Tips for buying a SHO

[Angrymongoose]

New guy here. I currently have a 2013 Limited with 103k on it that I'm looking to trade in/sell and pick up a SHO with the performance package.
Im looking for 30k miles or so, less is always good and a little more is ok if the deal is good enough. I'm looking to spend around mid 20's for it and it seems I can find a decent number in that range.
I'm curious if there is anything specific I should look for with these or anything I should be aware of.
I have found a couple that seem like decent deals but they were fleet/rental cars and I feel like these would have been really beat on as a rental.

 

['14SHO]

Rentals are a crap shoot. It could be the best vehicle you have owned. Only thing would be to swap all the vital fluids once you get your hands on one

 

[krewat]

If not from a private person, include a PTU fluid change as part of the deal, and insist on it. If it's private, do it first thing.

I can't think of anything particular about my 2013 or 2016, but they were both new leases. The 2013 had two recalls on it, the right axle shaft and the fuel module. Whatever you do, check all recalls were done.

And get an OASIS report from a Ford dealer for the VIN.

 

[luigisho]

When I was shopping for a used f150 most of the available inventory on dealer lots were all originally fleet vehicles. It's where most of the newer used inventory come from.

 

[SM105K]

The lower mileage usually the better. Get as much documentation as you can. Carfax, Oasis, ect. Be willing to travel, betters deals can be found outside your general area. Always we willing to walk away from a deal.

Fluid swap should be first priority. Oil, PTU, Trans, RDU, should be replaced regardless of year or mileage. Coolant is different. If you buy a 2016 with 22k miles, the coolant is still good. Now a 13 with 60k, change the coolant.

Even though this is still a Taurus, it is a AWD, Twin turbo, performance sedan. It needs to be treated as such, and expect more maintenance costs, more fuel costs, and un-forseen items cost. They are an investment. You have to pay to play. If a 5k dollar trans repair breaks puts a legitimate dent in your bank account, then this may not be the platform that you would want to modify. Nothing is worse then being "car broke". I sold my first SHO because it literally did that to me.

 

[Angrymongoose]

When I bought my limited it had been a fleet vehicle as well. I got very lucky with it in that very few issues arose from that. The limited is also much less fun to drive and generally the more fun a car is to drive the more it gets beat on as a rental. Hence my fear about these being rentals beforehand.
I am more than willing to travel for a good deal as well.
As for things breaking, it would probably be another year before I started down the modding route. My first car was a dsm so I am very used to things breaking constantly, and as such I can take care of most things on my own. If I have to replace another transmission well that's what weekends are for right?

 

[SM105K]

Good luck, there is a ton of knowledge floating around here. Best bang for your buck is tune + plugs K&N drop in(some will argue that a lower t-stat is a must), followed by the Gearhead Intercooler, and H&R Springs.

Do your research on a tune. AJPTurbo, GearHead, and Livernois are the big three. All make good power, all have their good qualities. Lots on info on each vendor here.

 

[Jus2quik]

Just bought my Lease/rental 2018 and it’s immaculate and highly maintained,just changed all my fluids and everything looks great except for the ptu fluid,it was nasty but at least it’s changed now. Now if it was a standard tranny I’d be more concerned because of how people treat clutches and tires ,all the shock load on something like a Mustang or a WRX is scary. The Sho being AWD can only be floored and driven hard. Little les concern that slamming gears and redlining everywhere

 

[Angrymongoose]

You make a good point about the auto and awd part. I hadn't considered that.

 

[Angrymongoose]

I just gotta add, dealers suck about listing cars. Called 4 different ones to be sure it was a pp car, said so online, not a one actually was.
I read that if the door sticker says 2A for the axle code then it is a pp, but almost none of them have that picture.
I also haven't found anywhere online that I could run the vin and get any useful information that would include whether it was a pp model.

 

[Angrymongoose]

Finally found worth going to look at. Gonna be a couple hour drive, but so far its the only one I've found worth considering.
Here's the link for inquiring minds.
Ill be heading there Tuesday, fingers crossed its not a wasted drive.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inven...gHelper.selectedEntity=d355#listing=233851304

 

[krewat]

Nice...

 

[Craig Aparo]

Did you do it? After just buying a new 18 PP Back in December, for 34k, if I had to do it again, I would get one of the hundreds of leftover police interceptors that are for sale for about 28k. It seems they all want Explorers these days.

 

[Angrymongoose]

I did end up getting it. Everything seems to be in great shape mechanically and body wise.
I will say I am not a fan of the wrap on the steering wheel at all, and I do wish the seats were leather without the inserts.
Other than that, she really needs a good cleaning inside and out. Apparently dealers aren't great at that. I'll be changing the oil and ptu fluid next weekend as well.
Personally I would never consider a police vehicle. Those just get beat on way too much and I don't trust the government to be up to par on maintenance either.

 

[76FoMoCo]

no ta bad price for the miles. get the windows tinted and a 3 bar map with tune on it and have a $h*tload of fun!

 

[Christian]

Well done lad.... Nice color too. Did you get any extended warranty?

 

[Angrymongoose]

**** no, I'm never going to pay for a car service plan. In my opinion it should be illegal to call that a warranty. If it has a deductible and strict conditions its a service plan/insurance, not a warranty.
I suppose I understand them for people who have neither the time/desire/skills to do the repairs themselves. However, it saves me a ton of money to do myself and I psuedo enjoy it.

 

[Christian]

**** no, I'm never going to pay for a car service plan. In my opinion it should be illegal to call that a warranty. If it has a deductible and strict conditions its a service plan/insurance, not a warranty.
I suppose I understand them for people who have neither the time/desire/skills to do the repairs themselves. However, it saves me a ton of money to do myself and I psuedo enjoy it.

I get that. I'm the same way, but when Ford offered me their ESP for a crazy good price, I couldn't say no. As I came from Lexus (an LS460), I was very skeptical of Ford reliability, so I jumped at the opportunity. Its a Ford warranty and not a typical aftermarket "insurance plan".

 

[Angrymongoose]

Ahh see mine was at a Chrysler dealership so it wasn't the Ford warranty plan they were offering.
I also came from a 13 Limited that I put 80k on in a little over 4 years. I know they're not the same vehicle but I have pretty good faith in Ford. That 13 ran like a champ the whole time.

 

[SM105K]

Change all of the fluids ASAP.