Quality of 1997 Ford Taurus

[awesome59]

I am was wondering if anyone has had any problems with a 1997 Ford Taurus. My aunt is selling theirs for $2000, with at least $400 worth of work on the engine in the last year. The car has around 126,000 miles on it. I need to know the quality of the Taurus's before i can buy it. If anyone could help me, it would help with the decision. Thanks for your time.

[sfontain]

Originally Posted by awesome59

I am was wondering if anyone has had any problems with a 1997 Ford Taurus. My aunt is selling theirs for $2000, with at least $400 worth of work on the engine in the last year. The car has around 126,000 miles on it. I need to know the quality of the Taurus's before i can buy it. If anyone could help me, it would help with the decision. Thanks for your time.

Personally, I wouldn't buy one that old. But if I only had $2000 it might be a consideration. The main reason I would be wary of that car is that it may not be a long way from a transmission failure. Sometimes the cars make it 250K on the original transmission but it's a bit of a rarity. Then Gen3 Taurus like that '97 also has a tendancy to clog heater cores which are expensive to fix if you don't do the labor yourself. The problem is $2000 probably isn't going to get you much of a car so it may be your best bet. If you can take the hit in size, I would recommend also looking at '98-'00 Escorts with lower mileage.

[Psychopete]

Originally Posted by sfontain

Personally, I wouldn't buy one that old. But if I only had $2000 it might be a consideration. The main reason I would be wary of that car is that it may not be a long way from a transmission failure. Sometimes the cars make it 250K on the original transmission but it's a bit of a rarity. Then Gen3 Taurus like that '97 also has a tendancy to clog heater cores which are expensive to fix if you don't do the labor yourself. The problem is $2000 probably isn't going to get you much of a car so it may be your best bet. If you can take the hit in size, I would recommend also looking at '98-'00 Escorts with lower mileage.

I agree. My 93 lasted 202k, which is pretty amazing. For 2 grand, it may not be a 97, but it will certainly get you a car that will last longer than a Taurus. I know someone with a 96 w/ around 110k miles that's having the symptoms as my 93 before it went. By the time it's all said and done, you should have more money in repairs, than what the car will be worth.. lol. I don't really see what the big deal about having something newer is. I'd rather have a lower milage-older car, than a newer high mileage. Ideally, I would get something with a 2.3L. It's been around since dirt (won't give you much trouble), and it gets good fuel mileage. You could pick up a Turbo 2.3L Mustang for around that. That would be the way to go .

Pete

[jmas]

I am on my 5th Taurus and I have generally found that they were fairly relaible vehicles for the Price up to around 150K Miles. Each year seems to have its own unique Quirks. I now have a 97 with 60K Miles & this seems to be the best of them with the exception of a rough AXOD Trans. I don't think this trans will make the 150K Mark. My feeling is that $2000 is a little high for a 97 with this kind of mileage even if you know the car's history. Good Luck

[wafrederick]

Does it have that Duratech engine under the hood.If it does, stay away from it!The Duratech is a piece of junk and is expensive to fix.Ford will not touch the inside of the Duratech and replace theDuratech engine with a new one.Most auto salvage yards sell that engine left and right real easy.Find one with a 3.0, 8th vin U.The 3.0L vin U lasts longer.

[drdisque]

of course the Vulcan (vin U) comes with the AX4S transmission which is utter trash. The Duratec is not a piece of junk, it is quite reliable, but it is very expensive to to fix because its so hard to work on.

[wafrederick]

The duratech is a piece of junk,the Duratech is often called a Durajunk.My father bought one about two years ago with a blown up Duratech from a car auction and sold it to an auto salvage yard right away that had the engine replaced later on

[drdisque]

first of all, its spelled Duratec, secondly, just because your dad found one with a blown engine, doesn't mean the engine is junk.

[Psychopete]

Originally Posted by drdisque

first of all, its spelled Duratec, secondly, just because your dad found one with a blown engine, doesn't mean the engine is junk.

I agree. Ford makes good engines. Usually a blown engine is operators fault, not Fords. I know some have their faults, but look at any other manufacturer. Especially the Chevy 3.1L.

Pete

[wafrederick]

The 4.6 and 5.4 do have detination problems and I have seen one do that.The piston lands break since Ford puts "junk" pistons in 4.6 and 5.4 engines from the factory.A Jasper rep that comes in my father's shop once in a while knows all about it and Jasper puts the better pistons in the 4.6 and 5.4.Like I mentioned If a Ford product is taken to the dealer for an engine problem,Ford will not get inside and replace the engine instead.The Chevy 3.1 is a good engine if someone does not drive one with the intake gaskets leaking and I have replaced 3.1s beacuase some one drove it with the intake gaskets leaking.The intake gaskets are plastic and split

[Psychopete]

Originally Posted by wafrederick

The intake gaskets are plastic and split

Originally Posted by Psychopete

Especially the Chevy 3.1L.

They've got more flaws than that. They blow just as many head gaskets as a 3.8L. Not to mention when my friend test drove a 2000 Lumina back in 2001 the tranny was already on it's way out. Instead they bought a 96' 2.3L Ranger, and I think so far we've only replaced the starter. Not just dogging on Chevy, I've just had to bust my knuckles on a few of those w/ blown head gaskets. ----------Every manufacturer has issues with their products.------------

Even though I do hate the 4.6L, it's taken quite a beating from one of my friends. He has the heavist foot I've ever seen. He floors it when the engine is dead cold, he floors it all the time. It has 150,000 miles on it, with no holes in the pistons. The problem could have just been a really bad MAF giving an extremely lean fuel mixture or something of that nature, they should have heard the pinging...

Pete