Ask the Car People.SM


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 294 of 340

#2925 of 3389 danielj6 by badgerfan

Jul 12, 2004 (9:34 am)

I just don't understand how the Ford dealers in your area could stay in business, quoting exhorbitant prices as they did to you. Maybe they thought they could take advantage of you, being in a somewhat emergency situation. I would not have let on that I had any emergency.
 
My approach is when a dealer tries to push a deal, saying it might not be available tomorrow or next week, I tell them that I am sure they will be willing to sell me a car next week, next month, or next year and that I can drive what I have until that time. Even if I did have an immediate need to replace a totalled car, I would never let on to a dealer what my situation is.
 
I just saw a dealer ad in our Sunday paper for a base new 2004 Sable with all rebates for under $13K. A pretty well fully loaded new Taurus or Sable sedan should go for under $20K easy(not including tax, title and license transfer), in my opinion, with the wagons just a bit more.

#2926 of 3389 Re: danielj6 [badgerfan] by 307web

Jul 12, 2004 (11:12 am)

Replying to: badgerfan (Jul 12, 2004 9:34 am)
More than likely the ad for under $13K in the paper was a scam by yet another sleazy Ford dealer.
 
The invoice price is 19,339 for a base LX with no options. Then a $3000 rebate is $16339 and then maybe another $1000 off at most to cover other dealer incentives, holdbacks etc is still $15339. Even if you qualify for the College Grad rebate on top of that will be in the $14K+ range.
 
Sounds like they will say it was already sold when you show up and actually try to buy one at that price.
Just because there is an ad in the paper doesn't mean you can really buy for that price.
Maybe it was a demo with several thousand miles that they marked down for the ad is the only other possibility I see to get into the sub $13K range for a "new" Taurus.

#2927 of 3389 Re: danielj6 [307web] by jebinc1

Jul 12, 2004 (11:27 am)

Replying to: 307web (Jul 12, 2004 11:12 am)
... and don't forget the "military" rebate

#2928 of 3389 by upsetter1

Jul 12, 2004 (2:34 pm)

For a big city like NY Corolla may a be a better vehicle than Taurus, esp considering fuel consumption. In my nearest dealership they put a firm price on Taurus, something like $15,500 on the sticker. The thing is that they have to sell them, there was an overproduction lately. Hertz sells 2003 Tauruses in our area for $10,500, asking however for basic Camry $15,500, what I consider ridiculous, because for one grand more you can buy brand new Camry.

#2929 of 3389 by 307web

Jul 12, 2004 (3:06 pm)

Yes, you will save money on gas an depreciation on a Corolla. It takes at least 2 years for the depreciation on a Taurus to settle down. You could buy a 1 year old Taurus from Hertz for $10,500 and still have it only worth under $6K on a trade-in one year later. After that, the depreciation rate starts to get a little slower. There are some new cars that depreciate less than a 1 year old Taurus does between year one and year 2. The depreciation on a brand-new Taurus from date of purchase to 1 year old is outrageous even subtracting the rebates.
A 2 year old Taurus for around $7K with some factory warranty left is a good buy.
If it has under 36K miles, you can still purchase the ESP PremiumCare warranty if the prior owner didn't and have at least 4 years of good service and bumper to bumper warranty for under $10K including taxes. Plus you might be able to resell it after 3 years for around 50% of what you paid if it still has some of the extended warranty transferable to the next private party.

#2931 of 3389 Rentals by 307web

Jul 12, 2004 (4:34 pm)

Yes, some look worn out with dings and dirty interiors, but there are so many of them, that it really doesn't take that long to find a good one when you have dozens to choose from from multiple dealers. There is an almost endless supply of 1 year old Tauruses available.

#2932 of 3389 Tranny question by jebinc1

Jul 12, 2004 (5:50 pm)

Has anyone ever noticed an occasional dampened scraping noise when putting a Taurus in park? If you move it out of park to Neutral, or some other gear, the sound goes away. Sometimes it stays away when you put it back in Park. Sometimes, it is never there in the first place. Has anyone ever heard of this?

#2933 of 3389 by danielj6

Jul 12, 2004 (7:42 pm)

Some dealers don't realize or don't want to admit that many car buyers are now a days very knowledgeable about models, features, prices, etc. During my visit to Ford dealers, one salesman after going around in circles with me, told me that I'm quite educated about cars. I told I'm a former Sable owner, I know your cars and I'm here to deal on the spot. The guy left us for several long minutes and shows up with a goon-looking guy who later I find out was the manager. The creep just sat there, and I was the one who said "You must be the manager".
That's all he said and continue to sat there like a bus instead of engaging us and try to address our needs. We left.
 
The second dealer was a L-M showroom. After spending some time with what seemed a wishy-washy looking salesman during a rainy Labor Day afternoon, I deemed it strategically appropriate to appeal to their compassion and mentioned that my beloved Sable was totaled in an accident. I was lured back to the showroom several days later under pretenses that "Ford had just upped the cash to customer rebate". So wife and yours truly marched back to the dealership really enthused that that same Saturday afternoon we'd be returning with a shiny new Merc. Sable. I initially didn't want leather or moonroof, but decided to settle for a car with these features because these guys had sold the 04 black Sable fully equipped and without leather and moonroof that was available on Monday and that they had promised to keep until Saturday and without a deposit. On Saturday the car was " just sold to Enterprise rental car". Enterprise closes at noon on Saturday, and by now it was 3 o'clock. But okay, we're ready to buy here and now, these are invoices from internet sites. You know the rest.
 
Next, we went to a Ford dealer, and they tried to play other games out of their never ending hat of dirty tricks.
 
The rental Tauri I saw were mainly at Enterprise, which I rented the Focus from. These cars were 03's with 26000 and went for $11399. They had some power features with Vulcan engines. The interior looked in need of a shampoo job, and the exterior had some minor dings. It's difficult to impossible to drive in NY and keep the car immaculate. My Sable had only one ding in 4 years. But basically these cars looked like they had lived a hard life. I became ambivalent. Perhaps I passed up a good opportunity.
 
Now, I can't get used to that the emergency brake is no longer on the left and that I used to engage it with my foot. The transmmision lever is no more steering wheel mounted but is floor mounted. Radio controls are different. But other than that, I parked my Toyota easily and in small places. Parking in NY is at a premium. Gas consumption is real great, but with 70 fewer ponies. Awful looking BMW, MB's and similar vicious evil types leave me in the dust and give no second thought about cutting me off. My Sable left some of the above mentioned evil doers behind in seconds.
 
Oh well

Messages Page 294 of 340

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement