Track Tested: Pontiac G8 GT vs 2010 Ford Taurus SHO

[page2171]

Originally Posted by BBDOS CV8

The GXP by comparison, is like a serving Marine in civvies.....

I like that comparison...it's not very often I get compared to a G8 GXP, but if there was any car I would want to be compared to a GXP would be it.

[nota]

Originally Posted by BBDOS CV8

The LE also isn't a perfect comparison, as all Coupe4s are autos and it was the highest-rated one at the time with a bigger cooler; whereas the quoted specs on the GTO LE are for a manual which is maybe 50kg lighter. Plus while the GTO was based on the Monaro trim spec, the Coupe4 had some extra goodies. I'm pretty sure the wheel/tyre package alone was different.

It all adds up - except for my Territory math

IIRC the Coupe4 also used cast iron exhaust manifolds (the first HSV V8 do do so?) and not their usual and lighter tube-wall extractors.

[fingers]

Originally Posted by Baz

Here is a comparison I'd like to see. Ford Falcon G6E Turbo V Ford Taurus SHO. Both luxury cars, both turbo'd 6's

My thoughts exactlly.
And to illustrate:
G6E Turbo: 362hp, 393lb @ 2000rpm, RWD turbo inline 6



Or considering the G8 GXP is its price competitor, perhaps the f6 is a fairer performance comparison:
FPV F6: 416hp, 417lb @ 1950rpm, RWD turbo inline 6

[blkwrxsti]

Originally Posted by XCR440SP

But its a heavier car aimed at the Luxury market more than the Sport market. It also has AWD, so lets compare mileage to a G8 that I can drive in Iowa during an ice storm. Its great everyone wants to compare the SHO to the G8 on performance but there very very different cars, and no G8 fans seems to talk about features or all seasonability.


I think the G8 should be compared to Mustang, Camaro, its more of a 4 door pony car than the SHO or even the 300C. And thats great if thats what the buyer wants, but based on the fact that G8 is going away, I'm guessing that thats not what most buyers are after. I think a competent sport (notice Sport, not pony) entry by Buick would sell far better than the G8 since I feel most buyers in this category want an equal mix of Sport, Luxury and technology.

Ford Luxury Car. Also, the "most buyers are after..." argument would carry more weight AFTER Ford sells some cars. Face facts - Ford watered down the SHO name, just because every other thing they've thrown at this platform has failed to make a dent - Ford 500, Edge, Flex, Taurus, Taurus X. With the resale history on those cars, at least this thing won't be overpriced for long.

FYI - I heard that Pontiac was dead. Way to make it sound like they just decided not to make the G8 anymore. Buick Lacrosse is on EPII, so I think it could eventually get AWD, but that's a completely different market - showing how out of place the SHO name really is on this car. Also - G8 isn't exactly brutish, like you try to imply with the "pony car" reference.

[SullyND]

Originally Posted by blkwrxsti

every other thing they've thrown at this platform has failed to make a dent - Ford 500, Edge, Flex, Taurus, Taurus X.

Edge has consistently sold well, but is not on the D3/D3-2[D4] platform that the others are (It is on CD3, which it shares with the Fusion).

[blkwrxsti]

Originally Posted by SullyND

Edge has consistently sold well, but is not on the D3/D3-2[D4] platform that the others are (It is on CD3, which it shares with the Fusion).

OK, my bad - thanks for clearing that up for me. Is it true that most of the Fusion platform came from Mazda 6?

I think this comparison is typical for edmunds, but it does highlight that the "SHO" name doesn't mean what it once did. Surrounding an engine that nice in this much fluff is criminal. It's like they want shareholders to lose money.

[wescoent]

Originally Posted by blkwrxsti

OK, my bad - thanks for clearing that up for me. Is it true that most of the Fusion platform came from Mazda 6?

I think this comparison is typical for edmunds, but it does highlight that the "SHO" name doesn't mean what it once did. Surrounding an engine that nice in this much fluff is criminal. It's like they want shareholders to lose money.

Really now?

Am I the only one here old enough to remember the original SHO?

Amazing engine, crammed into a floaty-boat family sedan that was, frankly, completely unsuitable for the application. The point of the SHO was, to be able to comfortably drive around in your normal-looking Taurus sedan, and when you wanted to, take off like a Saturn V rocket.

Moreover, the original SHO, much like this one, was essentially an afterthought. Ford had a big warehouse full of Yamaha engines that needed a home.

In this case, Ford is shipping EcoBoost V6 motors to the Chicago plant for the MKS, so they figured, why not throw it in a Taurus while we're at it?

[Xenon]

Originally Posted by wescoent

Really now?

Am I the only one here old enough to remember the original SHO?

Amazing engine, crammed into a floaty-boat family sedan that was, frankly, completely unsuitable for the application. The point of the SHO was, to be able to comfortably drive around in your normal-looking Taurus sedan, and when you wanted to, take off like a Saturn V rocket.

Moreover, the original SHO, much like this one, was essentially an afterthought. Ford had a big warehouse full of Yamaha engines that needed a home.

In this case, Ford is shipping EcoBoost V6 motors to the Chicago plant for the MKS, so they figured, why not throw it in a Taurus while we're at it?

All I remember is that it is the car in Robocop, 8MM, and the magic green car that Conan O'Brien drives/ pimps on his show. But by the sounds of it, I think Ford made an mild mistake by calling the Taurus EB a SHO. I was expecting G8 beating performance from the car while still getting good fuel economy.

[schmallz]

Well, I knew the G8 would be faster, but this is fantastic.

But this overlooks the huge problem that is the current Impala. It doesn't hold a candle to the base Taurus, and the SHO(why wasn't it SVT or SVO?) blows the SS out of the water.

A new Impala is needed now! IT could be the new Commodre, or a new Epsilon II. Basically a dumbed down Lacrosse.

[page2171]

Originally Posted by wescoent

Really now?

Am I the only one here old enough to remember the original SHO?

Amazing engine, crammed into a floaty-boat family sedan that was, frankly, completely unsuitable for the application. The point of the SHO was, to be able to comfortably drive around in your normal-looking Taurus sedan, and when you wanted to, take off like a Saturn V rocket.

Moreover, the original SHO, much like this one, was essentially an afterthought. Ford had a big warehouse full of Yamaha engines that needed a home.

In this case, Ford is shipping EcoBoost V6 motors to the Chicago plant for the MKS, so they figured, why not throw it in a Taurus while we're at it?

No, you're not the only one...there are a few of us.

[JBsZ06]

No question that the G8 GT would be my choice...but I do have to say I saw a 2010 Ford Taurus on the road the other day and it was also a sharp looking car..

It will be a success...

I don't know if the taurus I saw was an SHO model or a base model but it did look good.

Not better than the G8 GT but a nice vehicle all the same.

JMO

JB

[iammisterc]

am glad i decided to keep my gxp bonneville now. my '05 will be the last

[psece]

Originally Posted by XCR440SP

But its a heavier car aimed at the Luxury market more than the Sport market. It also has AWD, so lets compare mileage to a G8 that I can drive in Iowa during an ice storm. Its great everyone wants to compare the SHO to the G8 on performance but there very very different cars, and no G8 fans seems to talk about features or all seasonability.

That is why I picked the F18 Angel over the ZR1. No roads baby. You know how much gas you can save by going straight....