what do u think of the 2003 ford taurus?

Question

i have a '03 ford taurus, and its been acting up on me lately, i owe 11,000$ on it and i can sell it for about 9,000 should i get rid of it and get a new car, what are your oponions on it, please help

Answer 1

never buy a ford product

Answer 2

Ford Taurus is a great car. Anyone that tells you otherwise has probably never owned one. I have owned 4. What I consider a "bad" car is one that you have to fix major components (engine, transmission, etc) or ones that every car off the assembly line has consistant problems ie. xyz gasket blows out on all of this model. The taurus has neither problem. I can tell you that early taurus got a bad name because of the 3.8 Liter. It is GARBAGE and the transmission on the 3.8 liter is also garbage (AX4N). The 3.8 has a head gasket recall. The AX4N (Might be the AX4S I can't remember wich was on the 3.8) blows up around 100 to 150k. The 3.0 liter push rod is a FANTASTIC engine. I have see many with over 200,000 miles that still run strong. The AXOD transmission on the 3.0 is also a good transmission if you do regular fluid and filter changes. Also you cannot drive it like a moron (shifting from forward to reverse while the car is still rolling, or hit the gas after shifting from park to drive before the transmission engages. Neutral drops will blow it up too.) The Generation 1 and 2 with 3.0 wil go 200k + with regular maintenance. I know someone who retired their gen1 to rust at 250K and it still drove great. As for Gen 3 (96 to 99) they have been known to have some problems with the transmission (also an axod, but with some plastic parts). I have never owned a gen3. The gen4 2000- present is also a very reliable car in both the 3.0 vulcan (pushrod just like the gen 1 - 3) and the 24v model. The transmission problems have been corrected. I do own a gen 4. Problems have been minor and infrequent. A few idiot lights for things like the dpfe senson ($80) I have not had any wiring issues yet, but all aging cars eventually do. I am expecting to do some other routine repairs in the near future (I am over 100k). For instance, the water pump, maybe the engine drive belt, spark plugs and wires, O2 sensors. All routine repairs you would have to do in any car. All of these parts are designed to go about 100k. I do my own repairs so I look at all of this as a few evenings under the car and a couple of hundred bucks. If I had to pay someone to do it, I might feel differently, but that's up to you.

I almost forgot, the old taurus's had a power steering pump whine. The pump worked great, but it made a racket. The Gen4 has not had a noisy pump yet.

Answer 3

You taurus is particularly solid. The 2003 kind would not have the transmission issues that throughout the previous taurus' had, and the three.0 liter 12 valve or "vulcan" engine is the main reliable V6 Ford made for my section. I by no potential see a considerable engine subject with the three.0 liter, apart from a uncommon social accumulating of a broken valve spring and defective IAC valves, that are basic maintenance. you will get very solid service out of your Taurus.

Answer 4

First, take it to reputable mechanic, be it a Ford dealer or a well known trustworthy shop, where they can tell you exactly what's going on with your car (since you cease to give any details here), and if it isn't anything over a grand or so to fix, you'd probably be best off keeping the car, as long as it doesn't have more than 120k miles or so on it (it sounds like it doesn't if it's worth 9000 yet). And to respond to a previous answer, the reason they don't hold their value at all is because there is only about 1,000,000 of 'em on the road.

Answer 5

fords are terrible with holding their value. tauruses have a history of having all kinds of trouble.i would never buy one or advise anyone to buy one. im not sure about the 05 06 models but all the older models were basically time bombs in my opinion. everyone i know that owns one has had nothing but problems. get rid of it while you can before something expensive happens.

Answer 6

I would trade the car in, because there are some dealers that say they will pay off your trade no matter what you owe. at least thats the way it is here in Texas.

Answer 7

Sell it and buy a 98 SHO!

Answer 8

What do you mean by "acting up"? More specific!