9/23/2003, 10/2/2003
I've sold my SHO. She was (still is, I guess) a silver 1996. I got $1700 for her with a sick ATX and 156K on the clock. She was still in pretty good shape. I never did have anything done with the cams. By the time I found out about the cams I had something like 110K on it and I just listened very intently to the motor every time I drove it. After about 30,000 miles of paranoia I got the the point where I said to myself, "If they were gonna go it woulda been by now." That said, I hope she's as good to the guy who bought her as she's been to me.
I bought the car for $11,700 with 70,000 miles in '99, so she had been driven before I got her; I figured all the bugs should've been worked out. The only things I did were the subframe bushing, a couple of batteries (the heat here in Fla. just eats 'em up), a couple of sets of tires, brake pads...I think I had the serpentine belt and plugs changed once, and I got the oil changed (using Mobil 1) every 7000 miles or so. I never had to do any coil packs or water pump or alternator...I did the "remove the shim" trick on the A/C clutch when that started acting up. I would've just rebuilt or replaced the ATX and kept her but...the parts are kind of pricey for someone with my budget, and she's going to start needing things replaced, and the resale value was in the pits...and I've got a new daughter sucking up cash and I'm trying to go back to school, and the SHO doesn't really get terribly good gas mileage and most of the time it's just me in the car commuting to work and back...and I want a stick shift again....and there's always that nagging doubt about the cams, I could weld but then there's even more money I'd never get back...anyway....
I never really posted very much on the forum, I mostly just lurked. It seemed like there were a lot of much more knowledgeable and serious people who gave much more informed answers to questions than I could've.
I don't know why I'm compelled to write this little farewell to the SHO and the list. I guess I just want to express my thanks to all the people who do the hard work of keeping this all going and providing at least one poor guy who's just trying to get by and keep his car running with so much valuable information. The SHO was more than just a hunk of metal and plastic, it was a connection to a community that, even though I was a very taciturn and peripheral member, was a pleasurable and enriching association to have had.
Cheers to you all and may you have the best of luck with your cars..
Lots of folks sell their SHO's. In car groups people come and people go. I found this to be striking. This should remind us that there are plenty of people that view the list and never contribute, for whatever reason. (highlights added by the editor) I know I speak for all of us in wishing Matt well. - Larry
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Larry -
I too, like Matt have sold my 1996 SHO. What a wonderful car it was (is)
except for a nagging little problem concerning the cams. I was just getting
ready to turn 100,000 miles on it. I was a fortunate one in that I had
purchased an extended warranty with zero deductible for repairs. I thought
I had foolishly spent my $1300 until approx 86,000 miles when that pesky cam
thingy bit me. The car was repaired and has given me no trouble since then.
I guess I am still a Ford guy as I have been driving my 2001 Mustang GT Conv
and have been restoring my 66 GT Conv I have had for almost 30 years. I
hated to part with my SHO but it seemed to be the car which was just taking
up my driveway space.
Thanks to V8Sho I was able to keep up with everyday maintenance and diagnose
the cam issue.
Tim & Angie Giddens
Sad to hear of your selling the SHO. Did you have the new (still defective) cams welded? Perhaps you'll share the information with the new owner. Best to you both.