- 145,467
- 6,995 overpriced
- New Albany, IN
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- autoshopper.com
1999 ford taurus review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. A perennial best-seller. introductionthe big news for the taurus this year is that the price has dropped. The base lx is $1000 less than last year, dropping to $17,995. The upscale se dropped $1080 to $18,995, while the se wagon is down $1840 to $19,995. It was the best-selling car in the u. From 1992 to 1996 and more than 357,000 were sold last year. The taurus is popular in rental car fleets. And in just one year it has assumed a starring role on the booming nascar winston cup circuit. walkaroundmost people either like the styling of the taurus or they don't. The current model makes a bolder design statement than the previous generation. The theme is oval inside and out. both lx and se come standard with the vulcan 3. 0-liter overhead-valve v6 rated at 145 horsepower. Optional for both is a double overhead-cam, 32-valve, 3. 0-liter duratec v6 that makes 185 hp. (the $29,550 taurus sho comes with a 235-horsepower 3. 4-liter dohc v8. Shift quality was a persistent criticism of first-year editions of this latest-generation taurus, so ford recalibrated the computer controls changed the torque converter and used a different final-drive ratio. The result is smoother, more efficient shifting. The more powerful duratec engine comes with a higher stall-speed torque converter to allow it to rev more quickly to its most efficient operating range. This combines with a numerically higher axle ratio to produce quicker off-the-line acceleration. it has taken detroit a while to come to parity with the europeans and japanese in the suspension department, and the taurus is a good example of getting it right. The front suspension is a macpherson strut design with a lower control arm and stabilizer bar. The advantage is a more precisely positioned suspension to maximize handling and response. There are disc brakes in front with drum brakes at the rear. The wagon and the sho get rear discs. Abs is optional on the wagon, standard on the sho. interiorthe exterior oval theme is picked up inside on the instrument panel, vents and door handle recesses. But give it some time. In an era when most instrument panels all seem to look alike, the one in the taurus is a refreshingly distinctive change. It is especially distinctive when compared to the generic instrument panels on the honda accord and toyota camry. And the taurus interior is more attractive and is of a higher quality than the chevy malibu. the instrument panel is also well organized. The buttons and switches run from lower left to upper right within the oval for a double visual shock, but the arrangement is quite logical; it doesn't take long for a driver to make adjustments by touch alone without taking attention away from the road. The buttons and switches have a high-quality, high-tech feel. bucket seats are standard on all models with a floor-mounted shifter. An optional front bench seat is available with a three-way flip-fold console seat. The center portion can be used as a seating position, with its own safety belt, or it can be flipped forward to become an armrest, or it can be folded open once more to reveal storage compartments for cups, tapes and coins. We found the center space too small for even small people. But for organizing the small items that get scattered around in a family car, this is an exceptionally inventive piece of design work. This year things are simpler, though it's still sometimes confusing which items are standard and which are optional. But the current generation taurus - now in its third season - is a leap ahead of the old one. that leap started with one of the best chassis in the midsize class. A well-engineered chassis allows the suspension to perform well, keeping the car flat in corners and sopping up bumps and bangs. The taurus handles well, though it feels bigger and heavier than a camry, accord or malibu. while the overhead-valve vulcan v6 provides adequate performance, the best choice is the double overhead-cam duratec. Smooth, quiet and responsive, ford's duratec engine feels good launching off the line. The additional power makes merging and passing quicker and safer. Although general seating comfort is good, we found the optional bench seat marginal in terms of lateral support. Reducing the model count makes the buying experience easier. the taurus faces strong rivals in 1999, particularly from its perennial nemesis, the honda accord, which was redesigned last year. Add to that a strong charge from the recently redesigned toyota camry. Pricing and performance of the three are basically on a par. So when it gets to crunch time around the kitchen table, the choice in many families may hinge on that controversial taurus shape. assembled inatlanta, ga, chicago, il. options as tested3. 0-liter duratec v6, abs, automatic climate control, keyless remote entry, premium am/fm/cassette stereo. model testedtaurus lx. Bucket Seats✔ AM/FM✔ Climate Control✔ Air Conditioning
6,995 New Albany, INNew Albany, IN at autoshopper.com