Very rarely do I get the gumption to do something like this but it seems appropriate. I do work at a GM dealer and am a long time GM guy but this is my review of the new Taurus. Enjoy.
Alright, today I got an opportunity to drive a new non-eco boost Taurus. I work at a Chevrolet, Pontiac, and Buick dealer inside an auto group that has GMC, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, and Hyundai. The GM from our Ford store is driving one and I took the helm for a few miles.
First off, what a stereo. If Ford has GM’s number in one category, it’s audio systems. Great high’s, clear mid’s, and undistorted bass. The Sync system is awesome as usual but still not up to par with onstar from the emergency services aspect. Otherwise, great system.
Styling- While it really won’t stir any emotions, it has great lines and a sexy stance. Wheels were nice, not overdone, well executed design. The HID headlights are very slick and illuminate everything quite well. All the other lights on the car are well appointed. The interior has a very attractive waterfall center stack that’s pretty ergonomic and easy to use and read. I have always been at odds with Ford on the clusters of buttons on the center stack. All look the same in shape, tactile feel, and color. If I could change one thing inside this car, that would be it. All of the French seam stitching in the interior is done quite well with a contrasting color thread. Over all i would rate the interior very high with the exception of a few niggles that have always grinded me with Ford.
Driving experience- It drove very well over bumps and outside noise was held to a minimum. The six speed trans does have a manual mode but one thing that kills me is that it’s not really a manual mode. You can select what gear you want, however, should you step into a little too much, and the car will take it upon itself to downshift for you. The car assumes that you don’t know what you want and it takes over. Epic fail, Ford. If you don’t want to make a manual mode, just make it a range finder and don’t put paddle shifters on it. Paddle shifter has an implication of performance and control. When you rip control away, you ruin the experience. In D the car drives very well and without surprise.
Other than a few small things, this is a great car to get around. Perfect for the small/medium family on a daily use basis. I did find the entrance on the driver side to be a bit narrow.6’3″ and this is not uncommon on a lot of vehicles, however, it seemed more noticeable on this car.
In conclusion I would say that this is a good competitor with the new Lacrosse. The Lacrosse seems to resonate luxury a bit more convincingly. For the $32K, I’m doing more research before I declare a clear winner.
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