2008-2009 Mercury SableFifth-Gen Sable (Full-Size)

Platform and background

The 2008-2009 Mercury Sable is a full-size sedan on Ford's D3 platform, the Volvo P2-derived architecture that also carried the Ford Five Hundred, Ford Taurus, and Freestyle/Taurus X. It replaced the Mercury Montego, which had sold slowly since 2005. For 2008 Ford renamed the Five Hundred back to Taurus and the Montego back to Sable, betting that the older nameplates carried more recognition. The rename came with a real mid-cycle update rather than a badge swap: new front and rear styling, a revised interior, and a much stronger powertrain, unveiled at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show. The Sable was assembled at Chicago Assembly with the Taurus.

Engine

One engine, both years: the 3.5L Duratec 35 V6, rated at 263 hp at 6,250 rpm and 249 lb-ft of torque at 4,500 rpm. This was a major step over the Montego's 3.0L Duratec, which made just 203 hp in a 3,650 lb sedan (heavier still with AWD). The 3.5 uses an aluminum block and heads with dual overhead cams and variable intake cam timing. It runs on regular 87 octane. No V8, no turbo, no other engine was ever offered in this generation.

Transmission and drivetrain

• All 2008-2009 Sables use the Ford 6F50 6-speed automatic, in both front- and all-wheel-drive form. The Montego's CVT and Aisin 6-speed were both gone.
• Front-wheel drive was standard. All-wheel drive was optional on both trims, using an electronically controlled clutch-pack coupling ahead of the rear differential to send torque rearward on slip.
• AWD cars carry a small fuel economy penalty and add about 170 lb (3,814 lb versus 3,643 lb curb weight); the AWD coupling and rear differential are the main extra service items to inspect on a used one.

Trims and equipment

• Sable (base): cloth seats, full power accessories, and standard anti-lock brakes, traction control, front side airbags, and side curtain airbags with rollover deployment. AdvanceTrac stability control was optional in 2008 and standard for 2009.
• Sable Premier: leather seating, dual-zone automatic climate control, upgraded audio, and more brightwork. For 2009 the Premier could be dressed up with the VOGA appearance package: 18-inch chrome wheels, unique leather, and special interior trim.
• Options across the line included Ford SYNC, navigation, power adjustable pedals, and a power moonroof.

Year by year

• 2008: First year of the revived name. New nose and tail versus the Montego, 3.5L V6 and 6-speed automatic across the board, SYNC newly available as an option. The car earned five-star federal front and side crash-test scores, a consistent selling point for the D3 sedans.
• 2009: Final year. AdvanceTrac stability control became standard on all models, along with Brake Assist and the SOS Post-Crash Alert System; the Premier gained the VOGA appearance package and the color chart added seven new shades. Production ended on May 21, 2009, when the redesigned 2010 Ford Taurus arrived without a Mercury twin. Mercury itself was shut down after 2010.

Buying notes

Mechanically the two years are the same car; the practical difference is that every 2009 has stability control while a 2008 only has it if the option box was checked. The 3.5L Duratec is a durable engine, but its water pump sits inside the engine, driven by the timing chain, and a failed pump can leak coolant into the oil, so check service history and oil condition closely. On AWD cars, make sure the fluid in the rear coupling and differential has actually been changed, a service owners often skip. Interior room and trunk space (21.2 cubic feet) are the reason to want one. Values stay low because the badge is orphaned, which makes a clean Premier a cheap full-size cruiser.