1998 GL Sport V6/MTX
I am selling here a really good car. I'm not selling it because it has too many problems, or because I want to replace it with a new car, but rather because I have moved overseas and cannot take it with me. This car has been my baby for the past 8 years and it really pains me to have to sell it. If anyone is looking for a reliable, well-maintained Contour then this car may be the one for you. Please read on for the details.
Main features
Duratec V6, manual transmission (hence 4-wheel disc brakes), black in colour. Approximately 180k on the odometer (I can get the exact reading if you want). It has the sports package, which means foglights, rear spoiler, tilt steering, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, and power everything except for the driver's seat. I purchased this car second-hand at the end of '99 and I am the second owner.
Non-stock items (mods)
-Clarion CD headunit. It's one of the nicer ones with the metal faceplate.
-KKM intake
-Spiral-flow sport muffler (nice sound without being obnoxious - doesn't attract the cops)
-Audi A6 side marker lights - these were installed without having to do any drilling or filing of the body panels
-16" Cougar polished aluminum (chrome-look) wheels with Kuhmo Ecsta 225-width tires. The front tires are brand new (see below). Looks and handles great, and there is no rubbing!
Maintenance history
All oil changes after I bought it were done using Mobil 1 synthetic oil. I've done a couple of transmission fluid changes, most recently using ATF+3 for improved shifting. The battery was replaced 2 years ago, new front brake rotors and pads about a year ago. The spring recall was performed in March of '07 - the two front tires are brand new because of this (literally less than 200km on the pair). The front suspension control arms were replaced under extended warranty a few years ago due to worn bushings (common problem), so this car drives a lot better than your typical used Contour. Also has had the front wheel bearings replaced as well as the water pump and serpentine belt (now has a metal impeller, so you won't have to worry about that again). I should also mention that it's never had problems passing the emissions test.
Known problems
-AC no longer blows cold
-Rear parking brake is currently inoperative. The parking brake cables snapped a year ago from corrosion, and when my mechanic had a look he also found that the parking brake calipers were seized. I was quoted around $350 to replace the parking brake cables and calipers but I elected not to do the repair at the time. My mechanic disconnected the parking brake mechanism so that it wouldn't drag on the rear wheels. My driveway is sloped and I park it by leaving it in 1st gear - it hasn't gone anywhere. But I have a feeling you'll need to get this fixed in order to pass the certification test. And to clarify, it's just the parking brake that isn't working - the regular brakes are fine!
So there you have it. This is a great car that has many more years left. I really do regret having to sell it, especially with it running so well with all the new parts. If I could take it with me, I would. By the way, I should mention that the car is in Kitchener-Waterloo. If you'd like to see photos or have any questions, just send me a PM.
Price: $2500 (I think this is fair, but I am also open to reasonable offers)
In addition to the car, I also have the following goodies which I won't be needing any longer:
"Aussie" hollow rear sway bar. Those who have been here a while know what this is (those who don't, do a search on the forums). Due to the hollow construction it is lighter than the stock SVT bar yet at the same time even stiffer. Mine is *brand new*, never installed. In fact, it's still in the original shipping box. Also, mine is from the first batch that Stazi ever made, in case there have been design changes. $250
Note: I can't seem to find this at the moment, but if there's interest I'll dig around some more (I have an idea of where it might be hiding).
1999 SVT Spring/Struts, less than 6000 miles. Set of 4 springs and struts which came off of a fellow CEG member's car shortly after he purchased it new. If you'd like to verify the tag numbers on the struts, I can provide photos. $250
SVT front brake set - includes calipers, caliper brackets, rotors and pads. Easy way to convert your non-SVT to use the larger SVT front rotors. I'm not sure how much wear is left on the rotors and pads, but I'll include them anyways. I am pretty sure what I have is from an E1, which means the calipers should be the same as that used on the non-SVT Contours. So with these caliper brackets you can switch to using the larger SVT rotors without having to change your calipers/pads. I am also willing to separate the calipers. $250
SVT intake/airbox. Gives a modest performance boost and sounds a lot better over stock. Make an offer.
SVT motor mount with polyurethane inserts. Brand new, never installed. Make an offer.
Front door handles/power lock mechanisms. I pulled these out at the wreckers, not sure if they'd be of any use. Sorry, I don't have the keys.
If I remember correctly, the door handles were red in colour. Make an offer.
Stock AM/FM/cassette. Free, but only after I sell the car.
Stock muffler. It's a perfectly good muffler but it was way too quiet for my tastes so it got replaced.
Not sure if this is of use to anyone as they cut it pretty close to the muffler (there is only about 3/4" of pipe). Free.
Cloth seats from a 99 SE Sport. Includes driver and passenger front seats and rear bench. The rear seatback folds down and the fold-down release cables are also included, so if you own a car without fold-down rear seats, here is your chance to upgrade. The seats are grey in colour. Note: these actual belong to a friend but they've been sitting in my house for quite a while so I think he'd be willing to get rid of them. I need to get his ok to sell, but in the meantime if you're interested let me know and make an offer!
All prices are in Cdn $ and I think they are pretty reasonable, though it has been a few years since I got this stuff. If you think they're way off, then make me an offer. Note: this is *not* an invitation to low-ball.
