After having some issues with my brakes due to some error on the part of my local Ford dealer, I had to bring it back to have them straighten it out. They said it may take some time, so I insisted on a free rental car. Enter the 2003 Taurus SE Type R (for Rental!). It is seafoam green, has the 2v Vulcan engine that we've grown to know and love since 1986. It's not exactly a driver's car, that's for sure. It wallows like mad on an S-curve. Then again, I've grown overly accustomed to the Contour's handling. For an appliance family car, it's not terrible. I learned on my mother's Duratec Taurus wagon, and so far have yet to encounter this body style with a Vulcan in it. It certainly doesn't have the same high revving kick that the duratec does, but has decent torque, given what it has to work with. Here's to hoping that with the Futura (flashback to the Fairmont days I think) and the Five Hundred, we'll see Ford get something right on the first shot, unlike the Taurus that wasn't terribly appealing until the 2000 remodel.
- Ian in Tampa
99 SE Sport T-Red 63k 64k soon, Commodore 64 here we come!
