Used Car Face-Off: '90s American Performance Saloons

"Amoore100" (amoore100)
08/19/2016 at 20:17 • Filed to: Used Car Face-Off, Ford Taurus, Dodge Spirit, Chevy Lumina, SHO

When the ‘89 Ford Taurus SHO first popped onto the American consumer car market, there was a minor revolution which it set into motion. It had been a long time since any American automaker had produced a decent midsizer, and with this new performance model, they set the benchmark for family-friendly sportiness. Today, we take a look at that original Yamaha V6 as well as two copycat fast-sedans which the SHO inspired. With two V6s and a turbo four, which four door is your patriotic ‘90s speed-machine? Here are the options:

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Ok, so this isn’t an original SHO for two reasons: a) ‘89 to ‘91 models are now either crashed into trees or !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and b) GM and Dodge didn’t come out with their competitors until the ‘90s either. Still, the second SHO was even better than the first, although this one unfortunately comes with an automatic tranny. Still $4.5K is a whopping deal for a twenty-three year old car with only 66K miles—is that good enough to overlook that you can’t shift it yourself?

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Chevy’s answer to the mighty SHO was to plop a LQ1 V6 into a beige Lumina and to suddenly label it as ‘European’. While this car was the antithesis of European with its comfy suspension and automatic 4 speed (a 5 speed Getrag was available but alas, this 3.4 doesn’t have it), it was still a nice and rapid way to get around, with 0-60 times in the mid 7's, astounding for the ‘90s. Is this one worth $495 more than the Ford or is its reported mileage of 200K enough to set you running from this fast fridge?

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Yes, the Dodge Spirit was an AA car which means it’s a longer K-car but hey, at least they should have improved over the years. This one in particular is especially spicy, with the 2.2 Lotus/Garrett turbo 4 and a Getrag five speed propelling the box from 0-60 in a truly mind-boggling 5.8 seconds new (the GMC Typhoon did it in 5.4 for reference). Anyways, is speed everything or are this car’s (apparently) 99K mileage and $6K pricetag a bit too rich?

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DISCUSSION (18)

Birddog > Amoore100
08/19/2016 at 20:20

Spirit all the way.

Amoore100 > Birddog
08/19/2016 at 20:27

5.8 to sixty man. Can’t beat that. My mind was literally blown when I found that out. That’s damn quick. Really damn quick. As fast as an ‘03 GTO, apparently. Or a Sierra Cossie.

JRapp: now as good as new again > Amoore100
08/19/2016 at 20:27

I can’t with a clear conscience vote for any of these. I suppose the Spirit is the most interesting one, but still, I’m not voting for any as I wouldn’t take any of these for free, let alone pay my own money for them.

CB > Amoore100
08/19/2016 at 20:31

Looked at an SHO once. $7k for the car, estimated $9k a year for insurance. CP for sure, even though insurance wouldn’t be that much anymore.

Amoore100 > JRapp: now as good as new again
08/19/2016 at 20:33

Well there were less than 1500 R/T’s ever made so at least there’s rarity going for it...anyways, I should think that all of these would be interesting if not particularly desirable cars, with the SHO and R/T being the most enticing.

Amoore100 > CB
08/19/2016 at 20:34

Don’t get the SHO? That seems awfully expensive for the U.S., usually it’s Europe that has the insurance prices that are worth more than the car alone...

interstate366, now In The Industry > Amoore100
08/19/2016 at 20:36

If you held a gun to my head I’d say the Spirit. But I’d much rather have an early 90s Accord with an H22 swap for that price.

CB > Amoore100
08/19/2016 at 20:36

I’m in Canada, but yes, it’s still stupid expensive.

Amoore100 > interstate366, now In The Industry
08/19/2016 at 20:40

WHERE’S YOUR SENSE OF MURICAN PRIDE GEEZ

JasonStern911 > Amoore100
08/19/2016 at 22:14

No Caprise SS? :(

Amoore100 > JasonStern911
08/19/2016 at 22:42

Totally different segment. Maybe that’ll show its face against a Marauder and some other fast land barge ;)

shop-teacher > Amoore100
08/19/2016 at 22:54

I think I need a second gen SHO in my life.

Amoore100 > shop-teacher
08/19/2016 at 23:01

You should make a SHO wagon!

Kinja'd!!!

shop-teacher > Amoore100
08/19/2016 at 23:16

That would be awesome!

RT > Amoore100
08/20/2016 at 09:40

The SHO is probably the best option here imo. It’s in a better condition than the rest and has a lot more performance credentials. I’d prefer a manual though.

Amoore100 > RT
08/20/2016 at 12:45

Well, the R/T is faster in a straight line but probably a lot less polished given that it was kind of the Hellcat of its day. Yeah, no manual in the SHO is a disappointment, but unfortunately there were none in this price range with a stick.

The Stig's former college room mate > Amoore100
08/22/2016 at 16:48

1) Spirit- fastest of the 3 by far. 25 years later there’s still decent aftermarket support for these. Not hard to get 300+ hp. Remove the decals and you’ve got a good sleeper.

2) clicked on the listing to see if it was in my neighborhood. website gave me a chuckle- lemonfree.com

Amoore100 > The Stig's former college room mate
08/23/2016 at 23:06

For sure. Rare, fast, and awesome. Hard to go wrong.

Hey, being lemon-free is always a good thing!