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Taurus/Sable Maintenance & Repair

2996 messages,  Last post on Dec 01, 2012 at 9:47 AM

You are in the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 117 of 300

#1158 of 2996 Good deal or not? by waford

Feb 03, 2004 (8:03 am)

I just recently bought a certified 2002 Ford Taurus SES for $9200 at my local Ford dealership. They threw in aftermarket leather (made the sale of the car dependant on it..) and free oil changes until I am out of the original manufacturer's warranty (23K miles on it when I gotit). I have been very pleased with the vehicle overall, but colleagues and friends think it was too much money for a Taurus! I was unable to produce a similarily equipped, full-size sedan that fit me (6'7", 300lbs) as well as the Taurus did - physically as well as budget-wise. What do you guys think? Did I overpay on it, or did I get a smoking-hot deal? Thanks for any insights you folks may have...

#1159 of 2996 waford by dako_tian

Feb 03, 2004 (8:10 am)

As I have been shopping for a similar deal to purchase when my tax refund relieves the budget a bit, it looks like a pretty reasonable deal to me.

#1160 of 2996 waford by fdthird

Feb 03, 2004 (3:03 pm)

Tell your friends it was your money not thiers...in the future stay away from Monday morning quarterbacks!
 
A number of years ago we bought a house for what a lot of people thought was way too much. They hadn't been shopping and didn't know the market at all. 5 years later we sold the house for $100,000 more than we paid.
 
Since then, I listen to no one but my own inner voice and once I make a deal walk away mentally. Suggest you do the same as you have already purchased the vehicle and really can do nothing about the price.

#1161 of 2996 Good deal or not? by danielj6

Feb 03, 2004 (6:08 pm)

It sounds like those that told you you paid too much money for a Taurus were either putting you down or the car.
 
I believe you made a very good deal. Enjoy the car and best of luck!

#1162 of 2996 Good deal or not? by hansienna

Feb 03, 2004 (10:15 pm)

Did you get an extended warranty on the automatic transmission?
    Taurus/Sable are the only vehicles with more dismal automatic transmission reliability than Dodge/Chrysler minivans.

#1163 of 2996 Transmission by fdthird

Feb 04, 2004 (7:10 am)

Old news....not applicable anymore

#1164 of 2996 Taurus Trans by riswami

Feb 04, 2004 (4:36 pm)

I think it is too early to say if Ford has solved transmission problems in the last generation Taurus. I have a 97 and just had mine rebuilt at 103k. The car had been throwing codes since 71k.I did fluid changes at 30, 60 and 90 thou. So mine was maintained properly.
 
Overall I've enjoyed the car. But until the last generation start racking up a lot of miles you won't know if this problem has been fixed.These are not the only cars on the road with tranny problems. But it is definately a weakness.

#1165 of 2996 Transmission Maintenance by snowman

Feb 04, 2004 (6:45 pm)

I am very reluctant to follow up Ford's 30K tranmission service interval. I am sticking with 20K interval. Ford transmissions run hotter compare to other makes and models. Many people installs aux. coolers. I think visually inspecting the oil (color and smell) is the way to go. If it smells like gasoline (contaminated) or looks burnt, it is time to change.

#1166 of 2996 by riswami

Feb 05, 2004 (9:25 am)

Good points snowman. Everytime I checked my fluid it was fine.Nice and red, no burnt smell. Plus I did total exchanges at 30 and 60 thousand. I don't think fluid changes at 20k intervals would have saved it. I just think they are not a durable transmision.

#1167 of 2996 2000 Sable - suspension clunk and mileage by imjcleckey

Feb 15, 2004 (9:25 am)

I have a 2000 Sable with the basic engine - Vulcan I think - 71000 miles. There is a clunk in the passenger front which has resisted efforts to fix. Struts, strut mounts, sway bars, inner tie rod, ball joint, and wheel bearing have not fixed the clunk (it's a long story). Now I hear that it may be control arm bushings. Does anyone else have experience with this? The clunk happens mostly over small bumps - washboard brings it out the best. Doesn't matter if you are turning or going straight, accelerating, etc.
 
Also, the car gets poor mileage - around 22 for mostly highway, occasionally as high as 25. The motor also seems to like to rev up. When starting up cold, it revs up to ~2200 rpm. It takes a couple minutes to get to normal idle - 800 rpms. As an experiment, I have tried shifting the car into neutral while going down the highway at normal speed - the motor revs up to about 2500 rpm. Is this normal? Does it need a tuneup? New plugs? Thanks

Messages Page 117 of 300

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