Bad luck with the Contour

[Guitarman19853]

So my car has been out of commission for essentially 2 weeks now. Last week Scott & I were installing the BAT suspension kit when a bolt broke. This happened on Saturday. Tuesday night we finished up, but not without forgetting to install the spring perch in the rear and having to take one side back apart.

I took the car for inspection Sunday night. The car was fine when I dropped it off. They call me first thing Monday morning and mysteriously the shift cable bushing (the white one) broke overnight between me parking it and them getting in it (yeah, really). They order the replacement part for the early '99 and it was the wrong one. Ford says the part changed on 4/1/99, my car was built on 3/31/99. Guess they lied. Anyways now that shop says they can't change the entire cable and it has to go to a transmission shop. I dropped it off at another shop to have everything done. I'm so sick of having it out of commission, I even am having them mount new tires even though the old ones had a little more life in them, put on new LCA's, and change the MTX oil.

So after all of this I'll have new struts, springs, tie rod ends, sway bar end links, LCA's, tires, shift cable, and mtx oil. The car should feel like new lol.

After putting all this $ into it, I'm going to keep it for a while longer. But I will get another DD so I can take her off the street. Then maybe I'll be able to repair the body and paint damage and consider getting a new clutch.

I don't know why I wrote all this, I'm not really venting because I'm just relieved that it's finally in the hands of people that can actually get it done. I guess I just want my SVT back lol

 

[Guitarman19853]

$1500 for all that?!?!?! Ugh. Between that and the suspension this all is costing $2500, which is more than half the value of the whole car. I am regretting this decision. I should've sold it. UGH.

 

[BrApple]

yes but how much would monthly payments be on a new car? how much in interest. some how I think your still ahead at the moment.

 

[jolly8286]

That is some really bad luck. I couldn't afford to do that. That's why I'm glad my car(s) are paid off.

On a side note, I never noticed that you own the car that is one build number before mine.

 

[Guitarman19853]

I was budgeting to put $2500 - $3000 into the car in all this work and paint. There's some accident damage to the body and basically the whole car needs repainted. However, in my planning I only figured $1500 for this stuff. If I would do the LCA's myself it would save $650. But I need the car back asap or I'll have to add a $200 rental car expense.

 

[BrApple]

I know people have gotten good deals on paint but, imho, $1500 isn't enough for a good paint job. I spent 3 times that on paint..... granted not everyone goes that far and prices vary by area.

 

[Pre98]

Just had my car in for body work. I had a crunched rear bumper, rusted out hood, scraped up front bumper (the shape deformed too), dings everywhere. One ding that had a crease in it and budgeted for a panel repaint. All said and done they replaced the hood entirely (rust is a cancer, plain and simple). They barely pulled out the crunch on my rear bumper (the inside of the plate area collapsed, needed heat to fix). My driver rocker had a punch in it, probably from the last owner using a jack and slipped. I spent $2000 and it looks so much better. This stuff you just can't skimp out on. I'll be paying a touch longer than I wanted to but it's done. Just make sure you go to a shop that has enthusiasts swarming it for work. The guy who owns the place I went to has a new Boss 302 and has sports cars in and out all day. Good luck!