I'm putting too many miles on my truck due to it being used so much at work. I get mileage reimbursement, but still, 150,000 miles on my 2000 is a pace I'd prefer to avoid in the future.
I'm looking for a cheap, reliable car to take the place of my truck at work, and save my truck for me. To that end......
I ran across this Taurus:
2000 model
170,000 miles
3.0 Vulcan
A4Xn transmission.
Almost new tires.
Current owner (of 5 months) is second owner. He is selling it because he also has a Durango that he can't sell - so which ever goes first - he keeps the other.
It was a saleman's vehicle and appears to have been serviced regularly.
Most recent stickers under the hood indicate radiator and transmission were serviced at 145,000 miles. I'm guessing company policy dictated regular service in order to get maximum life out of their capital investment.
It is very clean.
I can buy it for $2,500, maybe a few hundred less.

I expect to put 25,000 miles /year on it.
Should I buy it?
Will it last me 2 years?

Any advice or suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

 

Buy it as cheap as you can and budget for a tranny failure.


Go here and run a blue book on it--usually close, but some say they are high:

http://www.kbb.com/

 

KBB shows about $3,500 for private party sale.

I thought the A4xn transmission was very reliable - especially so behind the 3.0 Vulcan.

 

Could be. Someone posted the goodns and badns here a while back. I have just heard so many Taurus tranny stories it's an "automatic" reply.

Since you are $1000 under book & under $2500 total,you can't get hurt too bad. (only $2500!) You'd loose that on a new car of almost any make and model the moment your Levis hit the seat after signing the deal.

Happy Motoring!

 

In the 1996-99 models, you could check the transmission code on the door sticker: "X" = AX4N, "L" = AX4S. The AX4N is the good one, if it had a AX4S would have been replaced or rebuilt at least once by now and close to needing a second.

If you believe the car has had basic service (oil, coolant and tranni fluid changes) it should last another 30K-40K easily with no MAJOR repairs as long as its not being hot dogged. One thing it might need that can run into money are new oxygen sensors.

 

I would run a scanner on the car to make sure the check engine light worked! I have run my scanner on a Taurus where the scanner said the MIL was on when it was unlit on the dash and you know what it needed, O2 sensors! Typical auction car (noone listens when you tell them never to buy an auction car). It is a major hassle to change 02 sensors on a Taurus, especially in the driveway and disconnecting the harness near the firewall.

At least in the Atlanta GA area you can buy a Taurus with 100K for $1000 all day long, check www.ajc.com. You are paying WAY too much money for a car with over 150K imo.

Iffin I waz you, I would get me a brand new Focus. $2500 would go a long way towards buying (not leasing) a Focus with a STANDARD transmission or an automatic where you will change the fluid every 30k if it needs it or not.

When was the last time the Taurus had plugs and a fuel filter? Does it use a timing belt? Starter, alternator? I would put a rebuilt transmission in the budget for $1400+ if you buy an automatic car with 150K+ miles on it.

The newer transmissions are not like the older ones which slip for a while before dying, the newer ones just plain go with no warning, in my experience and from what I have seen. Which is why if you are putting tons of miles on the car I would suggest a standard transmission. Better mileage and better on the pocket when it needs a clutch and you can not get stranded with a burnt clutch as you can always drive in 1st gear.

 

The AX4N is a good tranny, if it has been serviced regular with the right tranny fluid. It could last you as long as you want it too, but budget for a new tranny just in case.

The 3.0L vulcan is a bullet proof motor, and will last a long time even with poor maint, it's essentially the same motor as seen in a Ranger.

I wouldnt be scared of it, but I would budget money for brakes and rotors up front, and possibly other suspension parts like shocks and struts.

I know that I sure like my wifes '00 Taurus, identical to the one you are talking about, only with half the miles.

 

Definitely budget for a tranny replacement. I have a 1998 that my daughter drives and at 46,000 miles we had to replace transmission ($3,100 at Ford dealer). I don't remember off hand which one it had.

 

If it was a Vulcan equipped car it was probably the AX4S, about 70% the Vulcan equipped cars have that transmission. Some of the fleet companies became wise to the two transmissions and specifically ordered their cars with the better transmission so there are some out there (I have one in my 99 LX). All 24V engine Taurus's have the AX4N transmissions.

 

Let me give you my advice. Don't buy ANY car with 170K on it, I don't care what it is or who made it, unless it's a classic and you are going to restore it. It's a major repair waiting to happen!

 

Buy what you want, high millage like this shows primarily freeway/highway not a lot of in town which tears up the engine. Try to use the info provided (IE; high milage, trans problems) to drop the price. I have a 93 with the original engine and trans still in it and the only problem with it is the multi function switch and the timer for the wipers are going bad so the wipers don't come all the way down when you shut them off. 280,000 and still going strong. Mine is the family backup and it always starts and runs when I need it to.

 

Eric C- 280K, amazing! Were you the original owner? You must maintain the car really well. My concern is that when the car's maintenance history is unknown, and with high miles, you could be buying a large lawn ornament.

 

I bought it used but was able to verify the service was done religously (bought in a retirement community in SOCAL). I've put the lions share on it myself, Primarily freeway with 3000 mile oil changes and yearly trans filters and fluid changes. This is the way my dad taught me and the way myself and my three brothers still do it. Dad always said that oil and filters were cheaper and less aggravating than replacing engines. I've replaced the water pump, radiator, AC Compressor, Power steering pump, and brakes. THAT'S IT. Only problem with starting is when the battery post get dirty (every 6 months) and had a bad battery 3 years ago. Befor I got transfered back to the Northwest 3 years ago I had it in SOCAL and never had a problem with DEQ. I'm giving it to the middle daughter this year and will be sad to see it go, but I'm getting tired of paying for the insurance and I need space for a project car (another Bronco II).

 

I've had several cars that gone over 200k in miles including an earlier (1990) taurus. I think miles are overrated... I care about years a lot more. I wouldn't want a taxi or police car, but most high mileage cars got that way from being driven on the highway, not in stop and go traffic. The worst cars I've had also had the some of the lowest miles.

Sounds like an decent deal to me if it looks to be in good condition. The recent transmission/radiator service would scare me the most in that deal but wouldn't be enough to scare me off if the rest of the car was nice and there was no hint of trouble from the trans.

 

Update:
I drove the car today. Runs fine.
I am not bothered by high mileage.
The car has 170K and my truck has 150K. They are both 2000 models. So that is roughly on 4K miles more per year than I have put on my truck.
Both vehicles are in very good condition.
I did get more info on the car:
It does have the "good transmission".
The car was bought from the wife's employer. It was a sales vehicle - bought new by the company and driven by the same older fella until sold.
She said the company is a stickler for maintenance. It was taken in for service on schedule for everything. She said they took it to the dealer every time they got one of those reminder cards in the mail.
Original transmission - serviced regularly and never replaced.The only problem known of is occasionally the transmission will not be in gear when the shift lever is moved to "D". Cycle it a time or two and all works well.
The suspicion is the MLPS (manual lever position sensor) is flakey. It sits right on top of the transmission and tell the transmission what gear the shift lever is asking for.
The transmission shifts perfectly and appears to be mechanically sound.
All-in-all it looks like a good car that just has a lot of miles.
I figure it would do me for a year or two.
I did look at the link to the Atlanta Journal COnstitution page. I didn't see one Taurus that would compare to this one. I saw several 10+ year old cars for a little less, but I won't even consider one of those. If I OCULD find a 2000 model with high mileage and in very good condition, for $1000, I'd buy it on the spot - and buy the sellar a nice dinner too!

I'm going to give this one some more thought.........

edit: to clarify - all transmission "service" has been routine (scheduled) service. Based on what I can see and what I was told, the transmission has never needed "repairing" type service.