“they stopped building the SHO”
I like weird family cars from a weird era, that has absurdly low miles. I’m assuming this was someone’s grandparents car. None the less it seems like a gem! This here is a 2005 Ford Taurus SE with 45k original miles. This is the fourth generation Ford Taurus which was built from 2000 to 2007. This was the era of the new “edge” design by Ford so this generation of the Taurus came with a more aerodynamic exterior and a larger, more luxurious interior. However, this was the generation they stopped building the SHO model so personally this generation and the following generations lost it’s appeal to me almost immediately. Ford not choosing to build the SHO model doesn’t change the fact that this was one of Ford’s best selling models. This example is a very clean example of this generation so let’s take a look at what it offers!
“more refined and luxurious”
The fourth generation Ford Taurus featured a new exterior design that was characterized by its more aerodynamic shape and sleek lines. The redesign aimed to give the Taurus a more modern and sophisticated look, while also improving its fuel efficiency. The previous generation had oval everything, even the rear glass was oval which had a lot of critics at the time. The 3rd generation was trying to be a lot of things all at the same time which may have turned off select buyers. The 4th generation’s overall design was intended to make it look more refined and luxurious, and it was a significant departure from the “Oval” design of previous generations of the Taurus. As far as I can tell from the pictures it seems this car was pretty well kept. Must have spent a majority of it’s time in a garage as there is absolutely no visible scratches or dings in the paint. This is a pretty interesting color for this car as most of them are either silver or beige.
“streamlined and user-friendly”
The interior of this generation aimed to give the Taurus a more modern and sophisticated look, while also improving comfort and functionality. It was spacious and luxurious while being practical. This example comes with cloth seats while on some models leather was an option. The 4th generation Taurus featured a new dashboard design that was more streamlined and user-friendly, with a central display screen, new gauges, and a new steering wheel. The seats were redesigned to be more comfortable, and the car featured more legroom and headroom for passengers. If you take a look at the listings interior pictures you can see that the carpet and headliner look practically new. The buttons and switches look to have held up pretty good for being a 18 year old car.
“3.0-liter Vulcan V6 engine”
The fourth generation Ford Taurus offered several engine options. The base engine which this car is equipped with was a 3.0-liter Vulcan V6 engine that produced 155 horsepower and 185 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with a four-speed automatic transmission and was offered for the lower trim levels of the Taurus. Higher trim levels came with the 3.0-liter Duratec V6 engine that produced 200 horsepower and 205 lb-ft of torque. Most Vulcan powered Tauruses usually come with the column shifter but this one has a floor shifters which is also unique. There is a little bit of surface rust on the shock towers and the headers but overall seems like a clean engine bay. Personally I hate the fact that they cover engines in this shiny stuff that attracts dirt and dust like crazy, but to each their own I guess.
Final Thoughts
The dealer that is selling this car is looking to get $6,497 for this car. Weird number, but you all know how dealers are. The Vulcan engine in the Taurus is known to be a very robust engine and considering it has 45k miles on it, I’d say this is a relatively good deal. However if you have a “fixation” towards the Taurus, then this is the car for you. An average consumer would probably not opt to buy a 18 year old family sedan. There is a small group of enthusiasts for these cars and this example would probably wet their pants!
