The Taurus is back!!

M

mikebai1990

New member
The Ford Five Hundred is going to be changed to the well-known name Taurus. There are some upgrades: "Compared to the old Five Hundred, the new Taurus features a revised front end along the same lines of the Fusion and Edge. Also new to the 2008 model is a more powerful 3.5-liter V-6 engine, including a new six-speed transmission and all-wheel-drive system." Dunno how well it actually is, but it's nice to see that the Taurus is back!



More info here: UPDATED - 2008 Ford Taurus announced | Leftlane - Car News For Enthusiasts
 
Ehh I guess it's OK. I would've liked to see some better, more interesting exterior design to go along with the new V6 and the new name.
 
*gag* What is Ford thinking with that exterior styling? I think that looks horrible, especially the front end!



I would have rather seen more styling cues from vehicles such as the GT and the Mustang not the old Tempo :nixweiss :think:
 
Yea, the front does look a bit ugly. It looksa bit like the front of the Mercury Milan. But I definitely enjoy the design of the rear.
 
Looks like sales will plummet even more now...man that thing is hideous. I actually didn't mind the look of the 500s...fusions are pretty catchy looking too, but damn that's ugly!!
 
Yeah I think from the start the Fusion should've been called the Taurus and the Five Hundred should've been the Fusion. And that front end DEFINITELY needs some work. LOL



Fusion, on the other hand, is a great looking car IMO.
 
Well, to me they're just finally calling a spade a spade. That thing never stopped looking like a Taurus so why not just call it that. Still just as ugly as it ever was. The most ubiquitous car ever made, and therefore BORING.
 
I spent a few days in a rental Taurus recently. Found out after I got it that Ford isn't even retailing the 07 version, it's a fleet only vehicle. The thing is a pig, I was sooo glad to hand back the keys. Looks aside, the 08 revision almost has to be an improvement.



BTW, yes I know the cheapo rental version isn't representative of every Taurus. This thing was an 07 with 7000 miles, but sitting in it and driving felt like a 20 year old, worn out beater.
 
When Ford creates a high performance version of the Taurus with the V8 out of the Mustang GT, then I'll pay attention. Until then, I'd much rather have a Charger.
 
I own a 05 Taurus and love it.. It;s my DD, and does quite well, rides good..etc

I don't know where all the bashing comes from..:sadwavey:



I've owned a Camaro Berlinetta, Buick Regal, Z28, Thunderbird, GMC Truck, & Grand Am.



For the money it has been one of my better rides. Granted, I don't have girls clinging to the hood because it's so sexy, but I'm not about to toss it into the junkyard.
 
To each their own, but I saw a joke about the Taurus on Saturday Night Live's weekend update when Ford was retiring it that summed the Taurus up for me. It went something like this, "Ford announced today they were retiring the Taurus. Now 30-somethings will have to find another way to show the world they've given up." I thought it was funny.



My best friend in high school had a Taurus. It was making some strange engine noises, so he took it to the dealership. As the service guys were standing there listening to it run, my friend was standing close by observing, flames started to come out from under the hood. Paint bubbled on the hood from the fire which was quickly extinguished. Shortly thereafter we went off to college and he bought a Honda Civic wagon that lasted into the 200,000 mile range and was still running great when he sold it.
 
They can change all the names they want, but it isn't goin to help them if they build cars that the public don't want !
 
silk said:
I own a 05 Taurus and love it.. It;s my DD, and does quite well, rides good..etc

I don't know where all the bashing comes from..:sadwavey:



I've owned a Camaro Berlinetta, Buick Regal, Z28, Thunderbird, GMC Truck, & Grand Am.



For the money it has been one of my better rides. Granted, I don't have girls clinging to the hood because it's so sexy, but I'm not about to toss it into the junkyard.
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The bashing comes from a bunch of narrow minds that think they have the answers to everything automotive. I had a 1996 Taurus that I put 120,000 miles on it before I traded it in on my 2005 Mercury Montego, and I had three other Taurus's or Sables before that one, going back to the original 1986. So, the Five Hundred is being renamed Taurus and the Montego renamed Sable. So what? They're still excellent sedans, very roomy, great handling (I guess deriving the chassis from a Volvo S80 will do that), and come with all wheel drive. If the real world gas mileage of the 2008 is anyway near the excellent mileage I get with the 2005 (as a sales rep, in a 50/40 mix of stop-and-go city driving and highway driving, I get about 23 to 24 MPG in spring through fall, and 22 MPG in winter), with nearly 60 horsepower more, I'll tade my '05 in for an '08. Chrysler can keep it's claustaphobic 300 and Charger (along with that joke of a trunk - Fusion has a larger trunk), and Toyota can keep it's malfunctioning transmissions and oil sludge producing engines.
 
In all fairness, I have rented several Tauruses and Sables over the years and they are decent vehicles. I only had 1 pig out of the bunch but that was because it was about to be put out to pasture.



What would be interesting is if Ford decided to create a V8 version with the same motor as the S80 V8.
 
PrinzII said:
In all fairness, I have rented several Tauruses and Sables over the years and they are decent vehicles. I only had 1 pig out of the bunch but that was because it was about to be put out to pasture.



What would be interesting is if Ford decided to create a V8 version with the same motor as the S80 V8.
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While that's possible, more likely is a twin turbo version of the 3.5L V-6, called the Twin Force, that's capable of ggoing to 415 HP.
 
We own a 2004 Taurus and for those already whining about the Taurus in general, ours is also a wagon ;) It currently has about 40K miles on it and we have not had a single issue with it. It is good solid and reliable transportation which is why we bought it.



Too much automotive snobbery here of late :down
 
rjstaaf said:
We own a 2004 Taurus and for those already whining about the Taurus in general, ours is also a wagon ;) It currently has about 40K miles on it and we have not had a single issue with it. It is good solid and reliable transportation which is why we bought it.



Too much automotive snobbery here of late :down
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I couldn't agree with you more. Far too much automotive snobbery, to the point where it's a real turn-off, not only on Autopia, but many other detailing forums as well.
 
Len_A said:
While that's possible, more likely is a twin turbo version of the 3.5L V-6, called the Twin Force, that's capable of ggoing to 415 HP.
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:clap: The SHO returneth...Please make it so, Ford. :clap:
 
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