The Original Ford Taurus SHO

[Jackson_Slugger]

Kind of an interesting watch:

 

[buster]

I remember when my dad had one in 1985. Always thought it was odd the SHO had a Yamaha engine.

 

[cpayne5]

I remember when my dad had one in 1985. Always thought it was odd the SHO had a Yamaha engine.

Massaged by Yamaha.

 

[Scuder]

I remember liking how Ford kept the ID badging low key. Q- ships are cool.

 

[Hall]

Always thought it was odd the SHO had a Yamaha engine.

And as I recall, it was through Yamaha's marine engine group (based in the US) too, not the motorcycle side. Ooops, that's not what the video says though...

 

[atikovi]

I got one of those rotting squirreled away. A '91. Last 5-speed made if I recall.

 

[JustinH]

Yamaha still makes the SHO engine, they put it in boats.

 

[555]

A friend back in the 90's had a second generation, manual transmission SHO and I would drive it occasionally. For its time, it was impressive.

 

[dlundblad]

Dad had one back in the day. Kept right behind some kids in a Mustang who appeared surprised a “Taurus” could keep up.

 

[dlundblad]

Yamaha still makes the SHO engine, they put it in boats.

Did not know that.

 

[oggb]

Yamaha also built the V8 in the '05-'10 Volvo XC90 and it's a mean sounding motor for a porky looking crossover/suv.

 

[AutoMechanic]

Still better than the last Taurus model they made. At least in my opinion. These and the catfish style ones were the best or at least the best looking. It’s also cool they had a manual version. Wish they would of made manuals later.

 

[Wolf359]

I believe they originally had 220hp but later on they came out with the Duratec engine which was 200hp so they didn't really need the 220hp engine anymore. Still it was too bad they got rid of that engine. Now you get 6 cylinder engines with 250-300hp.

 

[meep]

I was in high school when this came out. To us at the time, the jellybean Taurus was not attractive. driving an 86 escort and having friends with older escorts, that car soured any hope Ford could have with me. Today, looking back, I would give the sho a chance. It also seemed a trend, a lot of people were being rear-ended by tauri. And, let’s not forget, idling with the AC on in hot weather met the there conditions needed to start a car b que in some of these.

in my mid 20’s I worked in the DC region. There were four guys that commuted from out of state to get in to work. The “driver” had a taurus wagon. Pretty sure it was inner-diaper brown on the exterior, with solid crimson interior top to bottom. But here’s where it got interesting - 5 speed manual with a 4 cylinder. This sucker had a quarter million miles on it when I knew it and they drove it 130 miles per day. That one had my respect. Knowing the guys, they didn’t ask it for anything special - gentle up to speed, ease it into 5th gear and just cruise easy.

I wouldn’t complain if a sho showed up in my driveway. But I’d complain even less for a second gen legend.

 

[Chris142]

My 340 duster got spanked by one.

 

[AJB0009]

I got one of those rotting squirreled away. A '91. Last 5-speed made if I recall.

Any interest in selling it?

 

[simple_gifts]

The v8 showed up in the taurus also in later years my father had an 89 and it was a spectacular driving car; drove from Winchester VA to Harrisonburg at a cool 85-90mph and the car drove like another 30mph would have been effortless. Smooth as silk; I was offered the car with about 100K on it but usual gremlins kept me away from it; He donated it to the local tech school's auto program.

 

[atikovi]

Any interest in selling it?

Eventually but it's been parked under a tree for 8 years and hasn't been started in at least 5.