stpatrick90

I may be going out on a limb here by saying this but I just don't see how the Taurus can be such a bottomless money pit. I mean the platform has been around awhile seeing as it originally debuted as a volvo several years ago so most of the R & D for the platform has to have been recouped by now. Additionally it isn't like the Taurus has any unique motors either seeing as they are shared with the Edge/MKX/MKZ/Flex/TX so the cost of development of the motor is spread over several vehicles. The transmission is the same unit found in several other vehicles as well including the Edge/MKX and was co-developed with GM so the cost of development was half of what it would have been normally. In addition the Taurus has no options/items that aren't in any other Ford so it isn't like there was an added cost there. A lot of the car's safety was already there seeing it was developed off a Volvo platform. Now I will concede that the Taurus isn't selling all that well. But lets think about why it isn't selling that well. Could it have anything to do with the fact that Ford has done absolutely zero advertisement for it. Also it may be attributed to the fact that its styling is easily forgettable (but this is being addressed next year). I'm fairly certain if it were advertised that it would be selling very well. The Taurus has some very key advantages compared to its competition. The Taurus is rated at 28 mpg which is just as good as most midsize V6 sedans but guess what the Taurus is a full size car. The Taurus is ridiculously safe. The Taurus has been extremely reliable and has very good quality. The car has a huge trunk and a huge backseat. The Taurus has excellent outward visibility. The Taurus is fairly quick for a car of its size and in spite of this it can be had as a PZEV in states that have stricter standards. It also can be had with AWD which is somewhat hard to find in its class, save for the 300 (the only one I can think of off top of my mind). The Taurus's starting price is low compared to the competition (starts at $23000 ?) yet comes with a very long list of standard equipment. The biggest issue with the Taurus is that it isn't advertised and not many people know about it, plain and simple. If anyone can name a car that can do everything the Taurus can; has the same available options; and still achieve great gas mileage, all for the same price, they should speak up now because I really want to hear what you can come up with. (although who knows I probably am forgetting some car out there). Sorry about the rant, I just had to share my opinions on the subject. P.S. I'm sorry about my post not relating to the Ranger even though this is a Ranger thread, my bad.

http://www.mercuryvehicles.com/shoptools/c...n=detcomparison go to this link and you will find that the total interior volume of the sable is larger than the grand marquis.

The Mercury Monterey was the Merc version of the Ford Freestar which means that it was a FWD minivan, not RWD.

The 3.0L that was in the Ranger was/is a completely different 3.0L motor than the one used in the Fusion/Escape. The one in the Ranger is the old 2v per cylinder Vulcan that dates back to the 80's I believe. The one in the Fusion/Escape is a much newer 4v per cylinder Duratec that originated as a 2.5L V6 in the 90's. The Vulcan is old and rather inefficient by todays standards.

The CVT isn't the only part that makes a hybrid a hybrid. There is also the batteries, electric motor, special brakes, along with many other unique items. Just because the cvt is bought from japan (AISIN which has some toyota ownership) doesn't make the overall vehicle a Toyota product. It would be like saying my car is japanese engineered just because my tires came from japan or something stupid like that.

I hate to be nitpicky but you say you hate the 08 expedition but somewhat liked the 08 navigator. I am pretty sure they are the same vehicle save for the interior and minor exterior differences (most notably the front and rear) and some different options. That means they have the same 6speed and the same 300hp 5.4L V8. Also from what I understand and have experienced is that the new expy and navi are both quicker than the older versions, so I don't see how the expy can have "no power what so ever" when compared to say your 03 (i am guessing that is what you are comparing it to). Additionally you move on to say you like the room in the sequoa but from what I understand the expy/navi both are just as good in this regard but I don't see you mentioning this. Also out of the ones you tested the expy will probably get the best gas mileage. It was either MT or C&D that did a test of a tahoe v expy and the expy got better mpg and with the sequoa having the 5.7 and the denali having the 6.2 (that or the 6.0 cant remember exactly right now) the expy's 5.4 will definatly get better mpg. Now you probably think that I think the expy/navi are perfect, but I will be one of the first to tell you they are not, but on that same token I do believe that they are good vehicles as are the sequoa and yukon.