Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests Does It Bother Anyone That....

Contours and Mystiques get generally no representation in the sports compact press? I've been coming to this site for the last year and change, ever since I bought my SVT, and I started reading books like MAX POWER, HCI and SPORT COMPACT CAR at about the same time, hoping that I'd see more cars like mine.

Now I've heard many of the stories about this car's "star-crossed" history -- Lack of support by Ford, inherent technical problems, poor marketing by Ford, lack of aftermarket parts -- but on closer inspection, I'm not sure all of these things hold water.

Think about it: For every flared out, fat tired, fart-can exhausted, ground scraping, uber-winged mutant ricer on the covers and in the pages of these magazines, I'll bet that the average reader can only afford some basic upgrades to his/her vehicle at any given time -- intake, exhaust, suspension, stereo system. And, thanks to those of you that consistently post on these pages, it's clear to me that every one of these things are readily available for the Contique owner. Not to mention the more radical upgrades like turbochargers, Nitrous systems, and eventually even body kits.

Yet through all of this, the only inclusion of a Contour or Mystique in the pages of these magazines (at least that I've seen) was one of the NY-based CEG members and his SE quite a few months ago. In the case of SCC, I had to go back to a 1999 issue to find any road test info on the CSVT. With the things that go on here (Spring Zing, CEG National Meet) and all of the really great looking cars I've seen posted on this site, shouldn't we let the press know about these cars so they can be included in the magazines? Many of you have great cars that at the very least deserve to be seen in the Readers Rides sections of these books. If Sport Compact Car can do a multi-page feature on the annual J-Body Convention (which they have, God help us), I would think that if the press even knew what's still going on with the Contique crowd, they might take a second look.

I'm sure I'm not the first person to post this and probably won't be the last; if this is something that Contique owners don't particularly care about one way or another, I guess I'll let my subscriptions to these pubs expire and keep coming to this site. But I just wish I could see more of the really cool cars that I've seen on this site in the pages of these books.

If you want coverage, that statement, sent to the publishers of the mags, may be your best weapon.

yah but also consider that most people want to get the scoop on newer models of sport compacts.
You've seen how fickle people can be, even members here. Something new comes along, they are drooling and licking their chops to get all the info they can on them and quickly forget what a contique is.
Journalism itself is based on getting out the newest news, the hottest trends and not dwelling on things of the past for years and years.
who wants to hear about a car that is no longer in production, was produced in limited quantities and was hardly publicized to begin with (therefore no one knows about it)?

I understand what you're saying and I also think that it sucks that it is that way.

Unfortunately, when most people think of a Contour, it probably stirrs up an image of an old person driving, a government fleet car or a car serving it's sentence as a rental. That's the image the Contour has, thanks to the ****ty marketing Ford gave it. I can count on my hands the many SVT's I've personally seen, but I could lose count on how many fleet Contours I've seen.

nah, that doesn't hold any weight because a large percentage of the cars featured aren't even in production any longer. The SVT needs a little hype to back it up. I think with the turbo, body kit and other aftermarket items, we could see it grace the pages of some of these magazines. I know after the body kit is finished, Michael Shelling and I will be putting together a Press Release that will get the SVT/Contour in some magazines.

Unfortunately, when most people think of a Contour, it probably stirrs up an image of an old person driving, a government fleet car or a car serving it's sentence as a rental. That's the image the Contour has, thanks to the ****ty marketing Ford gave it. I can count on my hands the many SVT's I've personally seen, but I could lose count on how many fleet Contours I've seen.

Pack, I had that exact same conversation with a guy who sells advertising for Super Street magazine. I think, however, given the focus on newer model cars in the press, seeing more cars in Readers' Rides sections, listing CEG meets and events in the calendar section of these books, and even sending out invitations or press releases is a good start. Again, that may be the only such listing that we ever see. But it's better than nothing, right?

No. Not in the least.

If I wanted attention, I would buy a civic, put a big wing on it and paint it lime green.

I drive the biggest of the grocery-getter models and the thing that I like most is that it's not another honda/ toyota in a sea of tastelessly modded imports.

If you want recognition in an import scene, buy an import...

I agree with redhawk. If everyone was talking about/had a Contour, I'd probably get something else.

all i know is that everytime I pick up one of the sport compact/import/lowrider magazines, I hope to see an SVT that will just blow me away or at least a good article or write up about the car. some recognition would be nice.

From my experience, true automobile enthusiasts know about the SVT Contour. Every once in a while someone will take me off guard and compliment me on my car because they KNOW what it is. That makes me feel good about my decision to continue driving one. Everyday-people know nothing about it and that it just fine with me. I know I am driving a special car and only approx. 11,500 of them were built. I do not need to pick up some magazine and see my car in there to fill my ego or help my self-esteem.