Background: With the calendar fast approaching the end of the year, 2003 model year vehicles are rolling into dealers at a feverish clip. It's time to bid farewell to the 2002 model year test drives, but not until we close the books with our last 2002 edition, a front-wheel drive Mercury Sable. The mid-size Sable and its automotive twin, the Ford Taurus, are of great economic importance to the area as both are built at Ford's 2.7 million square-foot Chicago Assembly Plant on Torrence Avenue on Chicago's south side that first opened in 1924. Sable and Taurus represent the most popular-selling cars in their respective divisions and are available in sedan and wagon bodystyles. The only other plant in the world producing these two vehicles is located in Atlanta, Ga. That changes in a couple of years because the Chicago plant will undergo a major retooling to make room for an all-new vehicle, the seven-passenger Ford Freestyle, a large, crossover-type vehicle with an exterior design falling somewhere between a sport-utility vehicle and wagon. When the Freestyle begins rolling off the assembly line in the spring of 2004, Sable and Taurus production heads exclusively to Atlanta. Both Sable and Taurus are roomy mid-size offerings built for the masses first arriving in showrooms back in the mid 1980s. Both compete in a highly popular segment facing stiff competition from the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Chevrolet Malibu and Chrysler Concorde. Sable and Taurus both received their share of press (good and bad) in 1996 when both underwent a radical restyle that, among other things, set each apart from the competition. The 2000 model year brought the next-generation redesign softening exterior changes from 1996. Two Mercury vehicles end production at the close of the 2002 model year: the Cougar sports coupe and Villager Minivan. Mercury's diminutive minivan undergoes a major renovation and reappears as a larger model in the 2004 model year under the Monterey nameplate (it's due in dealers by the fall of 2003.) The Cougar name may be gone for good. The upcoming 2003 model year will feature four Mercury vehicles: Sable, the full-size Grand Marquis sedan, the Marauder sedan (based on the rear-wheel drive Grand Marquis) and Mountaineer sport utility vehicle. Not much changes for Sable in the upcoming 2003 model year except for a couple of new exterior colors and a repositioning of the controls monitoring the adjustable foot pedals. When Ford Motor Co. gave the go ahead for production of the new Mercury Monterey minivan, the news put to rest (at least for a time) lingering rumors that Ford's Mercury division is headed for oblivion. With General Motors pulling the plug on the 100-year old Oldsmobile brand and DaimlerChrysler giving the heave-ho to under-performing Plymouth and Eagle divisions, many industry observers were placing bets as to when Mercury dealers would be shutting their doors for good. Ford, however, seams committed to keeping the doors open.
Engine and trim level: One key change in Sable's marketing plan in 2002 is the simplification of trim levels. Both sedan and wagon bodystyles are now offered in GS, GS Plus and LS Premium trims. The mid-grade GS Plus edition is new (replacing the entry LS nomenclature) and is now offered in both in wagon and sedan editions. Sable and Taurus offer something most rivals from Japan don't, a station wagon bodystyle with third-row seating. The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are solely sedan vehicles. On the domestic side, however, General Motors' Saturn division features a mid-size L-Series with a wagon bodystyle, but it only seats five, not 8 as Sable can. Accord and Camry offer two-door coupes, something Taurus and Sable don't and neither does the mid-size Saturn L-Series. Sable shoppers have the choice of two V-6 engines. The top-level LS Premium has the advanced 3.0-liter, four-valves per cylinder, Duratec engine producing 200 horsepower. The GS Plus and GS editions have the 3.0-liter Vulcan engine with two valves per cylinder churning out 155 horsepower. Both engines are mated to a standard four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and require regular 87-octane fuel in the 18-gallon tank. Fuel estimates for the Duratec engine check in a 19 m.p.g. in the city and 28 m.p.g. highway.
Price: Our 2002 Chicago-built Sable, a black, LS Premium edition with the Duratec engine, included a starting price of $22,495. After adding in optional side airbags and traction control ($565), chromatic wheels ($295) and upgraded stereo ($670), the bottom line ended up at $24,675 including a $650 destination charge. The lowest-priced sedan, a GS model, starts at $20,020 while a GS wagon checks in at $21,430. The lowest priced V-6 Camry sedan, a LE edition, checks in at $22,260 while an Accord LX V-6 sedan lists at $22,600.
Standard equipment: Sables come relatively well equipped with air conditioning, cruise control, power door locks, rear window defroster, tilt steering column, power rack-and-pinion steering, speed-sensitive assisted power steering, intermittent windshield wipers, power windows and power side mirrors. An AM/FM stereo with cassette player comes standard in GS and LS Premium models while GS plus editions have a single-feed compact disc player along with the AM/FM stereo. A Mach audio system with six-unit compact disc changer is a $670 option.
Inside: Sable has always carried a solid reputation of having full-size interior room in a mid-size design with generous head and leg room. Customers can choose from five or six passenger seating in sedans. Our test-drive LS premium had the five-seat configuration with front buckets and a floor-mounted transmission shifter. The two remaining trims have six-passenger seating with the transmission shifter moved up to the steering column's right side and a flip-and-fold-up center seat console. Headlights operate from a dial on the dashboard's far left side while a trunk release button is found below. The parking brake is foot-operated. Cruise control operations are in the middle of the steering wheel. The turn signal stalk is also home to front windshield operation. Sable now includes a handy compass directional digit inserted into the corner of the rear-view mirror, a new 2002 feature. The driver's door includes buttons controlling all side power window along the front of the 90-degree arm rest. Power window and lock operations are up the door further. The simplistic, easy-to-glance-at instrument panel incorporates three similar sized three-quarter circles with a center speedometer, right side tachometer and left side fuel-temperature gauge. Our five-seat LS Premium edition included a flip-top arm rest between the front bucket seats with the optional six-disc CD changer inside. In front were dual cup holders, the transmission shifter and a coin corral for loose change. Sable continues utilizing a center pod console housing both stereo and temperature controls. A series of square, stand-alone buttons towards the bottom aim fan direction while two toggle-like buttons manipulate temperature and fan speed. Personally, I prefer the manually-operated dials for ventilation controls.
Dimensions (sedan):
Wheelbase: 108.5 inches
Overall length: 199.8 inches
Overall width: 73 inches
Overall height: 55.5 inches
Curb weight: 3,313 pounds
Outside: Sable has differed from Taurus visually thanks in large part to its square-shaped rear window while Taurus opts for the oval shaped variety. Band-like headlights and taillights are also unique to Sable. The 1996 redesign with its contoured and curvaceous side doors, set Sable and Taurus visually apart from the competition. Few people would confuse a Sable with a Passat, Malibu, Buick Century or Camry. All four doors have flush-mounted, body-colored handles. Anchored side-view mirrors are also body colored and don't fold in when brushed against, something Ford should take care of during the next redesign. A whip antenna is found on the left-side rear fender. Mercury's circular logo sits in the middle of the vertical stated, waterfall front grille that's flanked by headlights that don't wrap around too extensively to side fenders. Chrome enhancements are found on the trunk and front grille. Thinner, band-like taillights wrap around towards the side fenders. The oval, non-locking fuel door is on the right rear fender. The LS Premium editions include fog lights standard. All editions include 16-inch all-season tires standard.
Trunk: The 16.0 cubic feet of trunk space was one of the largest in its class when it first arrived in the 2000 model year redesign. Since than, the Toyota Camry has undergone a 2002 redesign and increased its trunk volume to 16.7 cubic feet. The 2002 Honda Accord measures in at 14.1 cubic feet. The temporary, compact spare tire is found under the flat-floored bottom. Too bad the Sable still incorporates interior curved hinges that can crunch down on packages instead of the outside positioned shock-absorber type hinges.
Warranty: The 2002 Sable offers a three year/36,000 mile (which ever comes first) bumper-to-bumper warranty along with a three-year/36,000 mile roadside assistance package.
Safety features: All models include dual-stage front driver and passenger air bags, anti-lock brakes, five-mile-per-hour impact front and rear safety bumpers, child safety rear door locks, remote keyless entry and anti-theft security system. Optional are side-impact air bags and traction control. Adjustable brake pedals are standard in LS Premium and GS Plus trims only. Also included is Ford Motor Co.' s BeltMinder system which chimes intermittently for five minutes or so until the driver buckles up his or her seat belt.
Final thoughts: Honda's mid-size Accord undergoes a next-generation redesign in 2003, Camry experienced one in the 2002 model year. Sable and Taurus are due for one in the 2004 model year. Both Accord and Camry offer four or six-cylinder power while Sable markets two six-cylinder engines. Our Duratec test engine is the engine of choice if you can swing the extra cash. It's a smoother, more potent engine and adds to the car's resale value. The V-6 Sable is priced less than most import competitors while offering a comfortable ride and adequate handling. A popular question raised this time of year is whether it makes more sense to buy a 2002 or 2003 model. The answer depends largely on how long one intends to keep a car, especially in the case of Sable where not much changes in body style or equipment between the two years. Those who are planning on keeping the vehicle seven years or longer may be better off with a 2002. Most vehicle depreciation occurs during the first five or six years, so if you keep the car beyond this timeframe, paying a little more now for a 2003 edition does not make as much financial sense. Plus, dealershipsare eager to move existing 2002s out of the way late in the year to make room for the newer models, so more discounting may be available on 2002s. Those who trade vehicles every two or three years might want to gravitate towards 2003 since their first birthday is not technically a year or so from now. These will hold their resale value stronger during the next 24 months. |