Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Opinions. 00 SVTC vs 03 SVTF

CSVT and focus have about the same build quality. Many CSVT's have held together really well.
Styling is in the eyes of the beholder.
Handling is good on both, ultimately the FSVT should be able to handle better as it is lighter and more square.
Power goes to the CSVT hands down. It is a much better engine, winning a spot in the years 10 Best engines like two years in a row back in the day.

The less miles and newer car do make it tempting and 4K dollars is about right for that.

I'd say you have to drive one.

Personally....I'd snag a CSVT engine and transmission and then drop it into the FSVT! With all the basic bolt ons like headers, intake and exhaust on the CSVT motor the car would become a serious contender. Do the 3L option while you are at it with a built tranny and you're talking a car that is a total sleeper that would trash on SRT4s, wrx's, most mustangs, etc.

As far as "build quality" goes, I think that also depends on what/where your idea of build quality lies, and what you're willing to do to improve it. If it's materials, like you don't like the dash plastic or something, then that's one thing, but there is nothing about either car that can't be disassembled, have parts replaced, and bolted back together to spec (or better) if you've got the time, talent, and/or money.

Personally, I'd take the SVTC and earmark the extra $4K you'd spend on the Focus for rebuilds/upgrades on the Contour. Drop a few hundred on interior tweaks (maybe a nice new shift knob, stereo & speakers, etc.) and then use the rest on getting a 3L conversion and maybe a suspension rebuild and as long as the work is done right, you won't ever think "Wow, I wish I had a newer car."

Having owned both, let me chime in on this.

CSVT vs FSVT

CSVT Pros
1-Torque & Power make the car very easy to drive.
2-Very nuetral handling characteristics.
3-Front seats & driver position is great if you drive for long periods.
4-Great gas mileage

CSVT Cons
1-Small Backseat
2-poor stereo quality
3-poor storage/luggage space
4-3rd gear syncro problem
5-infamous oil starvation issues, lack of OE replacement engines.
6-Waterpumps tend to go out around 50k
7-Fuel pumps tend to go out ont he returnless cars

FSVT Pros
1-Factory HID headlights
2-Good stereo
3-Strong brakes
4-abundant storage capacity
5-seats are snug & supportive
6-easy to work on
7-extremely agile
8-good gas mileage
9-twin layshaft 6spd operates very smoothly
10-stalk mounted radio controls
11-electroluminescent guages
12-backseat has a lot of head & leg room.

FSVT Cons
1-Prone to premature clutch wear w/ stock clutch.
2-'02's had problem with powersteering pumps/lines failing
3-upright seating position can cause neck strain on long drives
4-low torque, long 1st gear and a short clutch throw make it somewhat difficult to drive (relatively speaking.)
5-rear visibility is surprisingly poor
6-catalytic converter heat shield rattles & falls off
7-Very cold blooded, the warmup cycle can be a real PITA
8-more road noise then Contour (its a hatch, so this is to be expected)


All in all they are two of the most fun cars I have ever owned, I miss my CSVT and will probably buy another, but I do not plan on getting rid of my FSVT any time soon.

If it makes a difference, there they are. The SVTC is at $8000 OBO and has 57,000 miles while the SVTF is at $14,888 and has 20,000 miles.

I guess I was off a bit in the first post, there is a larger price and milage difference

Look for an FSVT somewhere OTHER than a dealer and it'll be a hell of a lot cheaper - then I would say, go for the FSVT.

Oooooh, it's green. That's a +1 in my book.

The '03 focus also has a 5yr/100,000 powertrain warranty... 3yr/36,000 bumper to bumper

Imagine what you could do to the CSVT with that extra $6K you would save.

Upgrade the stereo,
do a 3L swap (With parts purchased from me )
New wheels
Upgrade to FSVT brakes, (Also purchased from me )
Upgrade the oil pan to the new baffled design, (Dare I say it again )

Personally I do like both vehicles very much, but for some reason I am fond of the CSVT.

My nod goes to the SVT FOcus simply because it has less mileage, still within warranty, and has nice factory wheels and HIDs (I think that one has the Euro package right?) THat's just for a daily driver.

The CSVT has A TON of options available from the aftermarket, and it's all really cheap as well. . .you'll have a balls-to-the-walls fun car for sure. . .

But, like I said, it's about the mileage and how Ford's in general hold up. . .