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Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Sedans Pre-2008

3389 messages,  Last post on Jan 21, 2011 at 11:46 AM

You are in the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Forum.

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

Messages Page 158 of 339

#1570 of 3389 Just read this from Car Connection by upsetter1

Jun 20, 2002 (6:54 pm)

Even Ford Division’s new president, Stephen G. Lyons, recognizes the Taurus’ sales problems. He doesn’t agree with Ford dealers’ dismissive remark that the Taurus is “dead in the water” and is understandably not willing to give it an obituary date, but he does concede that “it’s hard to sell 400,000 a year of anything. So now we’re dividing it (Taurus segment) into lots of 125,000.”
 
To retain the millions of Taurus (and Mercury Sable) owners, Ford will position the 2004-model Ford Five Hundred sedan, 2003-model Mercury Marauder sedan and the 2004-model Ford CrossTrainer SUV/wagon as Taurus alternatives. Both the Five Hundred and CrossTrainer will be built at the revamped Chicago Taurus plant as upscale replacements for Taurus/Sable owners not quite ready to go for the full-size, rear-drive Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Grand Marquis. The Marauder V-8 now reaching Mercury dealers could be offered as a Sable owners’ choice as well.
 
In its heyday, close to half a million Tauruses were sold annually. But during the late 1990s, former CEO Jacques A. Nasser preferred to invest Ford’s product-development kitty in other products, such as Lincoln, Jaguar and Mazda, leaving Taurus relatively un-updated. That left the door wide open for the Camry and Accord to seize the U.S. sales championship in the passenger-car derby. This year’s sales affirm the Taurus rise-and-fall story: from January-May 2002, Toyota has sold 189,118 Camrys; Honda, 148,486 Accords; and Ford, 133,892 Tauruses.— Mac Gordon

#1571 of 3389 by badgerfan

Jun 21, 2002 (5:52 am)

Just to be fair, you should also lump Sable sales into Taurus to compare vehicle sales with Camry and Accord. After all Camry and Honda don't have twins that are attacking almost the same customer base, like Taurus and Sable do.
 
Additionally, one person's "refinement" is another person's definition of boredom. Tomblike noise levels, boulevard ride and no feel automatic shift points aren't necessarily everyone's preference. On the things that matter to me, such as taught handling but without a punishing ride, good acceleration with the 24 valve V-6, and combined with much lower pricing than Camry, the 2000+ Taurus is a very good car.

#1572 of 3389 value, value, value by sculldog33

Jun 21, 2002 (11:24 am)

Don't have exact numbers, but historically Ford sells 300-400K Tauri a yr and another 80-100K Sables so technically they are still the best selling mid size family car. (I suspect Camry total sales include the Solara which is arguably a different model.) Granted lots of these Fords are fleet sales, but Camry's are in the rental pools as well.
 
Value is definitely where it's at -- my 2000 Sable LS Premier has leather, m-roof, auto climate control, Mach Audio with tape/6 disc changer, fog lights, power everything, 200 HP V6, adjustable pedals, 16" alloys, ABS, etc.... all for an out the door price of 20200. Ford went cheap on the rear brakes, and dropped the dual exhaust, but otherwise there is little else I'd want. Back then, a similar Camry would have been pushing $27K. So for another $900 I purchased an extended warranty that covers me out to 6 yrs, and gives me a rental when the car is in for service. My savings is $6K and I get an arguably more attractive car (style), with more interior room and a bigger trunk and a solid safety record. 2002's are probably an even bigger value with the newly redesigned Camry's pushing 30K for one with all the options, and I've seen ads for Sable LS's, with a factory rebate, in the 19.5 range!
 
Almost 2 yrs into the ownership and no problems -- just change the oil, rotate the tires. Car rides well, seats are comfortable, and handles and performs as well as a 4 door family sedan needs to handle.
 
Depreciation on Sables sucks, but I'm keeping it for 8 yrs or so (as everyone should from a strict $$ perspective) and it won't be an issue. Time value of money folks. Don't spend tons of money on a depreciating asset and don't tie up valuable funds that could be used elsewhere. Take that 6K+ and get some new furniture, or a home entertainment system, college fund for the kids, Roth IRA, or a little of each!
 
Even if you don't have that 6K savings in your pocket, with $4K down over 48 months, difference between the two (14.5K loan vs 23K loan) is about $200/mth, and you'll save $1200 in interest.
 
Only real reason to go Camry or Accord route is if you routinely put 30K a year on your cars -- then the extra reliability of the foreign cars probably makes sense. If you fall in the range of the national average of 12-15K a year, Ford makes more sense.

#1573 of 3389 value, value, value, yes, yes, yes by badgerfan

Jun 21, 2002 (11:39 am)

I couldn't agree more. Why pay 30-40% for the slab sided Camry, when you can get the better looking Taurus/Sable, getting at least 90% as good a car, and pocket the rest for something fun or more important.
   
And, if you don't need quite all the bells and whistles, you can get a well equipped Taurus or Sable for well under 20K. MY 2000 Taurus SES was 18K and still had the 200HP V6 and include antilock brakes, remote locks, alloy 16" wheels and more. You would have to buy a stripped Camry to get into that price range.
 
The people a Camry might be good for are the ones who lease, as there are plenty of stupid people out there willing to pay top dollar for used Camry's as well. The lower depreciation keeps the monthly lease payments down.
 
As one who owned a 90 Taurus for ten years, leasing is not the way I want to go, as I prefer not to be continually paying for a car.

#1574 of 3389 Police package by kw_carman

Jun 21, 2002 (11:44 am)

I haven't seen any of the 2000+ Tauri on the streets as police cars or detective cars. The 1996 Generation Tauri were used as police cars in Wash. DC, and were used as detective cars here in NC, but I haven't seen any of the new models.
 
Our police department stopped using them as police cars after about 1994 when they discovered the front-wheel-drive wasn't gonna work for them

#1575 of 3389 Police Package by badgerfan

Jun 21, 2002 (12:00 pm)

Yes, most police departments tend to go with the full size rear wheel drive Fords. Likely more bullet proof, as they use them for high speed chases, pushing stalled vehicle out of the way, etc.
 
I have seen some police cars that were the new FWD Chevy Impalas. I wonder whether they will hold up.

#1576 of 3389 Taurus and Camry by alhar

Jun 21, 2002 (4:26 pm)

Both Taurus and Camry are good cars with Camry slightly ahead in many areas but I chose a fully loaded 2002 Taurus SEL Premium. It was available with my two most important options, side airbags and extender pedals and the price was right. Camry doesn't offer the extender pedals and no Camrys at local dealers had side airbags. No one was that eager to let me order an XLE with just side airbags and the fake wood dash turned me off anyway. The steering wheel positioning was inadequate and the seat uncomfortable. Available colors were not to my liking. More expensive even with an underpowered 4cyl. 6 CD changer in the trunk. I drive less than 10,000 miles per year (my 92 Acclaim had 90,000) and I keep my car at least 10 years. I'll get an extended warranty with the money saved. The Taurus just made more sense for me.

#1577 of 3389 Sable by behhpp

Jun 22, 2002 (12:20 pm)

I love my 97 Sable for size and comfort. Bought it from Hertz with 26K miles 4 years ago. However, my ABS is not working, AC has needed work, check engine light is on, interior has had some things break in it. I can get a 2002 Camry for under 20 K if I don't care for all the bells and whistles. I am going to buy a 2003 Corolla LE for even less than that, and it has plenty of room for me inside. I bought new a 1987 Topaz that needed ignition switch work within 3 months. Looking forward to improved reliability for years to come.

#1578 of 3389 another + for the Taurus by fdthird

Jun 24, 2002 (6:36 am)

I have to agree with sculldog33's post and others in support of the Taurus. Had an 89 wagon for almost 12 years (and it is still running strong for a kid I sold it to at work) and now own a 2001 SEL. This is my wife's/family car and we are very happy with it. She went from a '97 E-150 custom hi-top to the Taurus and loves it!
 
We looked around at a lot of cars before we picked the Taurus. For us, it was the best value and the best looking car in the class. Didn't like any of the American cars in the class and my Mom has a 2000 Camry LE and I have trouble believing it and the Accord are in the same size class as the Taurus/Sable. Also, as far as I am concerned the Taurus looks much more up scale then the Camry and in terms of size and features, there is no comparison on the inside of the cars.
 
We have an on going relationship with a Ford dealer and went the Taurus rather than the Sable route, but like the look of the Sable too.
 
Our car has all the bells and whistles (moon roof, leather, buckets, traction/abs, etc) and the price of the car was much less than a similarly upscale Camry or Accord would be. The depreciation doesn’t bother me because we are going to keep the car for the long haul. Besides, I've had Toyotas that went to 1/2 price in 2 years so what's the big deal. Too many times I find people who buy cars not for now but for 2-3 years when they plan on getting rid of it. Why not buy the best car for you and keep it till you've gotten your money out of it?
 
Its a rental car?? Well, so was my Dad's '66 Ford Galaxie 500. So is everyone's Camry. (not to mention Pontiac Grand AM, Ford Mustang, or Lincoln Town Car). Who cars???
 
What to drive an exclusive car that you don't pass everywhere and still spend $25,000 or less??? Then look for some Waco European or American brand (like the rebadged Renault that became a Dodge and Eagle). Personally, I want reliable comfortable transportation that I can get fixed EVERYWHERE!!

#1579 of 3389 "Rental Car" by badgerfan

Jun 24, 2002 (7:14 am)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that Ford owns 100% of Hertz. If you were an automaker who owns the largest rental car company, wouldn't you put your own product into it? Just because a vehicle is used in rental fleets doesn't mean squat.
 
Besides, all you people who lease vehicles. Guess what: You are driving a "Rental Car". You just happen to have rented it for 3 years!

Messages Page 158 of 339

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