typical car problems?

Well I had a 2001 SES and there are many things to look out for. First of all if it has the 12V engine rather than the 24V, there were two transmissions that were used. One is notorious for problems the other is not. No rhyme or reason as to which car got which one. A rebuild on the tranny cost m e $2000 and I had religiously flushed mine every 2 years. So be sure the trans is SMOOTH. Also look for vibrations under hard acceleration especially while cornering. If driven like a sports car, you will be replacing half shafts. Look for rust on the brake lines! I cannot emphasize this enough. If the car lived in states that salt roads the lines rust THROUGH! Listen for noise and groans in the power steering rack. Idiots who crank the steering wheel while the car is stationary destroy power steering racks in these cars. Listen for chirping from the engi.e bay upon cold startup. This can be the belt but about every 75000 miles it will be the camshaft position sensor if it is a 12V. Ask me any questions after you test drive it. I know these cars. I had a 1998 and a 2001. BEST resource is TaurusCarClub.com. AWESOME folks there.

If you get under the car look on the silver transmission pan. AX4N or AX4S are the possibilities. You are hoping for AX4N. And again...the brake lines!! I saw this problem had developed on a friend's car while helping him change his fuel pump. He ignored me and the brakes failed with his wife son and father in law in the car because Midas said it was fine. Guess what. Midas was wrong. They all were okay thank god.