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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:30:18 AM EDT
The Taurus and twin Sable sold millions. From 1999-2003 alone, it sold nearly 2 million. It sold so many that it was the best selling auto in the USA several times and held that record for many years. It was comfortable, reasonably powerful, and not very expensive.
I'm leaving the SHO out of this discussion. I had one of the 2nd gen. The first gen and the second were quite rounded, but they weren't nearly as rounded as the 3rd gen. The 3rd had a remarkable resemblance to a used bar of soap. I bought one off my mil. First thing required was a transaxle repair. Years later, it blew a head gasket. That resulted in my first in-the-frame engine rebuild. I spend nearly an entire Christmas Break on my back in the garage on several layers of cardboard doing that. The exhaust system was problematic, too. I gave it to my daughter who was driving it when she married her first husband. Eventually it ended up in a grassy field and likely then to the scrapper. As for the millions of others, they had relatively short lives. They were popular fleet cars and were certainly better than the earlier MOPAR K-cars. I had a Sable.....maybe a 1994. It looked identical to this one save for the grill.  Attached FileAny early gen Taurus stories to share? |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:36:01 AM EDT
[#1]
I had a '98 Taurus that I bought new. It was fine for 100K miles but turned into a money pit after that.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:38:53 AM EDT
[#2]
A few months ago I saw a minty fresh 1st gen Taurus wagon on the freeway.
Thing looked like it just rolled off the showroom floor. Given the lack of rust, lighter use cars seem to last almost forever around here. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:40:14 AM EDT
[#3]
I bought a beater Taurus off a coworker for something like $3K... I drove it for 2 or 3 years until the transmission died.
I sold it on Ebay (disclosing bad tranny) for $1,700. Man.. that sure was a great commuter! When we got it, it had a very bad odor of smoke.... we called the car 'Smoker Joe'  Also... it was really dirty when I picked it up, I thought it was blue... after washing it... it was more of a purple color... Oh well, great gas mileage and cheap to operate. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:40:39 AM EDT
[#4]
When I met my first wife she was driving one of the redesigned "soap bar" Ford Tempo coupe's.
That should have told me to run away. Oh well. That being said, I did have a 1990 Taurus SHO. It was a fun car. I got rid of it around 1996, when I was told that replacing the emergency brake would be something like a $1k repair. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:40:41 AM EDT
[#5]
I had a 93, a 96 and a 98. They all ate transmissions. The 93 caught on fire.Apparently I'm a slow learner.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:41:01 AM EDT
[#6]
My '96 went 240k before I scrapped it. It had been relatively trouble free up until then, but it needed several expensive fixes all at one time. The 3.0 was still running strong.
I had one instance at about 140k where the transmission wouldn't go into overdrive and it was giving me a code for a bad shift solenoid. The solenoid ohmed out OK. Then I found a TSB that showed a small metal clip that breaks inside the valve body. It cost me 2 dollars and change for the clip. I felt like I had hit the lottery when I took it for a test drive and it went all the way to OD. I hate to think how many transmissions were replaced for that little clip. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:41:21 AM EDT
[#7]
Ford, Cli-Taurus.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:41:43 AM EDT
[#8]
Nope. I drove a loaded '97 though. Old Goldie was her name.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:41:45 AM EDT
[#9]
I jumped a 94 sable in my parents back yard years ago. My parents had a first gen as well I believe. Don't remember any issues.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:44:01 AM EDT
[#10]
My grandpa bought one brand new and drove that thing until it died
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:44:26 AM EDT
[#11]
I assume you mean Gen 2. Ford Taurus came out in 1986 and was modern styling for its time. Robocop had Tauruses in the movie as a “futuristic” looking car.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:44:26 AM EDT
[#12]
Like a million times as a rental car. Very vanilla car.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:44:36 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I had a 93, a 96 and a 98. They all ate transmissions. That apparently continued on for at least a few years beyond '98. I inherited my mom's '01. It needs a new transmission. She babied the thing and it only has 70k on the odometer. 
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:46:25 AM EDT
[#14]
The Ford Taurus was quite advanced for its time, there's an excellent book about the birth and development.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0393318613?tag=arfcom00-20 One of my professors was on the design team, he had some interesting stories to tell about Management at Ford....which is why I drive Toyotas. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:46:38 AM EDT
[#15]
They generally dropped the transmission at 80,000 miles. So much so, when mine went out the first thing the tow truck driver said to me was, “you must 80,000 mile on that thing. They all blow the transmission at 80,000 miles.” I informed him he was wrong. I have 79,998 miles on mine.” $2,000 later I was jack on the road.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:46:52 AM EDT
[#16]
Drivers Ed had those POS.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:46:55 AM EDT
[#17]
A 94 Taurus with the 3.8 was my first car.
The AC compressor I think was the only major thing I had to get replaced that wasn't usual maintenance or competely my fault. I screwed up a few things on my own while working on it. Live and learn. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:47:08 AM EDT
[#18]
Your timeline is all screwy.
The first gen Taurus ran from 1985-1991. Ford spent something like $6B (in 1980s money...) to develop it, and it was fairly revolutionary at the time. They sold just over 2M units in the first gen. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:47:40 AM EDT
[#19]
My '97 had a V8 in it.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:49:24 AM EDT
[#20]
I had to drive a '97 Wagon while I worked on my 1st Gen SHO. My dumbass put a cam in 180 degrees out of phase when I slapped on some ported heads at the ripe old age of 21. Hard as fuck to work on.
The wagon drew many laughs but got me from A to B. It had the rear facing seat of death in the hatch area. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:49:27 AM EDT
[#21]
The day they they hit 100k they nitiate a self destruct sequence and become bottomless money pits.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:49:48 AM EDT
[#22]
My first vehicle was my moms '87 mt-5. She bought it new instead of a Grand National. I drove it for about a year until I could save up for a vehicle of my own.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:51:28 AM EDT
[#23]
I had a maroon Sable my in-laws gave us. Lost a front wheel bearing in South Carolina while on vacation, then the trans needed a rebuild.
About a year later the head gasket blew so I called Mother Waddles car donation in Detroit and they hauled it away. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:54:23 AM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Your timeline is all screwy. The first gen Taurus ran from 1985-1991. Ford spent something like $6B (in 1980s money...) to develop it, and it was fairly revolutionary at the time. They sold just over 2M units in the first gen. I'll fix it Thanks. I was looking at sales numbers. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:54:25 AM EDT
[#25]
I still own a 2002 with the 6cyl ohv engine.
Body is rusted to the point where I'm afraid to drive it. Mechanically it was great. About 170,000 miles on it and it runs great and passes e-check with flying colors. I'd get rid of it but I can't find the title and I don't want to spend a day at the title office. Anyone wants to tow it away, they're welcome to it. It'll need a new battery, air in the tires, and the trunk lock won't open with a key. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:56:50 AM EDT
[#26]
Quoted: The Taurus and twin Sable sold millions in the first 6 years of production: 1985-2000. I don't think that's six years. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:58:38 AM EDT
[#27]
Quoted: The Taurus and twin Sable sold millions in the first 6 years of production: 1995-2000. It sold so many that it was in fact the best selling auto in the USA several times and held that record for many years. It was comfortable, reasonably powerful, and not very expensive. I'm leaving the SHO out of this discussion. I had one of the 2nd gen. The first gen and the second were quite rounded, but they weren't nearly as rounded as the 3rd gen. The 3rd had a remarkable resemblance to a used bar of soap. I bought one off my mil. First thing required was a transaxle repair. Years later, it blew a head gasket. That resulted in my first in-the-frame engine rebuild. I spend nearly an entire Christmas Break on my back in the garage on several layers of cardboard doing that. The exhaust system was problematic, too. I gave it to my daughter who was driving it when she married her first husband. Eventually it ended up in a grassy field and likely then to the scrapper. As for the millions of others, they had relatively short lives. They were popular fleet cars and were certainly better than the earlier MOPAR K-cars. I had a Sable.....maybe a 1994. It looked identical to this one save for the grill. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/333347/Taurus_1st_gen_jpeg-2129432.JPG Any early gen Taurus stories to share? Lord you brought back some bad memories  Power steering hoses  Motor mounts And you haven't lived till you put a clutch in a SHO
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:58:45 AM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I don't think that's six years. Original post corrected. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 10:59:47 AM EDT
[#29]
@m35ben am I forgetting anything?
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:00:30 AM EDT
[#30]
Let's not forget the Ford Tempo, which was sized between the Escort and the Taurus. A room mate in college had the weird coupe version.
 
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:01:43 AM EDT
[#31]
I had a 88 Sable wagon. With the back seat folded my Kawasaki 550 standup jet ski actually fit into the back.
Used it for 2 summers and winters until it said fuck you and blew a head gasket on the freeway. The freeway was in a trough and the exit was a climb out of the roadway. Got to the top but ran out of energy to be able to park. If I took my foot off the brake it would roll down the ramp into the freeway. There was a black guy with one leg beggin for money. I guess he felt bad for me and asked if I needed some help. Nodded and he was one strong MFer! He put his crutch on the top and between the two of us, 3 legs we were able to get it parked on the service drive. Walked 7 miles home and drove my Vette to get any valuables out of the car. The one leg guy was watching it for me. Gave him a $20 and left the car. One of those donation places came and got it. Gave me a tax voucher for $3500! I paid $1700 for the thing and put another $700 in to get it reliable and working. Still ate a quart of oil every few months. Best $2400 I ever spent. Put over 30,000 miles on that tired car. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:01:53 AM EDT
[#32]
I had a 93 unStable.
 It was my parents' car. Head gasket went out on the 3.8L like everyone else's. Transmission went out. I got it after high school. I put a new front subframe on it since it got into a bad accident. I drove it for about 6 years, sold it for $650. That number pad for the door locks was fucking awesome though. I locked my keys in the next vehicle so many times. 
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:02:02 AM EDT
[#33]
Wife had a 1995 Sable. Put about 120,000 miles on it, and then gave it to our youngest son when he was in college.
He put about 40,000 miles on it, and then used it as a trade-in for a Honda Civic. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:03:06 AM EDT
[#34]
My friends aunt had one she never smoked but the car had such a strong smell of cigarettes I got nauseous for a second just now thinking about it
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:04:42 AM EDT
[#35]
I heard the front suspension couldn't hold up to neutral drops...And the wagon would go faster then the digital speedometer showed.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:06:06 AM EDT
[#36]
First car I drove was a 1986 wagon that I borrowed when my parents weren't using it. Was a pretty good car, lasted 10 years. If you really pushed it or went WOT you'd get a really strong sulphur smell, heard it was something to do w/ the catalytic converter.
There's a taurus wagon near my office that is converted into a pickup. Robocop drove one, at the time in the 80s it was a pretty sleak and modern design. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:10:05 AM EDT
[#37]
My Mom had a Taurus station wagon, probably early 90's. It was a POS that always had something wrong with it. After a few years of it nickel and dimeing her I talked her into getting rid of it.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:14:47 AM EDT
[#38]
My first car was a 86 Taurus
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:20:44 AM EDT
[#39]
2001 with about 110K on it sitting out in the driveway just waiting for me to get ready to run errands in a bit.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:20:54 AM EDT
[#40]
I drove a lot of them as rental cars. I eventually bought one with 30K on the clock and within 2 years have over 100K on it. No issues at all with it.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:21:24 AM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Let's not forget the Ford Tempo, which was sized between the Escort and the Taurus. A room mate in college had the weird coupe version. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/92-94_Ford_Tempo.jpg/1200px-92-94_Ford_Tempo.jpg https://cdn3.focus.bg/autodata/i/ford/tempo/tempo-coupe/medium/c00c56d75b62cd1be26239f25509f299.jpg 
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:24:13 AM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted: They generally dropped the transmission at 80,000 miles. So much so, when mine went out the first thing the tow truck driver said to me was, "you must 80,000 mile on that thing. They all blow the transmission at 80,000 miles." I informed him he was wrong. I have 79,998 miles on mine." $2,000 later I was jack on the road. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:24:19 AM EDT
[#43]
My friend drove a dark red Clitaurusaurus that ate about 75 transmissions. Good riddance.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:27:26 AM EDT
[#44]
My first car was a used burgundy 89 Ford Taurus. It was haunted. The paint was all oxidized, I'd wash and wax the shit out of it only for the cars soul to absorb the wax and look unwashed 5 minutes later.
It would break down every weekend like clockwork, I was 16 and couldn't find the issue at the time, but if you let it sit for a couple hours it would start up and run fine for the rest of the week until next Saturday I found out it was possessed one weekend, I had just dropped off one friend at his home, had my other buddy in the front passenger seat. We were driving through a neighborhood when the car just died, so I coasted onto the grass swale, put the car in park. I reclined the front bench seat, called AAA on my Nokia brick phone, and we shot the shit waiting for the tow. This is honest to God true, suddenly the car fucking started was reving to high heaven, and took off down the swale and onto the road faster than it ever went before. I grabbed the wheel and then the bitch shut off and I coasted to a stop again, didn't have to put it in park since I never took it out of it. My buddy and I were like WTF?!?!?!?  . She started right up and we went homeAfter that whenever driving and there was a telephone pole, fire hydrant, pedestrian, anything that could be hit close to the right side of the road, the fucking steering wheel would kick to the right like it wanted to hit shit. It would not do it regularly, only if there was something to hit I would show my friends like " watch the wheel when we get close to that pole" Creepy car man. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:33:45 AM EDT
[#45]
Parents had a 92 sable wagon, pretty decent car. Head gasket went at 150k and that was that.
They also had a 96 oval Taurus and it was a good car but very forgettable |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:33:57 AM EDT
[#46]
Had 3:
91 SHO 3.0 V6 5 spd 97 SHO 3.4 V8 auto, which was totaled 2 years in, but I wasn’t done with it, so I went out and bought a 99. I’m a glutton for punishment. The Gen 1’s were awesome, fun cars. The Gen 3’s were quick-ish for their time/ segment/ what they were and fun to drive, but man - the auto transmission sucked. Wicked torque steer too - damn near unusable in snow/ slush and sometimes rain too (z-rated performance tires on a fwd torquey baby V-8). While I never had a single problem with the 3.0, the 3.4 had cam/ timing chain issues and that auto transmission just didn’t mate well with the engine. |
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:36:49 AM EDT
[#47]
Those cars has trans issue, and Ferd never remedied the problem because it bunches of money. This was Ferd's equivalent of GM Turbo-350 debacle.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:39:43 AM EDT
[#48]
I had a friend in HS whose mom had a first gen SHO. That was a fast Taurus. When he would get to borrow it we flogged the shit outta that thing.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:41:48 AM EDT
[#49]
I had a 3rd gen, 99 I think.
What a rusty, steaming pile of rusty shit. It was unreliable and ugly. Rust under the paint and head gaskets. Gaskets were a known issue, Ford didn't care enough to fix the root causes. I am not sure if I hate the car or the gun more.
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Posted: 10/14/2021 11:42:38 AM EDT
[#50]
My first car was a 1986 Mercury Sable. In some kind of baby blue.
I drove it like I stole it. |
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