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Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Sedans Pre-2008
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Comments
I liked my 1996 & 1997 Taurus's. Both were empty with the gage needle just below the last mark. I could top them off and put over 20 gallons in their tanks and I never ran out. When the gage was below 1/4 it would fluctuate depending on grade. Nose down they read high, nose up readings were low so level ground was required for an accurate reading. However, a lot of drivers don't like a gas gage that indicates an empty tank with the needle just below the last mark, so due to complaints about running out the 1998's (& 1999's) were changed so when the needle was below the last mark you still have a good 4 gallons. I loved the gages on the 1996 & 1998's and hated the ones on the 1998 and 1999 cars I always ended up filling up when I could have gone another 80 - 100 miles.
grounded in little else but jealousy."
Oh gosh, does a car actually have feelings? I get all kinds of cr@p for driving a Ford and I deal with it.
These are just opinions about material objects, not religious beliefs. If someone thinks your car is "slumming", big deal, its just a car.
I got a vibration at 80+ MPH and the car constantly wants to wander to the left in either lane. They balanced all 4 tires and did a 4 wheel align. This moved the steering wheel down a little on the left but the car still vibrates (less than before) at 80+ and the pull is still there.
Could it be the Continental brand tires? Any other sugg. besides driving below 80?
Maybe fine for the sprint car crowd, or something. But man, you would never want to show up at a nice restaurant or social event driving one. Really, a night on the town in your IMPALA? Seriously, you'd get more style points in a Daewoo Laganza. Sadly, the Bonneville looks even more corny. Yet, the Grand Prix, Aurora, Regal and Intrigue have fabulous exteriors (only the Aurora has a nice interior).
At least the 2000 Taurus can hold its own in more expensive company. A nice dark colored Taurus with a nice leather int. looks fine in the company of an A6 OR A8, or a Passat, or any other car like that you'd see at, say a private college on graduation day when all the rich parents go to see thier kids get a dipl.
Even a Chrysler Concorde or Dodge Intrepid looks nicer, but they still looks a bit cheesy.
Maybe fine for the sprint car crowd, or something. But man, you would never want to show up at a nice restaurant or social event driving one. Really, a night on the town in your IMPALA? Seriously, you'd get more style points in a Daewoo Laganza. Sadly, the Bonneville looks even more corny. Yet, the Grand Prix, Aurora, Regal and Intrigue have fabulous exteriors (only the Aurora has a nice interior).
At least the 2000 Taurus can hold its own in more expensive company. A nice dark colored Taurus with a nice leather int. looks fine in the company of an A6 OR A8, or a Passat, or any other car like that you'd see at, say a private college on graduation day when all the rich parents go to see thier kids get a dipl.
Even a Chrysler Concorde or Dodge Intrepid looks nicer, but they still looks a bit cheesy.
like 90 percent of GM products.
did someone say "darn" or something?
Geez they let you say some naughty things on the napster message board.
While I brought the car in for service an oil change a few weeks ago, I looked around the dealer at some other Taurus vehicles. The 2000 Taurus is very nice, but it doesn't appear to be all that different from the '96-'99 models. Also, I definitely think that the '96-'97 dashboard is the best looking Taurus dashboard of all time (even though it has been only about 15 years since we were blessed with this vehicle. )The styling is a lot nicer than the styling used in the newer (and older) models. The font is so much nicer, and I like having the numbers displayed in increments of 10 rather than in 20. Although the dashboard introduced in '98 isn't bad looking, I think the '96-'97 dashboard blows it away aesthetically. Does anyone agree with me?
Thanks!!
I'm convinced most people buy cars based primarily on two criteria
-looks
-price
as for price from what I've seen Tauruses can be had a bout 1000 bucks cheaper or more than most GM models.
As far as looks, wouldn't most of America rather have a handsome 2000 Taurus than a confused looking Impala?
All of them but Malibu are close related: they have more or less the same underbody, suspension, engines and transmissions. And there is a serious internal competition between the models: people have to select, for example, between Impala and Regal, or between Monte Carlo and Grand Prix.
I am not 100% sure, but it looks more reasonable to me to compare not the Taurus sales vs. the Impala ones, but the Taurus + Mercury Sable (sedans and wagons) vs all the mid-size GM (sedans and coupes).
Aside from the old and worn out debate of who's better (Ford vs. Chevrolet) and the reliability issues that have plagued the Taurus line as well as other GM lines, the Impala is an alternative for those of us that simply don't care for the "Mainstream" looks and performance of the Ford Taurus. The Taurus is indeed a much better looking vehicle than the either the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry, but the typical Impala and Intrepid buyers are not after these vehicles. You have to understand the market mission of the Taurus, Impala and Intrepid:
Taurus competition targets: Accord, Camry, Altima
Impala competition targets: Intrepid, Concorde, Ford Crown Victoria.
Intrepid: Impala, Buick LeSabre, Regal, Grand Prix, Intrigue, Maxima, Passat (To a point).
Why I chose the Impala over the Taurus?
Here are my reasons (Personal perspectives)
* Complete distrust of Ford quality
* Tainted reliability reputation
* Taurus looks sharp but still is bland and easily gets lost in the parking lot.
* The Impala's 3800 Series II V-6 and smooth, precise automatic transmission is a cut above the "Vulcan" and the OHC "Duratec" engines and the slow Ford 4-speed automatic.
* The Impala drives better, handles better and provides a much better road feel than the Taurus.
* The engine/transmission combo in the Impala provides amazing braking effect, something missing from the Taurus and non-existant in the Intrepid/LH cars.
* 5 Star government crash testing scores (A tie since the taurus has the same rating)
* Fuel economy on the 3800 Impala engine is a steady 20 city/ 30 highway accomplished with regular 87 octane gas.
* Content level on the Impala LS: Traction Control, ABS, Tire pressure monitor, 16" alloys, police grade 4-wheel disk brakes, quick ratio steering, trip computer, steering wheel mounted radio controls, RDS stereo system, dual zone temp climate control, dual power front seats, side airbags, dual exterior heated mirrors, etc for under $22,000.
*Comfort and plenty of room for cargo and passengers.
* Love or hate it looks....whether you like or not an Impala stands in the crowd.
*Have received complimients from VW, Mercedes, BWM, Honda and FORD TAURUS OWNERS!
So since the Taurus is not my "Cup of Tea" and the Intrepid's oversized Space Ship design doesn't appeal to me either, the Impala just fits perfectly in between the two.
Again the Taurus is a very nice car, but there are other alternatives just as good or better in terms of value, safety, performance and quality.
I would like to encourage the participants in this topic to stop the nonsense rants against the Impala. Hey if you don't like the car, fine, this is a free country! But let's find things in common and share experiences and knowledge about both cars....it would be very intertesting to see how the Taurus and Impala perform on a day to day basis and what advantages and disavantages one has over the other and so forth
The purpose of these forums is to inform potential buyers about experiences with a particular model line, not to trash, humilliate and insult the choices of other car buyers than happen to think differently from you and I. let's grow up and show some maturity and respect for each other!
Enjoy your rides! They look very nice!
TEO
In compro to the Dodge my car accelerates faster, hauls down from 60-0 in less distance, has a skidpad of .82g, has a large rear seat, huge trunk, and will last when driven hard. It's design is over 10 years old. Really folks, what great advances have been created that beat this? For such a "new design" the Impalla doesn't really beat any of these parameters, nor does the Tauri family. Forget about the Intrepid....it'll break. Bulls, antelopes, adjectives...ahhh give me a crown anyday.
Any one heard of this problem? She's only had the car a month!
a) chevy and ford are direct competitors as mainstream basic autos. Chevy wants to beat ford. Can't beat ford when your model that directly competes with the taurus sells 1/3 of the taurus
b) even you did group all of gm's mid size offerings into one group and compared its sales to the taurus, the question would need to be asked "Why the hell does GM need to design and build 10 different models under six different brands to sell 500,000 midsize sedans when Ford can sell near that of just Taurus alone?" Is GM that friggin lame that they can't make one competing model that will outsell the Taurus? Do they really need to have ten different designs under so many different labels in that much more dealers to sell the same amount of cars? Certainly not very economical.
As for reliability, you are saying Taurus are unreliable basing it primarily on the older generation Taurus model before 96. They may have below average but the 96 on up Taurus' are actually quite good, and certainly equal or better than many GM models. I know of three people personally who have had 96-99 Taurus, and have a combined 250k miles on them that have been entirely trouble free. As for Fords in general, I just traded a Thunderbird with 73k miles on it that I spent a total of 300 dollars in repairs for fixes over a five year span. In contrast my fatherin laws 1998 Olds 88 blows a tranny with 40 k miles on it to the tune of a thousand bucks. Or my dad's Seville with 30k miles on it and blown struts in front the dealer says will cost hundreds to replace.
Fords are no Toyotas but you can't label them as all crap because they are actually pretty solid. Ford at least builds durable motors built with the latest in technology. And the cars themselves hold up better than Chevy's, Pontiacs, etc.
Well, it depends on consumer demand.
If consumer is ready to pay (a bit) more for what he likes (somewhat) more - or simply for being different - than the more diversity, the better. In the opposite case, everybody would buy the same cars painted in the same black color.
And, to take it to the limit, everybody would wear the same clothes of the same practical colors. Or in three colors. As in China 35 years ago.
In reality we have something in-between. GM is producing six or seven models of basically the same car, with five variants of three different engines, and is selling them under four brands. Ford is producing three of four models (including wagons) with three variants of two engines, and is selling them under two brands.
Now, consumer can select between all of this makes and models - or buy Crysler, Honda, Mazda - even Kia, if he dare. And everybody around is happy enough.
I also own a 1993 Ford Escort Wagon, 5 speed. Have a 118k on it and it still runs strong. Replaced water pump and radiator. Everything else is original, battery, exhaust etc. Of course it has been tuned up regularly.
I know of many other people who own Escorts and Tauruses and all have had good luck. One person had a 91 Accord, now drives a 97 Taurus with the Vulcan and finds the Taurus to be a much better car.
1) price: I felt my skin crawl when someone said the paid MSRP for a Taurus! You should never pay anywhere near MSRP for a car - you should strive to pay something really close to dealer cost, not retail. My personal rule is I never pay more than MSRP - $3000. As with most cars, the best deals are found in middle of the line option packages. I originally looked at a Taurus LX for $15,900; I decided I couldn't live without a cassette player and I didn't really like the console or hubcaps on the LX, so I offered $450 more for an SE that included a six passenger set up with a power drivers seat in addition to the standard SE options. So I bought the SE for $16350, roughly $1000 less than dealer cost, thanks to a rebate. I'm sure the dealer had holdbacks as well because I know he didn't lose any money. I also got a very good price for my trade in.
2) Engine: I'm sure the Duratec is a pleasure to drive(but not worth the extra dough considering you have to buy a higher priced model) , but I don't have any complaints about the Vulcan - it's no muscle car, but the mid level acceleration is great and I have caught myself passing cars on the interstate at 95 mph. I have the FFV version of the Vulcan because it was a no cost option. I initially had reservations about performance but research showed no difference in performance between the two. Someone in another post said performance would be better running ethanol, but I believe it is the opposite - degraded performance w/ ethanol. I don't really have any intentions of runing ethanol in it. The automatic transmission is great - I've never been a fan of automatics, but the 98 F-150 and this car changed my mind. Automatics have improved by leaps and bounds over the past ten years.
3) CD Changer: someone asked about after-market cd changers compatible with the cd-ready am/fm/cassette - try crutchfield www.crutchfield.com . I am almost certain they have one for around $250. The dealer will charge you about $600 to install one.
1) When filling up with gas, I have a hard time getting the tank full - if I follow the owners manual advice and quit after the pump "clicks off" 3 times, I'm about an 1/8 of a tank shy of full. Is anyone else having this problem?
2) I normally do my own oil changes. Has anyone done their own oil change on a 2000 Taurus yet? I'm curious as to how easy it was to get the filter out of the tight spot that it is in (and if you were able to do it w/o third degree burns)!
The Impala has alot more room and a very smooth ride. It handles better than any car that I have owned or driven. The Impala is very sleek and impressive looking. As for speed, try to beat it.
My new Taurus is 24v with all the extras. I love the new look. It handles well and is also very roomy.
As for repairs, thew Impala parts are alot more expensive and to find a service department that knows what they are doing, for get it.
On the other hand, my ford service department is wonderful. They are pleasant, kind, and never question my judgement when I tell them something is wrong with my car. As for the cost of parts, I don't have any idea of this car yet.
My 1996 Taurus has 80K miles on it, and the total repair cost is a big round zero. I even skimmed on maintenance and so far I only have one 30K maintence done. Japanese cars all cost well over a thousand or two at comparable mileage. Even comparing with the most troublesome Ford vehicle I own in the past, it is still much much cheaper to repair and maintain than a Japanese car.
So, why do I keep on buying Japanese cars still? The reason is simple - unfounded bias of my wife and my kids (as well as many people I know personally), who keep on insisting that Japanese cars are better, more reliable, and all those craps inspite of clear evidence to the contrary.
Don't get me wrong. Japanese cars are well made and are just as reliable as a Taurus. You simply have to pay more (abeit for a smaller, less powerful car vs, Taurus), more to maintain, and more money to repair. That's all. Somehow, everybody that I know almost always try to hide problems with their Japanese cars or try to rationalize them.
Yes, there are well publicized Taurus engine problems on earlier model, but the offer (extended warranty, thousands of dollars of rebates, buy-back of vehicles) from Ford is so generous that I wish I own one of those "problem" cars. Whatever problems I have or will have on Japanese cars, you bet that I will have to pay for them myself - sometimes even when they are still under warranty and I'm not knowledgeable enough to know the truth.
The winners were Passat, Accord and Taurus, each separated by a faction of 1%. They tested a total of 9 cars. There was a wide range of scores with the worst rated car in the group having a score of 54 compared to 72 for the Taurus/Accord/Passat.
Does anyone know which Taurus models (LX, SE, SES, SEL) have the cabin air cleaner???
The manual says that I cannot have any electrical devices with higher than 5 watt output in the car (i.e. CB or garage door opener) as does the 00 Taurus manual. I want to put my ham radio in the car. FORD has said it would be OK, but (of course) won't put it in writing. Has anyone had any trouble w/their Duratec w/electrical devices? How do police vehicles do it, with the lights, radios, MDTs, etc....are the Crown Victorias different?
the ingredients of a best seller
-excellent value
-quality product
-attractive package
-screaming deal price
-IT'S NOT GM!!!!IT'S NOT CHRYSLER!!!!(sorry...Daimler)
-it looks like a car, not a freakshow
-they moved the cd changer to the dash!!!!!!
-people would rather have DOHC powerplants than 3800 v6's
-People are bored with Camry's and Accords
-People came in to buy an explorer but got a car instead!!!!!!!!!
-if they sell enough reg. Taurus, they will bring back the SHO!!!!!!(maybe with a better tranny this time)
Its For a 2000 SES
Thanks