Taurus SVT Survey

Thanks to Nick Chrimes

Ford Special Vehicles Teams (SVT) is interested in polling the car buying public on what they would look for in a Taurus SVT. To this end, various mailing lists comprising some 700-800 Taurus SHO owners were invited to participate in this survey. 30 people responded. This document contains their responses, which were collected on May 21, 1999.

Some of the desired enhancements are considered by the editor to be more of a generic nature, appropriate to the basic Taurus. These have been listed in Appendix A and are not included in the main survey which concentrates more on performance enhancements. However, some of the generic enhancements (such as better rear seat headroom) would affect sales of all Taurus models, including the SVT. Appendix B contains the list of respondents.

The general consensus was that the respondents were looking for a fast 4 door automobile that could carry four tall adults in comfort that was not in the luxury class but still had as good an interior as money would permit (target price no more than $30,000-$35,000). The target performance criteria was a 0-60 mph time under 7 seconds and a 1/4 mile time under 15 seconds, with a top speed of around 160 mph. Power to be in the 260-315HP range to be competitive with other cars in its class. The Rage concept car was considered by many as an excellent base.

The car would be used as an every day driver as well as an occasional Open Track and Autocross car by a significant number of respondents. These pastimes have increased in popularity significantly over the last few years. So a manual transmission as an option would be an absolute must (28 of 30 respondents). Indeed, many SHO owners are simply driving enthusiasts to whom an automatic transmission is an anathema.

The SVT should obviously be matched with tires, suspension, lateral acceleration and brakes commensurate with the car's performance.

The most popular options were a Limited Slip Differential and a Turbo or Supercharger for even more performance. The group in general realizes that these probably couldn't be included in the target price, but would be prepared to pay extra. Half the respondents were also prepared to give up creature comforts such as sunroof and power seats to save weight and cost.

The top five enhancements, in order of importance, are :

• Manual Transmission: while a 6-speed would be most desirable, most would accept a 5-speed to keep the cost down.

• More Power: suggestions included bringing back a V8, possibly based on the Jaguar's 4.0 engine, or even bringing back the beloved Yamaha from the SHO.

• Better Brakes: The idea of using the '99 Cobra brakes was popular

• Limited Slip Differential: 19 of the 30 respondents asked for this. A Quaife/Torsen type was the most popular.

• Stiffer Suspension: The front springs should be a minimum of 260 lbs/in. Many SHO owners upgrade their cars, the most popular spring being progressive Eibachs at 250 lbs, even though linear springs are more favored.

1. Survey Results

(END OF FORMAL STUDY)

What would you like to see in a new SHO (if Ford ever wakes up?)  Send your ideas to Buford and I will post them here.

Hello....Here are some of the things I'd LOVE to see in a new SHO (or similar Taurus):...
- SARC..(this time make the shocks more responsive to "full stiff")
- 5 or 6-speed manual
- AT LEAST 260hp to keep up w/it competition (ie. Acura Type-S)
- 3.4L V8 Yamaha (Bigger bore intake feeders)
- RWD (or AWD) NOT FWD
-At least have Dual exhaust from the 3rd Cat back (True dual if tunable)

These are a few things that are just sitting on top of my head..
Regards,
Justin
'97SHO (ES)

In my opinion, Ford has the next Taurus already on the roads and gaining immense popularity in Europe with the New Mondeo. It's got nice lines, a very nice interior, a five speed transmission and up to six airbags. All you need is the bad boy Yamaha or similar mill and a nice suspension/brake setup and I'd be throwing all my dollars at Ford to get one.

I really am happy that Ford is at least considering this.
Please, oh please, Ford.... Make another SHO!!!

Damien F. - Mesa AZ (Currently in Copenhagen, Denmark)

Just wanted to remind anyone that doesn't know that the new Mondeo is simply just the European version North American Ford Contour. And a similar car was made for N. A. in the form of the contour SVT`

Michael Soo

I never got a letter to ask me what I'd like to do to the car... so here's my thoughts.

1.) Rear wheel drive, and a 5-speed stick Trans. If not for durability problems, the Gen1/2 sticks were just fine. Limited slip differential would be a good thing, but the gearing should be a little different. I spend more of my time from 0-75 than from 75-150. By the way... changing to rear wheel drive and stick transmission would fix a lot of the listed problems (less power, torn up CV's, brake bias, etc) without requiring a re-bored or changed engine.

2.) Better gauges: Granted, being an Air Force flyer skews my perspective, but I want gauges, preferably white face, and I want to see everything. Temperature in degrees, fuel in gallons, better markings on the tachometer (ever try and figure out exactly what rpm they correspond to?) I want to add volts, oil press. and temp, at a minimum. I drive a '99 and I miss the trans position indicator under the speedo very much. Once upon a time I owned a Pontiac 6000 STE, with the all-digital face that read everything (including the button to switch to metric units). It was great.

3.) The engine needs some adjustment, but if the drive wheels and trans would be shifted, I could be satisfied with what I have for the price. I would pay more $$ for more horsepower, in the 250-300 range. perhaps a turbo (I think my SHO would look fine with a small hump in the hood, like some Eclipse’s have) Open up the engine!! A better intake (smooth-flowing 400cfm) and a better exhaust (true dual at least) would be perfect. I would also pay extra (and Ford pay attention!) for a chip reprogramming to give me more power. It costs very little for the mechanic to do it, and you could charge me commensurate with the performance gains I get, not the minimal time/work of the mechanic. Ford has the correct sources codes, no need for other people to try and decompile /crack them, and give me an engine that misses/stalls until the fourth visit/tweaking/road test.

4.) Important Details: Stereo needs two minor tweaks - the amps have a gap in them, which means that high treble (harmonicas, electric guitar sometimes) comes out much too loud, way out of proportion. Secondly - I want a CD changer in the console, like in the Explorer, or AT LEAST a slot up front so I can change discs without having to pull over. The wing on the back is quite stiff enough... but I don't know that it really adds that much down force. Perhaps a wing redesign is in order. The suspension, overall, needs to be tuned... it's nice and stiff, but the car doesn't take advantage of it. Strut tower braces, better struts, fatter sway bars, not poly bushings, but bushings stiffer than stock. Perhaps the car could damp road shock/vibration at the seat rails, instead of doing it all in the suspension. The rail mounts on the floor might incorporate a neoprene layer, and thus I could get good stiff suspension and still have a ride quality in the seat that won't break my tailbone. Wider rims with a more common bolt pattern would be much desired. Fog lamps... I want my fog lamps back. The leather seats, super stereo, and sunroof can be optional. That's about it for what I would do to tweak the car.

DiBonavent@aol.com 

Stuff I'd like on my new SHO/Taurus SVT please:
My emphasis is on simplicity. This car does NOT have to be a Q-ship. All that extra tech stuff just adds to production costs. Keep It Simple..

• 17" x 8" six spokes designed to commemorate the '91-'95 SHO cheese slicers. Add fender blisters unique to this car. Bolt them on if you have to. Bolt heads are cool. Wrap the damn fenders around the tires.
  The Gen3 suspension is just fine for me. Leave out the interactive, self-leveling, self-depreciating suspension pieces. KISS.
• Engine: I love my V8 SHO but, I do miss that six cylinder, 24 valve wildcat. Bring it back with a twin-turbo to gently muffle the beast within, belying the capability of this vanilla Ford sedan to the GS430 next to me. Or, add a supercharger. Make it two. Bore it out to 3.2 liter. Put a bump in the hood for clearance if needed. Make it two. Longitudinal engine mount might bring those front wheels in a little.
• 5-speed/6-speed.
• Fog lamps.
• Xenon-ray, halogen, krypton-ray, Pluto-ray...whatever. Bright lights specific to this car.
• Ground effects that give it away. Stop trying to blend in with traffic. This car rocks and I want all those bad-ass M3's to think about it. Go easy on the colors if needed.
• Colors: Deep Metallic Purple with Ebony interior. Caribbean Green Metallic w/Ebony or Saddle. Candy Apple Red w/Ebony, White, or Saddle. Bronze w/Ebony. Silver Frost w/Ebony. White Frost w/Ebony or Saddle.
  Once you have a moon roof, you can't go back. The Auto-crossers can attach a brace inside from b-post to b-post.
  Sound: Whatever is available for the LX. Bring back the delete option. No trunk mounted changers. Whoever thought of them should be shot. Put the battery in the trunk instead.
• HVAC: Manual controls. I never use that auto temp. KISS.
• Specific steering wheel with small diameter.
• HAND brake.
• Grab handles. Front AND rear. Yee-ha.
• Do something about those "Euro" windshield wipers. I feel like an Alien is sprawled on my cowl. Can't see the damn hood. Go to one wiper if you want Euro. I don't give a hoot what the passenger can or can't see and neither do they. That's why I have grab handles.
• 48,000/4 yrs bumper to bumper.
• Darker tinted glass.
• Those tail lamps that have a unique shape but show round lamps when lit. Not that clear tuner look. God I hate that. It looks like someone screwed up at the tail lamp factory.

I'll keep thinking. tmtiglio@zdnetmail.com