This is gonna be a shame....

[CarolinaKid2004]

If only I could afford a car that worked properly. I used to drive Volkswagens. Nothing ever went wrong with them. Then, in a fit of misguided patriotism after 9/11, I bought a Ford. I have been paying for that ever since, literally and figuratively. Ceaseless trips to the dealers (tried several) for rattles, squeaks, parts that wear out almost over night, endless adjustments. All compounded by poor, indifferent, service and low quality over-priced parts. No one forced me to buy this piece of crap. I did it on my own. Now it has depreciated to the point of being nearly worthless, and I still have payments. So I am stuck with it until it dies. Then I can fob it off on some other poor fool. One way to look at it is that in a few years I will have replaced virtually every major component (many twice) so really, in a way, it will be a new car.

Read some of these posts. Not one of you owns one of these things that works properly. I get in this car and wonder what's going to fail/malfunction/fall off today. If it was a horse you'd shoot it.

A Ford Taurus. What was I thinking? Yeah, this has worked out well.

[joe92k1500]

Yeah, I have the same problem with my 2001 taurus. It loves to be in the shop, and I am anal about my preventative maint. Oh well. I have to drive it until can afford a new one. I guess i got a friday car.

[Psychopete]

I really hate to see people get hosed on these cars. But like every other manufacturer, they have their good stuff and they have their bad. Finding out which is the best, is nearly impossible. I think every single newer Taurus I've seen has had problems.

Pete

[Gravesubject]

Originally Posted by CarolinaKid2004

I used to drive Volkswagens. Nothing ever went wrong with them.

I guess that's why there are no Volkswagen repair shops, eh?

[drdisque]

nothing has been wrong with my car for awhile. You must either not maintain your car well or expect way too much out of a car that didn't cost very much. $16000 Full size sedans rattle, no matter who makes them.

[Willyum]

If Volkswagens are so good, I wonder why their sales have plummeted? The reliability reports I've seen on the new Beetle are poor to worse.
I have an '02 SES made in Chicago and have never had any trouble with it.

[joe92k1500]

Everyone has a bad car now and then. I have mine now. I maintain it just as stated in the manual. I bought my 01 ses with vulcan v-6 used with 23kmi in 2002. It has 55k mi on it now. Here are my list of problems in order of occurrence:
P.S. pump replaced, replace oil pan gasket, PCM reflash, replace oil pan gasket again, shorted #4 plug wire, Rotors badly warped replaced those and the pads, Bad #4 injector, Bad #5 and #6 injector. All but the rotors and pads ( i did that my self) were done by a Ford dealership. Thank god i got the 6yr/75kmi powertrain warranty. I just hope i can afford to sell it before it is up. At least i have my 92 chevy pickup to fall back on. It has 184kmi. I just use it for hauling, towing, or when this one is in the shop. Oh well can't win 'em all.

[CarolinaKid2004]

Originally Posted by Gravesubject

I guess that's why there are no Volkswagen repair shops, eh?

My 1990 $10,000 VW never rattled and I put 155,000 miles on it. The OEM muffler lasted 120,000 miles. Nor did my $15,000 bottom-of-the-line 1999 VW and I put 30,000 miles on that and it was NEVER in the shop in 2 1/2 years.

[dlfrancis]

Originally Posted by CarolinaKid2004

A Ford Taurus. What was I thinking? Yeah, this has worked out well.

I actually have had great luck with my Taurus. Sure, it's got a few problems, but just the usual stuff.

Now, my wife's Taurus, the 2001, it seems to be a tire killer. And, I'll admit that it was odd having to replace her rear drum brakes - I've never seen that before. But on balance her car is as reliable as mine.

I owned two Civic's and my wife had an Accord before we got the Taurus', I got to tell you I thought all three of those Hondas were piles.

I've got a hundred thousand miles on my car, and I've never done a major repair. I've replaced the brakes, a belt, the battery, tires, stuff like that. But I think the car's great and I plan on keeping it for two more years.

After that I'm going to buy a Mustang. Before this spate of Honda buying I was always a Ford guy, and I've never had bad luck with any of the Fords I've owned... other than crashing that 68 Mustang that one time... but that was not the car's fault.

I sure am sorry you're not happy because I always recommend Fords. I grew up in Virginia. My family founded a farm in what was Western Virginia back in the early 1800s, now it's West Virginia. Whenever I go back there to visit I notice that these very practical folks tend to drive two kinds of cars: Fords, and Mopar products, mainly Dodge. The funniest thing I saw last time was a dealership by Elkins or in Elkins. There was about three hundred Ford pickups, and like ten cars.

I'm really sorry you're having such a bad go at it. I hope it somehow works out. Have you looked at the lemon law thing. Is there a lemon law where you live?

[Gravesubject]

Originally Posted by CarolinaKid2004

My 1990 $10,000 VW never rattled and I put 155,000 miles on it. The OEM muffler lasted 120,000 miles. Nor did my $15,000 bottom-of-the-line 1999 VW and I put 30,000 miles on that and it was NEVER in the shop in 2 1/2 years.

LOL. I was making a joke. But, since you've thrown out some numbers, I'll throw out a few of my own.

My 1995 Taurus GL has 210,300 miles on the clock and still runs like a champ: no engine trouble, no transmission trouble, OEM exhaust system still in place, including the cat. And, in seven years it's been in the shop twice: first time to fix a floating ground in the drivers door, second time to replace the idler bearing.

In November, I bought a 2000 Taurus SES 24V Duratec with 56K miles for $5500, and it too runs like a champ: no clicking in the engine, no wobbly brakes, no suspension squeaks. This car glides over bumps that toss small cars, sticks to the corners like glue, and boils the rubber off of it's Michelins when the throttle is goosed. I am very happy with it.

I'm sorry that you've had such bad luck with your Taurus.

[mwt]

Carolina kid,

You need to go to a VW forum and spout your hate of Ford and the Greatness of VW.

The internet definition of what you are is a troll. You just made that post to stir up some shit and nobody here wants to hear it.


Mike


and btw how does buying a Ford equate to patriotism?

[Banjoman10]

I like these cars. My wife's '00 Sable (24V Duratec) has 62K Miles on it. No problems so far, except a new battery, and the EGR backpressure sensor needed to be replaced. Sable is the same as the Taurus except for the outer skin. Also have (my daughters's) a '01 Taurus (SES, Vulcan engine) bought as a program car w/21k Mi., now has 51kMi. It also has (so far) been trouble free except for a new battery, one oxygen sensor, new bushings for the front sway bar (warranty), and a new set of front rotors @ 29kMi. to replace the warped ones. And - surprise(!) - I have an other '01 Taurus (SEL 24V Duratec) with 34kMi. This also was a program car, bought with 22kMi., for $9400 +tax(cheap!) w/all options including traction control, leather, CD changer (history was Carfax checked). I've had this one for 15 months, so far completetely trouble free. I love them all. For the price these cars are a great value. I too had Hondas (an Accord & a Civic) The Civic had a ton of troubles, I sold it at 34kMi.
Current VWs have reliability problems, hence their miserable sales performance.

[dlfrancis]

Originally Posted by Banjoman10

I like these cars. My wife's '00 Sable (24V Duratec) has 62K Miles on it. No problems so far, except a new battery, and the EGR backpressure sensor needed to be replaced. .

I wouldn't buy another Honda if you put a gun to my head. Funny thing though, I had to replace the battery in my wife's 2002 as well... I've never had a battery problem with the 99, but a couple days ago the battery light came on when I as making a left hand turn right after morning start up. I suspect that I'll be having to put in a battery before too long. The car has almost a hundred thousand miles now. Personally I like Fords, I'm a dyed in the wool Ford guy, so maybe I'm not objective about itl, but they've always worked for me and my family. When I was a kid we got a brand spanking new 1962 Ford Fairlane 500 with a 289. In 1971 I got my driver's license in that car and it was still running like new! Eventually in about 73 it was stolen in D.C. with well over 150k on it and all that was ever done to it was tune-ups and tires. I noticed it was never recovered...

[Willyum]

There used to be a saying around someplace, "if it has 4 wheels or you are married to it, sooner or later you are going to have trouble with it".

[vampiro03]

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...play.php?f=501

go there and see if they don't have problems. people come here to discuss problems with their vehicles. you obviously had a sentimental attachment to your vw. I feel your pain, but there is no such thing as a problem free car.