Consider that in addition to the Taurus's jelly-beanish looks, for a long time it was virtually the same price as the VASTLY superior Crown Victoria. Taurus's with a lot of options actually ran more than base CV's for awhile (remember that a base CV comes with more stuff than is even available for a Taurus, like a V-8). Even now a decent Taurus (SEL or the wagons) isn't signifigantly cheaper than a CV, despite Ford jacking up the CV's price almost solely for the reason of keeping it more expensive than the Taurus.
The equally uninspired Five Hundred...costs MORE than a Crown Vic.
I never understood how they sold the Taurus, except it's more "trendy" to own one than a CV. Never mind that the CV is utterly superior in every possible aspect; apparently people would rather spend their money on an inferior product than be caught in an "old man's car".
Not me. I'll buy what is good. Image isn't something I worry about. My wife is very happy with her Grand Marqis. Well...she wishes it could move like my Buick. Not even the Maurauder can do that though

Probably why they aren't going to keep making it.
J_A_B