5th Dec 2020, 22:25
But modern cars shouldn’t rust or require new transmissions before 100k miles.
This Taurus is cheap and spacious, but poorly-built, ugly, and fuel-thirsty beyond redemption.
6th Dec 2020, 16:07
"fuel-thirsty beyond redemption"?
What exactly does that mean? What kind of mpg is it supposed to get?
In your opinion.
6th Dec 2020, 16:08
Can’t blame the manufacturer for rust. That has more to do with where the person lives.
6th Dec 2020, 21:30
1st and 2nd generation Taureses were hit or miss. The base 3.0 Vulcan v6 was a great motor (not so much the 3.8). It's everything else that's the problem. Transmission, A/C evaporator, brake calipers sieze, starter, tie rods, water pumps, fuel pumps, window motor/regulators to name a few. If you want an older solid Ford for everyday use, go with a panther platform.
8th Dec 2020, 00:04
True, but some cars are more prone to rust than others. For example a Mazda I had rusted at only 6 years old, so I got rid of it. My current Volvo is over 10 years old with no rust. Had many cars and lived in the same place for years (a usually cold climate), and wash my cars every other week. Fords I've had were average - some rusted early, and some did not.
9th Dec 2020, 05:41
Weren’t Mazda & Ford basically the same vehicles for a while? How could they be different in terms of rust? The Mazda B Series truck was the same as the Ranger. The Mazda CX-5 & Ford Escape were also very similar. Are you saying the paint they used was different?
9th Dec 2020, 18:41
Possibly depends where they are made. I'm in the UK. Maybe you guys in the USA got different versions of these cars. The Taurus and similar Ford Contour are sold as the Ford Mondeo over here. I've had 2 Mondeos, all at over 10 years old with no major rust. A Mazda 6 I had rusted way too early. Not sure if it was a Japanese imported or built where I live. They built the Honda Accord here in the 1990s and it was just as reliable as the Japanese version, so who knows. Honestly it is just luck sometimes I think with cars in regards to rust. Obviously washing and climate have an effect, but how much exactly I'm not sure.
10th Dec 2020, 22:35
Your thinking of the Mazda Tribute. The CX-5 and the Ford Escape share nothing in common.
4th Dec 2020, 17:09
Well said.
The Taurus is a fantastic daily driver.
Daily drivers are not made to run up Pikes Peak at full speed.