I drove a brick with wheels on it. Review inside.

At the Cadillac meet in Chicago, where Chad and I both arrived in German cars, he let me take his 1999 W140 S320 for a drive.


It was cold outside, so everyone bundled up.


Frosty! Warmed up quickly though.





The interior is clean, simple, and sturdy. All the gauges and switchgear are typical MB, and like my Crossfire it has an annoying cruise control stalk mounted just above the turn signal.

There's one little trick in the dashboard. By pushing a small release button above the center cents, a door rises out of the dash to reveal a storage compartment large enough for sunglasses or a small weapon.

Notice the soft material on the underside of the dash, dense carpet fibers, and tight interior panel gaps.

Like many German cars, the leather and plastics aren't as soft and welcoming as a Lexus and Cadillac. Everything feels VERY expensive, with surfaces that are thick and sturdy. It just lacks that little bit of cushy goodness that reminds you of luxury. In a word, the interior is cold but very professional, like the Sears Tower.

There's beauty in upright cleanliness.


Did I mention how cold it was?

This hood ornament goes down in history among the greats: Jaguar's leaping cat, Rolls Royce's spirit of ecstasy, and Cadillac's flying lady.

I always thought of the hood-mounted tri-star as a target for aiming at pedestrians.


You have the option of closing the doors gently. Just get it closed enough to latch partially and a mechanism pulls the door in to elegantly and gently complete the job. Great for sneaking up on people.

Pictures from when Chad bought the car:










Styling
It looks perfect! There is not one thing I would ever change. The straight beltlines, big doors, long nose, imposing grille, and tasteful bits of chrome say "I'm an African dictator with a huge army and a thousand body guards"

A modern interpretation of this body might have a smaller greenhouse, larger wheels, and character lines that sweep upward from nose to tail instead of horizontally. Unfortunately, Daimler chose to make it look like an elongated Ford Focus.

Engine
So, how does it drive? Much better than I thought. The S320 is a 4500lb car with a 230hp DOHC I6, but it isn't underpowered. The smaller engine has an upside: 24mpg at highway speeds.

From the bottom, there isn't much, but it picks up nicely at 1500rpm and feels effortless on its way to 60. There's what seems to be sufficient passing power, but you aren't going to scream to 120mph like you would in a Q45 or Northstar Seville. The best part is how buttery smooth it feels and sounds. It doesn't quite match the superb serenity and reliability of BMW's I6. Considering its assigned task of moving 4500lbs of metal, I'm impressed if not thrilled.

Transmission
The five-speed automatic shifts smoothly with enough action to tell the driver that gear change is occurring, but not enough to disrupt the pleasure of quiet cruising. MB's automatics are designed and built in-house, and after decades of refinement they are nearly perfect. GM's 4-speed FWD Hydramatics are smoother and cheaper to maintain and repair.

Suspension
The W140 is like a massive chunk of granite with four wheels underneath. Unlike, say, a Lexus or traditional full size Cadillac, bumps and irregularities are communicated to the driver through the chassis and steering. The suspension is appropriately soft and remains composed on undulating surfaces, but the driver isn't fully isolated. That's not a bad thing. Going down the road, the tight build quality and rigid structure remind me of the 1990-1996 Infiniti Q45.

Steering and Handling

Around a corner, it takes more turns of the steering wheel to complete the maneuver; it isn't something you just point and aim. You're encouraged to slow down, take it easy, and make your move patiently. Nothing feels unsettled or induces worry, but it makes itself quite clear that its a full size executive sedan. While the steering isn't quick, it speaks well and gives a modest amount of feedback from the road considering the technology (recirculating ball). Again, something Infiniti, modern-day Cadillac, and BMW do better by a long shot.

Brakes
Eventually, you have to come to a stop, and there's a bit of disappointment when initially tapping the brake pedal. Like my Crossfire, there's a dead spot where you move the pedal but nothing happens. You have to push a bit further to get a response, and once you do it bites hard, perhaps too hard to stop gracefully. Its something that takes getting used to.

Engine: 3/5 - Does well for itself, but a V8 would be ideal. Sufficient for American speed limits but insufficient for spirited driving.

Transmission: 4.5/5 - Smooth and subtle.

Brakes: 3/5 - Poor modulation. Good stopping distance.

Steering/Handling: 3/5 - Drives big. Looks big. Awesomely so. You're Captain of the SS Daimler.

Interior: 5/5 - Professional, clean, and feels expensive.

Styling: 5/5 - Professional, clean, and looks expensive.

Comfort/Features: 5/5 - Not much

Audio: Not tested. - A Bose 11-speaker system is present.

Overall: 4/5 - The W140 S-class is the ultimate luxury car from the ultimate builder of luxury sedans. This is where Mercedes-Benz peaked, and nothing this exquisitely built will come from Stuttgart ever again. If you've ever wanted one, buy one now. The people who own them drive them daily, and low-mileage examples are harder to find.

Mopar got another chance. Trying a new dealer.

Today I decided to try another Chrysler dealer, Reuther Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep in Creve Coeur MO, hoping (without great optimism) that the service wouldn't suck. I needed an oil change and was a couple hundred miles overdue.

These blurry camera phone images document my day.


Parked at Wal-Mart. Two chick cars on a play date.




Hi there. He hates riding in the Crossfire. He gets thrown about the hatch and the ride is quite firm.


I went to Circuit City to look around and see if liquidation prices had dropped. They didn't, and look at the OBSCENE PRICE on this analog AM/FM radio! I remember crap like this costing $15 when I was a kid.


The back of this Mountaineer has a sticker that says "Holli" with a silhouette of a gymnast straddling/jumping a balance beam. For those who don't recognize the gymnastic reference, it looks like a stripper spreading her legs. Poor little Holli.


Took the SRT6 in for an oil change. $90 out the door with new washer, 0w40, and filter.




I asked this guy if the dealership was qualified and trained to work on the Crossfire. He noted that a few of the technicians took classes and training sessions to get certified. Much better answer than the one I got from Royal Gate.


Surprisingly not very busy for a Chrysler-Dodge dealer.


Inside and out, it looked like the dealer was 30 or 40 years old. The waiting room and showroom are tiny and the lot wasn't much bigger either.


One wall was covered in positive comments, letters, and articles about the dealer and customers. Didn't see any of this at Royal Gate.


That bright blue Compass will never sell. The Pacifica ended production over a year ago, so the one in the showroom must have been sitting for quite a while.


SRT8 outside.



Inside of the new Wrangler is surprisingly civilized. Good switchgear, decent plastics.


A nice saleswoman approached me. I told her I loved the new Wrangler but was only here to change oil on a Crossfire.


Reuther's wash bay. Royal Gate never washed my car.


GC SRT8


Went next door to Growler's Pub, a bar with a selection of hundreds of beers.


Scottish eggs. Hard boiled eggs wrapped in bacon, battered, and fried.


Cod fish and chips.


This was parked outside of Blockbuster. *puke*
Cool looking dog.


Range Rover and Crossfire I bought at the Chicago Auto Show.


Waiting outside with Newton while the Crossfire gets polished and vacuumed at Waterway.

So yeah, Reuther Chrysler did a good job. It was just an oil change, but they charged less than quoted, got the work done right on time (45 minutes exactly as promised), and answered all my questions. The used all the correct OEM parts. $90 well spent. I'll see them again in 7,000 miles.

Chicago Auto Show 2009

Once again, I made the cold journey up to Chicago for the auto show and a Cadillac owners meet. More pictures inside.




2009 Chicago Auto Show photos:
http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread/404032-2009-chicago-auto-show-and-cadillac-owners-meet-many-pics

If its not one thing with this dealership, its another.

I've been quite sick the last few days. I don't want to do anything but lay in bed. But I got hungry, and the dog looked bored so I decided to go for a drive.

I walked around the car and noticed some loose bits in the trunk. I opened the hatch and found that they DIDN'T REASSEMBLE THE TRUNK! I wasted money on diagnosing the locks and they didn't even have the courtesy to put the damn thing back together.







I was livid.

I called them at noon and asked to speak with Don, the service manager. After a long hold, I finally got through to him.

ME: "This is Jesda, I brought in an SRT6 and picked it up yesterday. I found a bunch of interior trim pieces all over the trunk. You guys never put it back together. I told you last week that I was picking up the car on Monday..."

DON: "Oh, yeah he must have thought that we were gonna replace the..."

ME: "I CALLED YOU THURSDAY AND TOLD YOU I WAS PICKING UP THE CAR MONDAY AFTERNOON. THATS FOUR DAYS NOTICE TO PUT THE CAR TOGETHER."

DON: [silence]

ME: "I HAVE SCHOOL, WORK, AND I'M SICK. I FEEL LIKE CRAP AND I DON'T HAVE TIME TO DEAL WITH THIS NONSENSE. I'M COMING OVER THERE AND YOU ARE GOING TO FIX IT RIGHT NOW. SEE YOU SOON."

I hung up. I headed up the road and pulled right into their service bay (blasting Phil Collins), got out, and slammed the door hard. I was right on the verge of blowing up at these people for all of their repeated screw-ups.



I walked up to a little lady at the service desk and said, "Hey, I'm JESDA I spoke to DON about..."

And before I could finish, my service writer Greg ran up and apologized. I handed him my keys and he pulled it into the garage.



The guys in the garage started yelling at each other.

Finally, after over an hour of sitting there in the waiting room hacking, sneezing, and coughing, I got my car back.



Grr. Royal Gate Chrysler sucks.

Biggest thing I have ever driven.

I got tired of dealing with my freight company. The billing issues, poor communication, high rates, and "gotcha" due dates caused me to find alternatives. I assumed, for whatever reason, that I needed a CDL to rent a large box truck, but I called Enterprise anyway to check into rates.



I have a corporate discount card and a rental history with them, so they're often generous with rates and little giveaways (like no deposit).

I made a reservation and headed over to pick up the truck. As always, the Enterprise girl at the counter was hot. She asked me if I liked my Crossfire, and I told her I loved the car but the dealers were crap. She noted the same worries when her boyfriend bought his Jeep.

Anyway, here's what I got:



International truck of some sort. Diesel with a 4-speed + OD. Its well over 30 feet long.


It took me a moment to find the filler cap, and of course I parked on the wrong side of the pump.


Diesel was $2.09.


Big pumpkin underneath.




Driveshaft




At first, I couldn't figure out how the heck to get moving. I sat there in the street with the transmission in drive, revving while moving nowhere. Finally I located the big yellow PARKING BRAKE knob on the dash, which I pushed in to release.



Bunch of dials.


It has... a radio. AC was painfully cold.


Breakfast


My brother's place was on the way, so I picked him up at school for a quick lunch. I carved out a parking space at Burger King.


I managed to back it in correctly on the first try!


120 miles later, I got back to St Louis. This is the questionable neighborhood where I warehouse my goods.


Backing in this time, I nearly banged up an Escalade. I was asked to go around back.



Unloading. The truck was a lot more than I needed.

It was plenty powerful, though it did struggle up inclines. 0-60 took about 7 days, but it got the job done. Fuel economy ended up being 10mpg with a full load, which I thought was impressive.

I wish the horn was louder. That was a disappointment. :(

The spring-supported big rig seat was fun, like climbing into a Caterpillar. Over bumps, the seat bottomed out a few times, at which points I yelped in pain. And over a large pothole, the seat bottomed out then topped out, causing my head to crash on the (thankfully) padded roof.

I managed to navigate through downtown streets. Making a wide right turn, I forced a few cars to back up so I could get by.


Freight company for 7200 lbs, 250 miles round trip: $549
Time used: 5-minute phone call

Driving a truck from Enterprise, 15 cents per mile @ 286 mi: $152
Diesel fuel cost: $60
Lunch and snacks on the road: $10
Total cost: $222
Time used: 5 hours

Total savings: $327

I'll be doing this a few times a year for a total annual savings of $1500. That buys a lot of bacon! I need to get a ball cap and flannel jacket if I want to fit in at truck stops and rest areas.

New toy! 2006 F-150

My roommate's Acura CL, at 118k, was about to eat a transmission. Instead of being faced with thousands of dollars in repairs, he traded it in for a 2006 Ford F-150 XLT with 36,000 miles. Includes warranty.





I took it for a quick drive. Off the line, the 5.4L V8 jumped like an eager puppy dog. And for a raised half-ton 4x4, it handled securely without any drama.

It was dark when he brought it home, so the pictures are blurry and dim.













I'll be borrowing this routinely for warehouse runs, and I look forward to it.

BREAKING: Fiat wants 35% of Chrysler.

Cerberus wants to retain a large share. More to come.

http://business.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090119.wrchrysler20/BNStory/Business/home

It's ten degrees. Time to go outside!

I can't imagine anything more enjoyable than going to a bad neighborhood to fish through a junkyard in the dead of winter.

Bonus! Bernie Mac sighting inside.




It all started with the Cadillac, my brother's 1992 Seville. One day after coming backing from the grocery store, he noticed his blower motor continued to run after shutting off the car. Before he could figure out what to do, the battery died.

The blower control module and blower motor were toast, so we headed across town to a couple junkyards.


After exiting I-70, I saw a guy jump out of his minivan in an attempt to push it UP the ramp. It started to slide backwards toward him so he leaped in and hit the brakes. I sat there at the stoplight trying not to laugh at his misfortune.


I got out and offered to help. With some back and knee injuries from my car accident, I wasn't able to help push. The front end smelled like burning oil and when I unscrewed the oil cap, smoke came pouring out. He informed me in an urban slang that the oil had not been changed in a long, long time. This Kia Sedona was done at only 103,000 miles.


The part was $100 from dealers, but he was hoping to spend that on driving to Washington this winter instead. I found a place in the phone book (I still use those!) called Riverside/Speedway on Hall and Hudson on the north side of St Louis.

Before I could leave, the Crossfire's battery refused to cooperate, giving me nothing but relay clicks when I tried to start it. I had my roommate drive me over to mom's where the van was parked, and I ended up spending the next few days using it as a giant battery charger, jump starting the Crossfire and the Seville as needed.


The pockmarked roads punished the Crossfire. I should have driven the van.


There was a sign that said "ROAD MAY BE FLOODED OR ICY" that I didn't take seriously until a MASSIVE series of waves engulfed my little Crossfire. It looked like that scene in Maryland where a large water main broke and left people stranded. I hit the brakes hard, the trucks coming the opposite direction passed, and the water subsided.


With a small box of sockets and screwdrivers in hand plus our $1 per person entry fee, we entered the yard.


In a dress shirt and suit jacket, I came inappropriately outfitted.


Finding the part was easy. We ended up buying three (there are two versions of the same blower control module) and returning one.


Yay, spares!

As I was leaving the checkout counter I saw the late Bernie Mac! [Well, a strong likeness of him.]

The guy at the counter greeted him as a regular, "Hey man! What's goin' on! What can I get ya?"

Bernie, as he shall be called, a tall and loud black man dressed in a leather trench coat said as he pulled off his seasonally inappropriate sunglasses, "Why don't you hook me up with a battery, I NEED one"

Behind Bernie were a bunch of younger guys, his entourage, who all looked like Lil Jon:

No, I am not exaggerating.

As I loaded parts and tools into the back of the Crossfire, Bernie Mac and his people walked past and said "Ey man, that ain't no junkyard car. That's brand new! What you doin at a junk yard man?"

I paused and said "Uhh, its for another car! Heh..."


He and his people got into a dented Ford Explorer and took off.

That was my brush with fake dead celebrity.


I got to that point where I was so cold and miserable, I started to feel warm. I kept the GMC van running next to the Cadillac so I could jump in for occasional heat and recharge the battery in the Seville.


Checked the electricals with the help of folks at CadillacOwners.com.

After some scrapes and a broken wire harness that required a visit to Radio Shack, the Cadillac was back on the road with heat. Its been a while since I've done any DIY projects; I forgot how much I enjoyed the feeling of accomplishment.

ROAD TRIP! Florida to Missouri in a Chrysler Crossfire

I forgot to bring my Kodak, so all I had was my camera phone. I apologize for the blurry photos.



I was hoping to see other people and do more things while I was down there but my trip was cut short. Mom needed a ride to the airport (she's off to Thailand and Australia) and my cousin had an accident in his $380 Altima that I found for him three years ago. Its a shame that the lady hit him, but that reliable little Nissan paid for itself over and over and over.

My mom also got into an accident that same week in her Lexus GX, and my other cousin needed me to help him with car registration stuff. Mom also needed help with computer stuff. The whole family was clawing at me, so I packed my bags and headed home.

The St Louis airport/Lambert Field is kind of a crap heap. After American Airlines bought TWA, routes were closed and traffic has declined. To save money, they closed down all of Concourse D, which was mostly just a connecting hallway between the Main and East terminal anyway. A couple smaller carriers like Frontier used it, but they now have to share space with Southwest, which dominates Concourse E.

The airline I used, USA 3000 (excellent by the way), charged only $64.99 for a ticket to Ft Meyers FL. In-flight preprogrammed TV, music, and movies are free.

Anyway, because USA3000 is a tiny carrier with only nine aircraft in their fleet, they were relegated to a corner of Concourse E. There were no news stands, one bathroom that flushed poorly and lacked toilet paper and paper towels, no food, no drinks, and no television. The carpet, walls, and seating looked like they were pulled out of a warehouse full of early 80s junk.

After looking around and around for a socket to plug in my laptop and cell phone, I finally found one. It was dangling out of the wall! I used it anyway. Whatever they spent on in-flight entertainment, excellent customer service, and timely flights, they had nothing left for outfitting the terminal.


This is the bathroom sink in the exiled corner of Concourse E. The soap and water dispensers are both motion-activated, and both were terribly faulty. I waved my hands hoping for water and got soap, and when I tried to wash off the soap I got even more soap! I was stuck in an endless cycle of automatic water and soap, unable to get out. I finally gave up and went to wipe my hands, but the paper towels were gone. I had to reach into my bag for a paper towel.

When I landed, Ian discovered that a tire was nearly punctured, so he picked me up in the Cadillac.

After the BMW was totaled, I told him I would take the Crossfire off his hands only if certain conditions were met. The defects (power locks, intercooler pump, tire, rustproofing) all needed to be taken care of, and he needed to pay for the insurance for a year.




Well, he never did get around to fixing any of the issues (extended warranty is included, so I'll have to take it in myself), so he found a shop with a used and matching Continental tire for only $50.

An initial review of the Crossfire is here: http://www.haddawaycars.com/2008/11/i-went-down-to-tampa-for-minivacation.html

It really is a gorgeous car. In pictures it looks stubby because DaimlerChrysler decided to force the design to fit the wheelbase of the SLK, but in person the lines and flanks are dramatic. When I see a red Corvette or yellow Hummer, I feel a little bit of juvenile joy, like a kid playing with his toys, smashing them into each other while making engine noises. I get the same feeling looking at the Crossfire. Its a toy for grownups who feel like kids. Its loud and boisterous -- I love it.

I am a total sucker for weird cars with strange background stories. The Crossfire is a product of a historic and disastrous merger between Chrysler and Daimler-Benz. The Mazda 929 I owned (two, both 1988) was one of Mazda's early and ominously failed attempts at offering luxury to Americans. No one bought them, and most have been driven into the ground. The Q45 (I also owned two) was a pioneer, known more for its failed marketing than its world-class 300hp V8.


Since Ian's mom was the primary driver of the Crossfire, he had to get something for her to take to work. For $2500 out the door, he found a 1995 Taurus SHO automatic with only 80,000 miles.

Review of the SHO here: http://www.haddawaycars.com/2008/12/sho-nuf-1995-ford-taurus-sho-in-stable.html

The inside is typical 90s Ford -- a good-looking design with cheap materials and buttons that like to break. All of the climate control buttons are cracked and the doors sound like a dumpster lid when you close them. The ergonomics are terrible, to be generous. Ford remedied the poorly located radio by places volume and preset controls up high on the dash, but even those are a bit of an odd reach. The ideal solution in this case would be an iPod with a steering wheel mounted remote from Belkin or Scosche.


Thats fine, because it scoots to 60 in just over 6 seconds, outrunning the Q45, Maxima, Seville STS, Mark VIII, Mustang GT, and most new sedans. It probably helps that the sheet metal is about as thick as tinfoil, but thats fine too because it handles [i]beautifully[/i]. Despite plenty of body roll, it grips nicely, turns swiftly, and offers predictable and manageable understeer.

It even looks good.


Like a lot of Mercury and top-level Ford products from that era, the seats are infinitely adjustable. You can change how tightly those fat side bolsters hold you in. And yes, the seats are as squishy and comfortable as they look.


The factory spoiler integrates an LED CHMSL (center high mounted stop light) and the rear bumper has a subtle SHO logo. The wheels are sharp too, with wide 16" tires.


Yamaha's V6 sounds amazing, as smooth as the Nissan VH45 V8 with the throaty depth of GM's Northstar.



We took our cars to Landry's to enjoy some oysters on the bay. I also had swordfish.


The SHO's JBL subwoofer was blown, so we tapped the wires and plugged in an Alpine box. I was able to fit comfortably in the trunk.


I unplugged my shaver after showering and blew the outlet. Oops.



Bought clothes. Lost a little bit of weight since 2007.


Later that night we stopped at Dew Cadillac-Hummer, which was in the middle of being converted into Dew Cadillac-Rolls Royce-Lotus-Bentley. Apparently they dumped their Hummer franchise. That was my first time seeing a Cadillac dealer integrated with top-tier European luxury.



This 360 is the closest I've ever physically been to a Ferrari.


Distinct Hummer building in the process of remodeling.


Rolls Royces are inside, but the banners still mention Hummer and GM's Onstar.


The air mattress that I had the privilege of calling home for a week.


With time to myself, I took the Crossfire out for a cruise. My first destination was the Gulf of Mexico.

At a gas station on Gandy Blvd, a homeless man held the door open for me, spoke to me articuately, called me [b]sir[/b], and asked how my day was. I was impressed by his performance, so when he very politely asked for change I gave him a dollar. He told me to have a great day and I said the same.

While leaving the bank and waiting to pull into traffic, a cute little blonde in a grey Crossfire looked over and gave me a wave. Nice little bonus to a day that was going well.




Took some pictures by the Gandy bridge.


I thought this was odd. The train tracks bisected a road. While the train was passing by, a Camry crossed the intersection right next to it.


The south beach in Clearwater FL.


I brought with me a soda and a $7.50 burrito from Moe's, which was flavorless and bland.






Indian Rock Beach. I drove down the little island/peninsula and came back up 275.

On the I-275 bridge late at night, I played highway tag with a black G35 coupe. He soared past at 90mph, so I flew from 60 to 100 in no time (LOVE that supercharger). He responded by hitting 110, then I hit 120, and eventually I decided that despite the highway being empty, I couldn't afford a ticket and didn't want to get mangled in an accident, so I backed off. With the windows open, the music loud, and the bay on both sides of the causeway, it was like a scene out of a movie. I'll definitely remember it.


A couple days later I saw something on Google Maps called the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge. It was a long stretch of I-275 that connected St Petersburg to Bradenton. Alongside were fishing piers. $1 toll and worth every penny for the incredible view.



I pulled off on to the pier and parked at the Gulf where I watched the sun set.


In this terrible photo is a Camaro. It was cold outside and a couple kids were parked on the pier with their hood open. They attempted to drive from Clearwater to Miami but didn't get very far, experiencing a total loss of battery power and a dashboard that lit up like it was Christmas.

He described the situation and I told him his alternator was toast, and that despite passing a brief voltage test at Autozone, the warning noises he heard indicated impending failure. I advised him to buy an AC Delco part, offered my phone and a ride (he already had family coming to get him), shook hands, and continued on my way.


Also as a condition of taking the Crossfire, I made Ian give up his refrigerator and his old Sony TV, both of which fit nicely into the hatch and front seat.


Trinitron was belted in for its own safety.


Later on, the fridge turned out to be an excellent desk. At gas stations I took out my laptop and got online with Sprint to check my mail, maps, and forums.
I averaged 24.5 mpg!


"I drove all night..." to get to Motel 6.


I got my 40 bucks worth. The room was clean and equipped with a fridge, desk, bed, and bathroom. I checked in at 7am and left at 8pm.

The drive home was pretty comfortable. The ride was firm but well damped, like the drum head of a timpani. Only in Kentucky did it become irritating.
My affection for this car is growing with each mile.

Did I mention how much I love southerners? So darn friendly. Even women I've dated never called me darling, baby doll, or sweetheart.


I wish I had a garage to protect it from the cruel outside world. Its 10F right now with ice and "wintry mix". The poor little Chrysler must be horrified by the change from its native home in Florida. I feel like going out there with a cup of hot cocoa and putting a blanket over it.

SHO' Nuf! 1995 Ford Taurus SHO in the stable!

Yes, that's right. None other than the "Cone Bone" itself. As one of my other cars is in the process of (hopefully) being totaled once and for all, and I don't want to replace it with another payment, I was browsing through the local Automart magazine when I came across this. A minty (and green to boot) 1995 Ford Taurus SHO sedan owned by an elderly couple and loved as only the elderly can, with a sincere lack of go-pedal use as evidenced by the almost EXACTLY 80,000 mile odometer (80,006 to be exact). The car has never had any accidents, the paint was original, the leather looked fantastic and even the tires were in great shape. Unfortunately, the ever-present northern snow effects have left their mark on some of the car from the waist down, but the listed price was already a great deal and needless to say, I got a substantial discount off that which really made it impossible to resist. With a total coin out the door of around 2.5k (my total budget to begin with) I thought I'd give it a shot. I didn't get to take the new addition home yet as I am waiting on the plates from my totaled car to come back from insurance, but read after the jump to see my first impression.

The story behind the Taurus SHO is typical Ford, resulting from a little mismanagement, and a little luck. Ford had originally commissioned Yamaha to build a heavily modified in-house intake for their ubiquitous Vulcan 3.0L V6 at some point in the mid-late '80s to be used in a coupe that never actually made it to production. After extensive testing, it was discovered that Yamaha's top end enhancements were SO good that the bottom end couldn't keep up. As a result Ford ended up farming out the buildup and modification of the entire engine to Yamaha to ensure reliability. Unfortunately for Ford, the development and initial orders to Yamaha had already been placed by the time the coupe project was axed (that's the typical Ford mismanagement part).

Not having a clue what to do with the inevitable shipment of motors soon to be arriving at their front door, Ford quickly amassed a plan to create a wolf in sheep's clothing version of the one vehicle that had already been using the engine architecture to begin with, the venerable family-hauling, grocery-getting, suburbanite Taurus (that's the luck part). While this probably sounded quite comical in the late 1980s, the Taurus can probably share some kudos in the eventual success of several vehicles in this niche that came along later; including the Cadillac CTS-V, Jaguar S-Type R and Chrysler 300 SRT-8. All which start out as relatively docile family haulers.

My brief stint with this freakish creation during my test-drive and tire-kicking session proved to be mildly enjoyable if not downright entertaining. The power from the Yamaha engineered powerplant does not slap you in the face like my Crossfire SRT-6 does, but comes on smoothly and surely with what surprisingly has the be one of the most enjoyable engine cacauphonies this side of an F40. At 4000RPM however the engine snaps out a satisfying burst of power that these cars are known for. It really does make you forget for just a moment that you're driving a Taurus. The engine is really the bones of this entire car.

Unfortunately, the transmission (an automatic in this particular example) is standard Ford fare and does a merely OK job of keeping up with the magic the motor is capable of. There was a standard manual transmission throughout the car's run, but ironically, it isn't really any better as it was designed by Mazda to be used in the lowly 323 compact car of all things.

Handling however splits the balance between overly taut and Town Car soft extremely well, the car corners well, brakes decently, and doesn't feel like a handful to sling around. Sure it's no M3, but for what essentially was an accidental car, it gets the job done.

The interior in this car was surprisingly comfortable and I could see it being perfect for long-haul driving (the motor has an extremely docile low-end when you want it to be by the way) despite the substandard materials quality that is typical of any '80s-'90s Ford product. Ford really excelled on the seat design of this car given the application. Those seats also have a myriad of power adjustments to find just the right comfort level for most anyone. There's also a fantastic JBL Audio system with cassette (iPod lovers rejoice!), CD player and satellite audio controls which are curiously placed to the right of the instrument cluster binnacle rather than on the wheel as has become common these days. This car also had the optional power operated sunroof.

A nice package for what amounted to all of $20,000.00 in the mid-'90s.

Stay tuned, we'll be picking up the car Tuesday and a full review will be forthcoming.