Looking for a new car.

[Daved]

I don't have an SHO yet, I'm going from a Focus ST with intake/exhaust/tune and I want to stay with an EcoBoost motor. I am used to nimble cars, I hope the SHO feels nimble, I guess I will find out on the test drive, I'd guess there's an aftermarket for swaybars, strut braces etc...

Can anyone tell me what to look for when I'm shopping for a used SHO. Probably 2012 - 2015.

Thanks, Dave.

 

[luigisho]

If you call a shoebox nimble sure. If you want a corner carver this is the wrong platform to start with. You need to test drive one and maybe similar competitor models.

The catch is that alot of cars that are more nimble- like some German models- have much more complicated suspension geometry and parts. I helped someone work on a BMW years back and that is alot more work and sometimes special tools to do the work.

Get the one that's been taken care of the best. Or, just as important, get one that is still eligible for a competitively priced extended Ford warranty.

 

[SM105K]

I don't have an SHO yet, I'm going from a Focus ST with intake/exhaust/tune and I want to stay with an EcoBoost motor. I am used to nimble cars, I hope the SHO feels nimble, I guess I will find out on the test drive, I'd guess there's an aftermarket for swaybars, strut braces etc...

Can anyone tell me what to look for when I'm shopping for a used SHO. Probably 2012 - 2015.

Thanks, Dave.

I have both. My ST is out handles my SHO all day. The ST is more nimble, stops better, and turns in better in every aspect.

My SHO has upgraded brakes, H&R lowering springs, AD Gen 2 TQ mounts, along with wider and lighter wheels and still can't hold a candle to my Focus.

There is not a aftermarket for sway bars (some are in the works) and there is zero strut braces as well.

I would look for a 2013+. They are nicer on the exterior styling and the 13+ ECU are better for tuning.

 

[Daved]

Nimble might be too strong a word, just something that doesn't feel like a boat. I'll miss my ST, but my boys are 13 and 10, the teenager is almost as big as me, and we're not small people. I just need something bigger.

 

[SoFloSHO]

I had a challenger r/t before the sho and the sho felt pretty boatish to me at first but I got used to it pretty quickly after taking a few corners. Now I would say it feels just as (maybe even more) sporty and "muscly" as the challenger in terms of driving. Definitely no comparison to the nimble focus though.

 

[luigisho]

SHO backseats are historically small for full sized people if that is the main transportation as a group. If you made it in the ST, I guess that would work. But if I had to transport them, and they are still growing, I would look at something with more interior room. Unless it's short trips or weekends or something.

My F150 Super Crew is great on seating space. I'm not sure how the other ecoboost platforms stack up for interior space. The SCrew handles like you would imagine.