My wife and I are looking at getting a 2000 Taurus for her. Does anyone have any experience with the Vulcan V6. I don't really see the need for the Duratech ($670 more). I know the engine has been out there for quite a while. It is still a pushrod engine and the horsepower numbers are not the greatest (153hp. 180 torque) but it does feel fairly torquey. Not compareable to my 5.4 but for a car it seems ok. The car rides very nice and handles well. I even like the styling better than the old oval design. Anyway I am hopeing to get 70,000-100,000 trouble free miles out of it if possible. (I do take very good care of vehicles though, I'm trading a 93 Geo Prizm that looks better now than it did when I baught it new in 93.)If anyone has any experience with this engine let me know good or bad. Thanks!
Also does anyone know if there is a message board for the Taurus like this??

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1999 F150 S.Cab 4x4
Northland Edition,5.4
Off road pkg. Fleetside
Black w/grey int.

 

My wife and I bought a '98 Taurus when the Duratec wasn't so pricey ($450 then). I've never owned a Vulcan, but after driving both (we rented a Taurus LX with the Vulcan for a weekend) I like the Duratec better. A lot more power (200/200) and equal gas mileage. Consumer Reports always recommended the Duratec in the last Taurus. I think you'll be glad you spent the money on the Duratec.

 

The Vulcan V6 is basically the same engine that is in the Ranger(3.0). It is a great engine. I had a '91 ranger that had 120,000 when it was totalled and had no problems with it.

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1997 XLT Reg. Cab, 4.2L V6, 5spd, Superchipped, K&N Air Filter, Lund Deflector, Dash Mat, MagnaFlow Muffler, Hellwig Rear Sway Bar, Edelbrock Shocks, Duraliner, Extang Saber Tonneau, Painted Tailgate Handle, Bell-Tech 2" Rear Drop, Amer. Rac. Atlas Wheels Clad in 275/60/17 Eagle GTII. Likes straightaways, loves twisties.
1996 Shovie Cavalier (Don't laugh, it can lay down 30' of posi-rubber if you dump the clutch just right!)

 

Its a great engine. My mom has one in her 91 Probe. She has about 185,000 miles on it, and almost everything is original except things like wires, plugs etc. Its never been rebuilt either. I think that car will go forever...

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1994 Ford Ranger 4x4 4.0L, K&N, Superchip, 63mm T-body

1993 F150 Ext. cab 4.9L 5spd 4x4

 

My wifes '97 Taurus has 33k trouble free on the vulcan. Had the smaller 2.5 Duratec in her previous Contour SE, sweet running engine.

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Red 99.5 Lightning,
#0975,
Born 5/6/99...Adopted 5/27/99
SuperChip,
PSP Filter,
Water Wetter,
13.498@102.69



[This message has been edited by 4D THNDR (edited 03-05-2000).]

 

I bought my wife a 1998 Taurus with the Vulcan motor. The primary reason I bought the car is that my brother gets company cars and he had a 96 Taurus with the Vulcan motor and in 70K miles he changed the oil twice. (He's engine illiterate) He just POUNDED that car and it always kept going and going. If he can pound a car like that, my wife's light foot and my impeccable maintenance should give us a car that'll last forever. Given that the DURATEC is faster, try to work on one once...alot tougher than the old vulcan!

 

After driving a rented 97 vulcan powered Taurus on a 10 day, 1200 mile adventure, we decided to get a 97 Taurus w/ the Duratec. It is much smoother and has a lot more power - especially in the upper RPM ranges. In 97, the only way to get a Duratec was to get the LX model- on which it was standard equip. It now has 40K and has never given any problems. If you can spare the $, it is worth it.
Good luck w/ your decision.

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97 F150 Lariat 4X4 Ext. Cab. 5.4, AT, Tow Pkg, bedliner, white/grey 2tone w/ grey leather, Fact. CD changer, Gibson Side Swept, K&N, Bosch Platinum +4's,Michelin LTX 265/70 16, S/D Triton V8 emblems, Both doors cracked, Piston slap quieted by Mobile One & Slick 50 Synthetic.

 

The wife and I just bought a 2000 Taurus with the Vulcan V6. I've only driven it for the frist 500 miles but I had a '90 Probe with the same V6 in it and it was running good well past 140,000 miles when I sold it to get my 1997 F-150 ORP. If your wife is short like mine, I would highly recommend getting the adjustable pedals. I think the Taurus feels like a four door sports car. Just my opinion. Good luck and enjoy that new car.

 

Just a tad off the mark here, but have you considered a used Taurus SHO?
I had a '96 V-8 that was the sweetest sedan I have ever owned. Powerful as all get out, smooth as a baby's behind and it also got very good gas mileage.
I mention this because most of these cars were enthusiast owned, maintained, as mine, to the hilt and very rarely abused.
They were apparently quite popular here in the Atlanta area and there are plenty of good used ones available at very reasonable prices.
Just a thought.
Bill

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99.5 Lightning
Build #247
PSP Chip/Filter
Bassani full system
White/normal options
Tamiya 1/10 scale Bolt
Several old trucks/cars
Thunder & Lightning
Rag Doll Cats
E-mail MOSTOYSINC@AOL.com
Kennesaw, Ga. (Atlanta)

 

Well I just put in my order for the Taurus SES. A 2000 Graphite blue with the FFV engine. The dealer told me that the FFV engines were more available and it would have a better chance of getting built faster. It is a $1037.00 option but they discount it that much if you take that engine so it evens out. From what I have read, that engine is no different that the regular Vulcan except for stainless steel fuel lines, composite fuel rail, and alcohol compatible 25 lb injectors. I was looking at a (forgive me) an Oldsmobile Intrigue, but from what I've read it has had a good number of problems with trim falling off and little crap like that. A good looking car though. Thanks to all that replied I do appreciate it.

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1999 F150 S.Cab 4x4
Northland Edition,5.4
Off road pkg. Fleetside
Black w/grey int.