SHO - A Study in Subtle

[sperold]

While parked in my 95 SHO, a guy came up and said that mine was only the 2'nd SHO he had ever seen in his life. Later in the day, I thought to myself that he had probably seen thousands of these cars, but who can tell them apart from the standard Taurus. It is nice to be subtle, but the SHO type of subtle is puritan. Be honest, who really wants to pay a huge premium for a car that you have trouble distinguishing from the base model. For every year that the current SHO's were produced, Ford was always on record stating that sales were disappointing. The first 2 generations of SHO's were beautiful cars, mainly because the base Taurus in each case was a beautiful car. I don't want to offend anyone, but the 3'rd generation SHO was a no starter for me because the base Taurus was less than beautuful. They are said to be head and shoulders above the first two generations in rigidity and advanced features, but I could never bring myself to consider one (but I have got more used to them).
Now the 4'th generation is here. Call me crazy, but Ford seems to be doing the same thing again. You need a magnifying glass to find the SHO badging. Again, it is difficult to distinguish the car from the regular model, which luckily is a beautiful model again. For a company that was always disappointed in sales, you would think they could have made the flagship model more recognizable, and see if sales could improve. This model seems to be loaded with advanced features and is truly a premium car, but the base Taurus from 40 feet, travelling at 20 mph, is very impressive as well.
In the old days of the SHO, a 10,000 unit model run (for the whole world) was a typical output. You would think a little experimentation would be in order to get more of these things out the door, since we already know what the "sleeper model" numbers are.
I wish Ford well with this new model. And it is not as though I have a problem with the early SHO's, as I currently have 3 of them licenced. But I will say that I would not have been against my current models being more outstanding visually from the standard model.

 

[typhoon5000]

http://blog.caranddriver.com/ford-taurus-sho-to-get-a-little-more-sho-wy-in-2012/

 

[OSU 4 SHO]

Think about the BMW M division, Audi's S and RS, Mercedes AMG's, Lexus F's and Cadillac V's. They are all subtle differences that distinguish the performance models form the standards. Especially Audi, the S4's are essentially the same as the S-line A4's visually.

I think that the new Taurus SHO could have color keyed the lower plastics, maybe de-chromed the car and added some better badging and it would have changed the look significantly.

 

[wuzzzer]

I think the Gen 2s are the easiest to spot from a distance and tell if they're a SHO or not. I've never had a hard time distinguishing a Gen 2 SHO from a regular Taurus. Gen 3s are a bit harder especially if they're not up close. I wish Ford would have put factory fog lights on the Gen 3 SHO.

I saw a white 2010 Taurus on I-90 in South Dakota a couple weeks ago. Even though it was the first 2010 I'd seen in person I knew exactly what it was when it was way behind me in my rearview mirror. I got excited hoping it was a SHO but it was a Limited (?). Still looked really, really sharp.

 

[PonySHO]

Personally, I don't mind the subtlety. I kinda like the sleeper aspect. I just read the Car & Driver article in the link below... things like smoked headlight lenses would be cool. I started a thread, "What changes would you like to see on future models?" If there's some serious, consistent input, I plan on compiling it and passing this on to a friend I have in Dearborn. Things like bigger brakes, better instrumentation, etc.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

I first purchased my '89 with the specific intent of flying under the wire.

 

[roland]

I think with the SHO, it's supposed to SHOcase (sorry I had to do it) the Taurus. VW did it a little different by making the Passat CC with significantly different styling, and Nissan went even further by making a new model with the Maxima (using the Altima's platform, and using a spiced up Altima VQ V6). I'm wondering though, if the Taurus/Fusion relationship is going to be similar to that of the Maxima/Altima in the 2012/2013 redesigns though, as they're both moving to the EUCD platform. The new Taurus is supposed to be decidedly upscale (or thats what Ford wants everyone to think), especially when compared to the Fusion, so the hope is that buyers will not be intimidated by the price tag of the SHO if they feel the Taurus has the reputation of being a luxurious car.

 

[PonySHO]

I think with the SHO, it's supposed to SHOcase (sorry I had to do it) the Taurus. VW did it a little different by making the Passat CC with significantly different styling, and Nissan went even further by making a new model with the Maxima (using the Altima's platform, and using a spiced up Altima VQ V6). I'm wondering though, if the Taurus/Fusion relationship is going to be similar to that of the Maxima/Altima in the 2012/2013 redesigns though, as they're both moving to the EUCD platform. The new Taurus is supposed to be decidedly upscale (or thats what Ford wants everyone to think), especially when compared to the Fusion, so the hope is that buyers will not be intimidated by the price tag of the SHO if they feel the Taurus has the reputation of being a luxurious car.

IMHO, the Taurus/Fusion relationship is just like the Galaxie/Fairlane was. Simalarly, the Impala/Chevelle.

 

[stephen newberg]

I first purchased my '89 with the specific intent of flying under the wire.

Same for me with the '98. That was the whole point.

pax, smn

 

[1993MTXSHO]

Yeah I would say most sho owners love the sho for it's sleeper status. If you don't want it to be a sleeper paint the SHO letters in the body, put shiny rims on it with a cowl hood and paint the brake calipers bright red.

 

[typhoon5000]

I'm wondering though, if the Taurus/Fusion relationship is going to be similar to that of the Maxima/Altima in the 2012/2013 redesigns though, as they're both moving to the EUCD platform.

The Taurus is staying on the D platform, only the Fusion is going to the CD. Ford would not do another ground up design on a new platform only 3 years from a totally new top hat design (and extensive chassis tweaking) on the Taurus. It's too much work, time and $$$ that Ford doesn't have. Ford is trying to expand the D platform as much as they can in the full size and crossover segments right now to bring costs down by way of increased part commonality.

 

[sperold]

I agree, we are the converted. We all like the sleeper aspect of the car. But we represent only .001% of the car buying public. Ford was (and is) trying to claw its way into the sport / luxury / prestige market where there are already lots of players. And they have to be admired for trying it with a front wheel drive car, when they were not as well thought of as they are today. But if I were trying to steal market share from BMW, Audi, and Mercedes, I would only try it with a value packed (and uniquely styled) car. A sublte difference for the premium BMW over the standard model will work. A subtle difference over the Taurus (sometimes second car and grocery getter) to the SHO is not as sure a thing. I have a love / hate relationship with Ford on a lot of issues. I have seen some very impressive body kits on 96 to 99 Taurus, and I can't help but feel that Ford could have done some development work on that model when sales fell. Instead, their answer was to cancell it, after all the development work that went into the V8 automatic was done. I understand that the next few years of the Taurus (2000 and on) use the same body as the 96 - 99 and the doors will interchange (I think), but the styling is much less radical (and more saleable). Why wasn't the SHO continued into that era, since the work was already done. And then they went on to cancel the Taurus! But that is another matter. At least they didn't need a government bail out.
I would have liked the production numbers to have been up on the SHO's. The reason we have trouble finding parts now is because there were not many made, and because of that, not many companies remanufacture the part due to the low demand. So we get stuck with no new motor mounts, oil pumps, you name it. The way to get production numbers up is through style. The regular model, which you are going to sell millions of, have to have production compromises to get the price right. You can't put that trick taillight system on them and still keep the price point. But if you are only going to make tens of thousands of them, you can. So you can turn your stylists loose and optimize the base platform and create the look you really wanted. You can still see the DNA of the original car, but it is a much improved and unique style. That should be the SHO, and you should never have anyone say they have only noticed 2 in their life.

 

[OSU 4 SHO]

brick of text=no read

 

[RonPorter]

I first purchased my '89 with the specific intent of flying under the wire.

+1

After owning a Z28, Corvette, and GT 5.0 as recent previous cars, the new '89 suited things perfectly. Although in '90 I put on the '90 SHO centercaps, and more folks noticed the car.

 

[RonPorter]

brick of text=no read

+1 (again)

The SHO "IS" all about stealth.

As someone who has owned high-profile cars in the past, It's NBFD.

All I want on the new EcoSHO is less chrome (and no 20" wheels in the 12s package).

 

[PonySHO]

+1 (again)

The SHO "IS" all about stealth.

As someone who has owned high-profile cars in the past, It's NBFD.

All I want on the new EcoSHO is less chrome (and no 20" wheels in the 12s package).

I'm not a big fan of huge wheels, just the old school in me. I got the 20" wheels mainly because they came with Michelins, which people highly praised. The Goodyear RS-As and the F1s got bad wet pavement reviews. I actually think the 20" on the SHO don't look too bad though.

 

[sperold]

It took me 15 years, after introduction, to buy my first SHO, but already, I find myself looking for a way to get this model. This car is absolutely stunning. Is there a big premium to insure these cars? The older SHO's were a great bargain in that category.

 

[PonySHO]

It took me 15 years, after introduction, to buy my first SHO, but already, I find myself looking for a way to get this model. This car is absolutely stunning. Is there a big premium to insure these cars? The older SHO's were a great bargain in that category.

Well, insurance rates are quite dependent on the area you're in. I'm in Buffalo, NY and they'll be a lot higher than someone in let's say Eureka, KS. I just want to qualify my rate which is $485/6 mo. My '03 F-250 was $410. Also, I got State Farm and no other agent will even talk to you for a quote if they know you got them. And I've got an untarnished record for over 15 years. Ooops, I just jinxed myself. My dealer has a pool going to see when I get my first speeding ticket. :angelnot:

 

[RonPorter]

It took me 15 years, after introduction, to buy my first SHO, but already, I find myself looking for a way to get this model. This car is absolutely stunning. Is there a big premium to insure these cars? The older SHO's were a great bargain in that category.

I suspect not. The rates "may" be based on their history with old Tauri, and it would probably take a few years of claims for them to change that one way or the other.

 

[PonySHO]

I was at the dealer today and went out to the parking lot to **** some time while I was waiting. I looked at the line of Taurus' to note what the differences was between the SHO and the rest of them. Besides the 3 badges, I thought the bottom grille was specific to the SHO. The Limited has the same grille! The flattened honeycomb type. The dual exhaust is the only other thing I could see.