Quote:
|
Originally Posted by chcknugget
Hello all,
My girlfriend is interested in buying a 97 Ford Taurus wagon with 118k miles. It has a 3.0 engine, is forest green, and is in really good cosmetic condition.
Are there any known problems that she should look out for with such a high milage vehicle? I think it's going to cost her around $3000 from the auto yard.
The engine sounded loud, not that it sounded bad, but it didn't sound like your normal economy car engine (maybe a little beefier).
|
Well...yeah. You should expect the possibility of problems with any car at that age and mileage.
If this is coming from a private sale, that price may be a little high, depending on trim level and options, which you didn't specificy. If it's from a dealer. I would still try to talk them down a bit.
Just an opinion, not to step on any toes: If you're just looking for an inexpensive but reliable car, if you can only spend $3k you might be better off looking at a newer, lower-mileage Escort (preferably the 5-speed). It's a bit smaller than the Taurus, and it doesn't feel as refined, but in my experience these things are more reliable than the Taurus (particularly with the Taurus automatic transmission).
In any event. At 118K. You should expect a solid chance that it's going to need air and fuel filters, PCV valve, a transmission flush, spark plugs and wires, serpentine belt, timing belt/chain unless they have record of recent replacement, maybe an oil change, maybe brakes, maybe tires, and potentially an EGR valve depending how it runs now. If it runs absolutely perfectly, okay. But you're getting into the mileage territory where a transmission or fuel pump failure is not entirely unlikely if they haven't been recently replaced.
Let us know how it goes!