Test drive Ford Taurus 1995 - 1999 Sedan

Sausage with ketchup

We often talk about the characteristic differences inherent in cars of the American design school. But are they always so great? Indeed, recently, the Americans have been more actively coming out with their models to the European market. One of the latest examples is the new Ford Taurus, which is actively proposed in Russia. It would be nice to find out how much it corresponds to the average European taste. The most convenient for comparison was Opel Omega.
Sparring partners
We immediately decided: we will compare the station wagons. Because of which, in fact, a small opportunity came out. Ford found quickly. Everything was as they wanted: a station wagon, a three-liter two-hundredth engine, full of full program, well, an automatic box of course. But there was no completely corresponding Opel, and therefore they took the most suitable with a 2.5-liter engine. The difference of thirty forces, of course, is noticeable, but otherwise - almost twins -brothers. Almost because Opel has a drive to the rear wheels, and Ford has the front. Just think that not so long ago, the exact opposite combination looked much more natural.
It somehow happened that in the dispute about the appearance of the subjects, our sympathies were entirely on the side of Ford - a more fresh and original design liked more. Although Opel is also a handsome man, his beauty is different - verified to a millimeter. Squeezed lines, balanced proportions - you will seek. And on the other hand, Ford is a riot of fantasy, a living emotion. It attracts.
In the interiors of the salons, everything is repeated: in Taurus, soft plastic reigns, and the omega is distinguished by rigid correct forms. But here it can no longer unequivocally persuade the scales of the scales in someone else's benefit. Many other factors are added by no means aesthetic property. The main criterion of convenience is, and here our partners play on an equal footing.
On the characteristics of the national character
In terms of equipment with additional equipment, cars almost copy each other. But a small difference just reflects national characters. The Americans, probably, no longer think of their car (at least this class) without Cruis control. But with the Mid-American climate, heating the seats, apparently, seems to be something unnatural. Or maybe they are overcome by associations with an electric chair? The Germans are deprived of such prejudices, therefore they boldly warm their file parts, especially since they are familiar with winter cold. The seats themselves are comfortable there and there, but in Opel they are harder, which is convenient when driving along the highway. And it is more pleasant to roll out on the city’s soft leather pillows in the city.
A few more nuances. On European machines, as well as on our Opel, windows control is often taken to the central console, to the gearbox lever, or it turns out to be between the front seats. Maybe this is some kind of secret, inaccessible meaning of our understanding, but most likely it is just an elementary stinginess: we’ll put it better than one set of switches in the middle of the cabin than two-a complete set of the driver and to each one according to the button. But the omega is more logical and visual control of the climate control, since no one was chasing originality, and besides, you can adjust the temperature separately for the driver and the passenger sitting nearby.
A separate conversation - holders for glasses. The Americans have a strong weakness for them (or maybe they simply lose their mental balance, if there is no drink nearby). In Ford, these pieces are made amazingly. They are hidden in the end of the central armrest. It is worth clicking on the lid - and it smoothly, like a cassette receiver on an expensive tape recorder, opens and also smoothly advanced from it. Another entertainment beloved behind the ocean is to look at himself in the mirror. Therefore, in every visor from the sun - a mirror with a backlight, which also changes brightness.
Try to catch up!
Comparing the behavior of the cars on the go, we were surprised: there were much less differences than they expected. Taurus behaved very much in European. A rather strict suspension, although it has retained a raid by the Americans in an impressive, nevertheless behaves very worthy. But the steering wheel was even more surprised - sharp, with excellent reactive effort, it allows you to confidently control the machine in any situation. Ford turned out to be damn pleasant - we did not expect this. This machine can really give pleasure from driving. Moreover, both from active driving, and from calm, leisurely. In general, we do not know how European taste, but Taurus pleased us.
And what about Opel? He is OK. He demonstrated what was expected from him: reliable behavior in any modes. A little more rigid than Ford, the suspension is preferable on a suburban highway than in the city. Very sensitive, even harsh brakes. When you get used to them, there is a feeling that at any moment you can stand as if you are dug. But in general, Opel’s character is calmer: the acceleration is intense, confident, especially when turning on the sports regime of the box, but there is not enough bod (we, of course, did a discount on comparison). In short, Opel, as it should be true Aryan, does everything calmly, confident and not exciting.
The editors expresses gratitude to the Moscow representative office of Ford, (095) 258-0900, and Trinity Motors, (095) 209-4673, for cars provided for test.
For the period of the test, the cars were insured in the insurance company of the Resa-Garantia, (095) 250-3600, 255-6834, 254-2272.
 
Russians about Taurus and Omega
In Russia, the new Ford Taurus expects, apparently, a brilliant future. This is the case of a rare case for our country when buyers began to be interested in cars with might and main before they were put up in the cabin. Such an interest was simultaneously noted in the F&C Trading salon and in New York Motors.
The car is very beautiful in appearance, ”says the director of New York Motors, Sergei Poddubny,“ and then, Taurus is the most sold out model in America, and its new appearance only contributes to the growth of popularity. So in Russia it will go. Moreover, until we even deployed an advertising campaign. And how to go closer to summer to Europe -plus - you will see what will begin. There will be no end to buyers.
Who are they, these buyers? First of all, the companies for which Taurus is drawn on a representative car. Of course, not Lincoln or Cadillac, but still. The company, however, is predominantly foreign. Russians cannot yet bring their desires and capabilities in line and let the dust into the eyes of the Mercedes. The first to move the new Tauruses to all the heads of the Moscow Representative Office of Ford. Soon, by rumors, Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola will follow them. Negotiations, in any case, are already underway. But the rolling company Herz has already completed negotiations and is waiting for the first batch of cars. Taurus and security services of large companies are close: security guards, they explain, the people are mostly large, Taurus just for them.
The Americans are alien to a petty European desire for a variety of configuration - so that, they say, to each client exactly the car that he wants. All that is needed has Taurus in the standard. First, a leather or ordinary interior remains to choose: lovers of both are approximately equally. And secondly, a sedan or station wagon. We liked the station wagon more, especially after the test, but no matter how amazing, it does not use special demand: the salons receive orders exclusively for sedans. And this once again proves that we do not treat Taurus as a family car, but as a representative, who cannot do without a rapidly obsolete third -operation.
And finally, confidential information. It turns out that the administration of the internal affairs became interested in Taurus. He wants to take them as patrol cars, but for now he is running in a trial batch. They can’t do anything with themselves, they like large expensive foreign cars.
Of the recent Moscow wholesale buyers of omegs, FAPSI and the Moldova Embassy should be noted. It is immediately clear that this car is also considered a representative. And it turns out the same story as with Taurus: no one wants to buy station wagons. In autoimports, for example, for all years of sales, only one company bought a caravan for its general director. This phenomenon in the cabin is explained by the fact that the omega station wagon is intended for the very middle class that we will not develop.
Another interesting pattern that the reader is invited to explain independently. Representations of Inofirs very often take a diesel omega. Russian companies take, but much less often. Close buyers - almost never.
Mikhail Lalaev, director of the SEE US Autosaline, drove on a gasoline omega. Despite the official position that does not have for this, he honestly spoke not only about the obvious advantages, but also about the shortcomings of the omega:
The car did not make me the impression in England, where they gave me to try it on the track. Despite the large size, it is not at all difficult to control, high -speed modes are beautiful. During the year that I traveled on it, nothing broke (however, in application to foreign cars it becomes a common phrase). Only a planned one did. No, lying, once a compactdisk-player was stuck.
But what I did not like: in winter, when there is a lot of snow, it is difficult to park. You see, a powerful motor, of course, is wonderful, but if you add a rear -wheel drive and snow here, the car skips, you can’t do anything with it. When you sit on the belly in a snowdrift, no tract control helps. At least get out pushing.
The second claim is perhaps more serious. Although also purely Russian. The aerodynamic line of the front line is such that many small dots from flying sand and stones appear on the hood quite quickly. For some reason, it is in Omega that this manifests itself more than in the rest. At least put on a special apron (you saw, sometimes it happens on steep sports cars?). In Europe, of course, this is not, there are clean roads there. We puzzled for a long time what to do with the complaints. But they found a way out: they wrote out aerosol spray cans with paint exactly to the color of the machines sold by us. With the help of them and fight with this unexpected problem. Clients are still satisfied.
Model/Modification Ford Taurus 3.0 V6 24V Station Wagon Opel Omega Caravan 2.5 V6
Ford Motor Company Adam Opel AG manufacturer
US manufacturing country Germany
BODY
Type station wagon
Number of doors/places 5/5 5/5
ENGINE
Gasoline type with multi -point injection gasoline with multi -point injection
The location of the front transversely in front is longitudinally
Working volume (see cubic meter) 2966 2498
Number/location of cylinders 6 V-shaped 6 V-shaped
Cylinder diameter x piston stroke (mm) 89x80 82x80
Compression degree 10 10.8
Power (EES) (KW at rpm) 149 at 5750 125 at 6000
Power (DIN) (p.) 203 170
Moment (EES) (Nm at rpm) 271 at 4500 227 at 3200
Valve number/cylinder 4 4
TRANSMISSION
Front wheel drive on the rear wheels
Gearbox four -speed automatic four -speed automatic
SUSPENSION
The front is independent independent
The rear independent independent
STEERING
Type gear-rake, with a hydraulic booster gear-rake, with a hydraulic booster
Brakes
Front disk (ventilated) disk (ventilated)
Rear disk disk
ABS to order in the standard
Wheels
Tire size 205/65 R15 205/65 R15
Dimensions/about EME/Weight
Length/width/height (mm) 5067/1857/1417 4820/1786/1505
Wheel base (mm) 2693 2730
The track front/track of the rear (mm) 1565/1560 1514/1528
Minimum turning radius (m) 5.9 5.5
Dry mass (kg) 1585 1580
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed (km/h) 210 210
Economy
Fuel consumption average (l/100 km) 11.8 9
The price of the weated in Moscow, thousand $ 48 40
The cost of maintenance, $ n/h 55 35
 
Alexander Kalugin,
Stepan Rybakov (photo)

 

A source: "Autopilot"