Ford Taurus 4th Gen

The 4th generation Ford Taurus, sold from 2000 to 2007, was Ford's course correction after the controversial 'oval' design of its predecessor. With more conservative styling, Ford aimed to win back fleet and retail customers who wanted a straightforward, reliable family car. It was available as a sedan or wagon, powered by either the workhorse 3.0L Vulcan V6 or the more powerful 3.0L Duratec DOHC V6. The high-performance SHO model did not return, cementing this generation's reputation as a competent but unremarkable appliance.

While millions were built, the 4th gen Taurus isn't a traditional collector car. Its appeal lies almost exclusively in 'survivor' examples with exceptionally low mileage. These cars represent a time capsule of early 2000s automotive mass production. Collectors seek out pristine, top-trim wagons or sedans preserved with delivery mileage, which are becoming increasingly difficult to find.

The market for these cars is highly polarized. The vast majority are treated as disposable used cars, trading for just a few thousand dollars or less. However, the 29 sales tracked show an average price of $8,719, skewed by a handful of immaculate, preservation-class examples. A sale price of $51,000 for one such car confirms that a small but serious market exists for the absolute best examples of this common family sedan.

Prices range from as low as $255 for project cars to a surprising $51,000 for top-tier preservation examples.