because the builds were going too far to the V/8 side and they were running out of production capacity.
  • badgerfanbadgerfan Member Posts: 1,565
    was introduced with the first model year Taurus, I believe, in circa 1986? I do not remember the exact year of introduction. So it has been around a long time, but has been tweaked with improvements along the way. Note GM has held onto a lot of pushrod V-6's as well. I am not particularly hung up with having to have a DOHC engine. The GM 3.8 Litre V-6 has good power and very good mileage for the engine size, by the way.
  • upsetter1upsetter1 Member Posts: 205
    Motor Trend:
    2004 Mercury Sable: Recent indications are that the Sable will separate from its Taurus fraternal twin, instead evolving from the new Mondeo or the Mazda 6. Either choice offers a more dynamic vehicle available in multiple body styles.

    2005 Ford Taurus: Taurus goes its own way without sibling Mercury Sable. Next-generation platform may also spawn other vehicle types, such as sport wagon and sport/ute. And the well-regarded Volvo S80 may be the platform donor.

    FORD FUTURE PRODUCTS
    Ford's task: Revive products, pinch pennies

    By Mary Connelly
    Automotive News / August 04, 2002

    Ford Five Hundred

    The five-passenger Ford Five Hundred, with optional awd, is scheduled for the 2005 model year.
    The Five Hundred is a premium sedan scheduled for the 2005 model year.

    The car will be derived from the new platform underpinning the 2005 Ford CrossTrainer, a vehicle described as a cross between a sedan and a sport-utility. The car will feature styling and engineering features not seen before in a large Ford sedan. All-wheel-drive, for example, will be optional, and the interior will be trimmed with wood and brushed aluminum.

    A six-speed automatic and a continuously variable transmission will be offered. Ford's next-generation 3.0-liter Duratec V-6 will be standard.

    The five-passenger Five Hundred will be slightly smaller than a Chevrolet Impala but is expected to have more interior room. Ford will employ a high package design, creating a roomier, taller passenger compartment than the current Ford Taurus, for example.

    Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable

    The Taurus and Sable are likely to remain fairly untouched through the 2005 model year. Beyond that, Ford's mid-sized strategy remains up in the air.

    One scenario moves Taurus to the Mazda 6 platform. Another keeps the model on the existing Taurus platform, primarily as a fleet vehicle. A third has the car based on the Ford Mondeo, which is sold in Europe.

    All three scenarios are aimed at the 2006 model year, sources say.

    The Sable will be replaced in the 2006 model year when it moves from its existing platform.

    The company has said Mercury will rely on existing platforms from other Ford Motor Co. brands. But what underpinnings the replacement model will use and what type of sedan Mercury will put into the mid-sized segment are not clear.

    One scenario draws a Mercury sport wagon off the Ford CrossTrainer and Ford Five Hundred mid-sized platform. Another has Mercury choosing a smaller, "high-package" sedan based on the Mazda 6 platform.
  • ehaaseehaase Member Posts: 328
    That information is already out of date.

    Automotive News reported this week that Mercury will get versions of both the Ford 500 and the Mazda 6.

    The Sable will be around through 2006.
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    i thought the 500 was supposed to be a big car and they say its not as big as the Impala?

    what's the point then?

    The Taurus now is a nice size. But I could see a car line in addition to that that is as big as say, a Deville in interior space.

    I say make the current Duratec standard, and make a VVT version optional. If the next redesign had a 4 cylinder as standard thats ok. The current car is long in the tooth so they have to sell it on features and value now.

    Also, invest in improving the handling, suspension, a new interior, some styling tweaks.....that ought to keep the Taurus selling ok till a major redesign.

    The point to Ford is, invest SOMETHING in improving the product. HOW BOUT an SVT Taurus for all us SHO owners looking to buy a performance Taurus again?????? Stick too, please......if you did it for the Focus you can do it for the Taurus, Getrag makes many manual trannies just sitting on the shelf.

    I don't need YAW control or NAVIGATION. Just a Taurus, with a high hp hot rod motor, a stick, grippy seats, grippy tires, and sunroof and really good sound system. Leather too.
  • riswamiriswami Member Posts: 192
    realize that the Vulcan has only been used in the Taurus.The debut of the Taurus was 1985 as an 86 model.

    If Ford is going to keep the current edition around until 2005 that means this style will be in production since the 1996 model year. That is a long time for any model and it doesn't help the Taurus.

    I believe the 3.8 GM motor was developed in the early 60's with a major revision in the late 80's. So the Vulcan isn't that old.
  • ehennessehenness Member Posts: 92
    is also used in the Ranger (or was) along with the 4.0 V6s, and also it was at one time the base engine in the Windstar (might still be). It was the base engine in the old RWD Aerostar van, too. However, the majority of production did/does go into the Taurus and Sable.

    It indeed was new in 1985 for the new Taurus and Sable.

    The Vulcan may be lower in HP than some engines, but it has decent low-end torque, something four cylinders (especially multi-valve 4s) do not usually have. The Vulcan has around 170-180 pound-feet, which is decent and comparable to many competitors. Car ads always trumpet HP, but they never mention torque. I'd much rather know what the torque output is, and at what RPM it's delivered. HP is needed to maintain speed/overcome wind resistance. Torque's what gets the car moving. If I get torque when I mash the gas (i.e., at fairly low engine speeds), I'm much happier than if I have to rev the spit out of an engine to get power. The rush of acceleration (and the haze of tire smoke...:-) you get out of a big block V8 is from its torque.

    (Note that the Vulcan and 4.0 are not related--the 4.0 is a German design that is actually older than the Vulcan. Remember the Capri--not the Mustang-based car, the one from '70-'76. That car's 2.8 L V6 is the basis for the later 2.9 and 4.0 OHV Ranger/Bronco II/Explorer engines, and also the 4.0 SOHC).

    As for the GM 3.8, it's ancient. I think it's the oldest engine design still out there still using the same displacement and basic layout (pushrod, etc.). This assumes that Chrysler has finally ended production on the 318 V8, which dates to 1963 as a 273 V8 and itself began in '66--though a 318 with a thicker block casting and different heads existed back as far as 1959).

    The GM 231/3.8 was an odd-fire V6 from its start in the early 1960s (Buick Special and Skylark), and they used it for a few years.

    By 1966 or so, design and tooling was sold to Jeep when Jeep was part of Kaiser (prior to AMC). When AMC bought Jeep in 1970, they began switching to AMC straight-sixes. GM wanted the V6 back during the fuel crisis, and AMC needed the money. So, when GM's new intermediate cars came out in 1976, the 231/3.8 was back as an even-fire engine. Then it was re-done in the late 1980s, as stated above, with the switch to modern fuel injection. They've kept tweaking it. Proves it is a basically sound design. It too has decent torque at lower RPMs.

    Anyway, that ends today's lesson. Thank you for attending... :-)
  • fdthirdfdthird Member Posts: 352
    When is the engine test scheduled??? Canb I bring you an apple??
  • edmund2460edmund2460 Member Posts: 293
    If I am looking for a Duratec with leather, ABS, side air bags (is that an SES?) can I get that for under $17K with 0 percent for 5 ??
  • badgerfanbadgerfan Member Posts: 1,565
    All we want about what Ford's future plans are. In the mean time I will just keep on enjoying my Duratec Taurus. By the time I am looking for a replacement in about seven years assuming it doesn't get totalled, I will just reevaluate at that point. In the meantime, I think Ford could make a lot of marketing inroads if they published comparitive advertisements that emphasized the value you are getting for the price.

    Yes, Accord and Camry are good cars, though Camry has slipped lately in the CR ratings, and the jury is still out as to whether the newest generation Accord is up to their historical quality levels. But to get their V-6 versions, they will tend to push you up to at about $23K or more (negotiated price, not list). A Taurus with Duratec will run you an actual negotiated price of about $17-$18K. That is a very significant difference. If you look at the overall package of price vs features, for a family sedan Taurus is hard to beat, and I believe the quality is nearly a wash these days.
  • pluto5pluto5 Member Posts: 618
    GM 3.8 is much preferable to Vulcan IM0 having driven both. As far as being ancient, I guess you could say that Boeing 737 is ancient but Southwest Airlines runs their entire business based on an ancient aircraft and is one of the most successful! Ford needs to redesign the entire Taurus/Sable line IMO but I wouldn't hold my breath given their current finances.
  • badgerfanbadgerfan Member Posts: 1,565
    The $17K-18K price range are including the current $3000 rebate incentives. Usually your choice is rebate or low interest rates, not both. If you page back in this discussion, you will see people having paid about 18K for a Loaded Taurus or Sable with Duratec, ABS and even with leather.

    You can check the Ford web site, and if I remember right, they have a section listing factory incentives once you get into the Taurus area. The Edmunds area for rebates, I have found does not usually keep up with what is really available, as things change too often.
  • riswamiriswami Member Posts: 192
    Thanks for the history lesson. I forgot that the Vulcan was used in the Windstar. Thought most of the Windstars came thru with the 3.8. Never would have thought of the Aerostar and didn't know about use in the Ranager.

    If history is any indicator I'm going to bet that the majority of Tauruses will be sold with the Vulcan. Ford is still using the 3.8 and look at the head gasket problems with that engine.
This discussion has been closed.