Originally posted by SVTfrog:
And all that puts you well above what it would cost to sell your car and get a svt.



Ford Racing Focus 2.0L Zetec CNC'D Aluminum Head - $800
Crower Cams - $340
FRPP Intake - $500
Pair of cam gears - $150
Custom SCT Chip - $400
Trubendz 2.5" cat back exhaust - $310
Kamikaze ZX2 Header - $254
head gasket and bolts - $50
Total - $2804
There is probably another $500 in Misc parts and also getting a pipe bent to connect the contour exhaust to the kamikaze header.

My ZX2 S/R made 167 HP and 152 lb-ft of torque at the wheels with a ported head, cams, cam gears, kamikaze header, and AF/X UDP. It still had the stock 1 and 7/8" crush bent exhaust, stock intake manifold, stock throttle body, stock PCM, stock injectors, etc. With a better intake manifold and throttle body and exhaust, other ZX2's have put down 180+ HP at the wheels. The end results in a contour shouldn't be much different.

From what I've seen in the part of the country where I live, its hard to find a good condition, low mileage 1998 SVT for under $5500 and most dealerships still want $7500-$8000 for a '98 SVT. A low mileage '98 4 cylinder Zetec sells for $2000 in private sales and $3000 at dealerships depending on condition and options. If someone has a '95 or '96 Zetec, their car would sell for even less.

So it basically comes down to the going prices of the cars in the area where the person lives and if they really want an SVT. Also, one other factor that was not looked at is insurance. Insurance for me on an SVT Contour was about the same as a similar model year Mustang GT. Insurance for a Zetec contour for me is about the same as a Ford Escort. Even if I were to add $5000 in aftermarket parts coverage to my insurance policy, the difference per year is quite large.