Interesting and unique ideas. I like the plans so far. The dual moonroof idea is cool,kinda like what the Malibu Maxx has. Maybe you could even get an SVT without a sunroof and have one of those crazy sideways 'slits' like the new Maxima has. That would be pretty slick.
I don't think you necessarily need an SVT though. You could do just as well with an SE Sport with the V6 MTX. In the long run,the SVT will cost more $$$ in maintenance,insurance and every other cost related field due to the SVT badge. It'll be a helluva lot cheaper if you did even find a nice SE Sport,or even an LX and made it into an SVT clone,by putting the SVT kit on it and the engine bits and stuff.
Because you're almost 17 and it's your first car,I wouldn't suggest the SVT. It'll get beat on,it'll get broken,it won't get taken care of. Trust me,I know,I was in that boat 4 years ago. My dad bought me this awesome '87 Celica GTS in absolutely mint condition. I did it up a bit,I beat the crap out of it,I blew the motor,I tore down the car and parted it out and then scrapped it. My dad said after that he'd never ever lend me a single dollar towards any car.
I learned a hard lesson. 4 years later,I am on my 9th car. After the first Celica,I got another one and built it up with the left over parts from the first one,then I blew the motor in that and scrapped it,and bought an '88 RX7,had it a few months and sold it to my buddy and bought an '87 RX7 TurboII,and blew the motor on the drive home after buying it. Sold it 2 weeks later to my buddy who used it as a parts car. Then I bought my Mystique from my aunt and uncle,and that's the car that got me into the Contour world. I then bought an '87 Isuzu Trooper II for a winter beater,and another one as a parts truck,and ended up selling both before I even made the one roadworthy,and then I traded in the Mystique for my V6 Contour GL (aunt,uncle and dad were EXTREMELY PISSED when I got rid of the Mystique after 10 months) and just 2 weeks ago,I bought a '95 Contour GL Zetec MTX which I am going to completely rebuild from the ground up,while keeping my V6 as my modded daily driver. It took all those failed projects (because I had big plans for each of those vehicles and always said 'this one's a keeper' to get rid of it 6 months later...) I finally landed on the Contour,and I'm going all out on it. I found my calling this time.
I wish the best of luck to you and your dad with the project. It sounds like it'll be a lot of fun,very time consuming,very expensive,but it'll be a great experience,and don't forget that CEG is always here and always resourceful. I have learned so much from this site,I don't know what I would have done without it.
Sorry I was so long winded,lol.
