Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Autocross and Open Track Contour SVT Rollover in AutoX

Funny, I never saw that as being anything but self deprecating, but I see how someone could get that mixed up. I was just ripping on myself as I have still not seen the video and from everything I've been told it was poor safety conditions on the track that caused the roll. Everyone's lucky I decided to read my own post otherwise I would have left the message without the link.

All is good. I was just wondering It look a little funky. I know how I would feel if I would have done this my self so I am just taking extra care of Rick to get him back to normal. If you would have seen his face Saturday nite after the run around the neighborhood, it was a smilin GRIN Just the Sheaat eatin grin!!!


Pics of the car lowered before the incident are in the video/pic forum.

I want to see it bad but can't with my slowpoke phone modem. The stills tell the outcome. Any word on insurance yet?

An adjuster has looked at the car, supposed to have an offer back to Rick hopefully before the weekend.

I'm glad you were alright. It amazes me to see how many people that have been in a roll over accident with their Contours actually walk away. I really hope they insure you without any flack about racing it. I know my insurance will not cover the car if I'm racing. That's probably why I am a little afraid of pushing the car at some courses.

So what's the word on this?

Latest word is car is covered under insurance. I got an agreeable settlement amount and I'm shopping for a new car at the moment. Looking mainly at the ZX3 Focus because it's cheap and has a big aftermarket.

This whole thing sucks sh!t. I'm still mad at myself for rolling the car. Every time I walk out of the house and see my baby crushed next to the garage it makes it worse. I'm not even finding much joy in getting a new car, which is usually something I really enjoy. Oh well, guess I'm just feeling bad for myself.

Thanks,
Rick

Man that was just a bad luck car...new motor at 20K and now this. It was cursed. I know the SVT Focus is still a ways off, but don't you think a ZX3 will be a let down compared to the SVT. get an old Miata or something...with a ROLLBAR...sorry.

Well Cole, I do think the ZX3 is a let down out of the box, but from what I hear and have felt in test drives. It is capable of handling almost as well as the tour and with a few bolt ons, I think just as well. The power is obvisouly not there, but with the turbo available for the Zetec is could easily be brought into a shape to beat anything but the S/C Contours. Also, it has the MTX-75 which is a candidate for quaife and bulldog gears by Terry.

I.E. it is a very cheap car- $14,500 +/-, insurance is cheap (even after my rates go up, should be cheaper than the tour) and has an aftermarket only us tour guys could dream of. So, while it may be a dissappointment in stock trim, it has good potential. Kind of like buying a ZEtec or non-SVT tour and making into an equal or better performer than the SVT, just ask Brad Noon (plus Brad is itching for another project).

Thanks,
Rick

Cindy... I also wondered about the insurance. What's the story Rick?

And as for rollovers, I have to concur with Cindy on that one. I was in my Contour one day driving behind an older woman also in a Contour on a road that had a traffic light followed by a *very* gentle "s" bend. The speedlimit was 45, but she was going like 35 or so. As the road started to bend to the left, I thought about passing here on the following straight. As I thought that, she sped up to the speed limit so I thought all was well. But she failed turn to the left to match the bend in the road. I slowed a bit because I knew what was going to happen next... and it did.

She snapped to attention as soon as her wheels hit the gravel on the right. Unfortunately, she also snapped the steering wheel. That got the car majorly upset (loose) and it the car shot back off the gravel onto the pavement. She overcorrected and spun it backwards into the ditch on the right side and over it went.

There was surprisingly little damage to her Contour. She was (fortunately) ok. It probably didn't hurt that she scrubbed a lot of speed off in the manouever, nor did it hurt that she landed in a semi-swampy area (no standing water, but plenty of cattails). But it held up well.

I felt better about the Contour's rollover safety after that, and after watching Rick's which was a far more violent roll.

--Dave