18th Feb 2007, 18:39

The "usual Ford stereotype" is an urban myth perpetrated by clueless import owners who have probably never even SAT in a Ford, let alone driven one. For three generations my family has driven Ford cars and trucks (including the Taurus) and we've racked up as many as 325,000 miles on some of them with ZERO repairs beyond routine maintenance. I learned to drive in a 16 year-old Ford with 230,000 miles on it. As for Ford trucks, we have never kept one long enough to ever have a problem with one. The longest we kept one of our F-150's was 268,000 miles. It was just broken in good at that point. As for "plastic ignition switches" I have no idea what the commenter is referring to. Our last Taurus had the same kind of ignition switch as our Lincoln Town Car.

18th Feb 2007, 20:38

So in other words, despite trying your best, you really couldn't find anything wrong with the car. This is actually a really good recommendation for a car when someone is trying so hard to find something bad to say, and their biggest problem was closing the trunk easily and complaining about the style of the ignition.

19th Feb 2007, 08:58

Yes, a car that won't start even though it only has 4,000 kms on it is "nothing wrong".

Please.

19th Feb 2007, 09:11

18:39.

Please. After the tow truck came for the fifth time to tow my "reliable" Focus away I think I can pretty much state Fords are CRAP.

19th Feb 2007, 13:32

Import owners tend to go out of their way to find ANYTHING to criticize in a domestic vehicle. If a Toyota engine fails in the first 30,000 miles (and MANY do, see the Corolla reviews) excuses are made and the "it only happens once in a trillion cars" excuse is tossed out. If the cigarette lighter on a Taurus stops working at 350,000 miles the car is regarded as "crap" and "typical Ford garbage". My family has owned both Fords and imports. After our experience with imports I couldn't run back to Ford fast enough.

19th Feb 2007, 16:21

First off, you don't have to go out of your way to find things to criticize with a Ford. It's obvious from 200 feet away, and MUCH more obvious when you drive them.

Second, Toyota has not had 'MANY' engines blow up, ever, in any model in their history, and definitely not in the Corolla.

Third, your Taurus will never get close to 350,000 miles, if even half way there. Toyota's and Honda's will do this routinely (go read the civic, crx, accord sites), but Ford engines just aren't well put together enough to do this. Practically never.

19th Feb 2007, 17:09

Is 13:32 running back to a Mexican-made Fusion or a Canadian-made Crown Victoria?

Just wondering which Americans he is putting out of work.

20th Feb 2007, 22:12

The last time I checked, the Wall Street Journal still listed Ford as an AMERICAN company. People seem oblivious to the fact that companies such as Toyota, which are foreign owned, pay no taxes in the U.S., offer far fewer worker benefits to the handful of people employed in this country, and do away with many related jobs in the automotive sector, while Ford, GM and Chrysler put much more money into the American economy.

As for the myth that Ford is "lesser quality", I'd like some CONCISE, ACCURATE DATA to substantiate such statements. In reading thru many reviews and comments on this site I have seen dozens of people who have never owned, driven, or probably even RIDDEN in a Ford throw out such unfounded (and false) statements.

On the other hand, there are testimonials GALORE from Ford owners (who should know a little bit about Fords) attesting to 300,000 miles of trouble-free service (and yes, I'm one of those).

When the '07 Camry came out I went with a friend to look one over. The fit and finish can't hold a candle to the new Fusion (nor can the handling), and it appears that Toyota has hired the guy who designed the Aztek for Pontiac.

It seems commenters can only parrot "Toyota is better because I say so" over and over without anything to support it (such as, for instance, ACTUAL FREQUENCY OF REPAIR RECORDS, or a film such as the excellent film cited repeatedly in the Tundra site that CLEARLY SHOWS how superior Ford build quality is to Toyota).

You might also check out the HORROR STORY on the 2006 Camry site by the lady who has been battling with Toyota to do something about her problem-plagued Camry or the HALF DOZEN reviews on the Corolla site that CLEARLY STATE that the engines blew up within 36,000 miles.

You might look at comments by Highlander owners who have had their brakes fail, their transmissions fail or (incredibly!!) their AIR BAGS fail!!

While you're at it, you might want to read up on this past year's slate of MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES with the new Toyotas, such as bad brakes, bad airbags, bad steering and bad front suspensions.

In addition, there are the not quite so serious defects such as oil leaks, coolant leaks, peeling paint, and many more too numerous to mention.

Of course the import automatons will start chanting "PINTO" "PINTO" "PINTO", as their only means of defense is resorting to criticisms of Fords that have not been built since Gerald Ford was president.

21st Feb 2007, 07:18

How does Toyota pay no taxes in the US? Do you even understand US tax laws?

And Ford pays LOTS of MEXICAN and CANADIAN taxes, among MANY OTHER countries.

Once again, please explain to me how Ford benefits the US autoworker when it is laying off and closing plants. And how Toyota does NOT benefit the US auto worker by hiring and building plants.

The Camry is designed, engineered, built, sold, and bought by AMERICANS, unlike the Fusion, Crown Victoria, and MANY Ford products.

Just more grasping at straws by the domestic crowd.

21st Feb 2007, 10:18

"The last time I checked, the Wall Street Journal still listed Ford as an AMERICAN company. People seem oblivious to the fact that companies such as Toyota, which are foreign owned, pay no taxes in the U.S..."

Very good, Ford is an American company. Don't forget, though, that Toyota workers in the U.S. pay U.S. income taxes, while Ford workers in Canada and Mexico do not.

"As for the myth that Ford is "lesser quality", I'd like some CONCISE, ACCURATE DATA to substantiate such statements."

You can't substantiate a myth... hence it's a myth and not a fact.

"I have seen dozens of people who have never owned, driven, or probably even RIDDEN in a Ford throw out such unfounded (and false) statements."

Your statement therefore only adds credibility to the myth that Ford has a poor reputation (whether actually true or not).

As far as actual studies and quantifyable data is concerned, however, Ford's initial quality is outdone by other non-luxury brands such as Hyundai, Buick and Toyota (http://www.jdpower.com/). Now before someone has a heyday criticizing this, bear in mind that it is only one study, but it has more credibility than mere anecdotes.

"On the other hand, there are testimonials GALORE from Ford owners (who should know a little bit about Fords) attesting to 300,000 miles of trouble-free service (and yes, I'm one of those)...

...You might also check out the HORROR STORY on the 2006 Camry site by the lady who has been battling with Toyota to do something about her problem-plagued Camry..."

Again, that's anecdotal. Pick a brand, any brand, and you can find good and bad testimonials.

"When the '07 Camry came out I went with a friend to look one over. The fit and finish can't hold a candle to the new Fusion (nor can the handling)..."

That's surprising. I would have guessed that the Camry (built by American workers in Kentucky and Indiana) would have been superior to the Fusion (built by workers in Hermosillo, Mexico). This is especially surprising considering that fit and finish can especially be attributed to assembly.

21st Feb 2007, 14:41

"Yes, a car that won't start even though it only has 4,000 kms on it is "nothing wrong".

Please."

Now, don't try to twist it! He stated that it stalled once shortly after starting. That is completely different than stating that "it wouldn't start." Please!

7th Mar 2007, 13:58

He said it stalled once after starting it up one morning. Could have been a glitch in the fuel system. I assume he started it right back up.

16th Jun 2007, 17:54

I Love my 20002 Ford Taurus. The only problems that I had is with the steering. It seems a little hard to steer at time.

Is there anyone out there that can give me so helpful advise?

25th Jun 2007, 14:23

If the steering gets hard it is most likely caused by low tire pressure. Make sure that the pressure is set correctly when the tires are cold. Check it often, in particular in Fall when the temperatures drop. Also, let car roll while steering to be easier on the power steering unit.

27th Jul 2007, 16:13

I just bought my 2006 Taurus and I LOVE IT!!!

It handles great, its comfortable, the trunk is HUGE. I get great gas mileage figuring I'm driving in downtown San Francisco half the time (about 29mpg). The Taurus has been and still is a great car. :)

12th Jul 2009, 23:54

I own a 2004 Taurus SEL. I've had it about 1.5 and the most money I have sunk into it was new tires! LOL. It's loaded with every option possible, pretty good on gas, powerful enough and in my opinion is a nice looking car. It has 150000km on it and still running strong. I could see it lasting well over 300000km without a lot of issues. The car is 9 out of 10 for the price and quality.