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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
#2501 of 3389 by samnoe
Oct 22, 2003 (6:00 pm)
The new VW style gauges is b/c the new designer at Ford worked at VW before (I don't remember his name). I also liked the old steering wheel style from Taurus & Windstar (they are the same) much more than the new one on the Freestar and 2004 Taurus, but the illuminated cruise and audio controls are certainly a welcome addition.The 3 buttons are for the message center, also copied from other Ford models, and could be very useful.
Another illuminated control missing from the Freestar (for the first time) is the audio power/volume knob. You can't see it at night. It's beyond my thoughts why Ford decided to do so. In the 2004 Taurus it shouldn't be a problem, since the audio & temp. controls remains unchanged. Ford says that the Freestar is the best minivan Ford has ever built (?) I doubt if it really is
I really hope that someone of Ford is reading our posts and will improve these things in the next models.
#2502 of 3389 Reporting back by badgerfan
Oct 23, 2003 (5:56 am)
I couldn't find any '04 Tauri on my dealer's lot, even though their web site said they had about 10. I did get a brochure however, and the three buttons to the right of the dash do control the message center and the trip odomoter. The buttons are labeled from top to bottom SET, INFO, and RESET. Per the brochure, the message center(standard on all Tauri) can provide info on average fuel economy, distance to empty and several other diagnostics it also includes a trip elapsed time setting/odometer.Per the brochure at least, only the SEL has the white gauges with black markings, all other models have black gauges. Speedometer is now offset to the right with equal sized tach on the left. Don't know if I like that, but is no big deal either way. The steering wheel is different, but appears OK. Might be slightly better ergonomics to the cruise control buttons. Otherwise no earthshaking changes.
As usual, my service experience at this place was phenomenally quick. In after work, out in less than 45 minutes. They have service department hours until 11 pm every week night and also 8 AM-5 PM saturdays. I called ahead for appointment, but they said no need, just bring it in and they would get on it right away. Pricey, though as I expected-$132, but I decided at least for the first (30K) transmission service I would let the dealer do this one. Other routine things like oil changes and all filters I do myself, so my overall routine maintenance costs are pretty low.
I got a quick look at a new Freestar in show room. Looked OK inside, though it appears a lot more spartan than our 96 Caravan SE Sport. Exterior was so close to Windstar that I doubt if most people will even notice it.
#2503 of 3389 fdthird by venus537
Oct 25, 2003 (10:39 am)
Sorry, i don't agree.The taurus has been far from competitive to the camry and accord for some time now. Even the previous generation camry and accord were far better cars. With the introduction of the new malibu and rapid improvement of the south korean entries, the taurus is finding itself overwhelmed in this segment.
what do i base this on? if you follow the auto industry i think you know i can list a long "laundry" list of the whys.
how can the taurus possibly be competitive when ford needs to use HUGE incentives in order for them to sell.
ford is doing exactly the right thing in regulating these cars to rental/fleet sales. the taurus name has too much of a "rental" car connotation to use on a new model.
the ford futura is one of my most anticipated cars.
#2504 of 3389 My 2 Cents on Taurus by snowman
Oct 25, 2003 (6:53 pm)
Unlike some, I build my discussion on different aspects, not on incentives that Ford gives.I had 93 Civic (brand new), 91 Accord(used) and 99 Accord (brand new). They were very good cars. But they were just cars like others. I didn't see any superiority on those I drove...
Handling wise I think My Taurus is as good as my last Accord. In fact,it is quiter with Yokohoma Avid tires
Styling wise, I really like gen.4 Taurus that I have one now. Accord is good too (camry is ugly) but why pay extra to name..
Quality wise, I am very happy with it. It just shows some problems here there but easy to fix and cheaper to maintain. I do my own maintenance, parts are widely available and reasonable priced.
As a matter of fact I am shopping Wagon Duratec now as second car to replace Neon. Taurus gives the most bang for your buck. And each time I lurke into Accord Problems forum, I laugh at those people. They paid the premium price but they just got an ordinary car.
Some people talks about refinement bs that I never understood. What is so refine about Accord and Camry? Bottons..? Steering wheel..? Shifter...?
What..? I belive this is just a hype. People love to belong a social class. Definitive entities of this class can be house, neigborhood, car, brand name clothing etc...
I believe, the accord owners or I should say import owners (they are not really import in this global economy) are associating themselves with such class and trying to justify their purchase by telling themselves that how refine their cars, how superior the thecnology of their cars and try to boost their confidence on their imports by simply humiliating other brands. At least this is what they think.
#2505 of 3389 snowman by venus537
Oct 25, 2003 (10:47 pm)
so the accord is actually not a superior car at all but only so in the minds of its owners. clever of honda and toyota to be able to fool so many people (even the people who work at ford).why did ford ever bother to introduce the ford focus? i'm sure the civic and corolla were not superior cars to the escort but only so in the minds of its owners.
and why is ford even going to the trouble to build the ford futura and 500? don't those idiots at ford know the taurus is more than a match to the accords and camrys of the world. it doesn't matter how many times they been redesigned while the same ole taurus carrys on.
memo to ford. it's not the car's fault but the gullible consumer who's in big time denial who doesn't know any better.
#2506 of 3389 snowman by venus537
Oct 25, 2003 (11:48 pm)
without the Sarcasism.i guess what i find so astonishing is that no one on this topic seems to share my frustration with ford for neglecting this all important segment for so long.
if there's any frustration on the part of anybody it seems to be focused on ford's competition.
thankfully, it does appear that ford is finally getting on the right track with the futura and 500.
they certainly wouldn't be going anywhere by blaming the consumer for their current situation with the taurus.
#2507 of 3389 venus by snowman
Oct 26, 2003 (5:14 am)
Yes, Accord (and/or Camry) is not a super car at all. It is all in their mind. How often you read Honda Accord problems forum. Look at the amount of complaints related to fit and finish, transmission, brakes ....Honda made big mistake by pulling hatcback civic out from the market. Ford realized that put Focus into market and got market share. Many young people are driving hatcback focus. Now small car market is dominated by Neon, and Focus. Everywhere used to be hatcback civic. Now, you see many Neon and Focus in traffic.
Why do you have frustration? Every company has its own strategy. If Ford thinks it is time to put new car into market let them do it. If they fail, it will be their problem. The same thing for Honda or Camry.
Please try not to attach yourself to these car companies emationally. But if you think Ford is doing bad job which causes frustration on you, you might want to apply Ford for a position like R&D CEO or Marketing CEO or something. And we'll take it from there...
#2508 of 3389 Venus by fdthird
Oct 26, 2003 (12:37 pm)
I must agree with you...Ford spent so much time concentrating on the SUV that it totally forgot folks who wanted a real car for the family. The Taurus did not deserve to be relegated to the back burner for so long. I say again, its like they lost interest when the public did not like the oval Taurus.We drove vans for better than 16 years (one Toyota and two full size Fords) but now that the kids are no longer hauling everything they own everywhere we wanted to return to a "real car".
My Mom's got a 2000 Camry LE and its a nice car but really think it is very "cheap looking" compared to my wife's 2001 Taurus SEL.
You know, why do we always have to please everyone. Toyotas are fine vehicles if that's what you want. Ford did a lousy job with the Focus unless your my son who's got 45,000 trouble free miles on his 2001 SE.
Different people see the world differently and I say thank God for that! If you want to drive an SUV or a Toyota or a Honda well that's great. But I think companies need to not put all their eggs in one basket like Ford did with SUVs. I hope that when they come out with the 500 they don't do the same thing again...
#2509 of 3389 by nvbanker
Oct 26, 2003 (3:54 pm)
Well, car companies put their eggs in the basket with the money in it, and SUV's & trucks have kept Ford alive while they've been scratching their heads desperately trying to build a Camry. The bean counters won't let them do it. They could do it, but would it sell enough to make a profit with what it costs to make it that good? That's the problem domestics have right now, because Toyota, and to a lesser degree, Honda, already have this process clocked. The 96 Taurus was built to exceed the 92 Camry, and in many ways it made it. But in the end, the bean counters thrifted out a lot of what the designers put in, and it was a very good car, but not quite up there in NVH, or longevity. Then, there was the styling, which was too ovid for many, me included.#2510 of 3389 Taurus-Camry by danielj6
Oct 26, 2003 (4:36 pm)
Throughout the 7 years that I had my 91 Toyota Camry I went twice to Ford dealers to trade to a Taurus wagon, preferably. I needed something roomy and safe for my growing children.First time 1993 I didn't get the Taurus wagon basically because my wife right there and then,in front of the salesman and manager, mentioned that after seeing the wagon she really wanted a minivan. Taurus wagon would've been sufficient. In 1996 we went again to a Ford dealership but I didn't like the car's sloping hood. Did not buy it.
What's the point here? Even though I owned a Camry I still wanted the perceived virtues of a Ford Taurus, which my Camry didn't possess then. My car felt like an econobox. However for 7 + years never visit the shop for repairs.
Taurus was built strong, safe and roomy. Camry was made reliable, economical and good looking. If Ford would've put great effort into putting dependability in the Taurus people would've flocked to get it.
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