96 Taurus SHO

[swiper tsi]

Hello guys,

I am new to the Taurus SHO and have the opportunity to purchase a 96 SHO. The car is located on Fairhope, AL and the seller is asking $2500 for it. It recently had a new transmission, radiator, hoses and belts replaced. And currently has 156,00 miles on it. After reading about the cam issues I asked the seller about this and he said that the cams were checked and were welded(previously before him). I would assume I would have to take his word on this! I have yet to make the 200 mile round trip to look at this car, but from what I have seen in the pics its a very nice car. I was told that there is about 5000miles left on the tires and that the car need hood struts and the coolant level switch needs replaced. Other than that the car was good to go. What else should I look for or should I not even bother. The owner did say that $2500 was as low as he would go. What do you guys think.

 

[LJRuddy]

2500 is about what they are worth. Ask him for a receipt for the cam weld. If he cant prove it, you can easily pop off the front valve cover in about 15 minutes to check for yourself.

 

[swiper tsi]

I kind of figured that is what the car was worth. When I asked him if he welded the cams he said they were done before he owned it but said he did have it checked.

 

[RonPorter]

Check it yourself if he can't produce a receipt or proof. Otherwise, $1,000 off the price....not negotiable.

 

[Funmart6]

Seems like you could find one closer by, being with Eglin right next door that is. Yeah, I grew up down there in Niceville and used to see a lot of really cool cars around.
I would want to see records of the work done on the car. Heck just drive over there and test it out.

 

[LJRuddy]

Check it yourself if he can't produce a receipt or proof. Otherwise, $1,000 off the price....not negotiable.

Yea like that will work. I'd politely tell you to **** my property if you tried to do that to a car I was selling. I've seen total piles of shit SHOs go for 1,000 bucks... Not one that has just had all of the maintenance listed done to it.

 

[RonPorter]

Yea like that will work. I'd politely tell you to **** my property if you tried to do that to a car I was selling. I've seen total piles of shit SHOs go for 1,000 bucks... Not one that has just had all of the maintenance listed done to it.

"All of the maintenance" is regular crap to keep it running. I smell BS on the cam welds. $1,000 job.

I would gladly get off your property, and tell your lyin' sack-of-shit ass to take your car and shove it, as I would post all over the SHO forums to avoid the car, which will cut out a significant number of potential buyers.

 

[LJRuddy]

A new transmission is far from regular maintenance. And its funny how you would be so quick to tell everyone how the guy is a lying sack of shit just because he has no receipt of the cam welds. I don't have any proof that my cams are welded. Does that make James a ************* for selling me the car with no proof?

 

[SHOhopefull]

Jeremy, you didn't tell us you were selling a 96! :theyareontome:

 

[RonPorter]

A new transmission is far from regular maintenance. And its funny how you would be so quick to tell everyone how the guy is a lying sack of shit just because he has no receipt of the cam welds. I don't have any proof that my cams are welded. Does that make James a ************* for selling me the car with no proof?

No pictures, receipt, nothing?? You may know they were done. For a buyer who doesn't know James, it didn't happen. All part of the negotiation.

New tranny/radiator/working ac/whatever is required maintenance. If they are bad, the price drops (plenty of $300 Gen 3 s out there). If they are new, they make it easier to sell, but that doesn't get more value.

If the cams go out as he drives it out of the guy's driveway, that $2,500 just got doubled.

 

[sperold]

You should defineately bother to check out a 96 SHO for $2500.00.
I have never had one, but I understand the Gen 3s are the best of the bunch.
Plan on doing the cams yourself, or at least the valve cover gaskets and plugs and wires and things that are associated with the "look under the valve covers".
And the seller will take a little less, but if it is really nice, I can see him not discounting it very much.
I would be much more at ease with a seller who seems honest and knowledgeable and has no receipt...... than I would be with someone with a receipt from a shop that has closed. It is pretty easy for a savy computer guy to come up with an authentic looking receipt from a place that folded a decade ago.
Do the "tune up" and if it doesn't need the cams welded, it is a big bonus. I think those things have 3 cats, so keep it running top notch to avoid replacing them. I think early on, people installed roll pins in the gears rather than welding, so look for that as well as weld traces.

 

[Liquid_force]

The black one listed in loxley (CL)?

I would be skeptical personally.
Maybe they were welded, but I would think someone attempting to sell one who knows anything about the car would make "welded cams" one of the first things listed.

having it done isn't that big of a deal. Any competent automotive welder should be able to do an acceptable job. It's the time to tear down/rebuild that costs (but isn't all that difficult if you can turn a wrench).
It looks nice, and I can understand the asking price, but you need to KNOW what you're getting yourself into regarding the cams.

FWIW - I spent 1600 on a '99 in Sept (<92k). After having the welds done and various other improvements I have 2-2.2k in it, with another few hundred to go on cosmetics (paint).

 

[1stSHO]

Cool. Another Fort Walton member!!! Welcome, and good luck on the car.

 

[JRA2000TL]

Heh, I e-mailed on this car the other day and the guy didn't respond. Did you buy it? Nice to have another local person around here though.

I don't have $2500 now anyway and the cam weld thing would be a big issue for me (proof that it was done). If you haven't gone to look at it yet and want to, PM me. I'm about 10 min. away from this guy in Daphne. I'll meet you over there and we can go over the car.

 

[Laminar]

as I would post all over the SHO forums to avoid the car, which will cut out a significant number of potential buyers.

:laugh_ti:

 

[luigisho]

I would be concerned about the car running hot. It had a bunch of the cooling system and it still needs a coolant new sensor? Sounds like it hasn't had the engine running hot issue solved yet. If that checks out ok then the price sounds fair.