Listing snapshot
| Spotted | July 2023 |
| Asking price | $4,250 |
| Mileage | 42,000 (seller-stated) |
| Location | Fort Myers, Florida (per the ad) |
| Listed on | Craigslist, private seller |
| Drivetrain | 3.0-liter V6, automatic, front-wheel drive |
| Status | Ad expired. This page is our archive of the listing. |
We came across this 2003 Ford Taurus in July 2023, listed by its owner for $4,250 with 42,000 miles. The ad named Fort Myers, Florida, and the car wore Florida plates. The listing is gone, but we keep the record because a low-mile Taurus with a real asking price is a useful reference point.
What this car was
A white Taurus SE sedan with a gray cloth interior. According to the seller, it started life as a Florida government car, which explains the plain spec and the low mileage. The photos show silver alloy wheels, a clean cabin and a few light scuffs on the rear bumper, so “no dents or dings” was close but not perfect.
Every 2003 Taurus used a 3.0-liter V6 with an automatic, and this one looked stock under the hood. The seller listed recent work:
- New fuel pump and fuel filter
- New battery
- A full tune-up
- Never smoked in
- Previously owned by the Florida government, 42,000 miles
Was $4,250 a fair ask?
It looked like a fair price. In 2023 used-car prices were still high, and a running sedan with fresh parts and 42,000 miles was easy to justify at this number. The Taurus has no collector value, so the price rests on condition and the mileage. Ex-fleet cars often sit for long stretches and get basic maintenance, so a buyer would have wanted to see the government service records and check the automatic transmission, a known weak spot on these cars.
A little Taurus history
Ford launched the Taurus for 1986, and its rounded shape changed what American family sedans looked like. It was the best-selling car in the United States from 1992 to 1996. This fourth-generation body arrived for 2000 and was sold mostly to fleets by the end of its run in 2006. The name came back for 2008 on a larger car.
More cars from the archive
- Every Ford Taurus we’ve spotted, with asking prices
- 2005 Ford Taurus SE, another Ford Taurus
- 1989 Ford Taurus SHO, another Ford Taurus
- 1990 Ford Taurus SHO, another Ford Taurus
- 1993 Ford Taurus SHO, another Ford Taurus
- 2000 Pontiac Grand Am GT, another 2000s American car
