Taurus or not

buzzawak · 01-10-2006, 06:29 PM

Hi all, I am thinking about buying a 1996 Taurus ghia.
I like strange looking fords.

Any problems I should Look out for ?
Whats it like getting parts for them?
I there anone in AU that specialises in them?

Thanks

**TUF_302** · 01-10-2006, 07:21 PM

You must like odd looking fords to buy one of these things!!

XR8putts · 01-10-2006, 07:26 PM

Do it and your children will be bullied at school.

So unless you have really annoying kids, buy something else.

mcflux · 01-10-2006, 08:08 PM

This link might help:

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/Ar...ArticleID=9501

OLDFORDNUT · 01-10-2006, 08:20 PM

my mate just traded in his Ford v8 fairlane in on one at xmas last and got half way home from Brisbane when it went into limp mode, long story short he just sold it for 1/3 what it owed him as the auto gearbox's are changeover $6000, yes thats right $6000, pile of shite, no wonder they enjoy such a bad rep.nearly forgot the Auto is only good for between 150000 and 200000km's,no exceptions worst auto ever built and they went into the back burner until just recently ,they have just put them into some jap cars last year (poor buggerswhen they get towards the 200,000km mark)
steer clear of them bud and spnd your money on a decent car.

FPV8U · 01-10-2006, 08:36 PM

Buy a Falcon instead, Locally built car meaning more and cheeper spares not to mention products for easy mod's, the taurus would be a pain.

And there ugly...

AUIII XR8 MAN · 01-10-2006, 08:38 PM

Strange car but got some nice equipment inside. Good luck finding a good one.

LUXO_8 · 01-10-2006, 08:45 PM

they really arent that bad of a car. i would imagine getting parts wouldnt be overly hard......there a stacks of them in the states afterall....

shame we didnt get the SHO version here...(4.6 litre V8...albeit front wheel drive)

buzzawak · 01-10-2006, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

they really arent that bad of a car. i would imagine getting parts wouldnt be overly hard......there a stacks of them in the states afterall....

shame we didnt get the SHO version here...(4.6 litre V8...albeit front wheel drive)

Hi, Madnc_8, It looks like your a bit out numbered. Why
do you say "arent that bad of a car"?

LUXO_8 · 01-10-2006, 08:55 PM

mate i was giving them praise.......i quite like them........true its a shame they were front wheel drive, but that asside they're a good car with stacks of features

buzzawak · 01-10-2006, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AUIII XR8 MAN

Strange car but got some nice equipment inside. Good luck finding a good one.

Problem is figuring out what makes a good one.

The one I am looking at has a good body (no rust or damage, paint is in good nick) and the interior is excellent. It has a full service history but has 165K on the clock. I am worried that its due for major gearbox and/or motor work.

No problems showed up during the test drive but the "Due for a service light" did come on and didn't go out. The guy selling it said the light came on because its due for a service within the next 1000k

buzzawak · 01-10-2006, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

mate i was giving them praise.......i quite like them........true its a shame they were front wheel drive, but that asside they're a good car with stacks of features

I agree with you , I kinda like the look to. Different from alot of cars and all the bells and whistles are included. Are you talking from personal experence (have you owned one)

I know a lot of people will say it **** because just based on the look .

Falcon Freak · 01-10-2006, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzawak

Hi all, I am thinking about buying a 1996 Taurus ghia.
I like strange looking fords.

Any problems I should Look out for ?
Whats it like getting parts for them?
I there anone in AU that specialises in them?

Thanks

Buy a series I AU and it will satisfy your curious desire for strange looking Fords. It is Australian made and better then the pus-bucket the septics tried to force upon us.

FF

LUXO_8 · 01-10-2006, 09:11 PM

nah havent owned one......but have driven one

they go allright, nothing blisteringly fast but then thats not what they were designed for

just watch for the transmission as ive heard it can be hugely expensive to repair

XR Martin · 01-10-2006, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

they really arent that bad of a car. i would imagine getting parts wouldnt be overly hard......there a stacks of them in the states afterall....

shame we didnt get the SHO version here...(4.6 litre V8...albeit front wheel drive)

It wasnt the 4.6, the first one was a 3.0L V6, the later model got a 3.4L V8

LUXO_8 · 01-10-2006, 09:25 PM

i thought that was teh case.......but when i searched before it was on one of the sites that it was the 4.6......

my bad

070mstg · 01-10-2006, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzawak

I like strange looking fords.

you're not kidding,just seeing one makes me ill

mcflux · 01-10-2006, 11:27 PM

3.4L V8? LOL tiny!!! Reading up on wikipedia now...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Taurus

LOL@312Nm torque from the V8.

brodfloyd · 01-10-2006, 11:43 PM

what is the point of having a "good car" if it still looks like someone put out a bushfire with a screwdriver???

its like rooting casey donovan, but trying to tell your mates shes the best root ever, in the history of roots, it still doesnt matter, she's still casey donovan

sfr rob · 01-10-2006, 11:52 PM

that sought of a post wont get you far on these forums brodford, allthough funny.
:hihi:

I really dont like the Taurus, but from what i have heard the gear box's are really bad.. as stated previously

Full Spectrum · 02-10-2006, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzawak

Hi all, I am thinking about buying a 1996 Taurus ghia.
I like strange looking fords.

Any problems I should Look out for ?
Whats it like getting parts for them?
I there anone in AU that specialises in them?

Thanks

You might find it hard to get one, They sent them back.
Guy down the road had one, Funny how you need to start the car

Foot on the brake and do something else i forgot, Anyway he had a GTS-R wing on it:P, It took attention off the car a little, To him it wasn't too special but it was given to him by his parents so he couldn't complain much.

Redrum · 02-10-2006, 01:21 AM

Tearse have nothing going for them. American build quality, lack lustre performance and the number one prize for ugliest car ever built!

Full Spectrum · 02-10-2006, 05:05 AM

That is why i cant understand the AU, When clearly the tortis was rejected here on looks alone.

It'sTheVibe · 02-10-2006, 09:27 AM

A mate of my old man had one from new, and thought it was great value given it's standard equipment. That was until he went to trade it, and the best he got was about 30% after 3 years.

The best part of driving a Taurus is you can't see the outside.

pauljh74 · 02-10-2006, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MADNC_8

they really arent that bad of a car. i would imagine getting parts wouldnt be overly hard......there a stacks of them in the states afterall....

shame we didnt get the SHO version here...(4.6 litre V8...albeit front wheel drive)

The SHO would stand for S*** Handling Option. A bigger engine in a large front drive car that already pushes the nose isn't good.

The reviews sugggest it's not a bad car, but the Fairmont it was up against is a better buy.

uranium_death · 02-10-2006, 05:38 PM

The Taurus wasn't a bad car. It just looks a little spasticated.

As stated, I think an AU would be a far better purchase. Based on what was read, the Taurus engine was refined, but as others have said, the gearbox is made of petroleum jelly.

I think it an AU would be cheaper to maintain, plus you won't be laughed at.

But if it makes you happy...go for it.

Full Spectrum · 02-10-2006, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by It'sTheVibe

A mate of my old man had one from new, and thought it was great value given it's standard equipment. That was until he went to trade it, and the best he got was about 30% after 3 years.

The best part of driving a Taurus is you can't see the outside.

Ahahahahaha

You Yangs · 03-10-2006, 12:38 PM

I bought one in Mar '05 with 85000 on the clock for $6500 and no troubles so far.
It really is a good car if you can get over the styling and the 3.0 Duratec V6 is a real screamer above 3500rpm.
As has been said the auto tranny doesn't do the car justice but the V6 would be superb with a manual.

Tote · 03-10-2006, 01:11 PM

I drove one of the curent model ones (just stopped production ) last month in the states, put about 1200 miles on it through Tennesee and Georgia. I found it to be pretty underpowered and the handling was nothing to write home about either. Probably driving wise it would compare to a Camry or similar. The ones we got here were a bit higher spec than the Hetrzone I was driving but they are still no rocketship.
Regards,
Tote

Allen · 03-10-2006, 01:17 PM

how about the Mercury Cougar as an alternitive to the Taurus?

Its still a FWD, but they do look much better than the Taurus, yet still stands out against australian Fords...