Thinking of Buying a 2013 SHO

[Bigjht]

Hey everyone, I've been toying around with the thought of trading my 08 Mustang GT in on a 2013 SHO but have some questions and am looking for some insight.

My first question is what are, if any, some of the main re-occurring or common problems that people have had with the Gen 4 SHO? So far from reading on the forum I haven't seen many serious issues but I didn't go too far back either.

My next question is can you tell a big difference in the transmission gearing between the 2013 PP vs non PP gearing? Are there any acceleration time comparisons?

I love modifying the Mustang and was very excited to see lowering springs and tunes available. Are there many cars out there with higher mileage with tunes? I'm curious to hear how it holds up to being tuned long term.

For those with lowering springs, how is the ride quality? I'd be using this as a daily driver and don't want to harshen things up too much. Are the shocks on the PP package better equipped to handle the lowering springs?


Thanks for everyone's help and I look forward to talking more with everyone.

 

[jontyrees]

I'd say, if you have a growing family and need a back seat, go for it. If not, I'd probably stick with your GT. Unless you're getting bored and itching for something new - in which case those Boss 302s are pretty sweet!

 

[Bigjht]

I do have a growing family, which is one of the main reasons I'm looking at it, however, it's hard to think of not have a Mustang. I keep going back and forth, basically between being practical and not, especially when my wife has agreed that we can look at GT500s as well. The non-practical side of me is saying my daughter is still young and can fit in the back of a Mustang for quite a few more years, while the practical side of me wants a more spacious and comfortable daily driver. I know to many it wouldn't be a hard decision and would just go practical but I've pretty much lived and breathed Mustangs for the past 12 years or so, which is hard to let go of, especially now that I have the means of actually getting a GT500.

 

[Psychlone]

I can only speak for the 2010 but I don't believe that the PP affects the acceleration numbers that much (I have a non PP 2010). From what I understand it's more of a feel thing. With a tune, it won't really matter much anyway, there are plenty of non PP SHO's running around with badass tunes from Livernois or Unleashed Tuning.

Not familiar with the lowering springs as my car is bone stock. (4 now, muuuaaaaahhaaaaahahahahaha)

I would say go test drive one of each and see what you think. I used to have a 2000 Mustang GT (I know different from the 2008) and I prefer this car to that by a mile but then again I'm older now and a big guy so that could be part of it too. Love the sleeper status of the SHO also.

 

[Guzzi SVT]

The first thing you need to understand about the SHO is IT"S BIG! As far as lowering springs, both Eibach and H&R ride well. The only problem I and some others have had is the turbo oil return line leaking. You smell burning oil when exiting the freeway. This was redesigned on later models.
I have blown off a couple of Mustangs lately. I assume they were serious, not sure what engines though. I have the PP but can't say, I have run up against a SHO w/o it. I do have a couple of people here at work with ones w/o PP, maybe we can go race at lunch some day.

 

[SFM5S159]

I love my 2010 PP SHO. I'm a tall guy, so I like a little bigger car. I have a wife and kids so having more room than a Mustang is very imporatant to me.
My view of the Mustang is that of an occasional use, for-pleasure performace car. Fun to zip around in but not great as a daily use car. If you have a family or even on business you need room for more than one person you are screwed in the 'stang.
Being here in Cincinnati it's also nice to have the AWD feature of the SHO, even though I generally try not to drive it in poor weather...

I have not had any mechanical issues with my car; I've got 23k on it right now. One issue I have is interior noise in the form of squeeks and little noises. WAY to much of that kind of stuff. It drives me crazy.

Unless you are just crazy about the Mustang, I think you'll find the SHO a pleasure to drive. I rented a 2012 Mustang a few weeks ago on a trip and my SHO is hands down a more comfortable car that performs almost as well.
Good luck in your choice!

I forgot to add something else I didn't like....The SHO was way too quiet for me. I added a Corsa exhaust and I've been very happy with it. If you are used to a Mustang, you better plan on an exhaust replacement almost out of the box on the SHO unless they changed it for 2013...

 

[Got5onIt]

In 2010-12 PP gives you the 3.16 FDR, recalibrated steering, performance brake pads, "tuned" suspension, real A.Track off, & 20x8.5 wheels. I have no clue exactly what is changed with the electric power steering & suspension. Stock, the PP SHO is a couple of tenths faster in the 1/4 and traps a little higher according to Road & Track. Of course, we all know you're going to mod it so that info is probably negligible.
I don't think you'll be able to tell the difference, honestly, unless you seriously track the car. Get the best deal you can and run with it.
Hope you join the EB family soon!

Here's the Road & Track comment I referenced for a 2010 PP SHO:

" Although well dressed in base trim, the real action is in the shouldn't-be-optional Performance Package that delivers a numerically higher final-drive gear — a strong tonic for this mature performance car's corpus. This shorter gearing surprisingly didn't improve the SHO's 0–60 time (due to an additional shift), but its advantages were palpable in the quarter mile with 3/10ths of a second shaved and a 2.2-mph faster trap speed. Sportier summer tires on 20-in. wheels and improved front brake pads are two more commendable Performance Package improvements, as are a more precise calibration of the electric power steering and the ability to turn the traction/stability control completely off. The amalgamation of these upgrades resulted in an additional 0.06g around the skidpad, an extra 2.1 mph in the slalom and reduced braking distances from 60 and 80 mph by 8 and 15 ft., respectively. These tools put the needed final edge on the SHO's performance, and with no apparent downside. "


Link to article:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/c....-2010-mitsubishi-lancer-evolution-mr-touring


They ran a 13.6 @ 103.2mph 1/4 mile with a stock 2010 PP SHO. Not bad for a 4k lb car.
I've nicknamed mine "The Mother Ship".

 

[Psychlone]

In 2010-12 PP gives you the 3.16 FDR, recalibrated steering, performance brake pads, "tuned" suspension, real A.Track off, & 20x8.5 wheels. I have no clue exactly what is changed with the electric power steering & suspension. Stock, the PP SHO is a couple of tenths faster in the 1/4 and traps a little higher according to Road & Track. Of course, we all know you're going to mod it so that info is probably negligible.
I don't think you'll be able to tell the difference, honestly, unless you seriously track the car. Get the best deal you can and run with it.
Hope you join the EB family soon!

Here's the Road & Track comment I referenced for a 2010 PP SHO:

" Although well dressed in base trim, the real action is in the shouldn't-be-optional Performance Package that delivers a numerically higher final-drive gear — a strong tonic for this mature performance car's corpus. This shorter gearing surprisingly didn't improve the SHO's 0–60 time (due to an additional shift), but its advantages were palpable in the quarter mile with 3/10ths of a second shaved and a 2.2-mph faster trap speed. Sportier summer tires on 20-in. wheels and improved front brake pads are two more commendable Performance Package improvements, as are a more precise calibration of the electric power steering and the ability to turn the traction/stability control completely off. The amalgamation of these upgrades resulted in an additional 0.06g around the skidpad, an extra 2.1 mph in the slalom and reduced braking distances from 60 and 80 mph by 8 and 15 ft., respectively. These tools put the needed final edge on the SHO's performance, and with no apparent downside. "


Link to article:
http://www.roadandtrack.com/tests/c....-2010-mitsubishi-lancer-evolution-mr-touring


They ran a 13.6 @ 103.2mph 1/4 mile with a stock 2010 PP SHO. Not bad for a 4k lb car.
I've nicknamed mine "The Mother Ship".

Cool thanks for providing that link. That's the first time I've seen someone actually test both versions and it does appear that the PP version is definitely the one to get for track use but for street use I'm still pretty happy with the non- PP version.

 

[beerme1]

I haven't been on here in quite some time. I was lurking mostly but I think I can offer you some personal insight from a similar perspective.

I had a 2007 Mustang GT California Special Convertible. Man I miss that car now with warmer weather about to hit. I had done many mods to it including a sweet light bar.
But I got tired of a few things with it.
Like having to make payments on a car that was in the garage under a blanket for almost five months a year as I live in Buffalo NY.
This is stupid but not having a factory outside thermometer bothered me. It indicate a lack of refinement to me.
The car was an abolute blast to drive regardless of top up or down and was stunningly beautiful in white with a black fabric top. Loaded up. It was the best car of my life!
But as much as I loved it, I was always bothered by the the fact the car lacked refinement. When I bought it, NAV and HID lights were not available. They started about six months after I bought mine.

My situation is married with no kids and 45 years old.

The wintering thing particularly made me start to think of an option before I parked the Mustang last year. The end of September I had a buyer for my Stang and was driving the winter car (a Fusion) and was far from settled or satisfied as I had just got rid of my baby and I really didn't like the Fusion. In fact I strongly disliked the Fusion so I started looking at options. I was pretty close to buying an Audi A5 convertible and using it as my year round car. Quattro was impressive but the car was just not everything I thought I should be getting at that price point so I kept looking. Performance obviously matters. I dont have and wont have kids so I really would prefer two doors. **** I would prefer two seats! But ended up looking at SHO and at the end of October last year I bought a fully loaded 2011 Red demo and traded in the Fusion on it.
The owner of the dealershiop had put some 7000 miles and some horrific music on the hard drive! But that horrific music also re assured me that this car was babied and not abused. Anyway I ended up with a screaming deal on my car.
I love this car more than my Mustang but in very different ways but with absolutely no regrets. I LOVE MY S H O. Why not? It has more HP and more torque than my stang!
It's really not fair to compare the two cars for so many different reasons like RWD vs AWD. Two doors vs four and V8 vs twin turbo 6 and so much more.
I mean people will think your an idiot if you are comparing those two cars.
So you can call me an idiot I guess but I am not looking back

So far I have resisted making any mods and am not sure I need to because I believe this car is a complete car. Except the brakes. I hated the brakes on my Stang and once considered upgrading to a Shelby brake package but couldn't stomach the $2200 +
Sadly Ford is not aware of how to put appropriate brakes on cars that can go fast.

Oh sorry. I do not have the PP. It is the only thing missing but my ride comfort is great and on choppy lousy *** hole filled roads like we have around here, it can in fact be harsh and I would not want it any firmer than it is. As someone mentioned earlier in this thread, it is a big car. A really big ******* car! Amazingly though it is a very nimble car.
I am spoiled by this car. I just wish I could get a convertible coupe option lol.

Take a good look at this car it offers a lot of perfomance and sofistication and comfort and is such an awesome car. It eats a lot of Mustangs. You are always a front runner in this car and it does get looks. What kills me though and I still have a hard time with is whenever I see a regular Taurus I see and old guy or woman driving it.
It's the new Buick Dontchya ya know.
But at the same time I love that only car people who know the difference appreciate what this car is and those people are always blown away.
This is a sleek machine.
Maybe I'm just gettin old though lol.

 

[Double C]

Only as old as you drive. I am 71 (young) and like my 2010 as much, if not more than my 3 '60s era GTOs. No mods (although a tune is possible in near future), and it will never see a drag strip. But love it as long distance cruiser and play thing when I am in it alone. Right hand seat doesn't appreciate my toying with those in lane beside me. Strange how she doesn't say anything when no one beside me and I use same throttle. don't drive reckless, tailgate, weave lanes etc..., just quick and fast.