The first day of my road trip in the 2010 Ford Taurus Limited is actually only a half day. I pick up the car in Asheville, NC, at lunchtime. By the way, the sticker on this Gold Leaf Metallic 2010 Taurus Limited is $35,190, which reflects the two options on this test car -- Package 302A ($2,000 -- floor mats, adjustable pedals, rain-sensing wipers, auto high-beams, blind spot monitoring, keyless ignition and Sony premium audio) and adaptive cruise control ($1,195).
My destination for the evening is Atlanta, where I'll see an old friend from college, eat local barbecue and wash it down with microbrewed beer. First, though, I have to get out of Asheville. I'm not ready to get on the interstate just yet (I'll have plenty of time for that in Texas), so instead of I-26, I rely on previously calculated Google Maps instructions to U.S. 178, which ultimately meets up with I-85.
Our 2010 Taurus Limited has bigger, wider and lower-profile tires (P255/45R19 100V Goodyear Eagle RS-As) than the Taurus SEL with 18s that Dan Edmunds drove, but this doesn't turn it into a sport sedan through the 178's tighter turns.
I keep a good pace, mind you, but at no point do I forget that the car weighs over 4,000 pounds -- it's hard to hide that kind of physical evidence in this price range. Body roll is considerable, and although the steering is fairly precise, there's really not any feel to it. The brakes feel fine in normal driving, but on this road, the pedal seems soft and slow to react.
Still, it's surprising how well the chassis copes with those big, chrome-dipped 19s on lumpy pavement. And, really, the idea of anyone hustling a Taurus down a back road as I'm doing is silly anyway.
Erin Riches, Senior Editor @ 199 miles
tryan says:
04:17 AM, 06/23/09
I originally tried to comment on this posting when it was originally put up, but when I pressed submit, the post mysteriously disappeared! (I'm assuming it was retracted for editing).
Either way, see my comment in your other post about suggested alternate driving routes...
dg0472 says:
05:37 AM, 06/23/09
A few notes on your route:
Surely you weren't going to take I-26 all the way into Spartanburg to pick up I-85. Hitting US 25 outside of Hendersonville and taking it all the way through Greenville to I-185 to I-85 is shorter and a much easier drive through the mountains, for anyone who's going to make a similar trip.
As for your route, the NC 280 to US 64 from Asheville to Rosman, NC, part isn't bad at all. And US 178 from Pickens, SC, to Anderson to pick up I-85 is a breeze. But US 178 from Rosman to Pickens is a really scary road. Of course, I've only driven it one time and that was in a Ford Ranger, so maybe that colored my view. But I'd suggest to anyone who's in the area to instead keep to NC 280 to US 64 part, but pick up US 276 in Brevard, NC, and take it to Travelers Rest, SC, then pick up US 25 through Greenville to I-185 to I-85. It's a much prettier drive and also much easier while still providing plenty of twisties and usually is in better shape than US 178. There are also many more places to stop should you need to.
rick8365 says:
06:25 AM, 06/23/09
"eat local barbecue and wash it down with microbrewed beer."
Sweet! Enjoy!!
-Jealous in NJ
oberg says:
01:53 PM, 06/23/09
"reenville to I-185 to I-85 is shorter and a much easier drive through the mountains"
Who would want to do do that? No stop to the area is complete without a romp on the Dragon (US 129). Take the Blue Ridge Parkway down to Cherokee (another fantastic drive), the double back up to 129. Unless you are prone to motion sickness, it is a drive you will not regret.
dg0472 says:
04:40 AM, 06/24/09
@oberg
I'm saying if you're more interested in getting from AVL to ATL as soon as possible, as I'd assume anyone who was considering I-26 to I-85 would be. For example, you're in Asheville and have to go visit a dying relative in Montgomery. And in that case, US 25 is shorter, avoids the steep grades and the greater possibility of fog on I-26 in NC as well as cuts out the worst of the truck traffic on I-85 in SC.
There are many different routes that are more fun otherwise.
frank908 says:
04:51 AM, 06/24/09
"And, really, the idea of anyone hustling a Taurus down a back road as I'm doing is silly anyway."
Agree. Which makes the idea of the SHO version a laughing stock.