Over the years, there has been myths concerning the Taurus/Sable. Some myths have been gathered here and will be explained as to why they are not true.
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Duratech!
There is no "H" at the end of Duratec.
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The Duratec is really the SHO engine.
No, it's not. The SHO engine is a Yamaha motor and the Duratec is a Ford motor. The only thing they have in common is that they're both 24 valve dual overhead cam motors.
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The 1999 Duratec has 185 horsepower.
It has 200 horsepower just like the other Duratecs. Ford underrated the '99s to make the 2000 Duratecs more appealing.
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All SHOs have a manual transaxle.
This is partially true. All 1989 to 1992 SHOs have a manual transaxle. Only some 1993 to 1995 SHOs have manuals. No 1996 to 1999 SHOs had a manual. Those all had 4-speed automatics.
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All SHOs have a V8.
Again, this is partially true. All 1996 to 1999 SHOs did have a V8, but all 1989 to 1995 models have a V6.
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The rear door windows on the Taurus/Sable goes all the way down.
Unlike other vehicles that have a switch or a block that prevents the rear door windows from going down all the way, the rear door windows on the Taurus/Sable do not go all the way down because of the way the door is designed. The rear wheel sits too far forward to allow space for the window to go down all the way.
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The Taurus/Sable are full-sizes.
They are mid-sizes. The US Department of Transportation determines the vehicle class by interior volume (passenger and cargo compartments combined) and wheelbase length. Some rental places consider the Taurus/Sable as a full-size because of their large exterior dimensions.
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Ford made convertible Taurus/Sables.
The only true convertible Taurus/Sable is either a concept car or an owner's own fabrication. The Taurus/Sable never came from the factory as a convertible. The rest are probably regular production models with a fake convertible roof (see below).
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The vinyl/cloth roof is a factory option.
It was never a factory option. The vinyl/cloth roof is an aftermarket addition either by a dealership or a third-party to either boost the price of the car or to hide damages to the roof.
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There are special editions of the Taurus/Sable.
There are no special editions. Most of them are dealer packages (such as 10th or 20th anniversary editions or "Presidential" editions). The only special editions made by the factory are the 2003 Taurus Centennial Edition.
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2004+ models are Gen 5.
There is no significant aesthetic change (such as from 1999 to 2000) that qualifies these models as a new generation. The only changes were the front bumper cover, grille, taillights, steering wheel, instrument cluster, and other minor changes. 2004+ models could qualify as Gen 4.5, but that sounds almost as silly as calling '98-'99 models Gen 3.5.
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The Taurus in the RoboCop movies were 1985 Taurus SHOs.
The Taurus was introduced in December 1985 as a 1986 model. There was no SHO trim level until 1989. The movies used several different Taurus models, but never a SHO. It was usually a GL or LX sedan.
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