1998 Ford Taurus Top choice for hundreds of thousands. By Mike Knepper, New Car Test Drive .com

The big news about Taurus this year is that there are fewer versions of them. The base G and the GL sedans and

the GL and LX wagons have been dropped from the lineup. An SE sedan and wagon have been added and the LX sedan and

the high performance SHO are still there, although the LX has dropped from the top of the line to the bottom.

The idea, Ford says, is to make things simpler for everyone. Fewer models and the elimination of Ford's

previously dizzying array of options packages mean less confusion in the showroom and less manufacturing cost.

We think this is a better idea.