1996 Ford Taurus LX review from North America

Until recently, the worst things with the car were related to interior panels. The driver's side door panel keeps separating from the door, and I had to get it bolted back to the door to prevent it from coming off entirely. Also, the cup holder's outside panel has come off twice, and no longer works properly: it doesn't stay open without a cup in it.

More recently, however, several small electrical things have started to fail. The dashboard lights are going out at the extreme left and right edges, making it difficult to read the fuel and RPM gauges at night.

The tape player never worked to my satisfaction. Like most car players, it plays music tapes just fine, but if you want to listen to a talking book, you have to crank up the speakers. And even then, you're not guaranteed reliable audibility.

The main problem with it now, however, is a little more serious. The engine's sound has changed drastically, and it no longer runs as efficiently as it once did. I only get approx. 17 miles to the gallon now, when I used to get in the 30s.

Also, the acceleration is no longer the same: it takes a few seconds sometimes before the acceleration kicks in after I step on the gas. And it seems to be going higher on the RPM gauge before shifting gears during acceleration, as well.

Related, probably, to both the electrical and the engine problems already mentioned, when I go through water, the engine wants to die. Also, twice, I've turned right, with no water on the road, and the engine almost died.

One last issue. It didn't come with floor mats, so within a month, I had a hole in the floor by the pedals. I since got mats, but that wear seemed a little too fast to me.

When I first got the car, it drove very well. Handled well, good acceleration curve, good mileage, etc. No problems or complaints there.

I'm not the greatest on keeping it in good health, however; mainly forgetting to get an oil change every now and then. I don't know how much this contributed to the eventual problems it's had, but I'm sure it had something to do with it.

Until 2002, I drove the car every day, long distances on the freeway. I commuted to work and school: over 26 miles each way.

Overall, I'd have to say that I've been satisfied with the car. Since it's an American model, I wasn't expecting it to last too long after hitting 100k anyway. I just need it to last a little longer, until I can afford a good replacement.