Here a couple of video's that show a SHO being driving hard! Yes these are Ford marketing vids:


[autostream]http://autostream.com/camaroz28/?page_type=firebirdplayerthumbnail&framepage=2604& transactionid=1333470927-70234163226&posted_by=smooth3d_www.camaroz28.com&y outube_video_id=OY0_4Pogd1s[/autostream]

Rocket Science Ep. 01: EcoBoost® - YouTube

Rocket Science Ep. 04: Screaming MPG - YouTube

 

My guess is when you have an AWD program that sends most of that 350 lbs/ft of torque through rears under certain manuvers (like the ones in the video), and those rear tires are only 245s in width, and that 204 inch long car is throwing most of it's 4350 pounds of weight throught that relatively thin outside rear tire while even the 235s up front are sliding, I imagine you could do some very impressive powerslides.

Honestly, I'm kinda surprised that under the circumstances, the rears didn't simply just blow out.


BTW:

if powersliding in big sedans is a top consideration in anyone's car purchase, the Charger R/T is cheaper, has more power, actually gets better freeway mileage (25 vs 22) and is a bit lighter in weight than the SHO.

I've also driven both. The SHO feels notably bigger than the Charger from the driver's seat, which I'd imagine takes a bit of fun away from going around corner's sideways.

 

the thing that bothers me with that commercial is the fact that they make all the passengers wear helmets while the "nascar driver" doesnt wear one

 

Without having driven a new Taurus, SHO or otherwise (only sat in one), I suspect that it wouldn't be much of a contest for me. After driving a 2011 Charger V6 / 5 speed auto (and more recently a 2012 300 V6 / 8 spd) for a week, I REALLY came to like both of those bad boys. A Charger R/T with the Hemi is as quick as the SHO (and that's before it gets the 8 spd), it's better looking, and it has that awesome RWD chassis.

 

Yeah I don't really understand what Ford is trying to do with the SHO, it seems like they are confused on how to market it. It's too heavy, too expensive, and under powered for what they are competing with, Like others have said you can save $8k and get a proper rwd vehicle with more power with the Charger and for about $5k more than the SHO you can get an SRT8 Charger with 100 more hp. I just don't understand what market they are trying to get with this car, I've never seen one on the road either, are they selling?

 

I think they're trying to show the suave driver impressing/scaring his passengers with the car. The passenger having a helmet and the driver not having one is just a subtle way of showing people how in control the driver is and how out of his element the passenger is.

Basically just marketing.

 

Right around 10% of Taurus sales are SHO's.

Supposedly the 2013 is a far improved car. Thus, anyone who has driven one and wasn't that impressed, should drive the 2013.

The SHO is what the SHO always has been, an executive express. It is subtle, with no "slap you across the face" looks like the Charger. It offers as much luxury as many luxury cars, and more than many (more features than many Cadillacs).

Guy, the SHO is rated at 17/25. The 22hwy rating is for the Flex.

I think those videos are hilarious.

 

Sort of, but it used to be a midsize car, and it was originally ONLY available with a manual transmission. Now it is a full size car, and it is ONLY available without a manual.

Which is fine, if that's what they want. But a Fusion SHO would be a closer spiritual successor to the original in some ways.

I think the SHO is a slick ride, personally, even if I lean more toward the Charger. (One could also get a 300C with the Hemi for SHO money, if one favors the luxury side more than the sporty side.)

 

Different strokes for different folks.

I like AWD, so I would never go for a RWD only car.

 

Yeah, AWD comes in handy with all the snow and rain out there in AZ...

(I kid, I kid!! )

 

Do you know what was changed on the 2013?

 

Actually I believe the SHO is a little quicker then the Charger R/T, Maybe that will change with the new 8 speeds coming out.

For 2013 it has vastly improved braking, revised suspension settings and the steering has been tweaked.

One thing the SHO has going for it is the Ecoboost V6, its so detuned its crazy! Just with a ecu flash it can make 420-440 reliable horsepower.

 

The charger is hard to compete with in terms of value and performance. Nothing like it out there really. It's pretty much in a class of its own.

The taurus is meant to compete more with the Avalon, Buicks, Acura TL's and Maxima's.

 

My wife and I checked out the SHO at the Chicago auto show this year and our impression was that the interior is cheap. Heated and cooled cupholders are cool, but a lot of the inside looked and felt thin and low quality.

 

Close enough to even for me:

0-60 = 5.2s for both.
1/4 mile = 13.7@103 for SHO, 13.8@104 for Charger R/T

Tested at different times, of course, but pretty much a wash.

http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...charger-rt.pdf

http://media.caranddriver.com/files/...o-ecoboost.pdf

I suspect the Charger will have the edge when the 8 speed auto becomes available (V6 improved from 7.2 to 6.6 seconds or something like that).

Then there's the Charger SRT8, which has done damn impressive 4.4s 0-60 times and 12.xs @ ~112 in the quarter.

Like I said, I like them both, but I think the Charger is more my style.