1986 Ford Taurus GL Wagon review from North America

The transmission was replaced at around 100,000 miles. Now the transmission has failed at 205,000 miles and it would cost over $2,100 U.S. to replace it. The car also leaks coolant, power steering, brake, and transmission fluid. The fluid must be re-filled every two months. Also the wagon lifts for the tailgate no longer keep the tailgate up (resulting in a squished person). However, the worst thing is the peeling paint - this is something that shows on the exterior of the car.

Once the car quit on the highway because of an electrical problem - i.e. the battery not being charged. I replaced the alternator, this did not fix the problem.

This car has the best ride for any midsize car that I have ever driven/ridden in. It performs very well although it is slow on speeding up to highway speeds and loses power in the overdrive gear. It is very comfortable to sit in and the cloth on the bench seats is very well made, in fact it feels like a living room sofa, not a typical seat for a car. Lots of legroom in the front and back (nice for someone who is tall). Finding parts for the car is very easy and the parts are at low cost.

Most important, the transmission shift lever is on the column where it belongs, placing it out of the way for the front passenger's legs and to allow the driver to exit the car on the passenger's side.

Conclusion: Great car for comfort and ride, however the required maintenance of it may be too high for most owners.