Taurus SHO Q's
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From: South Georgia
Taurus SHO Q's
How do the early editions of the SHO 89-95 (V-6) compare with the later years 96-99 (V-8)?
What are some common problems or things to look out for if considering buying one?
Jason
What are some common problems or things to look out for if considering buying one?
Jason
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They have a following, but the V8s had cam sprockets that came off, the V6s had a long list of issues as well. These are cars to be avoided at this date.
Want a fast 4 door? Find a Nissan Maxima with a 5 speed from the same era. It was a bit slower than the SHO but was an off the shelf car, not a "special" that you can't find parts for etc etc.
Want a fast 4 door? Find a Nissan Maxima with a 5 speed from the same era. It was a bit slower than the SHO but was an off the shelf car, not a "special" that you can't find parts for etc etc.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: colorado
i had a '91 sho, the engine and trans where great...it was everything else that broke. they go through clutches like crazy, i went through 3 in 80,000 miles plus i had the water pump , climate control computer, A/C compressor, ABS module, and air bag go out as well. i would not recomend one. as said a Nissan Maxima of the same years would be a better choice
Postmaster
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From: So Cal
There are various SHO sites that can answer your questions better than we can. Try http://www.shotimes.com/php-bin/
I had an 89 SHO which was rated one of the 10 worst by Consumer reports for reliability. I can vouche for that. 3 clutches, 2 bell housings, 2 clutch diaphrams, one class action law suit, many repairs over the 8 years and 120K miles I owned. it. I finally sold it since I was spending upwards of $2000 per year to keep it on the road in the last couple years of ownership.
I have heard that the 90 and up were far better.
Jim Henderson
I had an 89 SHO which was rated one of the 10 worst by Consumer reports for reliability. I can vouche for that. 3 clutches, 2 bell housings, 2 clutch diaphrams, one class action law suit, many repairs over the 8 years and 120K miles I owned. it. I finally sold it since I was spending upwards of $2000 per year to keep it on the road in the last couple years of ownership.
I have heard that the 90 and up were far better.
Jim Henderson
Hotshot
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From: The hills of No. Calif.
I have a '91 and I love it. Great car, it's been very reliable (so much so that I let my 73-yr-old mother use it for her regular driver.) The throwout bearing makes a little noise and I'll probably have to do the clutch before too awful long (110K miles) and it has a few minor issues, but over all I'm quite happy with it.
Post Fiend
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From: Connecticut
Good informative article on the SHO, for both it's history and it's potential, can be found here:
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2...Tell/index.php
If you're looking for something that's fun and challenging, go with a SHO. If you want something more along the lines of what your neighbor's daughter might be driving, consider a similar vintage Maxima.
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2...Tell/index.php
If you're looking for something that's fun and challenging, go with a SHO. If you want something more along the lines of what your neighbor's daughter might be driving, consider a similar vintage Maxima.
Last edited by Rockledge; Jun 28, 2006 at 09:17 PM.
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Originally Posted by Rockledge
Good informative article on the SHO, for both it's history and it's potential, can be found here:
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2005/08/SHOnTell/index.php
If you're looking for something that's fun and challenging, go with a SHO. If you want something more along the lines of what your neighbor's daughter might be driving, consider a similar vintage Maxima.
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2005/08/SHOnTell/index.php
If you're looking for something that's fun and challenging, go with a SHO. If you want something more along the lines of what your neighbor's daughter might be driving, consider a similar vintage Maxima.
For the SHO: "challenging"
For the Maxima: "driving".
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From: Northern CA
A fun car to drive. But like every one else, they cost bucks to maintain. Clutches, water pumps and a CPS did me in. Plus the ex wife drove it for 50 miles without a drop of water in it. That kinda finished it off. What a screamer though.
gw
gw
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From: So Cal
Yeah, if you didn't have to pay or do the maintenance they are a screamer and a sleeper, no one knows you are there till you blow their doors off. But then there are many newer models that are much faster now, but for then they were quick, and could smoke the tires better than just about anything else.
I did all my own routine maintenance, but still had to pay the dealer about $2K per year in the last few years for things I didn't want to do or have time to do, like Heater core($1,000), clutches at $500+ each except for the class action settlement and nagging stumble issues that they never fixed but still cost me something like $1,000. I fixed that by doing what my scanner told me to do for $100. I even told the dealer what the scanner said but they replaced my fuel regulator and other more profitable stuff. The 89 SHO was probably my worst car for durability and maintenance that I have owned in over 30 years.
Probably some of my maintenance issues were dealing with that dealer since now I know they were a "remove and replace til it works or the customer runs out of money type dealer".
Fortunately I got rid of that car and got a chebby, har.
Jim Henderson
I did all my own routine maintenance, but still had to pay the dealer about $2K per year in the last few years for things I didn't want to do or have time to do, like Heater core($1,000), clutches at $500+ each except for the class action settlement and nagging stumble issues that they never fixed but still cost me something like $1,000. I fixed that by doing what my scanner told me to do for $100. I even told the dealer what the scanner said but they replaced my fuel regulator and other more profitable stuff. The 89 SHO was probably my worst car for durability and maintenance that I have owned in over 30 years.
Probably some of my maintenance issues were dealing with that dealer since now I know they were a "remove and replace til it works or the customer runs out of money type dealer".
Fortunately I got rid of that car and got a chebby, har.
Jim Henderson
Post Fiend
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From: Connecticut
Jim, I had a very similar experience with a Saab 900 I owned in the mid-late 80's. Supposedly it was one of the "finer" automobiles, at least at that time, yet in my case it was nothing less than a disaster. One major failure/breakdown after another. Did what I could myself, but still had to use the dealer for a lot of repairs and it killed me financially. When a head cracked it was almost a relief, as it gave me no choice but to finally unload the money pit once and for all.
So having felt your type of pain, I respect your opinion on the matter.
So having felt your type of pain, I respect your opinion on the matter.
New User
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I owned 2 SHO's. 91 silver and 93 forest green. They were 2 of cars I ever had the most the fun with. Usually the mustang camaro and firebird guys had no idea what was sitting next to them. Everything up to the limited editions Z28's and Trans Am's were fair game. That yamaha motor was not olny ran well when you popped the hood and a gearhead saw if for the first time they were slackjawed. Now I remember why my life has become boring.
Post Fiend
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From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by dtmtbf
I owned 2 SHO's. 91 silver and 93 forest green. They were 2 of cars I ever had the most the fun with. Usually the mustang camaro and firebird guys had no idea what was sitting next to them. Everything up to the limited editions Z28's and Trans Am's were fair game. That yamaha motor was not olny ran well when you popped the hood and a gearhead saw if for the first time they were slackjawed. Now I remember why my life has become boring.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Connecticut