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2008 Ford Taurus New Owner Reports

104 messages,  Last post on Nov 01, 2008 at 10:06 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Taurus, Sedan

Messages Page 2 of 11

#9 of 104 Re: 2008 Ford Taurus New Owner Reports [thegraduate] by desertrat5

Sep 23, 2007 (4:36 pm)

Replying to: thegraduate (Aug 20, 2007 8:23 pm)
Just bought one. Limited AWD in light sage metallic. We wanted an AWD sedan just in case we have another winter like last so we set out to find one that met our price point. Not a lot to chose from so we quickly narrowed the candidates down to the Subaru Legacy and the Taurus; the Taurus ultimately won because of its roominess and overall convenience. And it really fits my wife who will be the primary driver. She is vertically challenged so the adjustable pedals really helped her attain a good driving position without sitting on top of the steering wheel airbag.
 
Too early to tell if the long term reliability will be a problem - the 500 has been average according to what I can read while the Subie has been much better than average.
 
A couple of things that I have learned already - Ford says the car runs on regular and the owners manual defines regular as 87 octane. In Colorado Springs regular is 85 octane and mid-grade is 87. We will have to see if 85 will run without detonation. The other item that kept me on the edge was transmission control. Two fwd positions are available - D and L. There is also an OD kill button on the LH side of the shifter. According to the book when you turn OD off you turn on a hill mode in which the computer senses the need for downshifting for engine braking. That's not really what I would like but the wife is okay with it. If one selects L, the computer downshifts as far as it is safe for the engine. I tried it once on a test drive and the tach really winds up in a hurry.
 
Overall, Ford has done a good job.

#10 of 104 Re: 2008 Ford Taurus New Owner Reports [desertrat5] by bobber1

Sep 23, 2007 (4:40 pm)

Replying to: desertrat5 (Sep 23, 2007 4:36 pm)
I doubt you'll have any problems. The reason you have that octane is your elevation. I believe 87 is considered standard for most cars and you really don't hear problems coming from your area.
 
Report back in a month or two and let us know what you think. Mine will be in soon.

#11 of 104 Ford SYNC availabililty by dianej

Sep 25, 2007 (11:52 am)

I would like to order a Taurus X, but want the SYNC. Does anyone know SYNC will be available? My salesman said that the dealer can install at a later date, but my husband wasn't sure if that was true, and, if true, that would be the best way to go. Please advise.

#12 of 104 Breaking in by desertrat5

Sep 25, 2007 (6:24 pm)

Can't find anything in the owners manual about speed etc for breaking in my Taurus AWD. What gives?

#13 of 104 NO AFTER MARKET INSTALLS ON SYNC!!!!!!!! by mschmal

Sep 26, 2007 (5:17 am)

I am the Sync Specialist at my dealer and completed the tier 2 training.
 
Sync is wired into every electrical system in the car. IT could never, ever, ever be installed after the car was built.
 
There are a lot of future features that are not going to be launched right away. Those features will be available to previous owners through software updates. Remember Sync uses your cell phone. Therefore, it is capable of doing anything OnStar does--OnStar has built in cell phone--if there is software for that feature.
 
You should drop that lying idiot sales person who should have at least asked. (Stupid salespeople give the rest of us a bad name).
 
Sync is STANDARD on Job 2 Limiteds and Eddie Bauer T-Rexs and optional on SELs.
 
Mark.

#14 of 104 Re: NO AFTER MARKET INSTALLS ON SYNC!!!!!!!! [mschmal] by newcarforme

Sep 26, 2007 (7:47 am)

Replying to: mschmal (Sep 26, 2007 5:17 am)
That blows. I got my 08 Taurus in July. I couldn't wait.

#15 of 104 Re: NO AFTER MARKET INSTALLS ON SYNC!!!!!!!! [mschmal] by dianej

Sep 26, 2007 (9:37 am)

Replying to: mschmal (Sep 26, 2007 5:17 am)
Thanks a lot, Mark. I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the lingo.....do you know when will "job 2" Limiteds be built & shipped?

#16 of 104 Job 2. by mschmal

Sep 26, 2007 (7:32 pm)

If you order now, it will be Job 2. I believe it starts first week of October. Focus will be the first vehicle on the ground with Sync. If you order a Limited or EB, make sure the order code selected ends in B. (130B or 160B on Limited and 125B or 155B on EB.
 
The best part about Sync is how EASY it is to use. Even if you hate technology, you will be able to use it. It will respond to your voice with no training required.
 
When I say easy to use, I am comparing it to the Nissan Bluetooth feature.
 
visit www.synchmyride.com to see more.
 
Just keep in mind that Sync uses YOUR phone and is only able to provide the features that your phone supports. Also if your phone gets bad reception in a certain area, you will get the same bad reception with Sync.
 
Mark.

#17 of 104 Re: Job 2. [mschmal] by dianej

Sep 26, 2007 (8:39 pm)

Replying to: mschmal (Sep 26, 2007 7:32 pm)
Great info. Thanks again.

#18 of 104 Week Two by desertrat5

Sep 30, 2007 (5:20 pm)

We put 240 miles on the new Taurus Limited AWD this weekend in a loop up through the Rockies west of Colorado Springs. The overall average was 24 mpg according to the computer. The car ran fine and my first assessment is that Ford has achieved a nice balance between handling and comfort. The transmission hill speed control works as advertised. Just turn OD off and tap the brakes more or less at the speed you want to maintain and the transmission will continue to downshift until it is able to hold the speed. On one long downslope the tach was showing nearly 4000 rpm to hold the car at the required 55 mph. I found the transmission to be responsive to the throttle inputs by downshifting fairly quickly - perhaps not as quickly as some GM automatics I have had but still quick enough.
 
In cruise way up near 10,000 feet the transmission downshifted all the way to 2nd or 3rd to maintain speed up a long hill (I am guessing as there is no indication which gear it is in).
 
All in all a very positive drive in a new car.

Messages Page 2 of 11

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