Taurus SHO, Bonneville SSE-i, Spirit R/T

Alright, I own an 89 SHO, if you don't know much about them they're Yamaha V-6 powered, 220 hp. with Mazda 5 spds. Run high 14's low 15's but pull like mad up top. Then you have the Bonneville SSE-i, a supercharged Bonneville good for about the same 1/4, but can't pull up top like the SHO, and automatic only. And then on the rare side, we've got the Dodge Spirit R/T, turbo'd 2.2 liter with a 5 spd. manual as well, and quicker than either one of the other contenders here. Who's driven either one of these latter choices? Which one would be most liveable and best for daily driving? If you know any other good sleepers to compare to the SHO I'd accept them.

The last generation SSE-i is the most comfortable ride of those that you listed. While the Spirit and SHO are the same class of cars, the Bonnie is a bit more upscale in features and size.













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I think calling the Spritit and Taurus the same class of car is pushing it. The Spirit is more akin to the old Tempo than a Taurus in size and refinement. The Spirit is noticeably tighter inside than the Taurus and less comfortable than my sisters old Escort. (I am not kidding) The Dynasty was far more in line with the Taurus in size, although that car never had a sporting bone in it's body.

A college buddy of mine had a Dodge Spirit RT, and it was a really quick ride, especially for what it was. But, it was rough and unrefined to say the least...even back then.

The Bonneville is the most comfy highway cruiser. Not by much though as IMO the Taurus SHO wasn't exactly uncomfortable. And, the old Bonnevilles were awful in the twisties with a LOT of front end plow, and they were proky suckers... Pontiacs handling image be damned.

IMO the Spirit and the SHO were the only two that were really fwd "hot rod" sedans of the three you mention, and the Taurus is the only one that would ever make me consider a twisty two lane a fun propostition. The Bonnie was just a souped up Lesabre and it felt like it. The Bonneville and the Taurus are both comfy cars, something I cannot say for the Spirit, with the Bonneville being the most comfortable by a small margin. (Seats are actually better in the Taurus IMO)

I would take the Taurus out of the three hands down as it's the only one that really combines a nice hidhway ride with a real "sport" driving experience. But, thats just my opinion.

Oh, and it might be more appropriate to say the SHO was tuned by Yamaha rather than calling it a Yamaha V-6. The block was based on the same 3.0L Vulcan V-6 that comes in the base Taurus now. What Yamaha contributed was essentially a set of heads, tuning, and EFI.

I'm afraid you're confused, the V-8 SHO was a Ford Block with Yamaha heads, it was the 2.5 liter V-6 Duratec block basically with two extra cylinders. The first and second gen. Taurus SHOs were all Yamaha block and heads, they share nothing with the Vulcan 3.0

Actually, I am not mistaken...you are. The block for the 3.0L and 3.2L SHO V-6 is Vulcan based. Yes, it was a special casting done specifically for the SHO engine, but since Yamaha doesn't cast engine blocks that doesn't make it any more of a Yamaha block now does it. The block was modified somewhat (as was the SC Thunderbirds 3.8L block, does that make it not a Ford block too?) for SHO duty but so what?

Yamaha took a Vulcan V-6 design, tweaked it, had the block cast, designed a set of heads for it and slapped it together. So, what you are saying is if I buy a DART small block chevy block, put a set of Edelbrock heads ported and polished to my specs on it, and then put it together myself it's not a Chevy anymore it's MY motor??? Wow, I need to go into business.

As I said, Yamaha may have tweaked the design and assembled the motor, but it's FORD's engine that Yamaha tweaked and assembled.

By your standards you need to go tell Subaru WRX guys they are actually drving Porsches, and Chevy guys that ZR-1 Vettes are actually Mercury Marine/Lotus hybrids. It always amazes me that "company A" pr whoever can design an engine and then because another company slaps their heads on it and puts it together it supposedly isn't "company A's" motor anymore.

I am also aware that some SHO clubs and enthusiasts will tell you that the engine is strictly a Yamaha. They are wrong too. As my last point some SHO parts bolt directly onto a 3.0L Vulcan block, and most of the rest will go on with very light machine work. Damn coincidence for two totally unrelated engines huh?

And what parts would they be? They have different strokes, bores, cranks...I want you to tell me which parts are interchangeable, and why is it attached to a Mazda 5 spd.? Why don't you think any other Ford tranny will bolt up to the SHO's? And if you think one does I would like to know which one. Maybe you should just calm down as well, I think you're getting way too worked up over this. The SHO is one of those cars you either know like the back of your hand or not at all, and you don't talk like you know it too well. If you want some sources, please, visit www.shotimes.com ,I'm sure there will be somebody who can give you full proof that this is not just "yamaha tuned" the V-8 SHO's are, not the V-6's. And take it easy. I won't go and tell WRX drivers that they are driving Porsche powered engines because it's a boxer, so why are you sitting here telling me the V-6 SHO isn't all Yamaha? This was taken directly from shoforum.com

http://shoforum.com/shoforumfaq.htm#Q.%20How%20is%20a%20SHO%20differen t%20from%20a%20regular%20Taurus?

Q. I’ve heard that Yamaha actually built the SHO engine, is this true?

A. It’s true! Both the 3.0 and 3.2 liter SHO V6 engines were designed and built by Yamaha in Japan, crated and shipped to the United States where they were mated with the car; Ford had virtually nothing to do with the development & assembly of this engine. The SHO V8, while still chiefly constructed by Yamaha, saw more direct involvement from Ford.

On another note, you claim the SHO community would tell me otherwise, and they do, so why should I take your word for it? Why wouldn't Yamaha be able to cast a block? A company that makes everything from motorcycles to pianos can't cast their own blocks? So what do they outsource their motorcycle engine blocks too? If you can prove I'm wrong I'll take your word for it, but I don't see how a pushrod 130 hp. V-6 block was made into an all aluminum 220 hp. DOHC 24V engine with a redline above 8000 rpm, "but is limited to 7300 to protect driveline components." ;) Taken from shotimes.com: "The 89-95 SHO is equipped with a 220 hp DOHC 24V V-6 manufactured FOR FORD BY YAMAHA" "The regular Taurus and SHO are as different as night and day, unlike most other family cars with "sport" versions."

Out of every source I can find on the internet, every single one says the engine, block and all is Yamaha, not tuned, not just a set of heads, all Yamaha, if you can find any real proof to prove otherwise I'll take your word, but every SHO owner will tell you it's all Yamaha for a good reason, it is and they know their cars. Nowhere have I found anything, any source, credible or not that tells me otherwise. If you want to have some fun later, I'll dig up some chiltons and Haynes manuals, we'll see what exactly these engines share, because I can't think of anything you could interchange.