The Car We Chose

Posted by Herb7734 9 years ago to Culture
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A little time ago, I asked the Gulch for help in buying a new car. Also, I promised to let those who contributed what we finally picked out.Because I had certain requirements, it was difficult to find what we wanted at a price we could afford. To two sticking points were that the car should have adjustable pedals for my short BW and had an easy access for old handicapped me. The only cars that seem to have those features were either way out of our price range or no longer being made. Strangely enough, we found a car that had both criteria and because it was the last 2016 version on the lot, we were able to negotiate a very good price. Of all things, it turned out to be a full-sized sedan. The Ford Taurus. It had adjustable pedals, and was built on a platform four inches higher than standard sedans. Of course it also had a truckful of features we didn't really need, but we had to get in order to get the adjustable pedals. One of those features, however, appealed to the kid in me, a 288 hp V6.

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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years ago in reply to this comment.
    I'd say get a bigger boat...but, perhaps an electric scooter. They go about 50 miles on a charge and are cheaper in the long run than a taxi.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years ago in reply to this comment.
    Very true.I must admit that I just love a beautiful car. Being raised in Detroit, I was super car conscious. Let's face it, you can take the boy out of Detroit, but you can't take Detroit out of the boy. The Detroit of the 50s, that is.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years ago in reply to this comment.
    Yes. The adjustable pedals work independently. Between that and the power seat, the BW sets up the car as if it was built for her. Plus, the floor being only one inch lower than our mini van, I am able to get in and out with ease.
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  • Posted by johnpe1 9 years ago
    I am mighty glad that you found one which bears a
    u.s. brand name! . are the "adjustable pedals" able
    to move while the seat stays still? . sounds great! -- j
    .
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years ago in reply to this comment.
    At my age it's feet, pedals, local bus and on grocery shopping day a ride back in the taxi. Keeps my finances comfortable with no car. They are waaaayyyyy to expensive and don't fit on my boat.
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  • Posted by $ Thoritsu 9 years ago
    Taurus is a nice car. I thought about an SHO a while ago, but it is a little big, and I like manual transmissions.

    Should serve you well. That V6 is in a lot of Ford cars, and should be reliable. The police use them too, which will help with repair part availability.
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  • Posted by Stormi 9 years ago
    I had to laugh at the hp and your joy of it, also the access issue. One of my e-mail buddies is 92 and just got a new Lexus, which came with a manual over a thousand pages! I love that hp also, 306 on my Camaro V6, and 350 on my Vette. I can relate to the pedal issue, at 20, I went to a lot to sit in my dream car, Jaguar XKE, could not afford it, but was was bitterly disappointed when my feet did not come close to reaching the pedals! We went to a Corvette rally a while back, and saw our future, as endless people were helped from their very low Corvettes, to walk away with their canes or walkers. My Lexus friend had a Corvette modified by raising the sat, so his wife with hip issues could climb in. What we will do for our cars.
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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 9 years ago in reply to this comment.
    Laughing...That's what I tell my wife when she asks: How does THIS work...wheres the on and off...Damned if I know!
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years ago in reply to this comment.
    Sort of a brownish bronze. I had a blown up engine so it was cheap. The engine and a few other parts were from a wrecked police car. They fit the mounts and connections perfectly. Built it as a sleeper so no change in paint. One had to look at the tires and most didn't. Nor did it have the characteristic sitting still engne motion of a full race. The first clue was waiting for our turn who ever the other driver was and just before moving up to the line (midnight drags
    ) I pushed two levers and diverted the exhaust into behind the front tires dumps. No back pressure there. That's when the fear look came and I grinned a lot. ha ha . I also had a couple of bags or five in the trunk over the rear axles. What FUN! I look at the go kart boom box mobiles today and shake me head. Why bother?
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years ago in reply to this comment.
    I had brunch with my son and daughter-in-law Sunday. He has a Ford F250 truck with all the stuff on it as well. He started asking me if it has this or that and the other. I had one reply, "Damn if I know."
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years ago in reply to this comment.
    Sea Foam Green over medium green.
    I accumulated more speeding tickets with that car. Lordy, I did love it, though. After a meeting a guy challenged me in his GTO.He was a car length behind me when he couldn't make a turn at an intersection and wound up in the middle of a rather large field. He was stuck, but there were no cell phones in those days. I guess no one taught him how to use the brake and accelerator to make a sharp turn.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years ago in reply to this comment.
    AH HAH! I had the Plymouth version with a 440 Interceptor. Just the gas and tire bill alone these days would be humongous for three strips of rubber and 2 ' nasty chirp the thing would go sideways at the midnight drags as fast as some cars went forward. Six speeds Neat! what color?
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years ago in reply to this comment.
    Thanks. Not Bonnie & Clyde, more like Grampa and Bride.
    At least 1/2 the features may never be used. I'll never be using my Smart Phone to plug into the 12 speaker sound system because (wait for it) I don't own an Smart Phone. I'll have to go back to school just to be able to figure out how to run most of the stuff.
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  • Posted by Herb7734 9 years ago in reply to this comment.
    Optional paddle shifters. Didn't get them. It does have a 6 speed tranny though.
    It wouldn't compete with my old '69 Dodge Charger with the 440 V8, but I'm afraid such a car would be a waste on me.
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  • Posted by $ MichaelAarethun 9 years ago
    Works out to add two cylinders and it a 384 bored out a 400. Hope springs eterenal. Does it come with stick or just automatic?
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  • Posted by $ Olduglycarl 9 years ago
    I'll be notifying the local radar police of Bonny and Clide in a Ford Taurus...laughing...wouldn't do that to you Herb.
    Congrats.
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