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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 389
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 389 |
The Taurus has less interior room than my Contour, a wallowing platform and is in dier need of a new look!
-Andy
You're wrong. Try fitting 3 full size adults abrest in the back seat of a Contour. *laughs*
Taurus is one of the safest sedans you can, or ever could buy from America. It also had a quite capable Duratec motor, and they are much more reliable than the Contour. My mom has a 2000 Taurus SE that is about to run 100K. Do I think my Contour is going to make 100K trouble-free? Yeah right.
The Taurus really is a great car, but Ford refused to update it. It is way bigger than the Contour though. The Montego/500 (Especally the Montego), now that's it's out, is superior to either one.
2000 Contour SE
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,149
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,149 |
-- 1999 SVT #220 --
In retrospect, it was all downhill from here. RIP, CEG.
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 21,197
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 21,197 |
You are master of the internet. 
-'96 SE MTX 3L
-'98 SVT 1,173 of 6,535
-'05 Mazda 6s, loaded, g/f's ride
-Need a 96-00 manual on CD? PM or email me
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,840
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,840 |
Originally posted by todras:
You are master of the internet.
ROFL!
Troll. 1997 VW Jetta MkIII GLS 5spd
All hail my appearance on CEG!
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 18
New CEG\'er
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New CEG\'er
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 18 |
I park my 99 'Tour next to my boss's 95 Mazda 626 every day, and the dimensions on almost everything are nearly identical. The Mazda even has the same ATX as my car. Coincidence maybe?
Mike
My Toys:
99 Contour SE Sport V6 ATX
76 F150 Ranger XLT 460 V8
79 Bronco Custom 351M V8
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,867
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,867 |
Originally posted by Montanaoffroader:
I park my 99 'Tour next to my boss's 95 Mazda 626 every day, and the dimensions on almost everything are nearly identical. The Mazda even has the same ATX as my car. Coincidence maybe?
Yes. Both products of the jelly bean school popular at the time.
Function before fashion.
'96 Contour SE
"Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 313
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 313 |
I'm hoping the Fusion turns out to be the belated successor to the Contour. Remember what Nissan did to the Altima? The budget-minded car grew up and gained a V6 option and a lot of refinement. Ford didn't want to challenge the Taurus back when they were still shooting for sedan sales figures, but imagine if the Contour gained just a little size (to more directly compete in the Accord/Camry market) and a larger engine, but kept the tight handling we all love? That's what I hope the Fusion turns into. Here's a picture of the new Fusion. I found it through http://www.blueovalnews.com, which references an AutoWeek article here: http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101385But AutoWeek's web site seems to be having problems today, so here's my copy: 
1995 Contour GL V6 ATX T/C
1986 Mustang GT 5.0
2000 Windstar LX
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,677
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,677 |
Originally posted by Nighthawk:
The 500 is going to be about Contique size and is offered with a 3.0L or 3.5L Duratech. Also optional will be AWD. But there is no MTX  . The Futura (or whatever they are going to call it) is going to replace the Taurus in the next model year.
There is a lot of misinformation in this post.
One, the 500 is a LOT bigger than a Contique.
Two, their is no 3.5L option.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 313
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 313 |
Current rumors I've heard claim a Duratec 3.5 will be available for 2007 production, but will probably show up in Lincoln/Mercury or upscale Ford models before making to run-of-the-mill 500 models. Learn more at http://www.myford500.com
I've seen a 500; think of it as a Ford knock-off of an Avalon. Personally, I think that's a good idea; Oldsmobile might have a future if they had simply copied the Avalon five years ago. When my in-laws (who have owned Oldsmobiles for years) bought an Avalon, my first impression was "Hmmm - A Toyota Oldsmobile!".
Interesting: Ford gets beat up for bland 500 styling. The Avalon is just a bland, but no one chastises Toyota. If Ford can keep quality up and prices reasonable, I think they'll have a winner on their hands, no matter what the auto press says.
As I mentioned earlier, think of the Fusion as more direct competition for Camry/Accord than the Taurus ever was. Again, if Ford does a decent job with quality and keeps a lid on price, I think they'll sell quickly. Please, Ford - offer a Fusion with three pedals!
1995 Contour GL V6 ATX T/C
1986 Mustang GT 5.0
2000 Windstar LX
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,467
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,467 |
Originally posted by phil:
Current rumors I've heard claim a Duratec 3.5 will be available for 2007 production, but will probably show up in Lincoln/Mercury or upscale Ford models before making to run-of-the-mill 500 models. Learn more at http://www.myford500.com
I've seen a 500; think of it as a Ford knock-off of an Avalon. Personally, I think that's a good idea; Oldsmobile might have a future if they had simply copied the Avalon five years ago. When my in-laws (who have owned Oldsmobiles for years) bought an Avalon, my first impression was "Hmmm - A Toyota Oldsmobile!".
Interesting: Ford gets beat up for bland 500 styling. The Avalon is just a bland, but no one chastises Toyota. If Ford can keep quality up and prices reasonable, I think they'll have a winner on their hands, no matter what the auto press says.
As I mentioned earlier, think of the Fusion as more direct competition for Camry/Accord than the Taurus ever was. Again, if Ford does a decent job with quality and keeps a lid on price, I think they'll sell quickly. Please, Ford - offer a Fusion with three pedals!
The 500 looks like the current 2001-2005 VW Passat. A former member of the Passat team designed the 500 for Ford. The Passat got bad ratings for having a bland design and the 500 gets the same knocks. I happen to see one the other day and it did not look special at all. The front end nor the rear goes with the carbon copy Passat's sides.
By the way the AWD model is way overpriced for what you get.
Now I hate America? That is a new one to me.
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