By all means, don't take my word for it:
http://www.autobytel.com/content/research/vir/index.cfm/vehicle_number_int/1014835/Action/Reliability
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Reliability.aspx?modelid=575&src=vip
http://www.consumerreports.org/main/detailv2.jsp?CONTENT<>cnt_id=575861
FYI, the only models in the '90s that were worse in reliability were the S-10 and the Astro van, which were both rolling pieces of junk. '00+ models weren't much better; jury is still out on the newer ones since not enough data has been collected.
Let me put it this way; a Cavalier is the ONLY rental car that's ever stranded me in a decade of driving rentals on business trips. I was told by the folks at the Avis counter to think about renting something else, as they have had numerous issues with Cavs.
I wouldn't say a Contour is a shining example of reliability, but they never stranded me or gave me problems when renting and apart from a few "fit and finish" issues, I can't complain about the SVT too much.
FWIW, DOHC engines were around in the early 1900's, so claming pushrod technology as "backward" is quite ignorant...
