Overview:

1997 Taurus SHO; 3.4L V-8; 4-sp ATX; Silver Metallic Paint; Gray Cloth Interior; Mach (high power) Stereo; Welded cam; Engine needs work (comments below); All Else Fine; No rust; Minor scratches only; Clean interior; One-owner

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This SHO (Super High Output) is well-equipped and in great condition – except for the engine and the trunk-mounted CD changer, discussed below.  Everything else is in fine working order.  The body is in good shape: no known rust; various minor scratches consistent with its age.  The interior is clean and in fine shape.

It is a one-owner, non-smoker car.  (I bought it when I worked for Ford as a product planner.)  I loved its performance, handling, and overall design so much that it is the only car that I kept more than one year -- and I have had about 75 new cars in my life!  But finally it is time for me to move on to my next luxury performance sedan, a Jaguar.

So the only real issue is the engine.  Several weeks ago, the problem arose: a broken cam.  A Ford dealer welded it for me, but apparently when it failed, some engine damage happened.  The dealer could not diagnose it without opening up the engine, so I decided that now is the time to leave this to another owner to handle. (The dealer guesses it might be a bent valve.)

Equipment (See Photo of Original Window Sticker: $29,190)

-SHO Standard Equipment, including:

            -3.4L 32 valve DOHC V-8 with 4-sp. ATX

            -Aluminum wheels (OEM)

            -Power windows

            -Power driver seat

            -Power driver/psgr lumbar support

            -Power door locks

            -4-wheel power disc brakes with ABS

            -Tilt steering column

            -Speed control

            -Driver/psgr airbags

            -Anti-theft system

            -Front bucket seats with console

            -60/40 split folding rear seat

-Power moon roof

-Silver metallic clearcoat exterior

-Mach audio stereo (AM/FM/cassette) with Sony 6-disk changer in trunk (the magazine tends to get stuck in the changer)

-Remote keyless entry (keypad on door; also, key fob transmitter)

-Automatic A/C

-Power heated mirrors

-Daytime running lights

-Trailer hitch (Class II) and wiring

Condition

-Clear title; one owner; non-smoker

-Well maintained (I was a product planner/engineer who worked for Ford for 32 years, so I changed the oil religiously every 3000 miles.)

-Everything is functioning well and in fine shape (except the engine and CD changer, as described above).

-Tires are BF Goodrich Traction T/A 225/55R/16 95H with about 16,000 miles.  (I recently downgraded somewhat from the original high-speed ZR rated tires because I have never really pushed the speed.)

-New battery 1 yr./8000 miles ago; new frt & rr brakes pads and rotors and rr calipers 22 months/14,000 miles ago

-Exterior: 1) Minor scratches on front and rear bumpers, hood (from snow scraper), left quarter panel around wheel opening, rear spoiler, and left mirror; 2) cracked front license plate frame; 3) minor dent in roof near the roof rail above RR door (barely visible; caused by tightening roof rack too much.  It is a very shallow, local "oil-canning" depression.  I expect it could be eliminated completely by using vacuum or by bumping it from the inside.)

-The surfaces of the bumper, fender, and headlamp around the right headlamp) do not quite line up, but it doesn't appear that anything is bent.  (I am not sure what the problem is; maybe simply re-assembling it would line things up.)

-Cloth interior quite clean with only a couple of minor spots on the seats; no tears.  The RF door trim panel armrest has a small (3/4" diameter) "hole" in the vinyl skin, which, I believe, was from an original manufacturing defect (like a bubble); eventually, someone picked it loose and left the hole, which is only at the surface.  All other trim panels and headlining are clean, with no tears or notable scratches.  The passenger compartment carpet could use some shampooing; the four carpet mats are quite clean.

-The trunk is very clean and has all the jack parts and temp spare.

Completion of Sale

-I live on the North side of Chicago, about 4 miles north of the Loop (near Belmont and Ashland).  ZIP code is 60657.  I will be out of town from June 19 through July 7, so I would want to receive payment by June 18 and, ideally, have the car picked up before I leave.

-The engine runs, but with a severe miss.  It stalls frequently and cannot reach full speed.  (I drove it four miles back from the dealer, but driving a long distance would be dicey.)  Trailering/towing would be the best solution.