Full of Bull?

The Blue Bull rolled 200K last Tuesday.  This 1997 Ford Taurus was DOA back in 2008 with 147K mi when I first bought it for $400.  I put a lot of work into this car to get it back on the road.  I cannot take all the credit for the work on the car.  My cousin helped me with a lot of the work, and the inmates at DCI did a good bit of work on the car.  It has a lot of upgrades and a lot of new parts.

"Then what happens, balloons fall from the sky?" asked a friend when I told her last month that I expected my car to roll over 200K.  I can see that for most people the milestone might not be so monumental, but this car represents a lot to me.  First, I put a lot of hard work into this car to get it running.  Second, I cared for and drove this car like I wanted it to last.  Third, it's not just ANY Taurus, it is the March 2010 COTM.  "What is the COTM?" you ask.  I was a member of the Taurus Club, and my car won the Car of the Month in March 2010.  So, not only did I take a broke down car and get it running, but I got it in tip-top shape.  The guys in the Taurus Club offered advice and instruction when I asked for it when I was working on the car.  Nomination thread.
 

The Blue Bull - 1997 Ford Taurus GL 3.0 Vulcan

My cousin who helped me work on the car issued a 300K challenge.  My knee jerk reaction to the challenge...  I thought about Reba McEntire's "I Wouldn't Go That Far".....  I really didn't want to commit to the 300K mile challenge.  It seemed like a little bit of a stretch for me.  My cousin really believes that I love this car.  He jokes and says that I have pictures of this car on my night stand.  I promise you that I do not have pictures of this car on my night stand.  Doesn't it seem like I would want to hold on to this car until 300K miles if I really loved it?  I am very proud to have it on the road and the work that I've put into it.  It has a very smooth, comfy ride, like driving a sofa.  Sometimes my passengers fall right to sleep.  I have even ridden in the back seat on a road trip and have taken a nap back there myself.  Very roomy and spacious.  The Blue Bull screams Road Trip!  I've taken it on quite a few road trips and have not had any problems with the car.  Void any mechanical issues, there is no real reason to get rid of this car.

2013 Ford Taurus SHO

There is something I like about shiny, new things, though.  I don't always go "out with the old, and in with the new."  Sometimes I like to try to hold on to the old thing and I want the new thing, too.  In the back of my mind, I have stored for reference the new Taurus SHO.  Pronounced S.H.O.  mmmmm Nice.  Do I need an S.H.O. ?  No.  I do not need an S.H.O.  Not at all.  I need it like I need another hole in my head.   So for now, I am passing on the SHO.  For now, I am just taking it one day at a time and I plan to keep the maintenance up on the Blue Bull.  If no major mechanical issues come up, then I will keep the Blue Bull on the road.  I also went ahead and put the beast in the shop for some carb work.  So that will give me something to play with. 

1978 Ford F250 aka The Beast

I know....  a 1978 Ford F250 + 1997 Ford Taurus ≠ 2013 Ford Taurus S.H.O.  But it's going to be okay.  It really will.  Today I got a text out of the blue from Brian, one of the guys in the Taurus Club.  I have not talked to him in months.  He sent me a picture of his Taurus showing me some mods, along with a message about all the work he's been putting in.  His mods are mostly aesthetic and performance.  He doesn't have mechanical issues.  He only does work he wants to do, like the aesthetic and performance mods.  If you get a good Taurus, it will last a long time as long as you keep the maintenance up.  I have a good Taurus.  No need in being tempted with something new.  Thanks for reminding me of that, Brian.  Brian, you rock.