[Shotimes] So you've never owned a car.......Part 2

[George Fourchy]

Part two .....

On Mon, 26 Jul 2004 01:05:23 -0400, James F. Ryan III wrote:

>I've never owned a car before where,
>the ATX is SO poorly designed and SO problematic.

Concession #4.....I won't have an automatic car of ANY brand, unless there is no
choice.  The wagon has already been rebuilt (warranty failure at 21,000 miles)....it
is holding together with 101,000 on the rebuild.  I'm watching it, and getting (down
the road) an FPS rebuild to have ready to go in.  That wagon has at LEAST 10 more
years of service it will give me.

>I've never owned a car before where,
>the thermostat is problematic and gets stuck in a full open position, which
>causes the motor to run cool, which causes the computer to run a rich
>mixture to 'help' the engine warm up quicker, which in turn causes a host of
>other problems

Stuck thermostats happen in all cars, at all times, for all reasons.  I siezed up my
'65 289 Mustang because of one.  This one is easy enough to change periodically that
I don't hold any ill will towards it.  And the one that is in it now has been in it
for 5 years, since the first radiator change after the desert test on the way to
Atlanta in 1999

>I've never owned a car before where,
>the failure of the head gasket (3.8L) is a known problem.

This requires no discussion.  Early 3.8 engines were a problem.  Hundreds of
thousands more Chrysler minivans had as many engine and tranny problems.  GM
probably had its share as well.  My 3.8 with 121,000 miles and new head gaskets is
almost as strong as the Lowrider and just as dependable.

>I've never owned a car before where,
>the speedometer cable becomes very noisy and needs to be replaced.

Now you're picking nits.  Lowrider's current speedo cable is just beginning to
whisper, after being in it for over 100k miles....that's the second swap...the first
replacement was routed through the dash incorrectly....a stupid factory mechanic
will make the simplest job look hard, and require redoing much sooner than the
advertised 1 year/12,000 mile warranty....just look at the T-Bird's rear
axle.....three of them lasted 13,000 miles...1k miles after the warranty runs out. 
So I think they suck, along with 8.8 inchers in Mustangs.  Result....I don't buy the
car. 

>I've never owned a car before where,
>the "power steering" provides steering but NO power (Gen1 only).

Never had that problem.....All the newer cars I have steer too easily, and combined
with a lack of caster, wander all over the road.  Gen 1 SHO steering is just fine,
thank you.  

>I've never owned a car before where,
>the accuracy of various gauges and indicating/warning lights is questionable
>due to poorly designed and very problematic sensors.

The speedo is within one MPH.  The temp gauge reads the same thing every day, when
the engine is warmed up and at speed.  It tells me when the thermostat is stuck
open, or that I need to turn on the a/c to cool the engine in heavy slow traffic. 
The fuel gauge is described as reporting "the approximate level of fuel in the tank"
per the owner's manual.  Using my brain (which I came from the factory with) I can
use it and apply the amount of miles I have traveled since the last fill of fuel to
figure within half a gallon what I will take on a refill.

>I'm sure there's a few more that we could add to this 'impressive list'.
>The point is, these are not exceptions to the rule, they are an epidemic of
>the Taurus.  Add all of these togehter, then compare to the Honda Accord and
>Toyota Camry, and POS is really only a stone's throw away.

You can add all the similar points from long term ownership of any car in this price
range, made by any manufacturer, and come up with exactly the same sort of
complaints...more from the US than from imports.  Some of these things are poor
design, some are caused by less than adequate maintenance, and some are caused by
local conditions that you have no control over.  This car has no more ills than any
other when you combine all the causative factors with all the results.  I've had
cars that didn't like me (figuratively speaking), and didn't hold together as
well....they were Monday cars, or Friday cars, or closely related to
Yugos.....poorly engineered.  Considering what these two cars, the Lowrider and the
Slorider have given me for service, enjoyment, and dependability, I can't agree with
your conclusion......sorry.

>What makes the car great?
>
>-The SHO engine is great.  (The MTX and shifter are fun, but they are far
>from great).

Considering that the SHO was tossed together with a minimum of planning and
foresight, especially in the drivetrain, I think the shifter and MTX are quite good.
 Also...my MTX has needed NO servicing or repairs in all its miles.  Maybe I am
lucky, or maybe I am a bit extra careful in the way I operate it.....I don't see
care on my part as avoiding any lack of excessive wear or failure to deliver service
on the part of the transmission.  Look at the T-5 in my T-bird.....at about 175,000
miles 5th gear and its associated bearings started making noises.....I never tracked
that car....I just drove it on the freeway.  That's a BORG WARNER WORLD CLASS
T-5......so is it junk?

>-The Gen1 factory ground effects are great (I'm very biased.  I guess you
>guys don't see many WHITE Gen1s because on a bright white Gen1 the ground
>effects stick out like a sore thumb).

I'm not sure what this means....There are several white Gen 1 cars around
here....they look normal.....if you mean they get dirty....yes they do.  That's what
paint thinner and brake cleaner are for.

>-Yes George, the doors still sound brand new when they're slammed shut (BUT,
>it only took them 50 years to get that right).

How long they been makin' GM cars?   HUH!!??  And do you SLAM your doors?  I throw
people out of my cars if they slam them twice.

>-Lastly, the factory exhaust systems, both SHO and SLO, are great.  I've
>never heard or seen a Taurus that had a loud rotted away exhaust - even here
>in the northeast.

True.  My SHOShop exhaust is still doing fine, with new cats installed in 1999.  The
Dynomax mufflers rattle when you thump them, but they muffle.  Resonators come and
go, every 3 or 4 years.....time for one more right now.

Bottom line....yes, our weather is better.  But salt and potential rust wouldn't
stop me from making a Taurus last 20 years in New York.  I won't LIVE there, but a
car would last just fine there.  Why, because I'd take care of it.  Just like I take
care of them here.  

The car has some weaknesses.  Fix them and/or live with them.  It's made by humans,
after all....very cheap (Ford) humans!!

George