Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Maintenance Looking to buy Contour in NE Ohio questions

In this comming spring or perhaps early summer I am looking to get myself a Contour SVT, and I have some questions about what to look for.


I was hoping for a 1998 if I can find one, but anything from there to 2000 will do for me.


Aside from any general guidelines I have some specific questions.


A. In looking at ads and such, I have seen an SVT Contour that had 100,000 miles on it. Is this high for a contour? I know some cars take the miles better than others. This particular car was stock.


B. What kind of mileage would I be looking at with those higher miles, any loss in economy?

C. What is a fair price for an almost stock car with upwards of 100,000 miles?



Thank you for your time.

First of all.. Welcome to CEG! I DO NOT own a SVT but i would personally look for a 99 or 00 rather than the 98. Your question about 100k on a SVT all depends on how the car was driven and taken car of.... If you find somone selling a svt with records showing EVERYTHING that has been done to the car (oil changes, maintnence, ect) the car could definetly be a good runner for a long time to come. Keep in mind you have to keep maintaining the vehicle! Unfortunalty, the differentials are known fo going on these car! So, if you are planning on buying a svt from some young kid that ROACHED it. I would think again and keep looking! Hope this helps!

basically, what it comes down too... a car is only as good as its owner... check out the owner when you go to look. I mean, if you buy an SVT off an older family man, chances are he took good care of it, especially if he has all of the work records. Ask about the water pump too, see if thats ever been replaced. Other then that, as long as you dont Spin the tires as much as possible, and gun the gas pedal all of the time, the SVT contour can go go go for miles to come. Ive seen SVT's on here past 170K miles with minimal work.

Awesome, both of your posts were helpfull, and had good news in them! As far as the first guy, why would you rather not have the 98 SVT?


If anyone has anything to add, please feel free.

there were a lot of revisions to the motor in the later years. Pistons were different, intake manifold was different, fuel system. I own a 98 E0 and I love it, but I have also completely changed everything.

I would keep in mind a clutch job as well, as they can be costly, but again...find out as much as you can from the owner.

In my opinion the 98's were the most solidly built CSVT's. The later years seemed to lack build quality, and the decontenting got ridiculous.

I'm not familier with the term "decontenting"

Removing content from the vehicles.

Thinner sun shades.

No bezel around the driver's trunk release.

Less detailed gauges.

Lack of underhood light.

Discontinuing the front fender braces.

Removing seperate clock and adding clock to radio, but leaving a lousy looking "Contour" plack where it had been.

10 way power seat replaced with a 6 way power seat.

And the list goes on and on.

On the other side, the E1 got different (better?) wheels and revised valving in the front struts.

99 got 5 more hp.

The 98 E0 is better contented, but it is also the oldest at this point. It is about a toss up between a newer, lower milage car or a more fully contented older one.

Welcome. . Also, the WP was revised wasn't it (for 99 and up models)?

Thanks for all your replys.


What about the tranny? Any worries/things to look for with that?

EDIT: Ahh, someone mentioned a clutch job. What would that run me, and would that be a good time to upgrade the clutch some? If so, what would that cost?