Auto Trends

All Photos originally uploaded by Zane Merva

Ford Saved the Best for Last

Continuing on from Part 1 of our preview of the 2010 Ford Taurus SHO, I can’t think of any better way to begin than where the SHO has always shined best… its performance.

Engine & Performance
The standard Taurus receives a perky 3.5-liter Ecotec engine, featuring 263 horsepower. Don’t let the “eco” fool you though, as this engine is actually not all that great on gas mileage. On average it has received a reported 18 mpg by most testers from its claimed 17 city/25 highway. But we are not here to talk about “average”. This is the twin-turbocharged SHO, which is anything but average.

Ford has taken their direct injection 3.5-liter Ecotec and boosted it to a whopping 365 horsepower and 350 ft-lbs torque. The twin-turbo set-up enables the SHO to hold a fairly stable torque curve throughout most of its rpm range and almost completely eliminates lag. Its 350 ft-lbs of torque jump in at about 1,500 rpm and holds strong through 5,000 rpm, tapering off slightly until reaching its 6,250 rpm rev limit.

This combination of technology and brute boost performance is thought to give the SHO a zero to sixty capability of less than the 6-second range. Add in the optional performance package with the shorter 3.16:1 gear ratio and you could be talking close to a 5.5 second 0-60 and quarter mile times somewhere in the 13’s. No guarantees though, this is just a guesstimate.

These numbers is actually pretty impressive considering the SHO comes in weighing close to 4,400 pounds, which is certainly no lightweight. It is a good 100 to 400 pounds over most AWD luxury sport sedans it will be in competition with, such as Audi and BMW.

The only real downer about the SHO’s performance, is thanks to its traction control and rather “controlled” AWD set-up, its burnouts are limited to only a few chirps. But no mind, this is a quasi-luxury sedan, not a Bullit Mustang, so you can’t hold that against it.

Transmission & Handling
The SHO receives a 6-speed automatic transmission, with paddle shifters on the wheel to allow the driver to feel a little more involved in their driving experience. By all reports the shifts are solid and smooth, and the only complaint might be that they are slightly more luxury-oriented than was expected from the SHO.

The suspension is upgraded from the base Taurus model, offering 19-inch wheels, performance brake pads, sport-tuned steering, shocks, springs, bushings, and a beefier stabilizer bar front and back. Cornering in the SHO is said to be predictable and balanced.

The SHO stays relatively flat when pushing the corners, and all that is suffers in the “ride” department, compared to the base Taurus, is a little more jarring when hitting dips or crossing a railroad track. All-in-all most reviewers complain that the luxury balance of the suspension actually take away from the “feel” of the road.

In other words, some reviewers think that the SHO could use to be a little more rough around the edges. They say you can’t hear or feel the road, due to its superb fit and finish. The only way you know you are moving really, really fast, is the blur of the trees you are passing by.

All this says to me is that Ford basically did what it had set out to do. Just one look at the exterior will tell you this is much more of a luxury sedan than a Pontiac G8 GXP. The SHO badge is, well, simply for show. It’s a little more fun than your standard fare Audi A6, but not quite as raw as a Shelby GT-500, but I think most luxury sedan drivers can live with that!

First, a Look at the Old (1990), Before We Get to the New…

Okay, so she might not have looked like much…

Put she sure packed a punch!

1990 Ford Taurus SHO, all photos  uploaded by splattergraphics

While Ford is being a little mysterious about the 2010 SHO (Super High-Output) at the moment, one can begin to get a feel of exactly what we are dealing with by listening to the folks who have driven it. While they may not be allowed to say too much about how it rides just yet, they have given us enough hints to read between the lines.

First off, we will get the boring introductions out of the way by saying that the SHO model has not been out for nearly 11 years now… yada, yada! But, you know, there was good reason for that. Sure in the beginning, the SHO was something special. If you don’t know the story behind it already, I’ll give you the short rendition.

Basically, Ford was in the works to producing a slick new 2-seat sports car. They had the 3.0-liter Yamaha engines, and well, that was about it. The idea was scrapped and Ford was left with a bunch of performance engines sitting around in the warehouse. They could have just tossed them in the trash for Chevy to dig out later, but instead they had a better idea.

Why not take a standard sedan, hop it up with a sport engine, give her a manual-only transmission option, and set her loose on the streets. Well, they did, and it worked! Consumers loved the idea of the SHO. It was the right combination at the right time. What made the 1990 SHO so much different than the standard fare Taurus? About 220 horsepower, which was a big deal back then!

Heck, the big 5.7-liter, V-8 Iroc-Z Camaro could only muster around 230 horsepower, so we’re talking about a serious sleeper here. It had a top speed of 143 mph, and could run a 0-60 sprint in about 6.6 seconds using its manual transmission. The SHO could blow the doors off of just about any four-door sedan it came up against, it was beautiful!

But after that glorious moment, Ford never put too much effort into it, maybe a little chrome, some nice trim, maybe even a badge here and there, but nothing really to write home to Mom about. So it eventually died, just as everything else in the world which has just given up on life.

But now she is back! She has an all new look, and a few surprises in store underneath her skirt. Let’s take a stick and hike it up just a little bit, shall we?

(Continue to Part 2… The new 2010 Ford Taurus SHO)

M Sport wheels, BMW 135i, originally uploaded by Eric Flexyourhead

Cars.com recently offered some great input on the overall worth of certain car add-ons when it came time to trading or reselling a vehicle in for a new one. What they found was certainly surprising. Some add-ons are actually worth their weight in gold when it comes to their resale value (especially if you desired the add-on in the first place).

Here is a summary of the results:

The Must Have Bunch (60% to 90% Return on Investment)
America seems to be a nation of much more “want” than “need”. With that said, there certainly does appear to be a group of convenience add-ons that seems to be on just about everybody’s need list. Having a vehicle without this standard list of features could cost you big in the end when it comes time to selling your vehicle off.

• Cruise Control- An All-American standard
• Power Windows- Today’s generation probably wouldn’t even know what to do with an ancient window crank.
• Power Door Locks- Who can even remember the last time they had to place a key in a car door lock to open a door?
• Air-Conditioning- In cities like Phoenix, Tucson, and Las Vegas, it should be a crime to sell a vehicle without air conditioning.

The If You Want It, Go For It Bunch (40% to 60% Return on Investment)
While these features are not considered important to the majority of all car buyers, they are popular enough to be split 50/50 amongst most buyers. This means that whether you decide to spring for these or not, there are enough buyers that are willing to pay extra for their convenience, that not only will your vehicle be worth more, it may sell quicker for having it.

• Power Seats- nice comfort feature by most consumers standards.
• CD Changer- American’s have to have their tunes. In the not so distant future, new infotainment features should take the place of this ancient dinosaur add-on.
• Automatic Transmission- The only caveat is certain sport cars, such as the Mustang or Camaro, which may become worth more to the enthusiast who prefers a standard manual transmission.
• Tilt Steering- You never even think about it until you really need it!
• Alloy Wheels- American’s like their bling, baby!

The Noteworthy Bunch (30% to 40% Return on Investment)
These are the add-on features that may be worthy to some, but are not worthy to the majority. These are the kind of features that you certainly shouldn’t allow yourself to be pushed into by the salesperson, unless it is something you really want.

• Anti-lock Brakes- Here is an important option put surprisingly low on this list. The reason that it is only currently at a 37% return on investment, is it is quickly becoming standard equipment in many vehicles. One day this won’t even be considered an add-on, but that should be considered a good thing.
• Performance Model (Engine Upgrade)- While the smaller engines are usually the bread and butter of manufacturers, the upgraded models are certainly sought after by enthusiasts who crave performance. If you yourself prefers performance to gas mileage, this is still a worthwhile investment over the long haul.
• Leather Seats- While not a favorite for everybody, it is still considered a luxury item.
• Premium Stereo- You would think this add-on would be worth more to consumers, but to the ultimate audiophile, the best systems are custom-built, not a manufacturer upgrade!

The Loser Add-Ons (0% to 30% Return on Investment)
Here is the saddest group of add-ons of all. These will actually depreciate faster than the vehicle itself. The moment you drive off the lot, you might as well kiss the money spent on any of these goodbye!

• Rear Entertainment Systems- Who really watches these things anyway!
• Navigation Systems- The problem here is that the integrated equipment becomes outdated so quickly, it is obsolete by the time the car is barely a year old. The better bet is to purchase a portable GPS unit that can be upgraded anytime, moved from vehicle to vehicle, and purchased at a reasonable cost.
• The Sport Package- Opinions take their toll on sport packages. One consumers race stripes, is another consumers eye-sore. For this reason, the sport package should be purchased on a need to have basis, because your “gotta have,” just might be someone else’s “gotta get rid-of”.