The Stripper Model

[sperold]

Yea, maybe it makes sense now to leave it alone, but back in 2000, I bet it was still competitive. The little I know of it, it was the 2.5 V6 with a few more cylinders. So it is a solid, proven design, but still very interesting.
Before I bought my 95 MTX, I agonized the decision between it and a 2002 Lincoln LS with the 6 Cyl standard. Seeing that you have had both (almost), did I make a mistake? Oh yea, on the LS, I once read it was recognized as one of the 5 safest cars ever manufactured. Funny that in an era of safety, Ford never got around to telling anyone about that.

 

[SoonerLS]

Before I bought my 95 MTX, I agonized the decision between it and a 2002 Lincoln LS with the 6 Cyl standard. Seeing that you have had both (almost), did I make a mistake?

It depends on what you wanted out of the car. The SHO should be faster because it's lighter and has slightly more power, but the LS handles quite a bit better (a 50/50 F/R weight ratio and really low unsprung mass will do that for you). The '02 with the stick wouldn't have been a bad choice, and it's certainly rarer--the total production of run of manual-trans LSes from '00-'02 was less than the run of MTX SHOs in '95.

Oh yea, on the LS, I once read it was recognized as one of the 5 safest cars ever manufactured. Funny that in an era of safety, Ford never got around to telling anyone about that.

Yeah, the LS suffered from one of the problems that plagued the SHO: Ford's patented "Launch and Abandon" marketing strategy. At least Mulally seems to have gotten them to drop that winner--believe it or not, I've actually seen sustained marketing efforts for non-Mustang/non-F-series FoMoCo products!

 

[sperold]

You know, I am looking forward to the day when I can change my own water pump again. And get at both sides of the engine.
The 95 MTX was like a personal quest for me. I jumped at the first opportunity to get one, knowing their low production numbers. I was not a member of this forum before, and did not realize that all 1000 of them are offered on the "cars for sale" section of Shoforum. Long story short, many thousands of dollars later I have done the clutch, all the brakes, the complete A/C system, all the mounts, you name it. But the Ultra Red body is beautiful, and I am really thankful for that.
So, after all this, I am still wondering if I made the correct choice.

 

[mkaresh]

365hp/350tq + 4000 lbs + fwd = no traction

The curb weight wouldn't hurt traction. But that amount of torque through only the front wheels would result in record levels of torque steer.

I do agree with the OP overall, though. I don't see how wanting the performance of the SHO necessarily means you want a luxury sedan.

 

[Reinovator]

Ford of late has been very smart they watched trends and the 'muscle cars' and luxury performance cars have blurred buy definition, and ford has adapted, Strippers are not the target market. my first performance car was called the 'Executive Super Car' no air or power steering.but pulled the 1/4 mile in 13 flat. Now, most people who can afford 35k to 45k want the extras.
This is why The SHO is the way it is. A SHO is a luxury Performance car that's the market.
A Focus is a Focus Different market different performance. for different people, still a good buy. Thank you ford, if it was up to some in power we would all be driving Yugos on the road and riding mass transit to work. GOD bless the USA. and Competitive Marketing.

I still wish the others, GM, Chry, weren't doing so badly, we would see more innovations Like the new SHO, and lower prices$$$

Oh my first hot rod was a 1969 Hurst Olds scary fun!!! It almost always felt like it was going to twist it self in half as the front wheels came off the ground. dam I miss that car!!!

But right now I'm happy with my 89 SHO maybe a 2012 SHO after the bugs are worked out.

A stripper can be ordered in any line truck, car,or boat, but why a SHO, would it still be a SHO is it was stripped down???

 

[SoonerLS]

So, after all this, I am still wondering if I made the correct choice.

If you like the car, you made the right choice.

 

[sperold]

No matter which approach you take, things seem to end up being the same with cars. In the end, it was about the same amount of money to buy and rescue the 95 as it would have been to buy the 2002 (then). So that part was equal. I am not a front wheel drive (FWD) fan, but the SHO has to be the best FWD vehicle out there. Maintenace is a killer on FWD, so long term that is a minus, but I have done everything now, so that is not an immediate concern. The car has been great and still looks good, even with it's dated style.
The LS is way more modern and luxurious; and that handling with the rear wheel drive would have been fabulous ( I like any car with the battery in the trunk).
The 95 MTX..... yea, I like the car.

 

[mkaresh]

Ford did too many things 9/10 of the way with the LS: the styling, the powertrain, the handling, the seats, and the marketing. Such huge potential, unrealized.

 

[sperold]

I still love the LS even though it did not reach its potential, as you mentioned. After seeing all the attention to detail that the people on this forum have put forward on this new SHO, even a fraction of that attention would have made a beautiful LS. I liked the fact that it came in a 6 and an 8, and a manual transmission or an automatic. I still admire the styling of the LS.... I wish it would have been the 2000 SHO, and kept the lineage intact.

 

[_JR_]

The cheapest SHO i've seen at the dealership so far (and these have all been stock units and not factory ordered units for a customer) have been 53Kish range. Would be nice if they offered a more cost effective version for people who dont want all the extra gadgets/hassle/price

 

[sperold]

You are from Canada, I can tell!
I am with you, $53K plus $6,890.00 tax is hard to take. I would have been happy with not so much motor and a lot less weight, but it is what it is. And you are in TO which is the lowest price zone in the country.