The Zetec is a nice engine and the Contour is a great car, but together they make for a below average starting platform to build a quick car.
The barriers to overcome are more expensive then most people want to spend. So they should just buy a Honda.
Not that's there's anything wrong with owning a Honda, they can be very quick and even very fast. I would take a new s2000 over a new Mazda MX5.
The problem with Honda is that they are too "cookie cutter" for my taste. Everybody owns them and mods them in almost the same exact way.
I choose the Contour for its original style and I was impressed with its handling characteristics. After a few mods, I absolutely love the way the car drives. And that is the true calling of the car. Remember, corners, not straight-aways. Even once I add cams, install my header, and tune the whole thing, I don�t expect to be any quicker than a stock SVT.
So if you want a car that is fast in a straight line, the Contour (in any form) IS NOT the way to go. Even a heavily modded SVT is really not that fast. Over $6k for a 3L swap and turbo to reach low 13�s is not impressive. The same money spent on any number of 4 or 6 cylinder imports and you�ll be in the 12�s. And the whole project will be bolt-on and a lot easier to tune.
Life sucks to be an unappreciated, discontinued, fleet sales/rental car. And that is what makes a lot of what people have done with their Contours even more impressive than doing it with an import. I would take a well done Contour, like say Demon�s car, over a 12 second Honda. The style, handling, and just being different make up for the lack of speed.
All that said, it boils down to personal choice. If it�s the car you�ll have it for awhile and you�re not concerned with resale, then have some fun, learn a little, and mod away.
