[Shotimes] SHO Sales WAS: OT - 2006 Mercury Milan

[Neno]

The SHO didn't do such a weak job selling because it was unwanted. It was
more of the price range type bid to me. Somewhat, at least. While taking
into consideration that it was a very well priced vehicle when it began,
broadening the price tag was a foul move for Ford and the SHO in it's later
years. 

First off, you don't throw a "beefy" tempo trans into their leadership of
the sporty 4 door realm. We, to this day, need MORE money than what the car
is worth to make the MTX a worthwhile contender.

Secondly, the ATX that left the largest impression on buyers was the worst
Ford could've offered.. And I don't mean worst in regards to the SHO, but
more or less their entire production line. No other out powered so
thoroughly. 

And finally, the car is too much of a Taurus to the naked eye, yet not! If
you owned one, you knew another. It's always that way. However, if you
didn't know any better (and take my word for it, I STILL awe people and am
asked why the hell my Taurus is so fast) the SHO is just another weak
by-product of marketing. Just like every FWD Monte Carlo, which was a
rebadged pathetic LUMINA! Difference was? It had a history. People KNEW what
the former A & G-Body titled cars were. So they were popular. Yet... a pile
of CRAP! 

The point is, if you're going to involve marketing in your argument, you
must realize that a new-born economy car can't get revamped in 3 years into
a 4 door slayer without BRAGGING about it! The car had no history and simply
didn't light that bulb in your head when the name was mentioned. The SHO,
imo, is a well designed car that still blends in with the finest of the
finest. And get respect from some of those finer ones too. 

Be it for the love of a SHO or the lust for the power that this true 4 door
sports car offered (hence, Nissan's 4DSC stickers on the Maxima... which
made me think it was some 4 wheel disc brake lingo, kinda "ABS" center cap
deal for every GM!) that set a significant pace to be met. If it wasn't for
the SHO, the 4 door world wouldn't average 14 second 1/4mi passes for the
sporty 4 door realm. You were lucky to dig deep into 15s a decade ago! 

All I'm saying is the car wasn't a weak idea, but rather a weak market due
to the unknown truth behind the SHOs sheep clothing. People still comment on
my "supercharged 3.0" or 3.8... Or even better, they call it a V8...
Immediately AFTER my too-loud 'n raspy SHO Shop Cat-back resonates their
ears! Really now, how little can you know about a car and where do you set
your limits for sales?! They didn't even SHOW an SHO on commercials for the
Taurus bid. They might've thrown it in a few, but for the 6 years I've been
aware of SHOs and the 5 years I've been a member of the Shotimes List, I've
never seen a true SHO adverstisement that actually caught my attention,
unless it was a snippet from some magazine for that certain month ONLY...
I'm sure you see where I've been going with this for the past... 4
paragraphs?! :)

Neno