windstar Q

[racsan]

im looking at replacing my wife's '93 taurus with a vehicle ive found by the side of the road with a sign in it, vin# 2FMZA5143WBC97772 its a '98 windstar northwoods edition, 180,000 miles, says its had recent head gasket replacement and a new trans a year or so ago. looks real clean, $2750 is the asking. since it has had the major problem areas addresed, is it worth it? it will burn up most of my savings, but the taurus may not have much left in it. the taurus does have less miles though, it only has 120,000.

 

[Roadkill]

Is it the 3.0 or 3.8 litre engine? Our Windstar had the 3.8, it is the better of the two for that platform.

 

[RumpRangerSTX]

hell no my wife had a 93 taurus and she went everywhere with it and now we have a windstar and it is a big piece of SHIT!!!!!!!!

 

[AllanD]

I've personally seen several family 3.0 taurus go to the far side of 300K

The engine's never die... the transmissions....

As for the windstar?

The 3.0 is as in most vehicle a "gutless wonder" but as reliable as death and taxes.

the 3.8? Raging hunk of junk.

3.8Split-port? good engine and usually coupled to a "better" transmission.

But mechanically it's still a taurus that THINKS it's a minvan.

AD

 

[koda6966]

3.8 windstar is amazing. But their trannies suck.

Damn expensive to replace if you don't have the skills and need a shop to do it though.

 

[racsan]

its the 3.8 , if it were the 3.0 i wouldnt even hesitate about buying it. if the front subframe assy's would interchange between the taurus/windstar, id put the taurus front clip under the windstar and sell the taurus with the 3.8 windstar clip. the windstar has 180,000 miles, thats alot. dont know how long a 3.8 goes. my 3.0 taurus has somewhere around 120,000 on its 3.0 and is as good as the day i got it. i dont know if this 3.8 is a split-port or not, i havent looked under the hood of it. id rather find a astro. im not impressed with most minivans, rust free aerostars are scarce (even more so with a M5OD) and i know i could pull something with a astro without lunching a automatic. i figure when the taurus spits out its AXOD it will be done. i put a hitch on it but have yet to use it, even though it has a 3,500 tow rating, ive heard from many that its not a good idea to dod anything more that drive itself down the road and even at that many blow the trans themselves anyways.