General Comments:
This is my parent's car, but I drive it quite a bit. This car is the reason why American car companies are dying. It's a 2005 but it drives like a Model T Ford. The worst part of the car is the gas pedal feel. It vibrates and you have to put a lot of pressure on it to get it moving. I've found this to be a common problem with most Fords. The engine always seems to struggle and the transmission always feels choppy.
The ride and handling are dated.
The comfort is fair. The power seats are useless.
The build quality is abysmal. It takes a good push to close the doors.
The control layout leaves a lot to be desired.
I really dislike driving this car. I don't ask for much and I'm not a GM or Japanese car snob. I drive a 2000 Olds Intrigue with over 200,000 miles on it and it drives a million times better than this Taurus. I feel bad that my parents have to drive such a lousy car.
On the plus side, it has been fairly reliable.
14th Mar 2009, 16:47
City driving is what kills a transmission, not highway driving. My uncle has 95k miles on a 04 Taurus, all highway, and it's still on its original tires and has only needed a battery and front brake pads, not even rotors. All depends on how you drive your vehicle, but those model Taurus's are known for bad trannys.