[Shotimes] $200 SHO is gone

[Randy Palmer]

Well, my 200 dollar SHO is gone, sold to Kirk Doucette, probably to be 
parted out and used in various projects.

I bought the car with 6800 miles on it back when George Bush the First was 
getting ready to launch on Iraq the first time.

There was a lot of undertainty then and dealers weren't moving a lot of cars 
so I was able to get it for about $10,000 off it's original list price.

Don't worry, I made up for that one good deal by getting raped on my 
Cobra...

It's been a great 160,000+ miles.  If they still made them today, I probably 
would've bought another one.  Even with the heavy maintenance cost for a 
non-mechanic.

It's one of the top 10 engines ever made.  It's pure magic when it's running 
for the redline, and I'll miss that greatly.

For it's day (1990), it was a remarkably advanced machine with features that 
woudl be contemporary today, fifteen years later.  It was a near equivalent 
to a BMW M5 back then.

I wonder what got into Ford that this thing actually got produced?  I wonder 
what got into Ford over the intervening years that it's like is not being 
produced today?

Socaiety has changed. Mass markets have changed.  The pressure on businesses 
to meet the numbers for the current quarter out-weigh all other 
considerations.

So I guess it was just a remarkable confluence of happenstance.  The planets 
aligned just right...

My SHO ownership and this list reminds me of my father's obsession with the 
1940-48 Lincoln Continental Mark I's.  A whole fraternity and support 
network grew up around these vehicles, they were luxurious and had an 
amazing engine (for the day).  Except it was before the internet...

Of couse, the SHO was still a Ford and all the stupid Ford stuff kept 
breaking and irritating me.  The intermittent wipers that'd go bad and need 
a new wiper stalk.  Some squeaks and rattles.  The dealership organization.  
The seat belts that wouldn't retract.

But it was all worth it when the butterflies opened at 4 grand.

Over the years, my car got kind of tired, kind of rusty.  The repairs grew 
more frequent.

I've replaced it with a 2001 Audi A4 Avant 1.8 turbo with a 5 speed.  Which 
the AWA has already claimed as HER car.

It's pretty nice.  Real tight, luxurious, good spunk, handles excellent.  If 
I'd known Audi's were this nice I would've gotten one instead of the Cobra  
-- which has it's own charm and attraction in it's own brutal, powerful way 
-- but it's not as nice and not as comfortable as the SHO, and certainly not 
a car to be driven year round.

Anyway, it's been a great ride.  I envy you guys (and gals) your SHO 
ownership and I count myself lucky to have been in the right place at the 
right time to have been part of this fraternity.

I'll probably lurk on the list for another 5-10 years, but this chapter in 
my automotive life has come to a close.

Take care, keep doing those 60k's, replace the rod bearings every now and 
then, and I'll see you on the road.

  -RP