Originally posted by bozman:
Wow that's really crazy glad to see that you are okay thou the contour is a great car really strong I am guessing sweet but sorry about the loss the car looked really nice



Thanks, I tried to keep it in good condition. Too bad I had just replaced the front end links and passenger side mirror.

Originally posted by SVTforme:
I can't believe that it sheared the wood right off in the guard rail posts. You must have hit very hard.



Actually, I examined the posts up close and they have a large hole drilled through them at the base (parallel to the guard rail). I think they're designed to break away right above the ground under a certain amount of force. I suppose they don't want people getting impaled on huge spikes of wood sticking up from the ground. To be honest I don't even remember feeling much of an impact...just a really loud, sickening crunching noise.

Originally posted by Gerald:

I would definitely get a car checked out by a trusted mechanic before you decide to buy it. I personally go as far as taking the car in for a safety inspection and e-test before completing the deal.



I will definitely get the car certified/e-tested before buying. I'm still up in the air though on whether I should even pursue this car. Say I take it to a dealership and they say it's just the starter motor that needs to be replaced, or worse, it's just a "normal noise" (which I've been told before and ended up being a damaged part). Then I buy it from the guy and eventually it ends up being the flywheel/starter after all? I don't even know how I could eliminate that risk other than by telling them to inspect the flywheel, which I suspect is a big job in itself, and definitely not something I'd want to pay for up front.

1998.5 SVT Contour - Black H&R's Optimized Y-pipe and TB Open element intake w/heat shield 18x8 Mas Italy Axels (40 offset) w/225/40/18 2x Kicker 8" midbass "subs" in rear deck (infinite baffle setup) A few more little things...(like bushings)