Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Sedans Pre-2008
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
http://www.blueovalnews.com/2005/products/sable.lastunitbuild.02may05.htm
I own a 2001 Taurus SES with 69,000 miles. I NEED tires! These Wal-Mart Douglas Touring tires are pathetic. Here are my requirements:
- $400 budget
- FANTASTIC handling (I frequently travel curvy roads)
- Smooth ride (althought not life or death requirement)
- Stability on highways
I personally feel as if a TOURING tire is not an option; however, I have considered the following tires:
- Firestone Affinity LH30
- Bridgestone Potenza G009
- Fuzion HRi
- Kelly Navigator Platinum TE
PLEASE! I need input on what tire I should buy. If any of you 2000-2005 Taurus owners have found a tire that DESTROYS the performance of the Continental Touring Contact or any other standard touring tire, I would appreciate it!
THANKS!
- Alex
I also wanted to update the status of my 2001 Taurus SES with 69,000 miles. To date, here is all I have done to the car:
- 64,000 - lower ball joint ($35 part, $40 install, $40 for 4-wheel alignment)
- 66,000 - new front rotors ($70 for both including installation)
- 68,000 - transmission flush w/filter (preventative maintenance, $140)
The only thing I need to do to this car is a new oil pan gasket. I guess I am leaking oil (only a drop now and then); however I am going to replace this as I want to keep the maintenance up. It will run me $30 for the part and $75 to put it in.
Coming from a 1998 Toyota Camry, I am very pleased with my Taurus. Sure, people might say that Ford is junk, but I say otherwise. I feel if you TAKE CARE OF YOUR VEHICLE, then it will take care of you. This car at 69,000 miles, honestly, runs better than the Camry did at that mileage. I use this vehicle for pizza delivery and also for commuting. I travel on rough and curvy roads most of the time, and this car handles it! The suspension is excellent and I can hear them gas struts a working! My Camry had some suspension issues: bad struts, scraped in the front on any turn from a grade, bottomed out on bumps, squeaked over speed bumps, not the best handler. Not to mention, the engine (2.2L) had a leaking exhaust manifold thus causing a strange sound at initial startup and a FLASHING check engine light if driven too hard. The pushrod 3.0L V6 in this car has excellent pull and, as I understand, goes forever and is inexpensive to maintain. Another noticeable strong point is the cars body strength. At age four, NO RUST and NO DINGS on this vehicle. The Camry had many small dings that I see frequently on Japanese cars. My Camry had one spot where it rusted, many small dings, many scratches, and the spoiler paint faded and lost its texture.
Trust me, once a Toyota-only guy, I have now become a Ford guy. Although I do think Toyota produces a good car, I will choose a Ford first. The new 500 is NICE, NICE, NICE. Five-star side-impact without side airbags! Ford also makes a tough car made to handle rough, American terrain. My Taurus takes it like a [non-permissible content removed] and I feel I can depend on it, given I take care of it.
So, to those debating about buying a Taurus or Sable, DO IT. Save money, spend less on repairs, and know that you bought a quality, domestic vehicle that will hold up to anything and keep you the most protected out of every vehicle on the road (look at the fantastic crash ratings at www.highwaysafety.org). If you are wanting new, a Taurus or Sable can be easily had for $15-$16K. Or, step up to the new Ford 500 which I have seen for $19,795 in the papers.
THANKS!
- Alex
Here are another couple of discussions you might want to check into while you are waiting for some input here:
Tires, Tires, Tires and Ask Connor at the Tire Rack.
Hope this is helpful - good luck.
The OE Continentals on my Taurus, aside from having poor wet traction, have actually done pretty well. Nice even wear and even decent snow traction, though it is getting worse now that they are nearing the end of their useful life. Now at 46K they are about used up, and I will definitely replace them this summer or fall.
Glad to see you are having good luck with your Taurus, as am I.
Yeah suspension is the weakness of all Toyotas, esp. if you drive on rough roads. Mitsubishi and Mazda are better on this aspect. Toyota is not robust. It is Japanese refined, but not American tough. I will not buy another Toyota solely because they handle bad and are fragile. I do not want to get scared every time I change lanes on freeway or visit body shop after every little fender-bender.
Continentals on my Sable are pretty durable. I have 50K miles on it and they wear even and look good, may go another 50K. I did not pump tires at least for half a year. Actually I do not remember when I did it last time. But robustness has downside – they are not reliable on wet surfaces – ABS starts working and car keeps going – not good.
will only work at the fastest speed. The slower fan speeds are dead. Any ideas ?
Thanks.....
Larry
I can't say I would recommend the Dunlops for this car; they don't feel as solid and smooth as I had hoped. Wet traction is fine, and they aren't overly loud.
I just put a set of the BF Goodrich Traction T/As on the wife's Honda Odyssey, which replaced a set of Goodyear Regatta 2s. The Regattas performed well, and were certainly quieter than the OEM Michelin Symmetry. We got around 30K out of the Regattas.
different place on the older vehicles. I can't find it under the hood either. However,
thanks for your reply. Can anybody else shed some light on this problem ?.....
I would very much appreciate if someone could check this out if you have an 00-05 taurus and let me know!!! Thanks!
i've got a 96 taurus with 136,000 miles on it. when i get done driving it and get out of the car there is an almost overpowering gasoline smell. i've put paper under the car and there is no leak. there also doesn't seem to be a leak as the gas gauge doesn't go down on it's own. the smell is only there after i've been driving it. when i come out in the morning and walk up to the car it doesn't have the gas smell. only once it's been driven. any ideas? thanks.
usually mounted under the dash near the motor.
Check the wiring diagram for this vehicle at the local library.
Its a common problem for the resistor to fail.
In high speed the resistor is not used.
Dealer replaced shield under hood and replaced the blower motor and resistor assembly.
They stated this was a very common problem and had repaired numerous vehicles.
At the counter for the appointment they new exactly what wrong.
reply.....
1998 Taurus SE, 57k miles in Tampa. Zero problems till now. Intermittently idles high...1,000-1,100 rpm in gear, 1,500-2,000 rpm out of gear...seems at times I can get it to normal by turning on A/C. Sometimes problem doesn't appear for days. Looking for down and dirty fix like cleaning contacts, checking vacuum hoses before I sink any $$ into diagnostic/repair. Thanks in advance for any assistance you might offer!
question.
I finally located the faulty resistor in question. It looks more like a multi-pin
connector than a resistor. That's why I missed it the first time.
Many thanks to those who offered advice.
Larry.......
Thank you!
Sounds like you are a do it yourselfer, but you just may have to take it in to an expert to diagnose this problem.
when the problem happens, that's the 'slo-motion' sound i referred to. i may only get one or two revolutions (real slow), sit for a moment, turn key- nothing! no clicking, no low sounding hum, nothing. probably wiring somewhere loose, unseen without removing major components. when it doesn't give me any hassle, it turns over so smooth i almost forget that it may not start again once i get to where i'm going.
the other day at work, i was heading out to go home, won't start. we sat there for only about two or three minutes, my girlfriend says, "try again"- fired right up?? it has a mind of it's own, i swear; never encountered or heard of this before without being able to diagnose it.
Also, if anyone knows how (step by step?) to remove the headliner in order to drill a hole in the roof for an antenna mount I would appreciate hearing from you.
Thanks
I have a question regarding possibly selling my Taurus. I am interested in something with 30+ MPG since gas prices are outrageous.
I love the car, but was wondering if you all feel I could get a certain amount private sale for the car.
2001 Taurus SES
73,000 miles
(4) new tires and alignment
New front pads and rotors
New fuel filter
Fuel system flushed
Coolant flushed
New high-quality windshield wipers
Complete tranny flush w/filter (no tranny problems either)
Has Vulcan V6
PERFECT mechanical condition (suspension also checks out well)
Like new exterior (with exception of a door scrape and clearcoat coming off front bumper)
Like new interior
All the power functions work (has power driver's seat and CD player)
Do you think I can get $7000 for it locally (given I detail the car)?
Any info would be appreciated, THANKS!
- Alex
$15,000 sell price
1,162.50 tax
_______________
16,162.50
-7.500.00 for trade (does not include doc fee or Lic.)
______________
8,662.50 CASH OUT OF POCKET
Gas at $2.20 a Gal at 20mpg at 15,000 (750 gallons used) miles per year=$1,650.00 for gas/yr
NEW CAR
30mpg at 15,000 (500 gallons used@$2.20 Gal) miles per year = $1,100 for gas/yr
difference in price of gas used=$550.00
It would take a long time at current gas prices to recoup your cash outlay for a new car.
IS MY MATH CORRECT? :confuse:
Hey, I can't talk. I just traded in an '02 Explorer on a '05 4Runner Toyota! :P
The likely most common with Tauri of that era in general are worn tie rod ends or worn sway bar links, both of which are pretty inexpensive, however no one is going to be able to diagnose this kind of problem via Edmunds. Take it in and get a professional inspection and estimate.
I have a 2001 Ford Taurus and the starter appears to have gone bad.
I need to pull it but would like to have some idea where to locat it and how difficult it is to get too before I venture under the car.
Tha last time I had to pull a starter I was taking it off of an 85 Mercury Grand Marquis, Easy to get too and not too difficult to remove and replace. I highly doubt that will be the case with this car.
Any pointers you could toss this direction would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!!
Kathy