Delaware_Tom

My company uses Taurus's as company cars so I have also driven later ones. My 2001 2.7T with the non-sport suspension WAY out performs those cars. Adding 17 inch wheels and the sport rear anti-sway bar only make a large difference into a huge difference.

- Tom

April

Right. Perceived performance can cloudy many things.

pwaug

No comparison to the A6 with Sport Suspension or for that matter the standard suspension. Taurus feels tight when you first start to drive, but you soon realize it only is stiff and doesn't handle well.

TXurS6

I've literally driven over 100 of the blasted things over the last 4 years (rentals) and I couldn't disagree more. It ain't even close. I think the extra weight of the A6 may be fooling you into thinking it doesn't handle as well. The A6 also has a longer wheelbase than the A4/S4 so that would be a factor there.

DryHeat 2.7T

But the fact is that on my daily route, the Taurus seems to gives me more confidence around bends and turns...this is my seat of the pants measurement. You'll note that the comparison is over my daily route. I can definitely go faster (subjective issue here, since fast for me could be slow for someone else) in the Taurus around the turns and bends before reaching a threshold of fright (scaring myself or my passengers)... meaning less roll. It is this aspect that I'd like to improve in my 2.7T.

My car, with quattro and ESP, will clearly outperform the Taurus beyond the typical driving conditions I experience daily...I don't even want to start listing! Otherwise I would have settled for a Taurus!! Of course, manufacturers set up their cars for a much, much wider scope.

To prevent the roll in my car I will probably install a larger diameter rear sway bar. I do not want the aftermarket shocks and springs since they lower the car even more ...and we know how frequently the front bumber gets pulled off!!.

I did this on our A4 2.8 Avant and lost a lot of the independence of the rear suspension. So I love the handling and control but when going over kerbing at the entrance to my driveway or shopping mall or offices, the whole back end gets a tremendous bounce (typically one goes over these kerbs at an angle so first one side then the next gets bounced). So these manoeuvers are done slowly...otherwise the kids complain!! One has to compromise.

DWP

Exactly! My SHO was stiff as hell, but not a great handling car.

ari (audiless)

Got a Taurus loaner recently (also SE trim)and I have no idea how anybody could drive that thing full time.
The 2002 suspension is great, as Steve alluded to above. There is absolutely no wallowing over bumps, minimal dive under braking and turn-in is immediate. All, of course, with the sport suspension. Can't speak for standard, but I figure anyone who'd complain about these issues would get the sport setup anyway, right?

AUOOOO

people would think that I would overturn. It didn't and it got me to exactly where I pointed it, and quite fast I might add. Not for everybody though.

AUOOOO

similar to the one you described. Quite impressive flat around the corners and roundabouts. I spent a weekend in that vehicle 4 years ago, and I assume that it's even better today.

http://activaclub.free.fr/ is an owners club website. Hope that you get to try out you system, and let us in on how it worked out.

brian 4.2

effect of quattro. There is no way a Taurus will outhandle the audi in a series of corners. Its hard to "daily drive" by accelerating thru your corners but with a little practice its fun.