SHO My Yamaha Powered Car

[Winterhawk]

This is why I haven't been on here for awhile. Bought a new toy from Craig's List. A 1993 Ford Taurus SHO 3.2 ATX with only 117,000 miles. It's been garaged it's whole life and in storage. Full options, a museum piece and collectible. This is my 3rd powered Yamaha powered SHO car in the last 15 years. I found a keeper.

[CatatonicBug]

Glad you found a car you like, but why is this such a find? Super high mileage, ugly color, horrible aftermarket tinting... At least the carpet isn't warn through, but I don't see the draw.

[Winterhawk]

The Yamaha powered engine is said to go 300k's. It has sentimental value to me. It eats up 5.0 mustangs and it is a great sleeper.

The new 2010 SHO was brought back after 10 years. It is twin turbo, all wheel drive and costs $39,000.00.

[exquized1]

Hope you didn't pay too much for it! IMHO its worth about a buck fifty. but than again I am not a ford man.

[xs11jack]

Didn't Yamaha design

and build a bunch of engines for a Mercury van in the 90's?

[TADracer]

Actually.....

I have an 89 SHO in the driveway with bodywork almost ready for paint. have had it since 1990. The reason I keep is is simply this....it was one of the first and in 89 (the first year) not too many were made and few still exist. Just like the XS was one of the first super bikes, the SHO is one of the first affordable high performance sedans aimed at the young married guy that wanted some punch but still needed a family car. Shortly after their introduction, all the other makes started showing up on the street. The phenomenon is still going on today.

The first generations had a stout Yamaha motor. V6, DOHC, all aluminum with a 5-speed manual transmission. no automatic was available until 1992 as there was none available that would reliably handle the power. Plus the interior was really nice. Mine is all leather with a driver seat that will hold you like a hand, a great moon roof, a lighting package and a fairly nice sound system.

The only drawback to the car is that it is one that you will have to keep after. It is not a 'just put fuel in and drive' kind of car. It takes a fair amount of maintenance, like our elevens. But its worth it if you have the time.

Performance is there too. I still remember the surprise on this one young kid's face when I ate his new 5.0 mustang GT up. His jaw dropped so big he probably still has road rash on his chin.

Winterhawk, nice car!

Get a manual!

[Mr. Schweer]

I don't like Fords....but

Okay, so I'm not a Ford guy. I really don't care for the Taurus bodyline either.
That being said, the SHO is NOT a typical Ford, nor is it a typical Taurus.
The fact that Ford did the SHO is super cool though. Whether you like these cars or not, a SHO is a piece of automotive history that deserves to be preserved. The nerve of Ford to stuff a rediculously overpowered 'ferrin' engine WITH a five speed stick in a four door family car was legendary!!!
Several four door sedans have been built since with powerful engines, but I can't think of any other domestic four door sedan with a stick!!!

The interior looks good from the pic. You can get the tint replaced pretty cheap and the color looks good, maybe a cut and polish to bring the show-room shine back.
I would rock this car in a heart-beat if it were a stick.
Good find.
I love my Grand Prix GTP.....but it doesn't have a stick.

[John]

That'll get the groceries home...in a hurry. I kinda hooked up with one some time ago, and I wished I hadn't. It went like a bat outta hell.

[webbcraft2150]

SHO Taurus motor was developed for FORD by Yamaha Marine. This makes em a boat motor powered car that is a genuine sleeper. Folks "across the pond" embraced them and it was not unusual to see a SHO with twin turbos, superchargers and NOX. While not a FORD fan, I appreciate the SHO Taurus, and the SC T-Bird. Post smog cars that could kick butt!!!!!

[Winterhawk]

I had a 4 cylinder Turbo Coupe Thunderbird before I traded it for my first SHO. a 1992. My 1989 was the fastest I think. This 1993 I gave $2,300.00 for. I can't get the rear tint off the window yet. Any ideas? I was told to use lighter fluid. I'm thinking about taking it to a glass tint place and see if they can get it off. Can a person use window tint over a rear window defroster without these bubbles being a problem?

[Da-Bubble]

Mom Had One

My parents had a 1992 3.2L auto. It was the best and worst car we ever owned. The water pump gave out and mom kept driving on the highway and blew the head gaskets. They then shaved the heads when they rebuilt it making it a little quicker ;-). I was 16 and used to jump at the chance to go run errands. I still remember getting on I-35 one time with a new Lexus on my tail. He thought he would go straight to the fast lane and zip out around me. He didn't ;-) I pulled him hard and let off at 135mph with him far behind. Fastest I've ever been in a car.

Now for the worst part. Later it started having computer problems and would randomly shut of with no warning....once in Dallas traffic with all the windows down and the sunroof open. After my parents took it to 3 different FORD dealerships (and spent lots of money) we were told "we don't know what's wrong with it". Not very reassuring considering they built it. It was also the only car we ever had that a dealer told us "we dont want your trade-in"!!!!!! Didn't even offer us $500 or something insulting. Dad still cringes when he sees one.

[Montreux_Blue]

The purple window tint was made by 3M, it is horrible. If your side windows aren't all distorted or bubbled up yet, they will. There are many other better quality tints out there now. I've taken tint off a few cars and off rear defrosters. Usually you can peel it off in one big sheet on a nice hot day and then use lighter fluid, goof off, etc to remove the sticky film. You can use a blow dryer or heat gun to heat it up to remove it on a cooler day.

Did you say SHO was "one of the first affordable high performance sedans aimed at the young married guy", I think there was better options out there. I'm sure the SHO is fun too though, just not as much!
GNX

[crazy steve]

...Now for the worst part. Later it started having computer problems and would randomly shut of with no warning....once in Dallas traffic with all the windows down and the sunroof open. After my parents took it to 3 different FORD dealerships (and spent lots of money) we were told "we don't know what's wrong with it". Not very reassuring considering they built it. It was also the only car we ever had that a dealer told us "we dont want your trade-in"!!!!!! Didn't even offer us $500 or something insulting. Dad still cringes when he sees one.

Yeah, that's the downfall of the late-model cars; they have so much electronic crap on them that if it goes howie (particularly intermittent issues) you'll go broke trying to fix 'em.

The SHO was noteworthy for more than the motor; it was the first (and some say the only) FWD performance car that had real performance handling. Most had nasty torque-steer (remember those turbo K-cars that Chrysler built? Seen any lately?), so Ford got kudos for this one. And that motor was better than many gave it credit for. It had a rev-limiter, but that was to protect the accessories; seems the alternator and p/s pump couldn't take 10K rpm!

The real stealth version was the Mercury Sables built for Bob Bondurant's driving school; virtually NO visual clues, and a bit more performance added.

Wanna see a really cool 'SHO'? Go to "Leno's Garage" and watch the video clip of his Ford Fiesta with the SHO drivetrain installed in the back seat....

'78E original owner

[TADracer]

Now for the worst part. Later it started having computer problems and would randomly shut of with no warning....once in Dallas traffic with all the windows down and the sunroof open.

Probably was not the computer. Crankshaft Position Sensor. The CPS wire takes a torturous route up the front of the motor to a plug hust above the camshaft drive belt cover. The SHO motor generates alot of heat under the hood and the wire/sensor will cook after several years. Computer cant figure where the crankshaft is so it stops the motor. After everything cools off a bit the sensor comes back online till it overcooks again. Takes about 1 hour and $30.00 to fix.

[WMarshy]

I never heard of the SHO before, it looks like a fun car to me and Im not a Ford person by any means... But, what I use to have was a '90 Grand Prix with the 3.1 and sounds liek the SHO would eat that up being a stick and all, it was a blast to drive and had pleant of power though! Only if they made them with the stick! First stick car they made with the 3.1 went into the Z24 which was more of a cavalier and looked like crap!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3614/...49c430a2f1.jpg

Here is a grand prix similar to the one I use to own...
http://www.edmunds.com/pictures/VEHI...90-300x189.jpg

The 4 doors are probably the worst looking sedan ever made but I love the 2 doors. The interior was very nice too...