Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance Swapping Automatic Transmission 4 Manual

I feel all funny inside. I mod it for the challenge. What is the fun in buying a car that is already hooked up? None whatsoever. It is for the love of the hobby. Plus it is for the sleeper look. No one would suspect the 4 door sedan to be quick without the SVT badge on the back. Just ask some people that were on Gingerman at SZ. No one believed my car was a Zetec because I was passing SVTs. And it didn't sound like one. It is all about the love even if you have an ATX.

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?

What's the FUN in buying a car that is already hooked up? The FUN, is... It's funner to run 12 sec quarters when you start out with a car that has the potential to do it without making you go broke. It would take literally THOUSANDS more dollars to get an MTX L4 (banger) to reliably run 12 sec 1/4s without always breaking something. Simple as that. I just wouldn't spend thousands to go from a 17 down to a 15.9.
And I wonder what that stock GTX Grand-Am owner is thinking as he blows past both the Zetec and the 4 door with the SVT badge. But I DO see your point about for the fun of the hobby though. You ARE onto something there

but the cost of my car plus what the 300hp turbo from terry it is still cheaper than what I would of had to pay for a SVT back in 98 by a few thousand dollars.... and with 300hp it would sure be nice to see the look on a guy in a fbody or a stang when I'm sitting there next to him going down the track.
BTW I paid under $10k for my car and what was the SVT when it was new??? sure give me ALOT of room for turbo money when you look at it from that point of view....

You can't compare SVT to a regular 4 banger Contour, pricewise. That is like comparing apples to oranges. The SVT has a kick butt body package that puts it into a whole different league as far as style. That's part of why it costs thousands more. Aside from that, there are suspension and braking upgrades, as well as the improved horsepower and TORQUE that the V6 offers. The 4 bangers were designed to sell to grammas

You can compare a SVT and regular Tour because the SVT Contour is just a upgraded Contour. I spent about about $700 on the suspension and guess what it is equal to better than the SVT suspension. I spent $300 on SVT wheels and tires. Now add in the 13K I payed for the car in 2000 (it is a 2000 ) We are up to 14k. Add another 5k for the turbo kit and guess what? 19k for a 300hp Zetec that would whoop a SVT easily. How much did a 2000 SVT cost in 2000? About 23K? Enough said. :rolleyes:

Hey guys,

Just registered last night and am enjoying this discussion. I have been contemplating the same thing as Contour97, got a stock 95 GL, ATX went back in March 2000, going again. The sound it's making is a cross between whining gears and too much fluid being forced through a valve....and getting louder every week. Spent nearly $2000 for the replacement. Totally fed up with ATX's, want to go manual. Not interested in going V6 though, for now I'm content to get somewhere just relatively quick pace, RELIABLY! Question to Contour97...when do you plan on doing this?

Whatever floats your boat

See what hector said... plus... WHY would I want the added weight of the leather and the body kit??? all it does it means I need more power to keep up with a lighter car of equal power.
just my additional $.02

"added weight of the leather "

How much would that add?