When my daughter wrecked my contour about a month ago, I started looking around for a replacement. I ended up buying a 2000 Taurus SEL, 3.0L Duratec, leather, sunroof, traction control, automatic temperature control, really good Mach sound system, power everything, 67k, for $6000. It rides great, with pretty good power (about 200 hp). It's comfortable, decent mpg's (23-28), quiet, and roomy.
On the down side, the 120 hp zetec in my contour, and certainly in my mystique mtx, would compare quite favorably with the Taurus duratec when it comes to acceleration. I suppose the extra size and weight of the Taurus really slows it down. The handling of the Taurus, while smooth and comfortable, does not start to compare with the contour or my Mystique.
As of right now, my daughter is driving my mystique while she's in college at the Univ. of Oklahoma, and I'm floating around in the Taurus. Ah, after all, I'm an old fuddy duddy. At least I didn't buy a Buick
