Originally posted by The EX- Striped SVT:
Would you say your car is maxed out Warmonger? The reason I is because you seemed to take great offense to the comparison between the CSVT and SRT-4. Don't take offense to this as you've been a huge help to many here in the CEG, but why don't we just compare both cars modded out, like yours and those SRT-4's that run well into the 12's. My point is this, give the car its due, its cheap, unrefined (to some thats a good thing and wanted) and has the goods from the git go! Atleast the SRT-4 guys learned from ALL the mistakes that SVT made and even addressed their own problems, like the lack of the LSD on the 03' and then putting it in all 04's and on, smart, very smart. Did I mention the factory aftermarket parts available too. Must be nice to be able to do that instead of getting a turbo kit from half way across the country, a trans upgrade from another part of the country, Euro suspension kits from another and so on and so on. Not everyone, myself especially, likes to "Frankenstein" their cars together with the hopes it all works together, especially with NO R&D! Also, to be clear, I enjoyed my 5+ years in the CSVT, but I'm going to apply what I learned with it on my next car, thats for sure!



Actually, I wasn't offended before. I was trying to change way of thinking on the subject, not tell you that it is wrong to respect the SRT4. The SRT4 is a good car.
However, I do not believe it is better than the CSVT. I think that it was targeted at a different age group and for its purpose it has succeeded well. The whole comparison is usually foolish anyway because they were never direct competition in the market.
The mentality that "the SRT4 kills the contour" is what I'm talking about, because it simply doesn't.
Now, on to my car:
No, I don't think my car is anywhere near close to maxed out. I run a very porkish CSVT because I like my creature comforts. I have extra sound deadening material in the car to make it quiet on the highway. I run a large resonator and twin mufflers along with a catalytic converter. I have 150 pounds of extra stereo equipment and little things in the car. I'm running a heavier rim than I need to as a cost cutting method to getting better traction with bigger tires.
My car is more a science of refined bang for the buck.
My engine is capable of 400-475 crank HP as it sits right now. I run it less.
The transmission is fine and the suspension is a good compromise between all out race and road manners. It has been designed around a street sleeper with weekend track jaunts in mind, nothing more.

With my enginuity and experience I can create a contour that is much more potent and more than a match for a comparable import car. That hasn't been my goal.

BTW, very very few street daily driven SRT4s see 12s, even highly modded. Granted, there are more faster SRT4s than contours by far, but one is a perf. sedan versus a factory street rod. Those cars are easier to get into the twelves because of their weight, mods and suspension design. The suspension tuning was for better straight line acceleration, and now you can fathom why the CSVT was a better twisty road handler, stock for stock, and why the SRT4 is superior for drag racing.

I like to hold on to my money and I like my car to last. However, I feel confident that even with its present weight disadvantage, I could get it into the 12s with a simple wheel and tire choice swap...at a cost of around $800 I'd say.

So take that how you want to take it. I believe my car is better because it suits my needs better than an SR4.

Oh, and I guarantee you I can walk most any SRT4 I come across. I've met one guy who has one that will embarass me if he were a good driver though! His car was beautifull. As it should be after sinking $35K dollars into it!

I think you'll find that being resourcefull and coming up with an extremely powerfull car through your own creativity...wherever you resource the parts from is far more satisfying than buying stuff off the shelf thats already been figured out. Well, it is for me anyway.
If I wanted cheap power I'd be driving an evo today...I almost was. Instead I'm driving a Volvo and a CSVT.
Those Honda Geeks out there, you think they started out with off the shelf stuff almost 15 years ago?
No, they took an econobox that NO ONE thought could even get out of its own way and changed the world of big block domestics Forever! They started off like we did except that they were even more original.
They are the reason that the Factory built an SRT4 and 10 years of aftermarket R&D is why you can buy all your stuff you are looking forward to buying.
I'm doing that for my CSVT, building the collection of data that will make this car fun to build for years into the future. You'll be seeing cheap contours all hollowed out at the drag strip before long with some godawfull big 3L turbo stuck in the front and a roll cage, with a curb weight of probably 2400 pounds and running insane times.
There'll be some young punk running one who tells some guy with a BMW 3 series how much better his gutted 12s contour is too..... mark my words on that one.

Former owner of '99 CSVT - Silver #222/2760 356/334 wHP/TQ at 10psi on pump gas! See My Mods '05 Volvo S40 Turbo 5 AWD with 6spd, Passion Red '06 Mazda5 Touring, 5spd,MTX, Black