Faults:

CV joints.

Motor mount.

Transmission mount.

Slow coolant leak, hasn't overheated yet! And it got very low before I first noticed it!!

Clear coat peeling.

A/C failed.

General Comments:

3rd time lucky I suppose!!! I bought this car for 300 dollars in April, and it has never ever left me stranded!

I really like the interior, though I'd have preferred a column mounted gear shift.

For a 3.0 litre V6 it is phenomenal on gas, I drive my brothers and cousins to school 22 km each time and do delivery shifts at a Chinese restaurant 35 km away and it uses about $30 in gas for ALL THAT. It's even better on the highway.

It survives through neglect as I can't always afford to fix issues right away; keep the fluids topped up and fix things when they get really ugly and this car won't let you down.

I will be getting another Taurus or perhaps a Windstar with the same engine when this one is ready to retire.

Faults:

Moonroof gasket replaced 3 times (finally did it myself and it's now sealing properly).

Transmission replaced 70,000.

Radiator at 71,000.

Steering gear (rack & pinion) and pump at 80,000.

Alternator at 110,000.

Air conditioning compressor and condenser at 130,000.

Struts and half shafts at 135,000.

Seats redone at 115,000.

Vacuum hose replacement at 117,000 (idle problem).

Tie rod ends 120,000.

Repainted roof and trunk 130,000.

General Comments:

I have had the car since new. I bought it for my wife because it had dual air bags and a decent sound system. She drove it 65,000 miles.

My daughter took it to college across the country and put another 40,000 on it. That was in 2001. I have had it since as my daily driver. It now has 138,000 miles.

On balance, it has been a good reliable car. The transmission was a Ford design problem, otherwise reliability has been acceptable. I do most of my own work, and find parts available at reasonable cost.

I like the way it handles and rides.

I do not see many early Tauruses on the road due to the transmission and cylinder head problems. When you do, they are in very good condition. Overall a B+.

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong with the car; it is what it was intended to be, and is in excellent condition still.

General Comments:

This car is very fun to drive, with the manual transmission and the great handling it provides.

Seats are comfortable and spacious.

Faults:

At 145,000 miles, the radiator needed replacement. This was due to my mother driving it without coolant and ignoring the temperature gauge and I do not blame the vehicle itself.

At 150,000 miles, the front end needed an alignment.

At 160,000 miles, the starter needed replaced.

Half the rear defroster lines don't work.

The brakes are spongy.

General Comments:

This car was purchased new in 1992 and has been passed down from parent to child. I am the 3rd owner.

The only maintenance it receives are scheduled oil changes and repairs when a problem is made appearant.

The interior is comfortable, but cramped when holding 4 or 5 people.

I have averaged between 30 and 25 MPG.

Handling is not very tight, nor are the brakes. It's not designed to drive very fast at all, but is capable of 105mph without after-market enhancements.

After 14 years of service it has mild rust, and the engine is not as powerful as it used to be. Despite this, it has remained a reliable car and could very well last another generation in my family.