Springs
Rusty wheel arches in back
The dual cam V6 has a metal/rubber lower radiator hose and the metal part will rust out. They are a bit expensive to replace unless the aftermarket has finally started making one.
They are all over the junk yards so parts should be plentiful. I had a '00 Sable Wagon for a year and it was a super bore to drive. Lots of power from the dual cam V6 (that's where my praise stops).
My brother in law has had two broken front coil springs. I'd avoid these cars.
In reply to Woody:
It doesn't seem hard to find replacement springs... lots of Hondas are known for this too and people still seem to deal with it. Actually if you could find one with a broken spring or two it might be a cheap way to get into these... really cheap cars. Yay!
Everything has pretty much been covered but id like to offer a few clarifications based on my own opinions..
Yes, the Duratec should run forever, but it is a PITA to work on compared to a Vulcan. spark plug access, COP access vs vulcan coil pack, lots of water lines, harder to r&r trans from (and you likely WILL either way), etc. I do like the way it drives better but if i was buying a pure appliance id buy a Vulcan if i was working on it myself.
Also, as for the transmission, there is nothing increased line pressure can do about stripped/snapped pump shafts and torque converters, and those were the #1 issues i ever saw with them back when people were actually paying to fix them..
And, compared to MOST fwd vehicles, those cars are NOT easy to do trans r&r. I did it for a living for two years and the only 'common' (failure prone) fwd vehicles i liked less for r&r were northstar cadillacs. If you think a taurus is easy you will be pleasantly surprised that almost everything else is easier. They are on the hard end of the spectrum, relatively speaking.
I actually really like the late late Duratec Sables and would take one if it was offered to me for a ridiculously good price. Having said that, i would never go out of my way to find one.
I sure do see a ton of them on craigslist with transmission problems, for cheap!
Vigo wrote: Yes, the Duratec should run forever, but it is a PITA to work on compared to a Vulcan. spark plug access, COP access vs vulcan coil pack, lots of water lines, harder to r&r trans from (and you likely WILL either way), etc. I do like the way it drives better but if i was buying a pure appliance id buy a Vulcan if i was working on it myself.
What you're talking about with the trans might be right, the only FWD cars I've done transmissions on were a northstar caddy, 95 mtx sho, and a focus......out of those three, the taurus was easiest IMHO........However, your complaining about spark plug and COP access points out to me you never did them on a Gen 1/2 sho. Treat the duratec the same way, remove the upper intake and its easier than throwing a frozen pizza in a preheated oven....
Evidentally, I must have had the worlds only indestructible Sable. 
These responses do have me reconsidering.
Back to the Buick search.
In reply to aussiesmg:
Buicks lunch transmissions at an alarming rate......more so than taurii for that matter
I have NEVER worked on a v6 sho. Sad to say... I just never see them as customers and havent owned one.
My point with the plug/cop access thing is that you dont HAVE to take the engine apart at all on a vulcan to do spark plugs or coils. They even put the coil pack up front and center, which is convenient because they all need them sooner or later.
I have taken a 3.4 out of a ~98 sho for a swap into something else and if you had to remove THAT plenum you would be PISSED. 
I dont think the GM 4t60 breaks NEARLY as often as the ford equivalent. I actually think a w-body (iirc?) 3.8L gm fwd is one of the best cheap 'appliance' cars for a DIYer because EVERYTHING is easy and they are reliable, punchy, and surprisingly economical for their weight and displacement.
I had a 95 Taurus with the Vulcan, damn thing was indestructible, from an engine standpoint. Trans was on borrowed time when i sold it, front subframe was about gone, and one of the valve cover gaskets was leaky. Best damned AC on EARTH.
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