My dad currently drives a 96 for taurus with about 120,000 miles on it. It also has a CEL that we are not to sure on what its for, we have taken it to auto zone and a couple of dealerships for the code and no one can tell us exactly whats wrong with it. It also has a transmition slip even after doing a full flush of the fluid. Now that is the car hes been driving for about 7 months now it was mine before I got my Audi. Now choice two is his old car a 96 Toyota Camry with about 260,000 miles on it, he loves this car. About 90% of the miles are highway on it. The problems are that he needs a new front drivers side spring and his head gasket leaks oil the gasket has been a problem for a little bit now and hes just always added oil about every weekish. Now each car needs a few hundred dollars worth of repairs what do you guys think he should go with?

 

I would personally go with the Camry. These cars will last a long time with no problem. At the very least, you can always get a new engine and drop it in there for cheap due to the popularity of these cars.

Best of luck to you and your pops.

 

Junk the taurus, keep the Camry. If you part out the taurus you'll get a few hundred bucks and the Camry is just waaay more reliable even at 260k miles.

 

You could always spend a few thousand of our tax dollars and cash in on uncle sam's cash for clunkers program and buy a KIA or something......
Otherwise, keep the Camry, the taurus sucks.

 

^ I think the car has to be less than 18 MPG combined in order to qualify? I could be wrong but that is a wonderful idea!

 

why would you even consider the Taurus lol. of course keep the camry. there's like a million 96 camrys at the junkyard by me and they have engine deals for 100 on the weekends. i'm sure you could get a low mileage engine for a good price. you'd be able to drive the car another 200k miles lol. if he buys a new car, make sure it doesn't have TPMS lol

 

No effing way a 96 taurus is pulling 18 mpg's, he totally qualifies for the cash for clunkers program. There are rules that it has to be a pre 98 model, and i think you have to get a car with 10mpg better in order to get the full $4,500 or something like that.

 

All cars sold in america after 08 has TPMS per federal law.

 

haha federal law, you mean "we're going to rob you in your face" law

 

No, I meant it has to get less than 18MPG when it was new. So if the new MPG is 18+, he will not be qualified.

"have a "new" combined city/highway fuel economy of 18 miles per gallon or less"

^ quoted right from their website.

Edit: Just went to take a look at the combined MPG. Unless he has the V8 Taurus (3.4), he will not be qualified.