Well, that's just it, tsavo. Things don't always work the way they seem to, or the way that the we've been conditoned by the media to believe. A lot of people believe things that simply aren't so, especially in the automotive world.....images like Buicks only being for old people, or minivans only for soccer moms and wimps, or sports cars for only young males and mid-life-crisis guys, or Saabs and Subarus being for Lesbians. That is the picture the automotive press and media gives, and a lot of people believe it. But that doesn't make it so. I try to post things based on common sense and what experience has actually taught, not media images.....and I have been reviewing cars for some 40 years, so I do have some experience.

A Rolex is more than just image. It is probably the finest hand-made watch in the world, quality-wise. My late father had one that he got in Europe in the early 1950's.....it was still running perfectly 25 years later.

OK.....back to the Taurus SHO, and the issue of whether it is overpriced, before the mods get us for getting off-topic. 35-40K is about my upper limit on what I myself would spend for a new car. Any more than 40K, IMO, is just too much for a new car......but that is, admittedly, my personal view, and not necessarily that of others. The real issue of whether the SHO is overpriced will be determined by how much the public responds to it......and, of clurse, by how much Ford dealerships are willing to discount it.

In the meantime, I agree with 1SICKLEX (who is usually correct on car-market issues, even though he and I sometimes disagree on the Acura RL)....the Taurus SHO, at least on the surface, looks like a pretty nice package for 37-38K, and there isn't much that can offer the same package for under 40K. The AWD Charger R/T can, but it has poor build quality, and doesn't quite equal the SHO's power in non-SRT form.

 

ECOboost doesnt sound that badass.

 

There are timepieces MUCH nicer than Rolex. A Rolex is usually purchased by people with more money than style, and those who have little understanding of a truly fine timepiece.

Saying a Rolex makes finest watch is like saying Hugo Boss makes the world's finest suits.

"Rolex is the nicest watch made" is something you would hear from Joe Schmo who doesn't know anything about watches. It's ironic you don't understand this when just a few posts previous to this you said...

Same goes for the watch industry. The truly fine timepieces, your average person has never heard of, just as they have never heard of Kiton, Brioni or John Lobb-but I can guarantee you they have heard of Gucci, Versace and Prada, despite the fact that these brands are not near the level of the first 3 I mentioned.

GM and Ford, as well as other car companies have positioned themselves in a place where they have a very hard time convincing people to buy some of their vehicles, hence the bailout. Their image, it is what it is, it's much too late to change it.

 

"Nicest" doesn't necessarily mean the finest quality.

The term "Built like a Swiss watch" didn't just pop out of thin air for nothing. It meant something......born from experience. And Roles is the dean of Swiss watches. They run almost forever if you don't abuse them.

However, I agree with you that people don't need to spend Rolex money to get a decent everyday timepiece. I've got a $120 Brut battery-operated analog watch that I bought new for $19.95 at a Giant grocery-store Christmas clearance sale....it's lasted for 10 years with no problem, and still going strong.






It's hard to sit in or drive a new Chevy Malibu, Saturn Aura, Cadillac CTS,
Ford Fusion, or Ford Taurus without seeing how much progress Ford and GM have made, at least in some of their vehicles, if not all.

The sales figures for the Malibu, especially, show that the public does seem to be responding.....the Malibu now appeals to more than just rental-car companies.

It was the same way with Hyundai and Kia. People didn't believe that they could make good vehicles.....until they saw for themselves. I myself was one of the biggest skeptics....until I saw for myself.

One picture says a thouand words.......

 

For me, the SHO is more a question of value and not so much a question of badge, looks, build quality, performance, appeal etc.

On paper and in pictures, it looks great and interesting. It's different with each buyer, but I buy my cars and would hesitate to spend $40k on one at this time - Same with a $50k MKS.

I'm sure there will be buyers for the SHO and hope that Ford gives it time to ride out the tough new car market and establish itself.

 

I wouldn't overlook a $35k Fusion SHO, with a 6MT. I don't think it would need all 365 horses though.

 

I actually enjoyed driving the previous gen SHO, sweet engine/good fun.

That's where I'm coming from on this car. We all can certainly give some valued opinions on this car, but how much of this will convert to sales? I for one buy a lot of cars and would be an ideal candidate. My track record shows a history of owning many premium cars. On top of that I get Z-plan pricing/deep discount on Ford products. The car is cool enough for me to test drive, but it's very unlikely I'll buy one.

The fact is that buying/owning higher-end premium cars is very expensive, so you can't blame the buyer for preferring the established and proven brands like Lexus/Bmw/Benz, etc. Buyers in this category are not big risk takers with these purchases.

 

Let me put it this way...

$38k is perfectly fine for this CAR.

$38k is too much for a FORD.

 

Especially if it's my $38K that I have to put on the line...

Not likely.

 

ECOboost > N/A

 

it's the best looking ford ever!

 

People spend 15K or more on a Rolex, not because they are regarded as fine watches. They buy them because they have been proven again, and again, to be the longest lasting, most indestructible watch on earth. Neil Armstrong wore one when he first stepped on the moon in 1969. Sir Edmund Hillery, also, was wearing a Rolex when he became the first man to reach the top of Mt Everest. It's the only watch Jacque Cousteau EVER wore. Rolex stands for something. Rolex has history. It's NOT just a name.
Sorry about the rant.

 

It is also 2009.......

 

Yes but I enjoyed the history lesson.

A good brand name backed up by a good product is a winning combo.

 

Free shot, I had to take it.