66,000 Miles, One Owner, 8-Passenger 3rd Row Seat, 200 HP Duratec V6, Fully Serviced, Very Clean!

There are 200 photos and a detailed description ahead so it’s best to view this listing on a desktop or laptop computer. A smartphone won’t give you the same details. When comparing this car to the other Taurus or its Mercury Sable sister wagons listed online, keep in mind this Taurus has had over $4,100 in new and recent parts and service, details of which are further down in the description, and the last similar car that sold recently was a 2004 Sable wagon for $9,500 on Ebay. CLICK HERE to see that completed listing.

This is a one lady owner 1999 Ford Taurus SE station wagon finished in Vibrant White with the Medium Graphite interior. The SE wagon models are powered by the more powerful 200 H.P. Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) 24-valve 3.0L Duratec V6 engine that has received numerous rave reviews by engineers and the automotive press for it’s high power output, excellent economy and inherent smoothness. In comparison, base Taurus LX models come with a rather anemic and coarse 145 H.P. 12-valve pushrod Vulcan V6 engine of the same size that dates back to the mid 80’s. This Duratec engine features an aluminum block for light weight and iron cylinder liners for maximum durability, chain driven dual overhead cam (DOHC) 24-valve aluminum cylinder heads with hydraulic valve adjusters for reduced maintenance, excellent heat dissipation and maximum power output at all engine speeds, sequential multiport fuel injection for excellent gas mileage and distributorless ignition for reliability in all environmental conditions. The engine was developed in partnership with Mazda along with design input from Porsche and Cosworth, both well known for muli-valve cylinder head development. This engine made it into countless Mazda vehicles as well becoming the base engine in the Lincoln LS and Jaguar S-type, which says a lot about it’s smoothness. When shopping for a Taurus from this generation, keep in mind that not all of them will have the 200 H.P. Duratec engine which makes driving the car much more enjoyable and relaxing, with no penalty in gas mileage. The engine is mated to a 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. This transmission has a low first gear that provides brisk acceleration, while the high top gear allows for effortless highway cruising and good fuel mileage. When driven with restraint, you can expect over 30 mpg on the highway. (Disclaimer: YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY)

Rounding out the Taurus are suspension, steering and brakes made for secure handling on twisting roads, while at the same time smoothing out potholes and frost heaves on your daily commute. Start off with a rigid chassis and unit body construction for a stiff foundation and add in a four-wheel independent suspension with MacPherson struts up front with a sway bar and a short/long arm (SLA) rear setup with progressive rate springs and gas shocks. Add speed sensitive variable assist rack and pinion steering and light weight aluminum wheels for precise handling. For secure braking there are large 4-wheel discs all around. (Most wagons of this era still had drum rear brakes.) What this means is the Taurus handles better than any station wagon is expected to, yet still provides a quiet comfortable ride like a family sedan is made to do.

If the last thing you want parked in your driveway is a minivan and the stereotype it conveys, this Taurus wagon is an excellent alternative. If you hate the thought of driving a large gas guzzling lumbering SUV to get 8-passenger capacity, this Taurus wagon is a great replacement. If you secretly covet station wagon bodystyles, this Taurus will satisfy your desires as well as your needs. This generation Taurus highlights the Coke bottle style that makes wagons so visually appealing. 1999 was the last year of the third generation of Taurus that started in 1996. Known as the shark nose years, the 1996 model moved away from straight lines and introduced bold sweeping curves and oval shapes modeled on the FORD oval logo. In a break from the familiar styling of the previous second generation Taurus, Ford had sought to again make the third generation Taurus stand out for buyers of mid-size sedans. It gave the vehicle a much more extensive restyling, reintroducing a dramatic design theme that harkened back to when the first generation was introduced and was seen as revolutionary and bold automotive design. After the third generation, Ford reverted back to a bland, ordinary and conventional styling theme for the forth generation in 2000.

A quick walk around the car reveals how the third generation Taurus is one of the most unique and stylish vehicles ever created in the mid-size class of station wagons. Start up front with its clean smooth lines featuring that shark nose bumper surrounded by oval clear lens headlights with jewel-effect reflectors. In the center you have a small oval grille opening plus a chrome spear with the FORD oval emblem in the middle and the oval turn signal lights beside it. Beginning to see the oval trend here? At the bottom of the bumper you have a larger air intake opening in, you guessed it, an oval shape. Going backwards you find the hood is formed into compound curves, and along the sides, the fenders, doors and quarter panels have not a single flat spot on them. Even the door and rocker moldings as well as the door handles and mirrors carry the curvy oval theme. And those pieces are finished in body color paint for a handsome monochromatic look adding visual appeal. Up top the roof rack maximizes carrying capabilities for large items like kayaks and camping gear. Moving further back to the tailgate, the ovals continue with the oval back window and its handle, oval center brake light and oval tail lights. The large tailgate functions as a rain shield when open so tailgating fun doesn’t have to stop if a storm rolls in, and the rear window opens separately for convenient loading and ventilation. The rear bumper has more curves than……I better not go there. This Taurus wagon looks handsome from any angle without being flashy. It’s unique style is both chic and practical. If you want something without the soccer mom persona of a minivan or SUV but still need to carry the whole team to the game, this car may just have your name on it.

The exterior is beautiful to look at but the inside is very nice too. Unlock the doors with the convenient keyless entry remote, or, if you’re at the beach or the ski slopes you can leave the keys and your wallet locked inside and use the keyless entry keypad to lock or unlock the doors. You never have to worry that someone will steal your valuables when you go for a swim and leave your stuff unattended on the beach. Now get in and sit down into a bucket seat that adjusts to the perfect driving position with 6-way power adjustment, power lumbar adjustment and manual recline. Check out how supportive the seat is and how plush the velour upholstery feels. Then adjust the tilt steering wheel to achieve complete driving control. Notice how the thickly padded leather rim affords just the right grip and that the cruise control switches are just a fingertip away. Lay your right arm on the center armrest to imagine how comfortable you would be after a long days drive. Next, look ahead at the dashboard with the large and comprehensive easy to read analog gauges including a tachometer. Look right and left at the interior trim on the door panels and dash as well as the carpet and headliner. Press the buttons for the radio, cruise control or windows. Not only is the styling all premium, but all the textures have a rich feel and look and all the switchgear have a precise soft touch action. From the design of the cloth in the seats, the graining pattern on the dash and door panels, or the layout of the knobs and switches on the dash, everything looks and feels like it came from a more expensive car.

Now put the key in the ignition and start the engine. Notice that it starts instantly whether hot or cold and hear how silently the engine idles. Next, take it for a spin. Lightly step on the gas pedal and feel how effortlessly the car gains speed and how smoothly the transmission shifts gears. Drive over some bumps and see how the suspension gives a secure yet comfortable ride. Now accelerate and enjoy the torque as the Duratec engine pins you back in your seat. At the next traffic light, step on the brakes and feel how smoothly they perform with no pedal pulsations or pulling to one side. So whether on congested city streets, open highways, or remote mountain roads, you will be amazed how smooth, quick and comfortable this Taurus wagon is to drive.

This Ford Taurus SE station wagon is fully equipped with all the desirable safety, comfort and convenience features and equipment including:

• 200 HP DOHC 24V 3.0 liter Duratec V6 engine (Optional over base 145 HP pushrod engine)
• 4-speed automatic overdrive transmission
• Air conditioning with cabin air filter
• Automatic temperature control with outside temperature display (Optional equipment)
• Power windows with one-touch drivers express down
• Power door locks
• Remote keyless entry
• Door mounted keyless entry keypad (Optional equipment)
• Cruise control with steering wheel mounted switches
• Tilt steering wheel
• Leather wrapped steering wheel (Optional equipment)
• Instrument cluster with tachometer
• AM/FM cassette stereo with clock display
• Power antenna
• 40/20/40 front seats with three across seating
• 60/40 split folding seat backs in second row
• Wagon group (Optional equipment)
• Third row rear facing seat (Optional equipment)
• Premium plush velour upholstery on 1st and 2nd row seats
• 6-way power drivers seat with power lumbar adjustment and manual recline (Optional equipment)
• Fold-down center armrest
• Hidden fold-out center console with cup holders and storage compartments
• Power dual outside mirrors
• Dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors
• Light Group including front dome light with dual map lights and rear dome light (Optional equipment)
• Intermittent wipers
• Perimeter anti-theft system (Optional equipment)
• Battery saver to de-power any electrical items left on over 10 minutes
• Accessory delay power lets you use electrical accessories after turning off ignition
• Front doors with storage pockets
• Rear side coat hooks
• Front and rear passenger grab bars for easy entry and exit with integrated rear coat hooks
• Solar tinted glass
• Clear lens projector beam headlights with jewel effect reflectors
• Auto headlamps
• Body color door handles
• Body color mirrors
• Body color door and rocker moldings
• 12 spoke bright machine finish aluminum wheels (Optional equipment)
• Real spare tire
• Flat load floor with seats folded down
• Cargo area side storage compartment
• Below 3rd row seat locking storage compartment
• Rear window defroster
• Rear wiper/washer
• Insulated hood liner
• 16 gallon fuel tank
• 5 mph bumpers
• Speed sensitive variable assist rack and pinion steering
• Front stabilizer bar
• 4 wheel disc brakes

And many more items too numerous to mention.

There are nearly 200 photos ahead and if you don’t have a high speed internet connection and get an “X” where a picture should be you may need to hit the Refresh button a few times. If that still doesn’t work, contact me for a link to see the pictures individually.

CLEAR LENS PROJECTOR BEAM HEADLIGHTS:

BODY COLOR MIRRORS AND DOOR HANDLES:

REMOTE ENTRY KEYPAD:

BODY COLOR DOOR AND ROCKER PANEL MOLDINGS:

ROOF RACK:

REAR WIPER/WASHER:

BRIGHT MACHINE FINISH ALUMINUM WHEELS:

DOOR PANEL STORAGE POCKETS:

FOLD-DOWN CENTER ARMREST:

6-WAY POWER SEAT WITH POWER LUMBAR ADJUSTMENT:

AUTO HEADLAMPS:

REAR WIPER/WASHER:

INTERMITTANT WIPERS:

TILT STEERING WHEEL:

CRUISE CONTROL:

AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL WITH OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE DISPLAY:

NEVER SMOKED IN:

UNDER DASH 12 VOLT POWER OUTLET:

THREE ACROSS SEATING:

FOLD-UP CENTER CONSOLE:

STORAGE COMPARTMENTS AND CUP HOLDERS:

EXCELLENT REAR SEAT LEG ROOM:

OPENING REAR WINDOW:

60/40 SPLIT FOLD-DOWN REAR SEAT BACKS:

COMPLETELY FLAT CARGO FLOOR:

REAR SIDE STORAGE COMPARMENT:

FOUR CARGO AREA TIE-DOWN HOOKS:

LOCKING UNDER FLOOR STORAGE:

THIRD ROW SEAT:

FOLD DOWN SECOND ROW SEATBACKS FOR CARGO AND PUT THE KIDS IN THE THIRD ROW:

FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER GRAB BARS:

FRONT AND REAR DOME LIGHTS:

DUAL ILLUMINATED VISOR VANITY MIRRORS:

INSIDE SPARE TIRE STORAGE:

REAL SPARE TIRE:

JACK AND ALL THE TOOLS:

INSULATED HOOD LINER:

The car is in great condition inside and out. It has an excellent dent-free body with no significant nicks or dings, just a few touched up paint chips on the hood and around the back window. The paint itself is beautiful and shiny and this Vibrant White just about glows in the sunlight. It has been fully detailed, first with Meguiar’s Iron Decon, then the paint was cleaned with Meguiar’s Smooth Surface Clay System, polished with Meguiar’s M110 Mirror Glaze cleaner polish and coated with Meguiar’s M27 Pro Hybrid Ceramic Sealant for a durable long lasting brilliant high gloss shine. The headlights were detailed with the 3M headlight polishing system for a crystal clear look, and then coated with 3M headlight clearcoat. All the glass, moldings, trim and emblems are excellent and I had the rear bumper refinished for scratches and chips. The aluminum wheels have some areas of cosmetic corrosion under the clearcoat. I checked the car out top to bottom and found no evidence that is was ever wrecked or that it even has had any significant bodywork done to it. Remember, it’s hard enough to find a two or three year old vehicle that hasn’t had at least a fender-bender requiring a hood, fender or bumper to be replaced or repaired, let alone an over 20 year old one. The car still has the original VIN stickers on all the body panels, indicating its had no major accidents that would have necessitated their replacement.

FRONT BUMPER:

HOOD:

LEFT FENDER:

RIGHT FENDER:

LEFT FRONT DOOR:

RIGHT FRONT DOOR:

LEFT REAR DOOR:

RIGHT REAR DOOR:

LEFT QUARTER PANEL:

RIGHT QUARTER PANEL:

TAILGATE:

REAR BUMPER:

The interior is beautiful as well. It has excellent upholstery, carpet, headliner and door panels with no rips or tears or any significant signs of wear. The dashboard is slightly curled up by the windshield. The car doesn‘t appear to have been smoked in and the ashtray or lighter don’t appear to have ever been used. The cargo area looks immaculate too, and the engine compartment is very clean.

Mechanically it runs and drives great. The engine runs strong and feels smooth at idle, while accelerating and throughout the cruising range and it starts instantly whether hot or cold. The transmission shifts smoothly at all speeds. The steering wheel is on dead center going down the road with no shakes or vibrations at speed, the brakes are firm with no pedal pulsations or pulling to one side when stopping and the suspension is tight. The power steering pump has a characteristic faint whine at low speeds that many Fords of this era have. The A/C blows ice cold. It has an excellent pair of BFGoodrich tires and a pair of CrossWind tires all with like new tread. These tires combine an open lug tread design, M+S rated exceptional all-season wet/dry traction, a comfortable ride, excellent handling and long tread life. They ride smooth on the highway but can still take on snow and ice.

The car has been fully checked out and serviced with over $4,100 worth of new or recent parts, maintenance and repairs (not including the tires) with original Ford, Motorcraft or other name brand parts so that only your enjoyment rather than your immediate attention will be required on delivery. Some of the items checked or serviced include:

• New Mobil 1 synthetic oil change
• New Motorcraft oil filter
• Recent air filter
• New Motorcraft cabin air filter
• New Motorcraft fuel filter
• New Motorcraft fuel cap
• New NTK oxygen sensor
• New BWD PCV valve
• New Motorcraft PCV hose
• New throttle body cleaning
• New MAF sensor cleaning
• New EGR valve cleaning
• New lower intake manifold cleaning
• New Motorcraft double platinum spark plugs
• New Motorcraft spark plug wires
• One year old 30 month Champion battery
• New Motorcraft serpentine belt
• New coolant flush with distilled water
• New Motorcraft Yellow coolant change
• Recent front brake pads
• Recent front brake rotors
• New Motorcraft right front wheel bearing
• Recent rear brake pads
• Recent rear brake rotors
• New parking brake adjustment
• New Valvoline Synthetic DOT4 brake fluid change
• New Motorcraft reman power steering pump
• New Sunsong power steering pressure hose
• New Standard power steering pressure switch
• New Cardone reman power steering rack
• New Valvoline Mercon V transmission fluid change
• New Motorcraft transmission filter
• New Monroe and Stabilus tailgate lift supports
• New Monroe rear window lift supports
• New set of three front and rear Trico wiper blades

Photos of some of the parts replaced, checked or serviced:

Parts replaced:



Oil change:



Engine super clean internally:



Oil filter:



Air filter:



Cabin air filter:



Fuel filter:



Fuel cap:



Oxygen sensor bank 2 sensor 2:



PCV valve:



PCV hose:



Throttle body cleaning:



MAF sensor cleaning:



EGR valve cleaning:



Lower intake manifold cleaning:



Spark plugs with the proper amount of anti-seize on the threads:



Spark plug wires:



Battery:





Serpentine belt:



Coolant flushed until water is clear from the radiator:



Coolant change:



Front brake pads:



Front brake rotors, 26 mm new, 24.75 mm minimum:



Right front wheel bearing:





Rear brake pads:



Rear brake rotors, 14.1 mm new, 12.5 mm minimum:



Parking brake adjustment:



Brake fluid change:



Power steering pump:



Power steering pressure hose:



Power steering pressure switch:



Power steering rack:



Transmission fluid change:



Transmission filter:



Transmission super clean internally:



Tailgate lift supports:



Rear window lift supports:



So other than routine oil and filter changes, with all the above mentioned maintenance the car has received, you should be good to go for a long time before requiring major parts or service. The double platinum spark plugs have a 100,000 mile service interval and the Motorcraft Extended Life yellow coolant is good for 150,00 miles. The Duratec V6 engine uses a timing chain so it doesn’t need periodic timing belt replacements, and it has hydraulic valve adjusters so it requires no periodic valve adjustments. And not only will the Taurus be cheap to maintain, but also cheap to drive. It only requires regular gas, and insurance rates are based on a mild mannered family station wagon.

And finally, the on-board diagnostics were scanned and show no codes stored, and more important, that all available emissions system readiness monitors have been completed. What that means is the CHECK ENGINE light wasn’t reset in order to turn it off to hide an existing fault. If an emissions component has a fault causing the CHECK ENGINE light to illuminate, the emissions readiness monitors will be incomplete plus the car won’t pass an emissions inspection. Some sellers will reset the CHECK ENGINE light to make it appear like there are no issues at the time of sale, but the light will come back on shortly afterwards. It can take hundreds of miles for the readiness monitors to run to completion, so the fact that the readiness monitors have been completed indicates the CHECK ENGINE light hasn’t been reset and that at the time the car was scanned, it would pass an emissions inspection. (That isn’t a guaranty that the light won’t come on in the future as a fault can occur at any time without warning.)



This was one of my personal cars, not a quick flip, that I bought for myself nearly three years ago which is why I serviced it so thoroughly. I’ve put nearly 4,000 miles on it myself during that time.

If you are serious about buying a Taurus or Sable wagon, this is one of the cleanest and most serviced low mileage examples your will find. Remember, you can get a great deal online with prices sometimes way below retail, but nobody is going to “steal” a vehicle and no seller is going to give one away either. Also when comparing prices, remember the things that you won’t have to spend money on soon after getting it home. With this car you won’t have to spend $1,000-$2,000 on paint or bodywork, you won’t have to spend $1,000 on upholstery repairs or a headliner, you won’t have to spend $500 for a new set of tires, you won’t have to spend $400 on a complete front brake service, you won’t have to spend $400 on a complete rear brake service, you won’t have to spend $300 on a coolant, transmission and brake fluid change, you won’t have to spend $300 on a tune-up and filters service and you won’t have to spend $300 on any upcoming scheduled maintenance. With many of the other listings on Ebay, Craigslist or on dealers lots, you’re lucky if they even check the oil before delivery. When comparing this car to the others, also keep in mind that this Taurus was never wrecked, runs great, is fully serviced, hasn’t been smoked in and is clean inside and out.

Overall this is a very sharp Ford Taurus station wagon that looks great in this Vibrant White color. You’re sure to get many questions and complements about it from total strangers at the mall or supermarket parking lot. It’s a one lady owner southern car owned in Florida, Georgia and Maryland which probably explains why it’s so clean. The car has a clean AutoCheck vehicle history report. CLICK HERE to see the history report and CLICK HERE to see the title.

The car comes with all the books:



And two factory keys and remotes:



If you are looking for a low mileage Taurus wagon in beautiful condition, this car is hard to beat. Also remember that I don’t charge dealer processing fees or document fees that many other listings have for $200 or more and bury in their fine print. The car is in the Washington DC area but I can deliver for expenses. For more information email me at atikovi@email.com