Initial thoughts...

[SeanDSHO]

So I picked up my 2019 SHO (non-PP) on the 4th of this month, and I just returned from a quick shake-down road trip of about 3k miles. Everything works. No rattles. Very comfortable, though I wouldn't mind a slightly longer seat cushion to take pressure of the thighs during long drives. Overall my mpg averaged at 23.9 and it was nice knowing I could goose the throttle a bit if I needed to pass someone. At this point this car doesn't "need" anything (other than an initial oil/filter change) but I can imagine buying the GH Intercooler (when they become available again) along with one of their tune packages. I'm more interested in the fuel mileage improvements and transmission/shifting than I am in any more power. I may eventually upgrade the brakes and slap on the lowering springs, but honestly I think this thing looks good as is.

I've read plenty of threads (here and elsewhere) about the pitfalls that can be found with this platform but I hope that with regular maintenance, and not trying to build the worlds most powerful SHO, I can escape the troubles a few others have experienced. Initially I had planned on doing a paint correction and ceramic coating, but it already has a few deep gouges in the paint (mostly rear bumper and probably from lazy luggage loading/unloading) that I may just skip that and enjoy it as is and not worry about trying to maintain a perfect car. I look forward to owning/driving this vehicle for a while and hope to be a solid contributor in this forum.

 

[FiveLeeter918]

Glad to hear you're loving it. Performance tuning actually fixes a lot of the pitfalls when done correctly, and anything to mitigate the IATs is always a plus.

 

[76FoMoCo]

Ya they are fun cars and glad your enjoying it! just a good 93 tune and a 3 bar will wake it up a bunch and make it what it should have been from Ford.

 

[ridered74]

I remember when I was just going to put a tune on mine and nothing else. LOL!

 

[SHOthyme]

I remember when I was just going to put a tune on mine and nothing else. LOL!

Ha, me too!

Now I am here trying to figure out how to get into the 11's before the track closes for the year.

 

[M.J]

I bought my SHO with no intention of modifying it and did just that for the first couple years and 50,000 miles of owning it. It was my daily driver year round, even with a foot of snow out and did damn well, better than majority of the trucks I saw on the road. Truthfully I neglected it in hopes of blowing it up just so I have an excuse to toss a big block in it (that’s another story) but that never happened, yet. It wasn’t until one or more of my injectors decided to stick open at 125,00 miles that the real going down rabbit hole happened… Also the whole “while I’m there I might as well…” started to happen. In looking back and seeing the “situation” you’re in, enjoy it and KEEP IT SIMPLE. You pretty much nailed it on the head. Maintenance and simple bolt ons, and enjoy the car, otherwise you deal with working on it more than driving it, and I’m sure I’m not the only one that can attest to that. “End rant”

 

[SeanDSHO]

I guess I could see playing with it more, but it's my only car (I do have a motorcycle, but in MD it isn't riding weather all year round) and living in a historic downtown area with only street parking I can't imagine owning multiple cars and having to keep moving them both for street sweeping each week. Now, if I ever buy a house with a garage (or some land to build a garage/shed/workshop) then I'll consider it. But I'd probably end up keeping this as my DD and get something truly cheap to take to track days and such.

 

[SM105K]

I remember when I was just going to put a tune on mine and nothing else. LOL!

Hahaha. #metoo

 

[Ta2dResqr]

I guess I could see playing with it more, but it's my only car (I do have a motorcycle, but in MD it isn't riding weather all year round) and living in a historic downtown area with only street parking I can't imagine owning multiple cars and having to keep moving them both for street sweeping each week. Now, if I ever buy a house with a garage (or some land to build a garage/shed/workshop) then I'll consider it. But I'd probably end up keeping this as my DD and get something truly cheap to take to track days and such.

Fair warning, it's contagious...especially here. I bought my first SHO in December 2020. It was my DD and my only other car was a motorcycle (living in Ohio). Next thing I knew, I had Bright Lites, GH intercooler, upgraded fuel pump, coils, etc, etc, etc. It is a very slippery rabbit hole. Sadly I was hit head on in that car at the beginning of the month. I can say, I have another one already and I have no disillusion, my modding started 24 hours after I got it.

 

[SeanDev]

Going down the right path, for a GH intercooler just submit your email and you will get notified they are in stock, only downfall is you have less than 10 minutes to react before there gone. I tried and failed after 3 alerts and gave up. Figured I would have a better chance at the lottery. A tune is worth every penny. Completely changes the beast. Of course I didn't stop, 93 tune, E30 tune, PPE DPs "coming" MRT axle back, AEM methanol kit, and we'll the more I see these other guys numbers it looks like I'll be keeping my checkbook open for awhile.

 

[kenneth mccoy]

Fair warning, it's contagious...especially here. I bought my first SHO in December 2020. It was my DD and my only other car was a motorcycle (living in Ohio). Next thing I knew, I had Bright Lites, GH intercooler, upgraded fuel pump, coils, etc, etc, etc. It is a very slippery rabbit hole. Sadly I was hit head on in that car at the beginning of the month. I can say, I have another one already and I have no disillusion, my modding started 24 hours after I got it.

Wow head on, how did you fair in the accident?

 

[Ta2dResqr]

Wow head on, how did you fair in the accident?

I could not have asked for the car to do any better. It was a 40 mph zone. I was hit hard enough to shift my car 3/4 out of my lane onto the shoulder. The front end collapsed as designed (enough it broke the transmission case). I had some heavy stuff in the trunk and it bent the seat forward. All this and I walked away. I bit my tongue, hyper extended my wrist, had some bad bruising and whiplash. I was so happy with how it performed I already bought another.

 

[kenneth mccoy]

Wow! I'm glad to hear that you made it out OK. Were you able to salvage any of your mods?

 

[Steven Grappy]

I could not have asked for the car to do any better. It was a 40 mph zone. I was hit hard enough to shift my car 3/4 out of my lane onto the shoulder. The front end collapsed as designed (enough it broke the transmission case). I had some heavy stuff in the trunk and it bent the seat forward. All this and I walked away. I bit my tongue, hyper extended my wrist, had some bad bruising and whiplash. I was so happy with how it performed I already bought another.

That seems familiar. Yes, these cars safety-wise are great in an accident. I had a basically head-on a few months ago, 05-12-21. I had a 2014 and a truck pulled out across stopped traffic in the right lane directly in front of me, I didn't even have time to hit the brake or swerve, just instant impact at about 40 mph most of the impact of the car was a stronger hit to the right. it was like driving into a wall. It put the right 1/2 of the car almost to the firewall as the truck was high enough it bent down the unibody frame and went over the top and the rest of the front end well into the engine. Every airbag in the car went off and I got away with only a very bruised knee, at first they thought surgery but ended up being ok a couple of months later, bruised ribs, mild concussion front my head hitting close to the center dash and a bit of whiplash in my neck and back, pretty minor for the extent of damage to the car. I was really impressed at the car's safety. I'm glad to hear that your injuries were not severe either.
I searched and bought a 2016 800 miles away on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. I flew out and picked it up and drove it back home to Pa.

 

[Ta2dResqr]

Wow! I'm glad to hear that you made it out OK. Were you able to salvage any of your mods?

I was allowed to swap any stock parts that I had. I lost my tune/tuner, AD Mounts, lowering springs, powder coated 10 spoke wheels, drilled/slotted rotors, powder coated calipers, Interior and exterior LED lights, window tint, and dynomat. I have reciepts for some of this and will be trying to get it all covered under my accessories rider on my insurance. Everything else I recovered and already installed on my new one.

 

[kenneth mccoy]

That's crazy, I had a friend total his mazda speed 6 and they let him take every mod off.

 

[FiveLeeter918]

I was allowed to swap any stock parts that I had. I lost my tune/tuner, AD Mounts, lowering springs, powder coated 10 spoke wheels, drilled/slotted rotors, powder coated calipers, Interior and exterior LED lights, window tint, and dynomat. I have reciepts for some of this and will be trying to get it all covered under my accessories rider on my insurance. Everything else I recovered and already installed on my new one.

what happened to the tuner?

 

[Ta2dResqr]

what happened to the tuner?

It was not in the car when I bought it. Looking at CarFax, it appears it was a repo in like 2016. The second owner just drove it. Then I bought it. I doubt I will get anything for the tuner. I have no idea what it was but suspect LMS based on the LMS springs and intake that were in it.

 

[FiveLeeter918]

It was not in the car when I bought it. Looking at CarFax, it appears it was a repo in like 2016. The second owner just drove it. Then I bought it. I doubt I will get anything for the tuner. I have no idea what it was but suspect LMS based on the LMS springs and intake that were in it.

ah ok.

 

[BoSHO]

Overall my mpg averaged at 23.9 and it was nice knowing I could goose the throttle a bit if I needed to pass someone. At this point this car doesn't "need" anything (other than an initial oil/filter change) but I can imagine buying the GH Intercooler (when they become available again) along with one of their tune packages. I'm more interested in the fuel mileage improvements and transmission/shifting than I am in any more power. I may eventually upgrade the brakes and slap on the lowering springs, but honestly I think this thing looks good as is.

SeanDSHO, I would humbly recommend at least the lowering springs for a few reasons. For the price? Huge improvements functionally (especially with TC off; my preferred mode) ... and cosmetically. She hunkers down quite nicely, ride height arguably 1 of the 2 things Ford missed (including exhaust tone) that would've completed the package.

But you do make a superl legit point. As much as I love mine lowered, EVERY SINGLE non-lowered SHO I've seen around here has still looked SOOOO sweet rolling past me. Call us what they want, but we's underrated.

Anyway, another dude posted about getting 5 mpg less (city) after installing his K&N CAI + Drop In Air Filter; doesn't make sense to me. So let the test begin with my mods ... CAI-Filter, Resonator delete, Flowmaster 40 Series Race Mufflers, H&R-lowered 1.5". (Muffler delete soon.)

To the gas mileage, similar to you I suppose, we make a couple 1,500 mile runs to Western Carolina every year ... but I have a 14-15 mile stretch of all highway with no traffic for testing; 5:00 am work commute.

Set everything normal long distance cruising (TC on; no S/Manual mode ... A/C set to 1 ... Adaptive Cruise Control @ 79)

Seemed to be on the rise, got as high as 26.5. Not too bad, but more importantly, test's not over. A good 30 mile stretch might be more indicative. Wonder how close to 30 I can get, especially after the muffler delete.

Still I'm thinking with better air flow internally and externally we do set ourselves up for measurable improvements on the highway.

(I don't really play MPG in the city. TC off; torque steer non-existent; Sport Mode + Paddle Shifters? Check. Push the pace. Show EcoBoost love.)

Peace, brother.