UMMM I dis agree... my "LITTLE" Zetec runs a 16.8 with only a few bolt ons and I have seen some of the Duratec owners post that they are running low 17's with similar bolt ons. I have also had a few people think I had a V6. and I know for a fact LoCo's 4 banger doesn't sound ricey... he has a deeper sound than most of the V6 owners in chicago.
I'm actually a V-8 guy trapped in a V-6's body (w/ my SE). I grew up from when I was 16 years old (I'm 29 now), until just about three years ago, owning and mod'in only 5.0 Mustangs. I've had like 6, and one Capri. And the slowest one I had ran a 16 second quarter mile (w/ the fastest doing 12.45 sec), so you can imagine now, how I get into a Contour and think to myself: 'Man, if this car only had some SPUNK to back the excellent handling, it'd be sweet'. I couldn't even imagine wanting to drive my Contour, if it was any less powerful. And worse, if you have the A/C turned on, whew, I definitely wouldn't bother trying any evasive manuevers then! It's funny Ford would even allow that type of gutlessness as being, 'acceptable' for release. I won't even bother modifying my V-6 unless I had enough to go the 3.0L route, and then the weak tranny couldn't handle it for long anyways. But I've just learned to except this car as is, out of the box, stock, and just leave the drivetrain alone. Besides, I'd probably just get more tickets, and lose my license again if I had another fast car anyways. I even test drove an SVT and I didn't really notice a significant gain from the standard V6. I guess part of what keeps me from just getting another V-8 Mustang is the fact that everyone already owns one, and that the RWD Mustang with it's solid rear axle, just can't touch the handling potential of these Contours. So I guess I'm just waiting to have a good enough tax return, and maybe I'll throw in the 3.0L option? Or I might just trade it in and go German?
