Is this a deal ?? 2003 Ford Taurus ??

[SladeZero]

Hey there,

I have to ask some of you this Q for my peace of mind. For those of you that own or had experience
with Ford Taurus would this be a good deal ??
Consists of:

USED Ford Taurus SES
2003
8,063 miles
155 HP, not a big deal
OPTIONS:
1) cruise control
2) cd player
3) 40/60 fold down seats
4) Dual front air bags
5) ABS
6) Electric everything IE: keyless entry, powerlocks/windows
*cloth seats-I prefer this.

The guy is selling it for $12,750 but said he is negotiable and will go down since his boss just needs to make room
for new vehicles. I think I could get him down to 12,000 or even 11,500.

This is a link with further information. Just let me know if this is a yay or nay deal.
Thanks again as always for any information given.

2003 Ford Taurus

Slade

 

[NutBucket]

Man, talk about depreciation I guess if you have good experiences with Taurus' then it looks like a good deal.

 

[Amorphus]

remembering to start your haggling at 10,000 bucks. then after 20 minutes, 11k will start looking very good to him...

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Lol a 155hp V6! Same as my 2.4L 4. The 200hp version of the V6 gets the same gas mileage as the 155 .

 

[LordMorpheus]

I have a 1991 Sable (taurus with some chrome) and it is still running like a clock. Some of the mid-late 90's models are crap because of the big oval dash that makes it impossible to replace the tapedeck/cd player (When I went to get a CD player for my car, the guy almost had a heart attack when he learned that I had a Sable. Untill I told him it was a 1991) but, AFAIK, they stopped making the ugly interiors.

I'd say go for it.

 

[SladeZero]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Lol a 155hp V6! Same as my 2.4L 4. The 200hp version of the V6 gets the same gas mileage as the 155 .

Hey there,

Thanks for the input. Yea, if I had alot of money then I would get what I want. Unfortunately,
with the wife, and kids I don't have alot of money to go around. It doesn't have to be FAST, just have
a little get up and go to it. Something reliable for me. That's all I need.

Slade

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: SladeZero

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Lol a 155hp V6! Same as my 2.4L 4. The 200hp version of the V6 gets the same gas mileage as the 155 .

Hey there,

Thanks for the input. Yea, if I had alot of money then I would get what I want. Unfortunately,
with the wife, and kids I don't have alot of money to go around. It doesn't have to be FAST, just have
a little get up and go to it. Something reliable for me. That's all I need.

Slade

Then I would recomend a used Accord/Camry...

 

[freebee]

I am familiar with those sales tactics....i wouldn't trust the seller.

 

[SladeZero]

Hey there,

Camrys are WAY TOO expensive. Accords are the same way. Imports, while they do retain their
value more, cost a considerable amount more to own and maintain. Besides the Accord, doesn't have the room.
Camry does, but is more expensive.

EDIT - Have you had bad luck Freebee ?

Slade

 

[Lyfer]

Ford Taurus? Ugh....the resale value on those cars are horrible. BTW check the reliablity on previous models.

 

[freebee]

I like the Taurus. Excellent car for the money, reliable and parts are cheap. My post was in reference to the person selling them...and to be wary of fairly new cars with such a high depreciation hit. If the car (and seller) check out ok, I see no reason not to take advantage of this deal.

I may not always look highly upon many domestics but I will take an 11k 2003 taurus over a new maxima any day.

 

[Ryan]

YOu know whats sad - that those items are ACTUALLY options. They should pretty much be standard.

 

[SladeZero]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
YOu know whats sad - that those items are ACTUALLY options. They should pretty much be standard.

Hey there,

Should be compared to what ??
Most car companies have the bare, mid, and premium grade editions for each car model.
How is that sad ??
That just gives those people that do not have alot of money (ME), the opportunity to still get something
good and not give their first born.

Slade

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: rbloedow
YOu know whats sad - that those items are ACTUALLY options. They should pretty much be standard.

Ever look at a Toyota?

Worst. Standard options. Ever.

 

[fyleow]

Originally posted by: SladeZero
Hey there,

Camrys are WAY TOO expensive. Accords are the same way. Imports, while they do retain their
value more, cost a considerable amount more to own and maintain. Besides the Accord, doesn't have the room.
Camry does, but is more expensive.

EDIT - Have you had bad luck Freebee ?

Slade

Imports don't really need maintainance so the cost of that is negligible. Our Civic has been running for over 100k miles with no maintainance...the only thing that was done is a recent timing belt change. The Accord doesn't have room? It's like the same size as the Taurus, both are midsized sedans.

You can get a very nice used Accord for about 13k

 

[Corporate Thug]

<-- shudders at the mention of taurus

 

[fyleow]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: rbloedow
YOu know whats sad - that those items are ACTUALLY options. They should pretty much be standard.

Ever look at a Toyota?

Worst. Standard options. Ever.

I think Honda wins the worst standard options...on the DX accord you don't even get air conditioning

At least my brother's CE corolla he got CDP, and air conditioning, even power mirrors! I was like wow now that is luxury.

VW definately wins most standard options though.

 

[SladeZero]

Hey there,

Yes, I have driven a toyota corolla before and the thing rides like a Geo Prism.
The only other thing then that is a Camry and again....too pricy.
BTW- My two choices were Honda and Ford. Although a stripped down Civic around here
is about the same or more then the Taurus I was looking at. Go fig....I have yet to figure that
one out. I have even checked online vendors and used car places for Honda.
Even though the Honda Accord is in the same class as Taurus; the Taurus is still bigger I
guarantee that. That's just my reasoning. $0.02

Slade

 

[Kntx]

I don't know about the price, but I have a 98 taurus with 150k miles and have never had a problem with it. Mine has the 200hp engine though. And ahh... it's quiet, and smooth, and i hear repairs are cheap but since I've never actually had to get it repaired I wouldn't know (aside from oil changes).

 

[thedarkwolf]

I don't know a whole lot about them but everything I have heard says the standard 155hp 3.0l vulcan engine is pretty reliable. It may not be powerfull but it should hold up well. I doubt you can find anything better that new for that kind of money.

 

[SladeZero]

Hey there,

Thanks again everyone. I welcome all information whether it be good or bad. Even if I do get the car
at least you people would have eluded to some maybe possible probs later on.....so I still appreciate
all the input. Again thank you very much

Slade

 

[wiggyryder]

For a 17 year old engine, the 155hp Vulcan engine is extremely reliable. It's the transmission you should watch out for; they're known to go out before 100k miles. The AX4N tranny is quoted to be the best out of the bunch, but there are still some new Taurus out there with the more primative AX4S.

As with any car purchases, do a carfax check.

 

[GoSharks]

Originally posted by: SladeZero
Hey there,

Yes, I have driven a toyota corolla before and the thing rides like a Geo Prism.

funny how things work out, especially since the prism is a rebadged corolla. they even built them at the same plant, IIRC (NUMMI over in fremont, ca)

 

[VirginiaDonkey]

The company I work for uses Tauruses as the company car of choice, so here is my .02 based on about 30 tauruses rolling around here

dead nuts reliable...none of them has had any problems as of yet, most cars have around 20-30k miles

slow.....did I mention that they are SSSSLLLLLOOOOOWWWWW. Transmission shifts way too early and keeps the revs low

otherwise, comfortable cars, same basic car since 1996 and as mentioned before, same engine since 1986. If you plan on keeping it a long time, go for it because it will depreciate quickly and you will take a bath if you try to sell/trade in 2 or 3 years

 

[SladeZero]

Hey there,

Just a quick question??
Is there any physical indicators differentiating from an AX4S and AX4N??
Just in case the dealership is hesitant it would be nice to know what the
difference would be.

Thanks

Slade