My ford taurus is a piece of junk. I will NEVER buy a ford again. The head gasket went at 75000. The AC went at 45000. The breaks have not been working properly for the last 30000 miles. The car overall has been the worst I have ever had.
what year is your taurus? my 92 cougar had the same problems and then some, which is the last time i ever looked at fords (merks). the reason i'm checking this thread, is because i posted a question as to the value of a '96 sable w/90K miles. doesn't look like these cars are very popular at all though.
I took an appointment from my local dealer for tranny flash and also asked them whether filter needs to be replaced. They said filter is not replacable on 2000 models, flash will clean up the filter too. I was wondering you guys have some experience on tranny service on 2000 Taurus. Any input will be appreciated.
If you're like me and used to driving on snow/ice, it is a little unnerving at first because it feels like you have lost power. In Minnesota, you get pretty used to wheel spin in the winter and how to "play" it with the accelerator. So, when it doesn't happen the way you expect, you find yourself momentarily asking "what's wrong?". But, on balance, it probably does more good than harm and is a reasonable option once you get used to it.
car mfrs put traction control on a car, but still leave crappy tires on the car. In the end, all the traction control does is make up for the fact that the car has **** for tires.
In our family we have a 2000 Mustang V/6 convertible and a 2001 Taurus SEL, both with traction control. We live on Long Island and so are not really in "snow country". The Mustang has Eagle GAs and even with the trac control is useless in the snow. The Taurus has Continentals and although we got it late last winter and didn't get too much snow time, the front wheel drive with the traction control make for a much better trip in the snow.
If I lived in snow country I'd consider a good set of winter tires on the Mustang (or leave it in the garage) and might also for the Taurus.
I agree. My 98 Taurus came with General Ameri-something tires, and I think that they were made of Teflon. I junked those almost immediately and put on a set of Michelin Pilots. The car is now pinned to the road.
I previously owned a 92 Taurus wagon, and that came standard with very good Michelins. My current 2000 Taurus wagon came standard with Continental TouringContact tires, and they are very good (I would buy them again when the first set wears out). The Contis, coupled with the traction control, make this a very stable car to drive.
My 98 Taurus Duratec (200hp 24 valve) in mixed use gets around 22mpg. On a highway trip I get around 29mpg. If I am really having some fun, though, I can go as low as 16mpg (with a lead foot).
My 2000 Taurus wagon Vulcan (155hp, 12 valve) gets about the same. The acceleration is not as good, but it is adequate.
FFV stands for Flexible Fuel Vehicle. According to many posters and my mechanic, this derivative of the Vulcan motor sucks. It's not an option any more, I think.
in regards to my original post of what the sable is worth, i just thought i would follow up on the car in question. as suspected, the Sable is a pile of junk, and after reading a lot of the posts here and elsewhere, i'm glad to say that we won't be falling into Ford's trap.
I own a 99 taurus, the ride is tight and precise, and the ergonomics are excellent. Unlike my other car a 94 Seville STS that has a floaty wobbly ride and the 60's steering column protrudes too far out and too high up over my eyes, and I'm 5'11". Typical of all GM cars, especially Buicks, they are wallowing, bobbling jollopys brand new.
For what the taurus / sables cost they are over engineered and a tremendous value. The STD V6 feels extremely fast like V8. Yes it does ping on regular gas. Get at least Mid-grade or even Super for ping free performance and blazing Speed.
The Taurus is a good car that deserves a better rap than it gets.
The front seats are the best I've owned and many other guests have commented on how amazingly comfy they are. The seats are firm and supportive, yet comfy.
The ride on the SHO is a bit firm and controlled but much better than any GM midsize and is superior by far to my dad's Seville. Like g1994sts, I think the same about the ride and the interior of the Seville. I have also driven Duratec equipped SE Tauruses and they are similar in character to my SHO, I think many people would be surprised and pleased if they'd drove one.
So many people fail to realize the Taurus has its basics very well engineered. So its not an Audi, yeah well it doesn't have an Audi price. As far as style, ride and substance I think its a definite improvement over typical GM yuck and much better engineered and built than Chryslers over the last 5-7 years.
I am looking for a 2000-2001 taurus with the duratec engine. I have been checking autotrader.com and I have seen Taurus se-svg's. What is a SVG? I checked carsdirect to see the different models and SVG doesnt exist.
I'm sorry folks, but your Membership Agreement prohibits using the Town Hall to buy and sell vehicles (or anything else). Please feel free to visit Edmunds.com's Used Power Shopper either to list a used vehicle or to look for one available in your area.
Stands for Special Vehicles Group, an internal part of Ford that makes "hot" versions of production cars (like the Contour SVG). There were no 2000-2002 Taurus SVG's ever made. Prior to that, it was the Taurus SHO (Special High Output), but again, never a Taurus SVG. The only exception might be a show car Taurus SVG, but they were never produced.
I haven't posted in a while, but just wanted to weigh in on a couple of subjects.
I sell gasoline and diesel fuel for a living, and I hate to say it, but there are different blends of gasoline around the country. Most of these "grades" of gas have to meet EPA mandates for smog and pollution, but still satisfy the requirements for performance. The differences can sometimes be dramatic depending on the company, the area you live in, and the type of engine you run.
I believe Ford makes apretty good car for the money. As some previous posts have indicated, it's not a BMW, but it's not 30 grand either.
I haven't had the best of luck with my 99SE, but I think I'm over the hump now. If I wasn't so upside down on this car I'd jump on a new Taurus or Sable right away. Go Ford, Go America!!!!!!
The new Tauraus's styling is much less sporty. Especaill the rear tail lights, which are big and use the same light for braking and turning. And it looks like a old persons car, not the sporty car a Taurus is supposed to be
I just think they should go back to the 96-99 Taurus stylings. And replace the V-8 Powered SHO. Your right though, a Mustang is supposed to be Ford's sporty car.
why I have a 99 SHO. My nephew has a new 2001 Mustang GT. He works at sea and it sits parked in a garage 6 months out of the year. Its a shame he's not using the car, but when he does use it, I'm sure he doesn't need high utility out of it. But guys like me who frequently use the back seat and need a more comfortable interior need the usefulness of a four door. And just cause I'm over 30 now doesn't mean I can't have a fast car.
Has anybody installed an aftermarket cd/tape player in one of these? Can it be done? What is your experience? My aunt called me the other day and said the factory radio chewed up one of her cassettes and the tape player didn't work anymore. She wanted to buy an aftermarket unit and have me install it for her. I thought about it but I'm clueless on how to install it because of that strange oval setup. I've never worked on something like that. I welcome all your comments. Please help. Thanks.
I was very pleased when they changed the styling of the 2000 Taurus. I LOVE the rear lights the best - the reason why I bought it instead of the Sable. It doesn't have that stupid pug-nosed look that most cars have now (Ugly butt end of Maxima. Nissan cars are old-man boring!). The large lights are also a great safety feature. Nice design and functional.
Initially, the Taurus SES model was called the Taurus SE-SVG (Super Value Group) and the Taurus SEL was offered as the Taurus SE Comfort. The change was made in the middle of the 2000 model year.
Well, after reading through all 1200+ posts so as not to duplicate a question, I can now feel confident I am posting a new question.
My fiance and I are looking at 1999-2000 Taurus'. Has anyone had any experience doing light towing with either engine. I know the Vulcan is rated at 1250lbs. and the Duratec at 1750lbs., but I'm looking for real world experience. We have an 1100lb. pop-up that we currently tow with my old truck. The truck won't last forever and we want to be able to tow a couple times a year with the Taurus if need be. Any comments? Much appreciated.
You can tow with the Taurus (any other car) but you must have the right setup. Before you purchase the car I would look at the manual or talk to a Ford mechanic (not salesman) to see if can do it. My guess is yes but...I wouldn't tow it if it were my Taurus car.
Well, after reading through all 1200+ posts so as not to duplicate a question, I can now feel confident I am posting a new question.
My fiance and I are looking at 1999-2000 Taurus'. Has anyone had any experience doing light towing with either engine. I know the Vulcan is rated at 1250lbs. and the Duratec at 1750lbs., but I'm looking for real world experience. We have an 1100lb. pop-up that we currently tow with my old truck. The truck won't last forever and we want to be able to tow a couple times a year with the Taurus if need be. Any comments? Much appreciated.
You can tow but need to have the proper equipment ie., auxillary transmision cooler, ask a your mechanic about what type of tow hitch to install. My 2001 SEL came with a aux trans cooler but I think I would need to replace it with a larger one to tow.
I own a 1993 Taurus SW with a 3.8L V-6. The engine has blown a head gasket(no surprise on the 3.8). I am reluctant to do a full head gasket repair since the car has 135K on it. The mileage is past the 100k extended waranty Ford is now giving out on 3.8L head gasket repar. I had another Taurus repaired under that plan and it never ran well after that. Had a lot of vibration and lost engine power. So I'm looking for an alternative to a 1000 dolar head gasket job. I've seen ads for head sealer treat- ments that run aroun $250. Has anyone had experience with these treatments? Or has anyone used over the counter gasket sealers and have them do any good? Does anyone know of any low cost procedures that will prolong the life of an engine wth a blown gasket. I may just run the car until it stops(which could be a while)and then sell for whatever. Info on keeping 3.8s running would be appreciated
An add caught my eye in this mornings paper. 2000 LS with leather and moon roof 17k miles for $13,495 at a local dealer. I'm assuming its a LS premium sedan because of the leather. Just started looking at these vehicles. Any watch outs? Looks like it could be a good deal according to Edmonds. I'm unsure of the color. Any feedback or experiences with this vehicle would be appreciated.
I own an 97 taurus with rear disc brake. It makes a lot of noise when braking at warm temperature. The brake pad is not worn out yet. I was told by a Ford mechanic that it was caused by a bad design. He said the rotor in the rear is too small to hold the temperature.
I'm thinking about to change to a Carbon Metalic brake pad to increase the fade temperature, but can not find who carry the CM pad for taurus. Does any of you know where I can get it? Also can a sloted rotor solve this problem?
Well, I can join the discussion now with a little more authority. My fiance' and I just bought a 1999 Taurus. It has the 24V, the usual power stuff, and 40,000 miles. I hate to upset everyone with what we paid for it, but we only paid $7200 for it! We found a small town hardware store owner who sells cars on the side. He sells the cars for $250 over what he paid at auction. We went with him to the auction (unofficially) and picked out the car we wanted. He was so great and went out of his way to help us that we ended up giving him $400 instead of the $250. We (she drives it) really like the car so far. I'll keep everyone posted on what we think as time goes by.
to be somewhat dim...I don't feel like I can see as well at night as I can with my Intrepid...I am thinking of replacing the bulbs with PIAA Platinum White...the auto parts guy says that the light emitted is at least twice what the factory bulbs put out...1) is this true?...2) are they simple replacements, pull out the old and put in the new?...3) do I have to change any relays or anything electrical, or just put in the new bulbs and go on my merry way?...4) the PIAA's are about $80 per pair...is there a better or cheaper way to do it, or is PIAA my best route?...thanks
Comments
my 92 cougar had the same problems and then some, which is the last time i ever looked at fords (merks).
the reason i'm checking this thread, is because i posted a question as to the value of a '96 sable w/90K miles. doesn't look like these cars are very popular at all though.
Any input will be appreciated.
Does it use the brakes, engine, or something in the axle?
does it really make a difference in the snow/ice?
If I lived in snow country I'd consider a good set of winter tires on the Mustang (or leave it in the garage) and might also for the Taurus.
I previously owned a 92 Taurus wagon, and that came standard with very good Michelins. My current 2000 Taurus wagon came standard with Continental TouringContact tires, and they are very good (I would buy them again when the first set wears out). The Contis, coupled with the traction control, make this a very stable car to drive.
and what is the FFV motor???
My 2000 Taurus wagon Vulcan (155hp, 12 valve) gets about the same. The acceleration is not as good, but it is adequate.
FFV stands for Flexible Fuel Vehicle. According to many posters and my mechanic, this derivative of the Vulcan motor sucks. It's not an option any more, I think.
For what the taurus / sables cost they are over engineered and a tremendous value. The STD V6 feels extremely fast like V8. Yes it does ping on regular gas. Get at least Mid-grade or even Super for ping free performance and blazing Speed.
The front seats are the best I've owned and many other guests have commented on how amazingly comfy they are. The seats are firm and supportive, yet comfy.
The ride on the SHO is a bit firm and controlled but much better than any GM midsize and is superior by far to my dad's Seville. Like g1994sts, I think the same about the ride and the interior of the Seville. I have also driven Duratec equipped SE Tauruses and they are similar in character to my SHO, I think many people would be surprised and pleased if they'd drove one.
So many people fail to realize the Taurus has its basics very well engineered. So its not an Audi, yeah well it doesn't have an Audi price. As far as style, ride and substance I think its a definite improvement over typical GM yuck and much better engineered and built than Chryslers over the last 5-7 years.
I get comments all the time that the paints still looks like it is brand new.
Thanks.
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
I sell gasoline and diesel fuel for a living, and I hate to say it, but there are different blends of gasoline around the country. Most of these "grades" of gas have to meet EPA mandates for smog and pollution, but still satisfy the requirements for performance. The differences can sometimes be dramatic depending on the company, the area you live in, and the type of engine you run.
I believe Ford makes apretty good car for the money. As some previous posts have indicated, it's not a BMW, but it's not 30 grand either.
I haven't had the best of luck with my 99SE, but I think I'm over the hump now. If I wasn't so upside down on this car I'd jump on a new Taurus or Sable right away. Go Ford, Go America!!!!!!
http://www.apcnet.com/uh-60/america002swf
it's pretty potent.
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
We like the way the car looks and love our 2001 SEL!
If I want sporty, we take my Mustang Convertible!
FDIII
Saw one yesterday. They profiled one against a Cobra and it's just about as fast, but for about 5 grand less!!!
Happy Thanksgiving people
Hope this helps!
My fiance and I are looking at 1999-2000 Taurus'. Has anyone had any experience doing light towing with either engine. I know the Vulcan is rated at 1250lbs. and the Duratec at 1750lbs., but I'm looking for real world experience. We have an 1100lb. pop-up that we currently tow with my old truck. The truck won't last forever and we want to be able to tow a couple times a year with the Taurus if need be. Any comments? Much appreciated.
My fiance and I are looking at 1999-2000 Taurus'. Has anyone had any experience doing light towing with either engine. I know the Vulcan is rated at 1250lbs. and the Duratec at 1750lbs., but I'm looking for real world experience. We have an 1100lb. pop-up that we currently tow with my old truck. The truck won't last forever and we want to be able to tow a couple times a year with the Taurus if need be. Any comments? Much appreciated.
This is one in a series of articles on Edmunds.com in a new category "Generations" under Reviews. You can check out other histories here.
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
The engine has blown a head gasket(no
surprise on the 3.8). I am reluctant
to do a full head gasket repair since
the car has 135K on it. The mileage is past the 100k extended waranty Ford is now giving out on 3.8L head gasket repar.
I had another Taurus repaired under that
plan and it never ran well after that.
Had a lot of vibration and lost engine
power. So I'm looking for an alternative
to a 1000 dolar head gasket job.
I've seen ads for head sealer treat-
ments that run aroun $250. Has anyone
had experience with these treatments?
Or has anyone used over the counter
gasket sealers and have them do any good?
Does anyone know of any low cost
procedures that will prolong the life
of an engine wth a blown gasket. I may just run the car until it stops(which
could be a while)and then sell for
whatever. Info on keeping 3.8s running
would be appreciated
I'm thinking about to change to a Carbon Metalic brake pad to increase the fade temperature, but can not find who carry the CM pad for taurus. Does any of you know where I can get it? Also can a sloted rotor solve this problem?
Many thanks,
Mike
Other than the 2 factory recalls (both minor) it's been a great car.
Good Luck!
Shank