Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General 98 vs. 00

Wanted your opinions. At home over the 4th weekend (parents house, still seems like home) and my neighbor's dad has a 98.5 SVT. I was talking to a buddy after we went out for fireworks and he told me how they were saying that they liked the 98.5 so much more cause of the wheels and the lack of spoiler.

I like the look of the non-spoiler, but prefer mine with (probably cause that's what I have)

I don't see how anyone could like the plastic hubcap looking stock wheels on the 98.5 better than the 5 spoke wheels. I say that he said that as that is what he has.

I don't intend to start a flame war (but probably will), but my buddy that told me about their talk (I wasn't there when they had the conversation) could be looked at as a neutral party as he is friends with both of us, said that we have the same car, but I have a spoiler and 5 spoke wheels.

So in summary the spoiler's a toss up as I like the look of both, but is there anyone out there that thinks the earlier wheels look better than the 5 spokes?

I think the E0 wheels are foul. If my SVT had those wheels, I would not have bought it. A tragedy similar to those wheels is how we got 16s and the Focus SVT gets 17s.

As far as I know, no SVTCs were made with spoilers.

like the spoiler better than no spoiler on any contour i think....and the wheels on the 98.5 are not so great in my opinion

I have the early (soft) 5 spoke wheels sitting in my living room as I write this. I'm getting some KDW's for them this week. My E0 SVT didn't come with the correct wheels as a pre-owned car from the dealer so I found a set on e-bay. From a purely asthetic point of view I find nothing negative about their appearance. Otherwise, I would have bought at set of the E1 type wheels.

Karl

Okay, let me clear that up. It's not that the E0 (98 by the way, not 98.5) are that bad. They would look fine on many other vehicles. The E1+ rims are great, and would be BEST if 17 inches.

98 = E0, "old rims"
98.5 = E1, "new rims"

Ok Clear up time . The 1998 SVT's (All E0's) came with the soft wheels. They have plastic insides and have a smooth look to them. In 1998.5 (All E1's) came with the same wheels as the 1999-2000. All 2000's came with the factory spoiler.

Not all 2k SVTs came with a spoiler, most did. A buddy has a 2k silver without a spoiler and he is the original owner. :p

Personally, I like the E0 wheels better. The spokes on the E1's are too thin in my view. Now if those same rims were 17's then its different but I think as a 16" wheel, the E0 wheel looks better. I too like the no spoiler look. Smoother lines.

I had a choice of buying a 98 or 98.5 SVT but went for the silver 98 instead of the black 98.5 which had the wing and of course the E1 wheels.

Now if I can only find some wheels which look just like the 1995 Mustang CobraR wheels that fit a contour (17x7 would be great)

I prefer the E0 wheels compared to E1. Never liked the E1 wheels... I also prefer no wing.

I just think the 98s (thanks for the clarification) look like autozone wheels.

I too wish that they were 17s, but seeing as they are all 16s I think the E1s look far superior.

How bout some non SVT opinions as I think everyone will defend what they have...