So, I went to Lamarque Ford and test drove a 2010 Taurus today...

[msbae]

...and it was great. I drove a SEL model with the naturally aspirated V6 engine making 263HP and 249 lb.-ft. of Torque and Front-wheel drive. That car must have thought it was a Mustang because it took off like a Son of a Bitch when I drove it on the nearby Interstate. I can only imagine what the super-powered SHO version will be like when it arrives later this calendar year.

This new Taurus is far superior to any other I have ever driven before, and I have driven a few of them. There was the base-level 1995 model I drove in Driver's Ed 10 years ago now. Then, there's my grandmother's 1994 GL model. And finally, the 2003 model I drove when I worked for Veteran's Ford a few years ago. All of those cars were quite dependable but, they are also quite a bore. That's not the case with this new Taurus. I like this car. How often do you hear about a 27 year-old saying that he likes a Taurus? Ford has a winner here.

Also, I will be appearing in a video that was being recorded there for promotional purposes. In the video, a Ford representative named Noah Mass (who also helped design the car) explains the EcoBoost engine technology to me. Cool, huh? While I was there, I also ran into the owner of the dealership, Mr. Lamarque himself. When he was told that I was going into the Army, he immediately responded by saying 'Praise God' and shook my hand. I guess he really is as religious as I've heard.

Anyway, as soon as the video is posted, I'll provide the link.

- msbae

LINKS OF INTEREST

Ford Motor Company home page

http://www.fordvehicles.com/

Taurus page at the Ford Vehicles website

http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/taurus/

Lamarque Ford's web page

http://lamarquemotors.dealerconnect....asp?lang=en&NavID=1&PageID=3000&content=edit

 

[RoJoHen]

I didn't think Ford was making the Taurus anymore.

I had a '96 Taurus as my first car, and I loved it. I wish I could get it back.

 

[Michael Chris]

Looks gorgeous. Quite an impressive feature set as well.

I didn't think Ford was making the Taurus anymore.

They stopped for a while and then brought it back.

 

[RoJoHen]

Well, that's cool. I would love me a new Taurus.

 

[JuanBolio]

Nice, I've always liked the Taurus. The 1992 model was my very first car, and that thing had some serious power and great stability.

 

[Scout101]

Yep, they brought the Taurus name back because they realized that it had recognition (although why they didn't think to check BEFORE killing it is another question). Essentially, they killed the Ford 500, updated it a little, and rebranded it the new Taurus. Works out fine, and the 500 is what the updated Taurus would have been anyway, had they bothered to update it...

Taurus was always there, it just wore a different nametag for a little while...

 

[Amaris]

...and it was great. I drove a SEL model with the naturally aspirated V6 engine making 263HP and 249 lb.-ft. of Torque and Front-wheel drive. That car must have thought it was a Mustang because it took off like a Son of a Bitch when I drove it on the nearby Interstate. I can only imagine what the super-powered SHO version will be like when it arrives later this calendar year.

This new Taurus is far superior to any other I have ever driven before, and I have driven a few of them. There was the base-level 1995 model I drove in Driver's Ed 10 years ago now. Then, there's my grandmother's 1994 GL model. And finally, the 2003 model I drove when I worked for Veteran's Ford a few years ago. All of those cars were quite dependable but, they are also quite a bore. That's not the case with this new Taurus. I like this car. How often do you hear about a 27 year-old saying that he likes a Taurus? Ford has a winner here.

Also, I will be appearing in a video that was being recorded there for promotional purposes. In the video, a Ford representative named Noah Mass (who also helped design the car) explains the EcoBoost engine technology to me. Cool, huh? While I was there, I also ran into the owner of the dealership, Mr. Lamarque himself. When he was told that I was going into the Army, he immediately responded by saying 'Praise God' and shook my hand. I guess he really is as religious as I've heard.

Anyway, as soon as the video is posted, I'll provide the link.

- msbae

LINKS OF INTEREST

Ford Motor Company home page

http://www.fordvehicles.com/

Taurus page at the Ford Vehicles website

http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/taurus/

Lamarque Ford's web page

http://lamarquemotors.dealerconnect....asp?lang=en&NavID=1&PageID=3000&content=edit

Gorgeous car. Almost makes me want to drive something Ford again. Seriously.

Although, the mileage is terrible!

J.

 

[msbae]

Gorgeous car. Almost makes me want to drive something Ford again. Seriously.

Although, the mileage is terrible!

J.

The mileage of that car, in any trim level, is still far superior to anything I've ever had in my life. If I bought a Taurus, it would be the first Ford product I've ever owned.

Mr. Mass sent me a Facebook message thanking me for going out to the dealership to check out the car. I think the thanks should be going the other way around. Checking out cars is always a fun time... unless it's something that burns rice instead of petro chemicals.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

While I'm pretty impressed with the styling of the Taurus, I'm still pretty dead set against Fords. Every single one my family, imediate and extended, has ever owned has given them problems. I still remember that Aerostar van we had when I was growing up, and the sound it made when the engine died while we were on a family vacation.

Oh, and msbae, might I ask what exactly it is you mean by "unless it's something that burns rice"? Because if its what I think that meant, you should know that many Asian brands kick the crap out of our domestics in many ways, including resale value, reliability, fit and finish, etc. Not to mention a whole mess of them are made right her in the USA while a lot of domestics are made...elsewhere.

 

[Warp Coil]

I have to admit that Ford of North America is beginning to look good. The new 2010 Taurus looks great. It's light years ahead of the dreadful Five Hundred/Taurus that they sold from 2005-2009. The restyled Fusion and Mustang look pretty good. I'm giddy with excitement over next year's arrival of the Fiesta. I've been frustrated with Ford for a long time, mostly because I see such great products in Europe that don't make it over to the U.S. The Modeo, the euro-spec Focus, the Fiesta, the Kuga... these cars are awesome and look a lot nicer than the cheap crap that gets sold here. I'm happy to see that Ford is starting to think globally and will be bringing some of these products over to the U.S. Hopefully, in a few years, Ford will have a strong U.S. lineup.

 

[Starbreaker]

Cool car. I didn't think it would look that nice, honestly.

 

[RoJoHen]

While I'm pretty impressed with the styling of the Taurus, I'm still pretty dead set against Fords. Every single one my family, imediate and extended, has ever owned has given them problems. I still remember that Aerostar van we had when I was growing up, and the sound it made when the engine died while we were on a family vacation.

I always think it's odd when I hear stuff like this. My family has owned a lot of Fords over the years, and they've never given us any trouble at all.

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

unless it's something that burns rice instead of petro chemicals.

I do hope you're talking about bio-cars, not Asian cars.

 

[msbae]

I have to admit that Ford of North America is beginning to look good. The new 2010 Taurus looks great. It's light years ahead of the dreadful Five Hundred/Taurus that they sold from 2005-2009. The restyled Fusion and Mustang look pretty good. I'm giddy with excitement over next year's arrival of the Fiesta. I've been frustrated with Ford for a long time, mostly because I see such great products in Europe that don't make it over to the U.S. The Modeo, the euro-spec Focus, the Fiesta, the Kuga... these cars are awesome and look a lot nicer than the cheap crap that gets sold here. I'm happy to see that Ford is starting to think globally and will be bringing some of these products over to the U.S. Hopefully, in a few years, Ford will have a strong U.S. lineup.

I was wondering why the Euro-spec vehicles didn't come over here too, especially with the Focus. The domestic version was terrible. I don't know much of anything about the Fiesta, though. I'm allergic to most small cars.

While I'm pretty impressed with the styling of the Taurus, I'm still pretty dead set against Fords. Every single one my family, imediate and extended, has ever owned has given them problems. I still remember that Aerostar van we had when I was growing up, and the sound it made when the engine died while we were on a family vacation.

I always think it's odd when I hear stuff like this. My family has owned a lot of Fords over the years, and they've never given us any trouble at all.

Ford never gave me a problem, either. However, I've also never owned a Ford. That will change one day since I like that company's products.

Also, CNN Money gave the car a very favorable review...

http://money.cnn.com/video/luxury/2009/07/09/real_wheels_ford_taurus_sho.cnnmoney/

 

[CorporalClegg]

Man that's an awesome looking car, and the "SHO" looks like it could seriously bust-a-nut.

 

[Amaris]

Gorgeous car. Almost makes me want to drive something Ford again. Seriously.

Although, the mileage is terrible!

J.

The mileage of that car, in any trim level, is still far superior to anything I've ever had in my life. If I bought a Taurus, it would be the first Ford product I've ever owned.

Mr. Mass sent me a Facebook message thanking me for going out to the dealership to check out the car. I think the thanks should be going the other way around. Checking out cars is always a fun time... unless it's something that burns rice instead of petro chemicals.

I'm just saying Ford can do better than that. My Chevy's a 1999 Monte Carlo and I get 30 MPG, and that was way before gas prices got this high.


J.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

unless it's something that burns rice instead of petro chemicals.

I do hope you're talking about bio-cars, not Asian cars.

Seeing as my question on the matter was avoided, I have a feeling it's the latter.

 

[msbae]

Gorgeous car. Almost makes me want to drive something Ford again. Seriously.

Although, the mileage is terrible!

J.

The mileage of that car, in any trim level, is still far superior to anything I've ever had in my life. If I bought a Taurus, it would be the first Ford product I've ever owned.

Mr. Mass sent me a Facebook message thanking me for going out to the dealership to check out the car. I think the thanks should be going the other way around. Checking out cars is always a fun time... unless it's something that burns rice instead of petro chemicals.

I'm just saying Ford can do better than that. My Chevy's a 1999 Monte Carlo and I get 30 MPG, and that was way before gas prices got this high.


J.

And that Monte Carlo doesn't have a 365hp engine option, either.

A few wallpaper pics Photobucket managed to upload before crapping out last night...

unless it's something that burns rice instead of petro chemicals.

I do hope you're talking about bio-cars, not Asian cars.

Seeing as my question on the matter was avoided, I have a feeling it's the latter.

I don't bother with questions that have obvious answers. My hatred for Japanese cars is well known. They have no style. They have no class. They have no chance of ever becoming a classic worthy of hot-rodding/restoration one day and I don't like how they drive, either.

Toyota repeatedly paying off Jesse Jackson to avoid boycotts over the years isn't going to change my mind about them, either.

 

[msbae]

A few pics of the black 2010 model that was in the showroom being shown off to local bloggers...

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

I don't bother with questions that have obvious answers. My hatred for Japanese cars is well known.

Don't assume people know you, know about you or want to know about you.

They have no style. They have no class. They have no chance of ever becoming a classic worthy of hot-rodding/restoration one day and I don't like how they drive, either.

That's just ignorance. No style? No class? Chinese ripoffs, maybe. But there are a lot of other Asian car manufacturers that do have both style, class, technology and the means to manufacture products to high tolerance; often even to better tolerances then American cars (even though most of those aren't actually built in the US).

Take the Nissan GT-R for example. No matter if you like the styling or not, it's definitely not a 'rice bucket'; it's a modern looking, high performance GT with superior technology to most American cars on the market today.

Besides, no modern American car will ever become a classic. Yes, there are good classics from the age of fuel-guzzling automobiles, but that's only because of how they look & sound and the image that surrounds them, not how they actually drive (because most of them drive very, very bad). And the look & sound only counts for so much, if you're consuming 10-20 times the fuel an Asian or European car uses at the same speed and torque.