Taurus/Sable cars?
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: Central, MA
Taurus/Sable cars?
Lately I’ve driving a whole pile of cars in my daughter’s price range.
Still at the top of the list for size, practicality and value stands the Taurus/Sable line of cars.
I was wondering if any of you guys have had the Taurus/Sable cars with the different V6 engines. I'm only talking about the 3.0 OHV motor and 3.0 DOHC motor. I'm looking at 2000 to 2002 models year cars.
Anything good to say?
Still at the top of the list for size, practicality and value stands the Taurus/Sable line of cars.
I was wondering if any of you guys have had the Taurus/Sable cars with the different V6 engines. I'm only talking about the 3.0 OHV motor and 3.0 DOHC motor. I'm looking at 2000 to 2002 models year cars.
Anything good to say?
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,292
Likes: 0
i had a 93 sable which made it to 100K before it was wrecked while parked and it never gave me any problems i then got a 96 taurus which now has 225K on it and my friend has it it has never given any problems except normal wear and tare things the motor and trans are original.. my buddy has the 02 and hes got 142K on his and he uses it as a daily driver for work so its being driven daily. He has the DOHC and except for a couple of batteries and one power window motor on the left front hes never had any problems..
one footnote tho each of us who i am speaking of changes the oil and filter every 2500 miles and swears by quaker state oil or castrol.. the trans fluid is changed at 30K and is done by the dealer so if that helps
one footnote tho each of us who i am speaking of changes the oil and filter every 2500 miles and swears by quaker state oil or castrol.. the trans fluid is changed at 30K and is done by the dealer so if that helps
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 1
From: Edgerton, WI
I agree, good car. Some people used to knock the Taurus saying the engine blew up at 100,000 miles but I know lots of people who have owned Taurus/Sables that had well over 200,000 miles on them.
For what it was designed to be: a no nonesense, affordable, rock-solid reliable family car that gets good fuel economy, Id say its a good car.
I often wondered why people would pay $3,000-$5,000 more for an Accord or Camry. I guess its not cool to drive an American car nowdays.
For what it was designed to be: a no nonesense, affordable, rock-solid reliable family car that gets good fuel economy, Id say its a good car.
I often wondered why people would pay $3,000-$5,000 more for an Accord or Camry. I guess its not cool to drive an American car nowdays.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 2
From: Hawkeye Country
It may be a little older but we have a 96 Sable, 3.0 DOHC with 140,000 miles. Its been a good little car. It gets 26 mpg in town and 33 on the highway, with me driving sensibly.
It went 132,000 miles before it developed a miss, I changed the factory plugs/wires and had the injectors cleaned, and she zips right along now. The duratech is a peppy little engine, but the vulcan 12 valve 3.0 is known for lasting a long time.
If your daughter is still young I'd recommend the standard 12 valve 3.0, you wont have to worry about her hotrodding it around town and getting speeding tickets, maintenance is also simpler with the older style engine, because when its broke daddy will be expected to fix it.
It went 132,000 miles before it developed a miss, I changed the factory plugs/wires and had the injectors cleaned, and she zips right along now. The duratech is a peppy little engine, but the vulcan 12 valve 3.0 is known for lasting a long time.
If your daughter is still young I'd recommend the standard 12 valve 3.0, you wont have to worry about her hotrodding it around town and getting speeding tickets, maintenance is also simpler with the older style engine, because when its broke daddy will be expected to fix it.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 963
Likes: 1
From: wichita kansas
I have a sister in law and a her daughter that had the late 80's I believe Taurus's and it always was one trouble after another. Their other daughter bought the next body style after that and had pretty decent luck, but it wasn't trouble free. My oldest just bought a Sable and the only problem that has showed up so far is that the temp gauge varies from highway driving to city driving to when waiting in the drive thru lane. Since he got a warranty I told him to have it checked out.
Trending Topics
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,739
Likes: 2,669
From: SE Florida
I've had several Taurus/Sables. The most recent was a '97 that was just sold with 175,000 miles. It had the Duratec engine. It used a quart of oil about every 2,000 miles. I've also had the Vulcan engine in a couple older ones, a '92 and a '95. Neither of these used any oil, but they only had about 125,000 each when they were wrecked.
I also have a '92 Ranger with a 3.0L Vulcan. It has 195,000 on it and still runs great.
I also have a '92 Ranger with a 3.0L Vulcan. It has 195,000 on it and still runs great.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 6 Best Deals Available on New Fords & Lincolns Right Now
Brett Foote
This Hennessey Takes the Expedition Tremor's Off-Roading Capability to the Next Level
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,511
Likes: 0
From: Marion, VA
I had a bunch as company cars (only choice). The only problem that was constant was brake rotors. The front rotors warped and were either turned or replaced many times. They ran fine and had very comfortable seats. They sell very cheap because they were the choice as fleet and rental vehicles. I see used 2007 models listed at $9995. I can't imagine a young girl wanting to drive one though.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: Central, MA
Originally Posted by osbornk
I see used 2007 models listed at $9995.
Originally Posted by osbornk
I can't imagine a young girl wanting to drive one though.
The insurance rate will be lower.
Parts will not be a hunt to find.
The daughter will have a little more car around her than the smaller Imports offer too.
I'll keep you guys posted.
We're just looking for a decent, durable and practical first car that will not cost a king's ransom for a teenager to keep running. It might not return 35MPG like the smaller imports, but it's about $2-3k less expensive to buy and that's a lot of change for a kid making $7/hr at Dunkin Donuts.
I might try to stay with that standard 3.0 Vulcan motor. In a Taurus/Sable, are these 3.0L motors with iron cylider heads like my '99 Ranger?
Thank you for the good advice!
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,739
Likes: 2,669
From: SE Florida
The 3.0L Vulcan in the Taurus and Ranger are almost identical engines. The block casting is different for different mounts and rear face of block. Other than that it's the same engine.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,511
Likes: 0
From: Marion, VA
Originally Posted by Flexfuel-Dave
The SEL Taurus and Sable LS models come with some nice amenities. We are looking at the models with the bucket seats, leather seating and with the floor shifter.
The insurance rate will be lower.
Parts will not be a hunt to find.
The daughter will have a little more car around her than the smaller Imports offer too.
The insurance rate will be lower.
Parts will not be a hunt to find.
The daughter will have a little more car around her than the smaller Imports offer too.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,739
Likes: 2,669
From: SE Florida
Originally Posted by osbornk
Logic and reason doesn't necessarily win arguments with teenagers (much like their mother).
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
There are a host of problems in all the years of production. I tell people not to buy them, the ones that do not listen, I am always glad to fix them, I have a family to feed :-)
Some of these cars, you simply can not keep rotors on them.
Try changing a heater core in one of these vehicles!
Or try this on for size, use advance search from the above menu on these words
+brown +coolant +taurus
> Anything good to say?
I still like working on them better then Hondas or Jeeps?
Some of these cars, you simply can not keep rotors on them.
Try changing a heater core in one of these vehicles!
Or try this on for size, use advance search from the above menu on these words
+brown +coolant +taurus
> Anything good to say?
I still like working on them better then Hondas or Jeeps?
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,511
Likes: 0
From: Marion, VA
Originally Posted by Mark Kovalsky
Who's paying for the car? It seems to me that the person paying gets ALL the votes in deciding what's purchased!