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Ok...I was talking to some guy in Math on Friday, and he started basically bagging on the Contour saying he has heard of nothing but problems with the Contour. Basically, the Contour was brought up because I started saying that I saw an SVT and I was thinking of getting it, and he started saying to not get it because of the problems and such...
Ummm...what do you guys think about all this?
Black 98 Contour SE Zetec ATX
5% Charcoal-black tint (tint on exterior and interior)
Knauberized on 5-05-02
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I think he's just trying to keep you from getting the coolest car in school. Not to mention one that will toast the **** out of whatever he's got 
2000 SVT contour Black w/tan int. http://www2.gvsu.edu/~hafnerb/11h/car.jpg
#1633/2150 born 11/22/99
-Mirko Racing Front Splitter
-Meg's 3 1/2" slick tips
-Resonator Removed
-LED turn signals, brakelights
-fog light fix + 55w bulbs
-KKM cold air intake
-Ford racing blue 9mm wires
-MANY mods to come shortly!
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Originally posted by CarpeSVTpoon: I think he's just trying to keep you from getting the coolest car in school. Not to mention one that will toast the **** out of whatever he's got Well I have a 00 SVT and to be completely honest with you if I had it all to do over again I would not buy this car. This car gets BAD gas mileage 19-20 MPG at best and is a slug compaired to the 3 other cars I own. I have been putting a stereo in the car and all kinds of plastic pieces are broken and now must be replaced. There are many engineering boo boo's on the car and the quality of the components used to build the car are pitifull. Yes I bought the car brand new so there is no previous owner problems associated with the car. I love the looks of the car and the ride of the car, however thats all there is to it. To each there own. Good luck to you. 
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From what I've seen, the Zetec Contours are pretty reliable. Duratec ownwers, let the flaming begin! I just say this because from what I saw in a previous topic on "How many miles does your car have and how many problems" the Zetecs usually showed little if any problems, and the Duratecs showed many (Not just engine problems). Any car will have problems galore if you don't take care of it or if you pound on it. But if you take care of your car and fix things BEFORE they break and potentially damage other things, you'll be fine. (Case in point: Replacing your plastic impeller water pump with a metal impeller one before it overheats your engine).
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Originally posted by DelusionalMind:
Ok...I was talking to some guy in Math on Friday, and he started basically bagging on the Contour saying he has heard of nothing but problems with the Contour...
Ummm...what do you guys think about all this? I think he's been reading the CEG Forum too much. I get only 19-20 mpg, too. Wish it was better. I could improve it considerably by putting a 2 inch block of wood underneath the gas pedal.  Once again, my two Duratec Contours have been as trouble free as anything I have ever owned (as has my wife's Sable). Certainly the 'Tours are 1000 times more reliable than ANY Microsoft product I've had the honor to use! 
P.M. Summer -- simul justus et peccator
2000 SVTour Silver Frost 374/2150 -- #9669 of 11445 total run
Blaupunkt Heidelberg with A08 Changer and RC-09 remote, Boston Acoustics, K&N, Mobil 1 and Cobra R Mobil 1 "Factory Fill" plate, 35% metallicized tint, high beams in the lows, Bill Jenkins' "off color" floor mats, and custom "koozie" cupholder (pics soon!)
96 Sable ZZZ (wife's)
Historic Ownership:
42 Dodge Powerwagon Munitions Carrier, 59 Morris Minor, 64 TBird, 69 BMW 2002 Blue Dot, 72 German Ford Mk I Capri V6, 76 Honda Accord, 82 VW Scirocco, 88 VW Jetta, 91 Ford Escort GT, 98 Countour SE Sport V6 ATX
Cars I want:
Lotus Elan S2, Austin Healy Sprite Mk I, my old BMW 2002 back.
If you think this sig is long, you oughta see my undergraduate transcripts!
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~22k very hard miles 23-25mpg (a little better on summer gas) with a heavy lead foot. Seen 30mpg in straight highway driving. My only real problem has been the sunroof (MFG defective design = 4 new motors - flexible cables & plastic gears :rolleyes: ) Since been fixed myself via help from CEG (knock on wood!) Just like ANY car. It is only as good as the maintenance done to it... You skimp here, you reap the bad results...
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Originally posted by CarpeSVTpoon: Not to mention one that will toast the **** out of whatever he's got He has a 69 Nova that has been modded...I doubt I'll be beating him
Black 98 Contour SE Zetec ATX
5% Charcoal-black tint (tint on exterior and interior)
Knauberized on 5-05-02
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Driving a modded 69 Nova, my *guess* would be he's just an old time Chevy muscle car freak. Not to imply there's anything wrong with that, i wanted a Chevelle for a long time, he's just possibly anti-Ford to start and *might* not know much about modern performance cars.
~Shawn Clone~
1999 SE Sport V6 MTX
Silver frost/Midnight Blue
BAT Euro Handling kit, SCA Cold Air intake, painted dash/calipers, Elky's mesh grille, bulitt fuel door,B&M shifter, ES motor mount inserts, OMP front strut tower brace, newest mod- HPP rear strut tower brace ...coming soon, Aussie Bar
Possabilities in the works: Custom CAI, Polished stainless shifter cover plate
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I bought my 98 SVT about 8 months ago and i dog it all the time. Because of this i have put a nwclutch, transmission, and i threw a rod about a month ago. After all of this I would not trade or try to get rid of this car no matter what. i would rather take it sitting on blocks than a Mustang,Camero, or any import.
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SVT is an exceptional car (in it's price range) that does many things well and is among the most enjoyable (did not say fastest) sedans short of an M3. But reliablity is only "average US carmaker". No better no worse.
The Duratec has some tricks that people can address - add a dual mode damper to protect bearings, which then protects rods. Extra oil in the sump as well (car needs greater than stock 5.8 quarts). Change water pump at 40K miles. This will keep Duratec healty, beacause otherwise its a pretty sweet & reliable engine IF YOU KNOW & ADRESS THE QUIRKS I mentioned. The tranny is a nice shifter with great gearing but the dif willnot withstand hard/bad launches (wheelhop is death). I think the syncros could be stronger too though I think many gearboxs that are used pretty hard do fine.
1999 Amazon Green SVT Contour (#554/2760)
Stock SVT Duratec V6 with:
Intake- K&N filter/75mm MAF meter
Exhaust- MSDS Y-pipe/Bassani catback
Durability-Ford "dual mode" damper, Mobil 1/K&N oil filter
179.2 FWHP at 6900 RPM
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