I think you guys are basing all Tauruses on a few that have been prone to issues. Mine has been a champion. My sisters two were also extremely noteworthy. Everyone that I know that has had them swear by them.

And the cool part is, there are still a gagillion of these cars on the road.

 

A few?

How many years did you spend as a Ford mechanic or partsman? Since you are a retired USCG SCPO, I would guess...none.

I was a back (shop) parts counterman for over 30 years, and the parts manager of Lynch Lincoln-Mercury in Santa Monica during 1987/89.

I KNOW what terds these cars were. Since you have zero Ford dealership experience, you are basing your findings on a coupla cars, while what I typed is based on THOUSANDS!

People swore at them all right...and it wasn't good! The 1996 and newer cars were better than the originals, but by 2000, most were sold to Hertz, Budget and etc. as people had wised up.

The US automakers built a lot of CRAP cars during the 1980/90's, the result of which...they handed the Japanese the passenger car market, which they still have a firm grip on today.

Taurus was the best selling car when first introduced, but as soon as people became aware of what a terd it was, the Honda Accord took the number one position, which was replaced several years later by the Toyota Camry.

These sales figures are mis-leading as they include fleet sales = sales to rental car fleets. Back in those days, less than 2% of Honda's and Toyota's were sold as fleet vehicles, while over 40% of US cars were.

 

There is an old saying.

"Never buy a new model,always wait until the 3rd year,because by that time all the bugs should have been worked out."

 

Was there a specific year range for these problems in the Tempo/Topaz, or is that in general?

In '91-'92, I was part of a crew that transported (drove) a few hundred of these cars (and others) from the Port of Tacoma to various auto auctions around the Puget Sound region - they were rental turnbacks from Alamo Rent A Car in Alaska...

I was never overly fond of the Tempo/Topaz - They didn't seem very well constructed; they weren't comfortable to drive; they had no power (anemic); but they were good on fuel economy...

We didn't get very many Escorts/Tracers - I guess they weren't popular rental cars lol...

We did get a few Taurus's, but I've noticed since then that very few of them are still on the road - now I know why...

The T-Birds took some getting used to - I didn't know about the "speed-sensitive" steering the first time I got in one - I was cruising on I-5 from Tacoma to Seattle and needed to do a lane-change - I think I crossed 4 lanes before I realized what was happening The steering got real touchy at 80mph...

1 car I absolutely hated to transport was the Chevy Caprice - The rear-end didn't seem very stable to me and I noticed it had a tendency to "shimmy" - I'm thinking that had something to do with the enormous trunk those things had... Blazers were not good either - they guzzled more gas than anything else we drove...

 

Uh huh...that may be true in some cases, but in others, it is not.

Ford changed the design of the Taurus/Sable brake rotors FOUR times between 1986 and 1994, and still couldn't fix horrid brakes.

A Ford engineer told me that the reason the brakes were crap was because of the cars envelope body styling. The front brakes could not get enough airflow because of the shape of the front facia.

How come Ford never installed cooling vents in the bumper? IMO, arrogance and the fact that stylists and chassis engineers never got along.

The Auto overdrives were terrible, ate planet assemblies, sun gears and valve bodies, and fried the clutches...all caused by overheating. Ford was never able to solve the A/T issues.

In 1983, I bought a new (midsized Fox bodied) LTD Brougham, 200 I-6 w/a C5. Never had one problem with it during the 16 years I owned it.

I sold it back to the fleet manager I bought it from as he needed a car for his daughter to drive to school.

The fleet manager had four kids, not one had a Taurus/Sable/Escort/Lynx/Tracer/Tempo/Topaz, cuz he knew better. The kids drove used Fox bodied Mustangs and LTD's, his wife had a Town Car.

btw: My current DD is a 2008 I-4 Fusion S. Bought it new 6/2008, so far...no problems. "She, who must be obeyed" has a 2008 Edge SEL. She leased it 8/2008, so far...no problems.

 

bill I thought the 1.9 was interference free?

 

I think my problem trying to find a decent Ford car is the fact that I DO NOT want to own an automatic vehicle yet. I do not own one now, nor do I plan to anytime soon.

I have a preference for RWD, but I drove a 96 Altima (5spd) for a year or two and hey, she did me pretty good. Wanted something 80s again and found the Supra. Before the Altima I had an 84 Celica ST. The Supra reminded me of my Celica, but it's faster haha.

I DO have to admit I have a preference for inline 6 as well. The car and truck are both I6. But that I can deal with that since car I6s kinda just disappeared.

If I didn't compromise at all except on the I6 part that basically has me getting a Mustang or Thunderbird....

http://norfolk.craigslist.org/cto/1828592294.html
That's the only Thunderbird SC in my area on CL. Needs tranny work, but I'd handle that or replace it. Rims would be up for sale soon after buying it haha. Other than that, hey, I'd drive it.