guspech750
Member
Well I have not introduced myself yet. I'm Joe. Live in the Chicagoland area. I have been a member of the Marauder forums for many years now, Chicago Garage forum and a few watch forums. I currently and always will own my modified 2004 Mercury Marauder. Have been a fan of the 1st gen SHO and the return of the current 4th gen SHO. So my wife and I used to own a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a Chrysler Aspen. We loved both of those SUV's as we liked the looks, amenities, power and they were extremely dependable. But it was time for a change. We grew tired of the SUV's and desired a sedan.
We have been looking and test driving cars for 3 years. Our demands were, extremely loaded, good power, good looks, a unique model, wife preferred AWD and most importantly for us was a large full size type of interior and trunk. We looked at the Cadillac CTS, BMW 5 series with the M Sport package (not M series) , Hyundai Genesis R Spec, Ford SHO and Dodge Charger SRT8.
Well if I recall correctly. Only the 5 series in any model except the M series could be had with their AWD system and the Dodge Charger had an AWD system except the SRT too. They all were great cars with many options, performance and good interior space. But it seemed as only the BMW 5 series and the SHO had the interior space we were looking for. If there is one thing I extremely hate about most vehicles today is that when I sit in a car, shut the door and by arms are smashed up against the door. I'm 6'2" 230lbs. So I'm not fat or lanky tall. Almost all cars today have great leg room but severely lack in the width space from door to door.
It seemed like only the SHO and 5 series offered the very wide side to side space we desired. All the other cars just simply lacked that space. So with that said. The 5 series could be had with AWD and the SHO just simply has it along with every amenity we wanted and then some. So for what we wanted along with the price of the SHO. It was a no brainer. $45,000ish for AWD, 365hp, every amenity, interior space galore, great looks and end of year rebates and stuffzzzz. We could not resist.
LOTS of people say the SHO is over priced. I beg to differ. Once you compare models, options, engines, AWD systems and cost. I see the SHO as a bargain at $40,000+ compared to spending easily spending $60,000+ for many other cars.
So December 2014 we searched and searched for a SHO with or without PP. But many dealers in our area did not have any 2014 SHO's. But I was lucky enough to find a black 2014 SHO non PP about an hour away. Drove over there, test drove it, worked and deal and bought a brand new 20014 SHO with less than 10 miles on the odometer one week before Christmas. Merry Christmas to us!!
Since then my wife LOVES her new SHO. I too love driving it. It's just simply dreamy. We just finished a two week vacation to NY city, Washington DC and souther North Carolina. Drove 3,303 miles. The car was a blast. I mostly drive it in sport mode. Especially on the back mountain roads. Whipping around the ups, downs and curvy roads flipping the paddle shifters and listening to the sweet sounds of the RPM's and tires screeching around curves was music to my ears. My wife and 13 year old daughter, well not so much. LOLzzzzzz. But they enjoyed some of it. Driving in the Smoky Mountains is where the SHO really shines. Whipping around sharp curves at speed, it was so planted on the road. Acceleration was smooth and silky and the up and downshifts with the paddles was more than adequate.
All in all. We love this car!! As I would love to modify our SHO to the Nth degree. It is my wife's daily driver. But that is where I have my modified and Eaton swapped Mercury Marauder to play with!!
Sorry for the long rambling.
A few pics of our 2014 SHO and my modified 2004 Marauder.
Sent from The White House on taxpayers dimes.
DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom
We have been looking and test driving cars for 3 years. Our demands were, extremely loaded, good power, good looks, a unique model, wife preferred AWD and most importantly for us was a large full size type of interior and trunk. We looked at the Cadillac CTS, BMW 5 series with the M Sport package (not M series) , Hyundai Genesis R Spec, Ford SHO and Dodge Charger SRT8.
Well if I recall correctly. Only the 5 series in any model except the M series could be had with their AWD system and the Dodge Charger had an AWD system except the SRT too. They all were great cars with many options, performance and good interior space. But it seemed as only the BMW 5 series and the SHO had the interior space we were looking for. If there is one thing I extremely hate about most vehicles today is that when I sit in a car, shut the door and by arms are smashed up against the door. I'm 6'2" 230lbs. So I'm not fat or lanky tall. Almost all cars today have great leg room but severely lack in the width space from door to door.
It seemed like only the SHO and 5 series offered the very wide side to side space we desired. All the other cars just simply lacked that space. So with that said. The 5 series could be had with AWD and the SHO just simply has it along with every amenity we wanted and then some. So for what we wanted along with the price of the SHO. It was a no brainer. $45,000ish for AWD, 365hp, every amenity, interior space galore, great looks and end of year rebates and stuffzzzz. We could not resist.
LOTS of people say the SHO is over priced. I beg to differ. Once you compare models, options, engines, AWD systems and cost. I see the SHO as a bargain at $40,000+ compared to spending easily spending $60,000+ for many other cars.
So December 2014 we searched and searched for a SHO with or without PP. But many dealers in our area did not have any 2014 SHO's. But I was lucky enough to find a black 2014 SHO non PP about an hour away. Drove over there, test drove it, worked and deal and bought a brand new 20014 SHO with less than 10 miles on the odometer one week before Christmas. Merry Christmas to us!!
Since then my wife LOVES her new SHO. I too love driving it. It's just simply dreamy. We just finished a two week vacation to NY city, Washington DC and souther North Carolina. Drove 3,303 miles. The car was a blast. I mostly drive it in sport mode. Especially on the back mountain roads. Whipping around the ups, downs and curvy roads flipping the paddle shifters and listening to the sweet sounds of the RPM's and tires screeching around curves was music to my ears. My wife and 13 year old daughter, well not so much. LOLzzzzzz. But they enjoyed some of it. Driving in the Smoky Mountains is where the SHO really shines. Whipping around sharp curves at speed, it was so planted on the road. Acceleration was smooth and silky and the up and downshifts with the paddles was more than adequate.
All in all. We love this car!! As I would love to modify our SHO to the Nth degree. It is my wife's daily driver. But that is where I have my modified and Eaton swapped Mercury Marauder to play with!!
Sorry for the long rambling.
A few pics of our 2014 SHO and my modified 2004 Marauder.
Sent from The White House on taxpayers dimes.
DTR + 4.10's + Eaton swap = Wreeeeeeeeeeeeeeedom
