 I traded in my '98 Taurus SE for a 2004 SEL and I love this car just as much.  With leather seats, the interior feels like a luxury car and the drive is excellent with the Duratec V6.  The SEL includes a lot of extras that are truly useful and make the car a pleasure to drive for long distances. The V6 Camry is a more refined car, but without the bells and whistles.  The Ford is a fun car to own and a really great value.