I can understand what they are trying to do. Like was mentioned, the old Taurus was an quick executive sedan that was technologically interesting, and in just about every measure this new one copies the gioals of the old one almost to a tee.

The big difference is back then Ford was the only game in town. Today, you have the Chrysler 300, and even more accurately, is the SRT8 Charger. Even a newly redone loaded Charger V8 can intrest the same customer.

I agree that the midsized Fusion is the spiritial successor the the original midsized Taurus. And you bring up another item where I think the current SHO falls a little short. The lack of a manual.

I can see where a beancounter did some research and convinced management that there would be very few manual transmission takers and therefore not worth the investment. But a car like that with a manual is like justification that it's a drivers car. The Thunderbird SC, the original SHO, the CTS, even Ford's own Lincoln LS all had manuals, and all had credible credentials as drivers cars.

If Ford put Ecoboost in an AWD Fusion, and even made a stick available, it might be overkill, but it would be even closer to what the original SHO was.

 

Marketing? Hilarious?

Try watching the specials on the Titanic the past few nights and having these commercials aired EVERY commercial break. I didn't think it was possible to dislike Ford more then I did before Sunday night but now I do.

One thing I will say about the SHO, in the video, is how the wheels make it look much more distinct then those w/o said wheels. Personally, I think the SHO isn't separated enough from the non taurus.

 

You hate Ford more due to commercials shown during a show you are watching??

All righty then.

Maybe they should be replaced with Howie Long Chevy commercials, which I disliked more than pretty much anything. They didn't, however, make me dislike Chevy............... they just made me want to bi*** slap the marketing folks.

 

Does showing the same commercial over and over again make you want to buy a product? I won't buy Fanta because years ago they had showed the dumbest commercials in the movie theater.

Over $40k for a Taurus is asinine to begin with let alone promoting it with commercials even more asinine then the price.

 

The 2013 SHO starts at just a tick under 40 with destination and is already pretty well loaded up with leather, nav, heated seats, HID lights, AWD, etc.

I can't think of any large sedans where you can add all of those options and come up with a price under 35k... most are closer to 40k, and the ones I'm thinking of don't offer anywhere near the performance of the SHO.

I'm not saying I think it's a bargain, but Ford is following the market standards asking what they are for the SHO.

 

People think this is the same cheap little taurus their mom drove in the late 80's and 90's. The new taurus has moved up in terms of size and class. They're also forgetting the SHO is a top of the line trim/model (a regular FWD Taurus Limited starts @ 33k and a base Fwd taurus for around 27).

Full-sized AWD luxury sports sedans just don't come cheap. Even a well equipped Charger R/T MAX AWD retails for $39k which is still a bargain considering what you get.

 

Well then, based on that, I won't buy pretty much anything............. because they all replay the same commercials over and over.

You dislike Ford, so the commercials feed that dislike. What if, instead of SHO commercials, they were Cruze commercials............. "Chevy Runs Deep." Somehow I doubt you would swear off Chevy.

Appx 10% of Taurus sales are SHO sales, yearly. That is pretty good for a model that almost always ends up north of $40K. Of course you think it is stupid, but then, you greatly dislike Ford, so it is no surprise.

 

It will always have the stigma of being a Ford.........Taurus. Unfortunately name recognition is hard to lose (good or bad). Remember the SRT4?

GM never tried to bend me over w/o lube like Ford. Even if I liked Ford I'd still say the SHO commercials are laughable. Don't fret though. Subaru also makes some of the dumbest commercials I've seen. Does the high school reunion commercial ring a bell? How abotu theone where the clown "loses" his glasses in his hood? These companies must think the average viewer is a moron and I'm inclined to agree.

 

Hyundais used to be more or less throwaway cars, yet that apparently didn't stop you from buying a new Sonata.

 

Unlike the Domestic **** known as Ford, none of my Hyundai's ever failed to start nor left me stranded. Ford has done this as well as Dodge. Why would I give money to a company that has served me quite terribly?

Maybe if I spent in excess of $40K for a Hyundai you'd have a point. I can assure you I didn't even come close.

 

Point being, Hyundai didn't exactly have a sterling reputation here for a long time. But they've made improvements, and now people are buying them in larger numbers. This is in reference to your assertion that a tarnished name is difficult to overcome.

The Taurus name was not held in the highest regard when it went on hiatus, but I don't think it was looked at as a piece of crap car or anything by most people. It was mainly looked upon as a rental fleet car, a bit outdated against its mainstream competition.

It was not unlike the rep the current Impala has garnered of late, in the eyes of some people. But the new Impala, like the current Taurus, looks to banish that old image.

 

Ask the average gear head how he feels about spending close to $40k on a Genesis or Equus. Those are crazy prices for a Hyundai and I'm sure the opinions would be reflected as such. In the back of your head you do remember the Hyundai products from years back. Same with the Taurus.

Do you think I'm the only person who thinks >$40K for a Taurus is unreasonable or not worth the price?

 

Thats an odd assertion. A car is worth the price based on content. That is akin to saying that paying more than $60k for an old man Cadillac called the CTS-V is unreasonable. I mean, Cadillac only makes cars for people over 80 right?

 

Give it time, your Hyundai is only a 2012.

 

I'd believe you if real world experience didn't prove otherwise.

My decision for a third vehicle from Hyundai is based on nothing more then owning them and how well they ran. The sad thing is how mile for mile, they always treated me better then the domestic vehicle parked along side it.

Vehicles are not cheap and I treat them accordingly but even though I'm not one to pound the snot out of any vehicle I own I still had numerous repairs (non wear and tear) on my two Domestic vehicles owned or currently own.

"Quality is job 1." Has Ford finally shelved that saying for being a misnomer?