15 year old needs some advice

[fun173]

I wouldn't say my dad is super handy but there are some jobs that we could do together. It would also be a learning experience and we have worked on cars before but that is just cosmetics we have worked on. Not mechanics or anything. I will look at this as a learning experience also and some things i will take it to a shop for. I will definitely take time to buy the right car and not buy the first one i see just so i can "Have it now"

 

[DDakRT]

Welcome to the boards bud. You sound to be level headed and the way you type is a very welcome surprise from what I would expect from our younger members. to you sir.

Wow, Thank you everyone for the replies It really gave me lots of info about which one to choose. So im guessing i will be going with an automatic Gen2.

I will Definitely look to buy one from another member on the forum.

To be honest i don't know too much about cars so i hope a sho will help me learn. Its kinda weird to be driving a car thats as old as you

Skip the ATX cars IMHO, not only are they less fun to drive but they'll be more expensive to maintain.

I personally don't like the Gen III cars due to their styling and being ATX only, so I would recommend a Gen I or II. There's really not much difference between the 2 so just go with whichever body style that tickles your fancy, tho you might find a newer Gen II car that is in better shape easier than you might a gen I.

Also don't automatically assume that a car belonging to a forum member will be maintained properly, always check out the car and find as much info about it's history as possible before getting it. Patience is most definitely key here, a nice one will find you if you're not in a rush.
With you being so close to NESHO, definitely have Kirk check out the car that interest you. Spending a little here might save you quite a bit later.

Stick around, these boards are generally very friendly and helpful. Don't be scared to ask more questions, there are no stupid ones.

Good luck!

 

[lowc]

I'm from Boston. I'm sure we have seen the same SHO's on craigslist I will start saving for maintenance then. I appreciate the offer and will definitely consult the forum when the time comes. :woo-hoo:

you have probly seen mine around town i work in dorchester and was always driving my 92 around. fwiw i beat the **** outta it every time i drove it unless the kids were in it and it never once left me stranded.

 

[fun173]

Welcome to the boards bud. You sound to be level headed and the way you type is a very welcome surprise from what I would expect from our younger members. to you sir.



Skip the ATX cars IMHO, not only are they less fun to drive but they'll be more expensive to maintain.

I personally don't like the Gen III cars due to their styling and being ATX only, so I would recommend a Gen I or II. There's really not much difference between the 2 so just go with whichever body style that tickles your fancy, tho you might find a newer Gen II car that is in better shape easier than you might a gen I.

Also don't automatically assume that a car belonging to a forum member will be maintained properly, always check out the car and find as much info about it's history as possible before getting it. Patience is most definitely key here, a nice one will find you if you're not in a rush.
With you being so close to NESHO, definitely have Kirk check out the car that interest you. Spending a little here might save you quite a bit later.

Stick around, these boards are generally very friendly and helpful. Don't be scared to ask more questions, there are no stupid ones.

Good luck!

Thanks for the good words

I want to learn to drive a manual and i will have time since i will get my permit some time in October maybe i will have time to learn.

If a Manual is easy for me and fun (From what i have heard everywhere Manuals are much more fun) Then i will be more inclined to get an MTX.

So far, this forum has been very helpful. I was surprised at how many responses i got and the fact that they were all thorough helped. I will go see Kirk some time and tell him my situation and such. If i do purchase a car i will want to bring it to him to inspect before i do the deal because i don't want to buy a clunker.

:wave:

 

[firebat45]

Get a manual. My very first car was a normal Taurus, which was fine, but boring. My dad got a SHO at the same time, and I'd wanted one forever. Several years down the road, I ended up getting a MTX SHO, with no manual driving experience whatsoever. A bit of practice in a parking lot till I was good with starting it, and I went driving on the street for more practice. Couple stalls here and there, but just fire it back up and go, you'll be fine. In a week I was perfectly at ease with driving stick, and really glad I did it.

ATX SHO is so much more boring than an MTX SHO.

 

[chrism3784]

As fun as the gen1 or 2 is, a well maintained gen3 is not a bad choice either. You would of course have to get one that the cams have been welded and a better tranny cooler added. Then its a very reliable car. The gen3 SHO is safer then gen1 or 2's. They handle better and drive smoother. Also they are less noticable to cops then the older gens. There more modern, and because of OBDII, easier to diagnose problems. Just keep it stock and maintained and you'll be fine.

The bad, is its real hard to fine a nice, welded, gen3 SHO as they are the rarest. Also most have spun the cams and been parted out or junked. So theres so few left, and the few left that are even for sale, are very expensive! Also parts for them are expensive, if you can even find them. Its also more challenging to work on them because of the small space around the larger engine. The windshield and dash being more forward and over the back of the engine doesn't help either. But compared to a brand new car, I don't think the price is bad at all.

 

[fun173]

As fun as the gen1 or 2 is, a well maintained gen3 is not a bad choice either. You would of course have to get one that the cams have been welded and a better tranny cooler added. Then its a very reliable car. The gen3 SHO is safer then gen1 or 2's. They handle better and drive smoother. Also they are less noticable to cops then the older gens. There more modern, and because of OBDII, easier to diagnose problems. Just keep it stock and maintained and you'll be fine.

The bad, is its real hard to fine a nice, welded, gen3 SHO as they are the rarest. Also most have spun the cams and been parted out or junked. So theres so few left, and the few left that are even for sale, are very expensive! Also parts for them are expensive, if you can even find them. Its also more challenging to work on them because of the small space around the larger engine. The windshield and dash being more forward and over the back of the engine doesn't help either. But compared to a brand new car, I don't think the price is bad at all.

I think i'm going to stay away from Gen3's, they scare me a bit even though they do sound and i think they look good.

Your post brought up a good question in my mind -

How noticeable are the SHO's to the police. Do they target them or do they just think its a regular Taurus. I understand some of this would be how you are driving it at that time. also, do you guys get pulled over in them much?

 

[kevinspann]

Get a green one and they won't know you exist.

 

[hawkeye18]

I think i'm going to stay away from Gen3's, they scare me a bit even though they do sound and i think they look good.

Your post brought up a good question in my mind -

How noticeable are the SHO's to the police. Do they target them or do they just think its a regular Taurus. I understand some of this would be how you are driving it at that time. also, do you guys get pulled over in them much?

SHOs are about as noticeable to police as... well I was gonna say Neons, but they're actually less noticeable than that.

I once got caught going 125 on the PA Turnpike (this was during my dumber days...) by a state trooper. This was at about 1AM and the cop never actually saw my car, just the readout on the gun and a pair of headlights. After he got me pulled over (3 miles down the road, at which point I was figuring out who I was gonna call from jail) (and ******** my pants), he comes up to my car and says "Son, I caught somebody going 135, and I thought it was you, but there is no way a Taurus (he said this with quite a bit of contempt) could go 125mph, so I must have the wrong car. Have a nice day."

I didn't have the heart to argue with him.

They are very much Q ships. Few cops know what they are past a POS 15-20 year old Taurus.

 

[fun173]

SHOs are about as noticeable to police as... well I was gonna say Neons, but they're actually less noticeable than that.

I once got caught going 125 on the PA Turnpike (this was during my dumber days...) by a state trooper. This was at about 1AM and the cop never actually saw my car, just the readout on the gun and a pair of headlights. After he got me pulled over (3 miles down the road, at which point I was figuring out who I was gonna call from jail) (and ******** my pants), he comes up to my car and says "Son, I caught somebody going 135, and I thought it was you, but there is no way a Taurus (he said this with quite a bit of contempt) could go 125mph, so I must have the wrong car. Have a nice day."

I didn't have the heart to argue with him.




They are very much Q ships. Few cops know what they are past a POS 15-20 year old Taurus.

:laugh_ti: Thats a funny story. It must have been tough to not be like, "Actually, Officer" then pop the hood lol. Good to know there not targeted.

 

[SHOspazz92]

I also wanna see a Gen 3 out handle a Gen2 or 1...

If we were to go to an Autocross with a Stock Gen 3 vs a Stock Gen 1/2 with the Same tires. I guarantee the Gen 3 will easily put a couple of seconds over a Gen 1/2.

-Sam

 

[hawkeye18]

:laugh_ti: Thats a funny story. It must have been tough to not be like, "Actually, Officer" then pop the hood lol. Good to know there not targeted.

I was trying really hard to cover up the fact that I had ****** my pants, actually. I was coming home off of leave and had to be back to my command by 7AM the next morning... being put in jail was not the way to do that. Ironically, being back in time was why I was going so fast to begin with!

 

[biker889]

I bought my first sho on my 16th birthday. (just look at my Join date...) Fun cars, but be prepared to do a lot of the wrenching yourself. if you dont intend to, you will get screwed big time at shops whom which still wont know how to work on the engine. Granted, you say your in boston. NESHO is right around the corner. Dont ever hesitate to ask us anything...We will all help you get the job done!

 

[hawkeye18]

That's for sure. If you buy a SHO, you're either going to become a master mechanic or declaring bankruptcy before you can even legally do so!

My wife's 95 is reliable now, but it was a long, long, long road of replacing damn near every part on it before it got there.

 

[fun173]

Thanks for the support,

Its funny i was showing my mom videos of the SHO's hitting the secondaries and the V8 sounds and she was actually surprised and i think nervous

Then i showed her a picture of the engine and she was like, "It's just an engine"

I was like ok, what do you think is a nice engine and she was like

"A Mercedes engine"

so i looked up a cls engine and showed it to her and how all you could see was the plastic cover and she was like

These cars are addicting, i have been looking at them nonstop for 3 days now. I still have a long way ahead and a lot of hard work though so i can get one :/

Edit: Hawkeye18, Thanks for your service to the country

 

[fun173]

Hey guys,

I took a ride up to Nesho and met Kirk and another gentleman whose name i do not remember. They were very nice and knowledgeable. After being there i have changed my mind about which SHO i want. Kirk showed me a v8 MTX (with a non street legal exhaust) and it was an incredible car. Also, Kirk told my dad how the Gen 3's were safer, and we have decided a Gen 3 would be the best. I saw some nice Gen 2's also but the Gen 3 blew my mind. It was just an awesome all around car. I have to say Buying a SHO will be much easier now thanks to Nesho. They were extremely knowledgeable and nice and i wanna go back again!

By the way: Kirk revved the SHO and it scared my mom

 

[lowc]

glad to hear that its just to bad you've desided on a gen3 jk im sure the next time we all get together down there no one would be opposed to you tagging along

 

[fun173]

glad to hear that its just to bad you've desided on a gen3 jk im sure the next time we all get together down there no one would be opposed to you tagging along

Awesome, id love to see you guys and check out some cars.

 

[chrism3784]

I have my gen3 for sale. Runs absolutely fantasic minus a front end clunk which I'm going to fix shortly. Welded, tranny cooler, new tires, all set to go. I just drove it to virginia and back to florida, absolutely amazing car to drive on trips, so comfy and hits 140. Interested check my post out in the SHO trader.

 

[fun173]

I have my gen3 for sale. Runs absolutely fantasic minus a front end clunk which I'm going to fix shortly. Welded, tranny cooler, new tires, all set to go. I just drove it to virginia and back to florida, absolutely amazing car to drive on trips, so comfy and hits 140. Interested check my post out in the SHO trader.

Thats a very nice and clean car but i wont be getting one for a while :/

Thanks though