The Future Ford Taurus, Replacing the Land Cruiser and Towing with a Minivan [Ask Nathan]

Lexus-RX350-Lincoln-MKX-Volvo-XC60
In this week’s Ask Nathan:

    • Will there be a Future Ford Taurus?
    • What should I replace my Land Cruiser with?
    • Best towing minivan?

This first question comes from a fan hoping there will be a future Ford Taurus.

This image (via Carscoops) was penned by Tyler Bame

Q: Lots of changes at Ford, am I right?

Sold my 2014 Ford Taurus a year ago and got a 2016 Nissan Maxima. Ford lost me as a customer because of terrible customer service, a unreliable car and a mindset that places the customer in a penalty box whenever they have a question. If I owned one of their trucks they would have treated me better.

Do you think with the new changes that Ford will begin to build good cars again? Will the future Ford Taurus be an update or a new car from the ground up? If any of their cars need to be redesigned, it’s the Ford Taurus. Do you think they will kill it or remake it?

R. Skywalker

A: Greetings!

While I hate to kick Ford while they’re down, the Ford Taurus was left to rot a while ago. The way I see it, the Ford Fusion is the better all-around car – and that’s a problem. The whole purpose of the Ford Taurus was to give the Ford brand a top-notch sedan that competed in several segments. Unfortunately, it languished and has been surpassed by several name-plates.

There has been no official word on a replacement, nor has Ford confirmed that the Taurus will be discontinued after 2018. We did acquire a bunch of photos of a Ford Taurus testing in China. It looks pretty good, but we have no idea if any of those changes will circle back here. Click (here) for that story.

I hope they announce something soon.

May the force be with you!

N

This next question comes from a fan who wants to replace his old Toyota Land Cruiser.

Q:Nathan, I am a big fan of what you and the gang do, and have lots of respect for your opinions.

I presently drive an ’01 Land Cruiser that I bought used. With 230,000 miles, and mounting and more frequent repair bills, it is time to consider a new vehicle.
Needs:
1) the ability to transport a family of 4 comfortably.
2) tow a small utility trailer that would not exceed 7500 lbs.
3) What I WANT is a truck, but is that the best choice?
4) I have been a long time Toyota fanboy, but hesitate to get a Tundra because they are so dated and get such poor mileage.

So, what should I be looking at that won’t break the bank?

Thanks in advance,

Deron

Nissan Titan Warrior Concept

A: Hi Deron!

Great question. Yes, I agree – you want a truck.

While you’re correct about the Toyota Tundra being dated, it’s a strong, reliable truck. Still, if you’re looking for newer, high-tech trucks, the Ford F-150 and Nissan Titan are good choices. They represent some of the newest vehicles in their class and are great for day-to-day driving.

I hear that Nissan dealers are offering some great pricing on the 1/2 ton Nissan Titans.

Hope that helps!

N

The last question comes from a fan who wants info on towing with a minivan.

honda odyssey vs toyota sienna

Q:Good Morning, sir!

My wife and I are buying a minivan this fall. I need one that does a good job at towing our 2,000 lbs camper. Do you have any thoughts on the Pacifica, New Honda Odyssey, or the Toyota Sienna in regards to towing?

Thanks!

Dan M

A: Hi Dan!

Nearly every popular minivan sold in the United States has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. The Chrysler Pacifica posts 3,600 lbs and the Ford Transit Connect is 2,000 lbs. The Toyota Sienna is the only one of these vans that has an all-wheel drive (AWD) option, and when I towed 2,900 lbs with a 2015 AWD V6, it worked quite well.

I have only towed with a few of the older versions of these vans, so I cannot address the abilities of current models. With that being said, if you’re serious about hauling people and pulling a trailer, the Mercedes-Benz Metris can pull up to 4,960 lbs.

Minivans tend to be good platforms for pulling small trailers. Their shape and weight helps when pulling low profile trailers (like tent-trailers) and most of them can be purchased with a factory-installed tow package.

One final thought: A family friend recently purchased a 2016 KIA Sedona with a tow package. He has a newer, 1,600 lbs tent trailer that holds kayaks on the roof and bikes in the back. Its total weight when loaded is about 2,000 lbs. He says it tows like a champ.

Hope that helps!

N

Here’s a fun video for people who love and hate the Jeep Wrangler!

Nathan and The Fast Lane Car team are here to answer your (reasonable) questions. Interesting and/or entertaining emails will be posted to this column. If it’s relevant in the automotive universe, there’s a chance we may know something about it. The author’s email address and name will be omitted – leaving your initials or nickname, your preference.

From day one, The Fast Lane Car has made it our policy to answer as many questions and comments as we can. We get thousands of emails and comments and feel that, as part of a tight-knit automotive community, having an open dialogue with you keeps things fresh and exciting.

Got a question for Nathan? Drop him a line at: asknathan@tflcar.com.