Ask the Car People.SM


What Are Your Thoughts on the Return of the Taurus/Sable?

530 messages,  Last post on Aug 22, 2008 at 11:00 PM

You are in the Ford Taurus/Mercury Sable Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Five Hundred, Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, Future Vehicle, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 34 of 54

#329 of 530 Re: OK... [david_v1234] by dzier217

Aug 27, 2007 (9:50 am)

Replying to: david_v1234 (Aug 24, 2007 6:56 am)
I think what has happend to some companies is they listened to the automotive journals too much and are now getting re-introduced into the mainstream. Auomotive journals are always saying things like "this deserves a new name" as a new car. I think Honda and Toyota has shown what a name can do for a car for decades - civic,accord, corrola, camry... as long as you keep it up to date during mid cycle refreshes and when the cars are redisgned. Also, some cars are praised no matter what they do, while others are criticized for the same traits. For example, in recent years, toyotas and hondas have cheapened the interiors and have had more issues with squeeks and rattles. Especially honda, there is very little soft touch surfaces in any honda product, and interior gaps and panel alignment can be horrible. You hear about this a little from consumer magazines, but they don't get as critical as others. Where is the outrage?
 
I have owned foreign until I just bought my 2008 Ford Taurus, and the fit and finish is better than any toyota or honda I drove, and looks and feels like a VW/Audi product in some respects. There are some shortcuts and issues, which cars in this price range all have. Some point out that the Taurus has no manual shift capabilites with its new 6 speed automatic. Well, others have the same issue (Accords never had it - not even the new 2008), so why is it just a Ford issue? How many people are out there manually shifting their automatics. (I had this in my previous 2 Audis and VW, but only used it to see what it was like, then never touched it again.)
 
I think Ford is doing the right thing using he Taurus name, as long as they keep it up to date, and do mid cycle and totally new vehicles on the same rotation as the competitors. Otherwise, they will not be able to maintain the momentum they are building with recent offerings. Even Ford reliability ratings are up in consumer reports (the Lincoln MKZ/MKX which use the same engine/transmission/all wheel drive system as the Taurus is the second ranked overall in recent reliability ratings by consumer reports just behng the Lexus ES350, and the Ford fusion/Mecury Milan is not far behind that.)
 
I am really shocked I bought a Ford, but this car reminds me of my Audi A6 V6 I owned from 1999-2002, with a relaxing drive and steering like it is on rails. The Parelli P6 tires can get noisy on concrete roads, but there is little difference, if any, betweem the 17s and 18s I drove. (I have the limited with the 18" chrome clad wheels and AWD).
 
Everyone has a preference, and some may not like the understated interior of the Taurus, but it is consistent with my previous cars (Audi and VW). Plus, I just do not care for the silver and grey painted plastics that Honda, Toyota and Hyundai are using, as it looks and feels very cheap. Especially the radio cover in the Avalon. (I doubt you'd ever see that on a Lexus!)

#330 of 530 Re: OK... [dzier217] by david_v1234

Aug 27, 2007 (12:51 pm)

Replying to: dzier217 (Aug 27, 2007 9:50 am)
dzier217, you have articulated some compelling points. I have not compared the Accord/Camry/Taurus as you have done will take your word. And yes, the Accord and Camry nameplates have been with us a while. But Ford abandoned the Taurus name and replaced it with the ill-conceived name, Five Hundred. Now, all of a sudden, the same car, with refinements, is a Taurus. I do not object to the Taurus name but let's face it: the new Taurus has borrowed safety technology from Volvo and the new powerplant is exciting. The former Taurus was staid and outdated by comparison. Ford has done much with the Five Hundred/2008 Taurus, but the name Taurus belies the advances which have been incorporated into the old name.
 
As lacking as the name Five Hundred was, I would prefer that they kept it.

#331 of 530 Re: OK... [dzier217] by mschmal

Aug 28, 2007 (4:24 pm)

Replying to: dzier217 (Aug 27, 2007 9:50 am)
I think you'll love your Taurus.
 
I just hope that Ford continues to follow they Path they started with the Fusion and the Mustang. Each year there is improvements in the Fusion...(more standard equipment) and Mustang (more interior options, more wheel options).
 
I think Ford is learning that you have to make things better constantly.
 
Ford is even making improvements in the middle of the model year. For 2007 Fusions, Job 2 featured upgraded structure to get better IIHS crash scores.
 
I think Alan M. is going to force Ford to do things in a new way. He has the clout and I think that every body that might have stood in his way got a "buy out" (Ford Speak for s***t canned).
 
Mark

#332 of 530 Re: Ughhh [british_rover] by fixrepairdaily

Sep 02, 2007 (4:18 pm)

Replying to: british_rover (Feb 08, 2007 8:26 am)
I will never look at or inquire about another ford taurus in my life!!!!!!!! One big pile of s--t!!!!!!!!!!1

#333 of 530 Re: Ughhh [fixrepairdaily] by jmn1

Sep 03, 2007 (7:30 am)

Replying to: fixrepairdaily (Sep 02, 2007 4:18 pm)
Like anything in life, if you take care of it, it will take care of you. For example, other than regular parts (brakes, tires, fluids, oil, and gas), I can count all of my 2001 Taurus's problems on ONE hand.
 
1) Transaxle seal
2) Transaxle seal
3) Tighten door handle
4) Engine hose
5) Replace rear springs.
 
I will admit, though, neither my 2001 or 1999 Taurus were frugal with fuel. My 1999 got 13 MPG (empty, 50/50 highway/ city), and my 2001 only gets 20/23 city, highway, the latter being 95% highway. The former, 100% city.

#334 of 530 Re: OK... [david_v1234] by gregg_vw

Oct 02, 2007 (3:03 pm)

Replying to: david_v1234 (Aug 27, 2007 12:51 pm)
And I guess you are right. After several months of trying, the new Taurus sales are dismal. On the other hand, the new Accord has taken off the same month it was released.
 
When is Ford going to admit that, as good as the Taurus might now be, people don't want to buy it? It is about as boring a car as anyone has put on the road in the past few years. No grill or engine change will fix the overall tepid aura it carries.

#335 of 530 Dealers Dumping Ford by observer22

Oct 04, 2007 (4:27 pm)

Lead article in latest edition of trade mag "Automotive News" is the suprisingly high number of dealers who are completely dumping Ford.
Dusting off the Taurus/Sable names smacked of desperation. This car (like the 2000 and newer Monte Carlo) is a bit too large and Ford's deplorable habit, practiced thru the decades, of offering a new nameplate that is underpowered and lacking interior refinement (Escort, Tempo, Contour, Focus), is suicidal.

#336 of 530 Re: Dealers Dumping Ford [observer22] by jmn1

Oct 04, 2007 (5:16 pm)

Replying to: observer22 (Oct 04, 2007 4:27 pm)
OK... but it is in its first model year. People are typically hesitant to buy a first-year due to sketchy reliabilty.

#337 of 530 Dealers are not "dumping ford" by mschmal

Oct 05, 2007 (5:09 am)

Ford is "dumping dealers" Ford is paying low volumn dealers to give up their franchise. Since it is Ford that is paying, I would count that as Ford Dumping dealers.
 
Mark.

#338 of 530 Re: Dealers Dumping Ford [jmn1] by gregg_vw

Oct 05, 2007 (5:38 am)

Replying to: jmn1 (Oct 04, 2007 5:16 pm)
It is NOT the first model year. It is the fourth, with some running changes and an engine upgrade--an engine already in use in other FoMoCo models without significant issues. Changing the name does not a new model make.

Messages Page 34 of 54

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