Oppopinion

"SlickMcRick" (slickmcrick)
10/19/2016 at 23:43 • Filed to: None

I would like to know Oppo’s opinion on the Ford Contour SVT. I’ve always been fascinated by them and the Taurus SHO (Gen 1 and 2). Unless the issue with the A4 I was considering is an easy fix then I’ll be headed in another direction. An SVT popped up on Craigslist for a very great price but needs a little work. The best thing about the car is it’s a one owner since new! They have a great exhaust note and I’ve always loved the look of them.

Not the car but pretty much looks like this

DISCUSSION (21)

Steve in Manhattan > SlickMcRick
10/19/2016 at 23:49

Loved my ‘97 SHO - dead reliable. That’s all I’ve got.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > SlickMcRick
10/19/2016 at 23:56

I’ve heard they are great but every one I’ve seen has beat, riced, and trashed.

So if you found yourself a clean one I’d say it’s worth a closer look

SlickMcRick > Steve in Manhattan
10/20/2016 at 00:02

97 had the V8 correct? Great motor but wasn’t a fan of the design of the car. Well until now. Love the 90's charm especially in Forest Green

SlickMcRick > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/20/2016 at 00:06

Cleanish. It’ll need some work and the owner mentioned it. It pulls to one side when you’re braking at highway speed, will need an alignment and possibly two front tires. Also CEL just popped on. I’d get the codes read and anything short of needing an engine I think I’ll jump on it. He’s selling it for a veeeeery good price. Like may just call in a few favors to get it this weekend type price.

SVTyler > SlickMcRick
10/20/2016 at 00:08

If the SVTPerformance forums are anything to go by they’re worthy of the SVT badging; apparently they handle really well and with a suprising amount of torque the driving experience is great for a four-door, FWD car. There are dudes on there who own Cobras and GT’s but use SVTC’s as DD’s and others who have owned three or four of them if that says anything

Problem is it’s an early 2000's Ford product so build quality can be suspect, and that’s made even worse by the fact that parts are essentially unobtanium due to low production numbers. The forums and aftermarket mitigate this for the most part but depending on how long you plan on keeping the car it’s something to consider. Specific issues I can remember are oil starvation due to a terrible oil pan design as well as the water pumps eating themselves because of cheap plastic and it’s in general a pain in the ass to work on anything in the engine bay due to the size of the block and overall packing. Also avoid the ones that have a few too many aftermarket mods, ricers loved to buy these things and just beat the shit out of them which is why there’s a bit of a reputation that they like to spin bearings (which you shouldn’t have to worry about with an upgraded pan).

Other than that they seem like great little cars. When you buy an SVT car you have to understand that they won’t be perfect and that some work will be required along the way, but they’re very much worth it in the end.

SlickMcRick > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
10/20/2016 at 00:08

Only thing aftermarket other than the radio is a K & N filter

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > SlickMcRick
10/20/2016 at 00:10

Awesome. Nothing better than that new...old car feeling

Tristan > SlickMcRick
10/20/2016 at 00:18

I’ve always wanted one. Do it so I can live vicariously through you.

SlickMcRick > SVTyler
10/20/2016 at 00:20

I’ve done some research on them and came to the same conclusion. There are after market water pump and also an oil pan fix so those issues are minor. I get bored with cars easily and move on to the next toy. The curse of being a gearhead. That said my first car was a 1990 Ford Escort GT with a floor pan that was rusting. Was wondering why the carpet would get wet with no visible leaks. I’m ready for the build quality. Also this being a one owner car with only an upgraded radio and K&N filter as it’s mod list I think it’ll be a decent car.

SlickMcRick > Tristan
10/20/2016 at 00:22

I’ll do it for all of Oppo. And may actually make video content. Would be sweeeeet if I could get Mr. Regular to do a review on it. I’m sure it’d peak his interest.

Tristan > SlickMcRick
10/20/2016 at 00:26

Yes!

I want to try to get Mr. Regular to review my Studebaker when I get it road worthy. It was very much a regular, boring car in the ‘50s.

SVTyler > SlickMcRick
10/20/2016 at 00:36

Right on, just figured I should mention what you’re getting into if you didn’t know already. If that’s all the dude’s done to it and the only real things wrong are what you mentioned to HondasFordsVolvos (there’s a 95% chance the CEL is oxygen sensor-related, wouldn’t be an SVT car without it) it seems like a great car, little bit of a diamond in the rough but definitely an upgrade from a 1990 Escort lol. Sign up for the Contour forums if you’re looking for more info (know you said you did some research but there’s some serious gold buried within the SVT section that’ll help you in ownership) but otherwise good luck, SVT cars are something special and if it’s as good as a deal it seems then you’ll love the shit out of the car.

Svend > SlickMcRick
10/20/2016 at 04:50

I did really like these when I was younger.

In the U.K. I suppose the equivalent of the SVT would be the Ford Mondeo ST200 with the 2.5 V6.

I always liked the saloon over the five door hatchback and estate.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > SlickMcRick
10/20/2016 at 06:11

I think that’s a car where I’d buy the best one I could, rather than one that needs a bit of work. Not that it’s particularly complex, but like SVTyler said, it’s a cheap early 2000s Ford. It was a cheap car when it was built, so I think getting a nice one (I know, they’re not exactly in abundance) seems like the way to go.

Really cool cars though, I’ve always wanted one myself.

Master Cylinder > SlickMcRick
10/20/2016 at 06:37

I owned one once, and it was a pretty good car. Mine was a bit of a lemon (bought from a sketchy dealer who didn’t disclose crash damage, and I was young and stupid and didn’t do my own research) but even so it was fairly reliable. One that has been well-maintained I would expect to be just fine.

Handling was quite good, especially for a FWD sedan based on an economy car. Power was adequate - it felt fast back then but nowadays a 200hp V6 sedan isn’t exactly a barn burner. Definitely fast enough to have fun, though. The ride was good and the interior was comfortable and of reasonable quality for the time period.

The best thing about it is the engine, that Duratec V6 is smooth and torquey and tough as nails. Being young and somewhat foolish, I installed a nitrous kit on mine with a 100HP shot. Let me tell you, when it was on the gas it was a legitimately fast car. It survived several years of that abuse and was still happily running when I sold it on to the next chap.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > SlickMcRick
10/20/2016 at 07:00

Yes. Do it!

Invinciblejets > SlickMcRick
10/20/2016 at 07:11

Yeah I’ve always liked these for some reason.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > SlickMcRick
10/20/2016 at 08:00

The SVT would be cheaper to own and repair I would think. Are there that many parts that can’t be easily found for them considering they are a Contour underneath?

I actually just found a MINT Contour SVT Canadian brochure in my room from around ‘97-’98 when an International Auto Show was held in Halifax here in Nova Scotia! :D

Should scan and upload it...

mazda616 > SlickMcRick
10/20/2016 at 08:20

I love them. Purely because I probably shouldn’t.

Honestly, though, they seem like a good performance bargain if you find a good one, which it sounds like you have!

Rykilla303 > SlickMcRick
10/20/2016 at 14:39

I had a 99 contour (non-svt), and it was a blast. Four cylinders, but a great manual trans. Good handling, very predictable.

Steve in Manhattan > SlickMcRick
10/20/2016 at 16:42

V8, Yamaha heads - apparently a lot of people had trouble with that engine, but I got 100K trouble free, although I did use Mobil 1. Loved the design, and that car was among the most reliable I’ve owned, and that includes a 300D, a CRX Si, and 2 Toyotas. The only thing that broke was the CD changed in the trunk (went thru 5 of ‘em) but that was JBL’s fault, not Ford’s.