Uninspired but decent basic transporation

I received my 2005 Ford Taurus brand new with one mile on it. I am a sales rep for a large corporation, and myself and thousands of others receive a new Ford Taurus either every 3 years, or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. My previous company car was a 2002 model, so I can make a few comparisons between the two. Let me start by saying that the Taurus is a decent car if all you need is basic transportation to and from work, or even for a longer trip on vacation. The one thing this car does well is cruise on the highway or interstate. What you do learn to forget about is performance, of any kind. My Taurus came equipped with the standard 3.0L pushrod V6, which amazingly enough makes less power than the 4 cylinders in the Accord and Camry. When you match this engine with a 3400 pound sedan, the performance could be called adequate by some, but I think there would be few who wouldn’t wish for more power. Additionally, the EPA mileage is rated at 20 city and 27 highway mpg, but I find myself averaging about 17 mpg according to the convenient trip computer which tells you your fuel economy in addition to a couple of other things. I imagine my fuel economy is a little low because I am always flogging the poor engine to try to keep up with traffic. I am happy to report that the transmission has been recalibrated since the 2002 year, because this 2005 shifts much nicer, and is much smoother from a rolling stop than my old car. No complaints there. Also, I have to admit that the engine feels slightly more powerful, but according the Ford’s website, the 2005 actually has 2 less horsepower than the 2002 did, 153 versus 155. Just like my 2002, this car has a great heating system, I have yet to test the A/C, but it worked well in my previous car so I expect no problems. This car’s best attribute is time on the open road – put on the cruise control, let the soft suspension soak up the bumps, and the miles do roll by quickly. However, if the road gets twisty, or traffic gets thick with stop and go, just slow down, and don’t hurry this car, because it simply won’t be. Ford engineers have made no effort to hide what this car is – a soft, slow people mover. Before you go out and buy – just remember to look at your options. You can get a Honda Accord starting at $16,000 that has more power, weighs less, has a better warranty, MUCH better resale value, and better build quality. Check out the issues my Taurus had with 60,000 miles on it in my review of the 2002 model. I must admit though, dealers are practically giving these cars away, I’ve heard them advertised for thousands off even below the dealer invoice. So you might find a deal good enough to overlook this car’s shortcomings. Good luck, and I hope you found this review helpful.