Probably a 3.0 Vulcan............good motor, just doesn't have the power of the 24 valve Duratech.

 

Seller just told me there's a evap leak in one of the emissions hoses...

 

and you have to watch the miles on the taurus. the transmission is usually only good for around 125-150k miles.

 

It's at 156k miles.

 

Drive it, if you like it, after purchase go straight to a transmission shop for fluid/filter change.
If not abused, they will last longer.

 

Make sure the shifts are crisp and not sloppy, make sure it doesn't hang on to 3rd forever before going to OD.

 

She needs to fly out east here, and drive Ray's 92 IDI pickup home/ ( the twin to mine)
130,000 miles of real Ford diesel truck. Barely broke in

 

i forgot about that one.
yea, that aint even broke in yet!!

 

x3 there. The guy that bought my 93 FSuperduty bucket was so giddy it had "only" 185k on it he could barely contain it. He didn't pay much attention to the 9900 PTO idle hours on it although it ran as new. I maintained the crap out of it as did the po. Watch the sca's in the coolant and they last forever.

 

And 15 mpg with a 5.13 gearset and less than 1/2 gph on idle. Should have never sold it but made 3500 bucks on it after using it 3 years.

 

Back to cheap and reliable a 2.3/5 speed ranger will last at least 300k (often many more). Keep an eye on timing belt changes and rear spring shackles. Deal with the 8 spark plugs on a 4 banger and the truck will be there 10 years from now easily.

 

Stay the hell away from the Taurus unless you know somebody who has very small hands and actually enjoys R&R'ing transaxles.
Oddly enough the Olds seems to me a good one. They are the kind of car you hope your Momma drives, especially on long trips.

If the "END USER" (the person you mentioned who it was eventually going to be given to) has even very basic tool skills you might want to tune your radar to Ford Escort or "Not so bad shape" Volvo. Volvo's have a reputation for refusing to die even when you are long past the point of wishing it just would so that you can justify getting rid of one...

Early series Ford Fiesta and Focus cars may be a good and simple easy to fix answer, but please whatever you do - if you are planning from the start to chuck the car in the trash don't do that to a "FESTIVA"

~There ain't many of them, and they make fabulous rally cars

Same as above with Ford or KIA Aspires - they are bugly IMHO, but the parts from them are one of the things we use to upgrade Festiva cars to unlooked-for performance specs

* I was following a Focus into town earlier today - and IT like ME never slowed down for the corners. They stick to the road like they have suckers on the tires

FINALLY I will say this- Carlos Abarth was absolutely dead on when he said:
"There is nothing more satisfying than embarrassing a much larger and more expensive car with a humble compact"


The guy in the little hatch is Chris from AdvanceDynamix in Mesa Arizona. The car no longer has a 1.3L SOHC, it has a Mazda 1600 4V with a turbo and a tuned suspension. The chase car is a C07 'Vette, if I remember right - and you can tell he wanted to catch that little box real bad...

Look up "WRC RALLY RACING" online. There's a reason small cars are beating the crap out of bigger ones
*It's called "POWER to WEIGHT RATIO"

If you really want to watch something exciting and fascinating, look at this....

*You really want to watch that in full screen. Press your "F11" button on the keyboard
Then mouse click the bottom right corner

NASCAR is wild - it is! But RALLY RACING is totally, certifiably NUTZ!!!

But anyway - I would totally recommend a small car over a big old junker, even if you don't plan to keep it. Never wish on yourself everyone elses problems. And you never want to buy a car BLIND...

Think about what it can be, otherwise you're just chucking cash down the toilet


You know what? I don't even pity people who inherited their Moms old car that she drove to college. I think accepting whatever pile of junk you can afford is just plain stupid.


Whatever you get, you will have for a while. EXERCIZE CHOICE! I think that's very important.

~Otherwise you are just collecting other peoples JUNK... And who wants that?
PICK OUT SOMETHING that you really like. Then look around and see if there is one.
REMEMBER THIS: You have what is called "Walk Away Power"
If you pass a car up, it may be cheaper next time

*They're also going to think you are a "DUMB CHICK". Work that against them and watch them straighten up!


Also - if you are operating on a budget, an econo-box will serve you well. Get some kind of a hatch that you can rip the rear seat out of so you have even more cargo room


When people say economy car, most people think:
"Oh great, I bet it takes half an hour to reach sixty" but that isn't true

You have to know what you are looking at - and the engine in it

VW's for example, the Rabbits and GTI's - those are quick little cars, and you might have seen some in the WRC video I posted

Those things can be had cheap these days - and all sorts of engine upgrades are out there



These are just my own thoughts, but you can see why I have collected some small cars recently and what I think about them

It is true that they are dangerous, but the way that they feel - so much fun to drive

I would trade being creamed if I was run over, for not being able to get out of the way to begin with, without a second thought. I love a car that I can FEEL as I drive it. I know exactly what it will do - it's like driving a go kart

There is no slop and sway - it's like wearing a pair of Chuck Taylors

You are GROUNDED WELL and can move...




***I agree that "BLING" is stupid. THIS is not - it's all about racing results. Neither a Chevelle nor a Mustang can do this

And the bling crowd can take their big muffler tips, fold them until they have nothing but sharp corners, and stick them where the sun never shines!


I hope that what I have shown you here is a complete new idea of what a car (or truck) is, and why you should pick a good one - not to mention how to think of it....

PEACE, and CIAO

~Wolfie


Don't wish JUNK on you
~it can be hard to get rid of


I tell ya whut: "THINK SUMMER"

Summer not worth having to begin with...
(study that)

~ I guarantee ya

You should smile -
it is good for you​