I realize that cost was an issue and I even remember reading something to effect that SVT or Ford (probably the latter) wanted to keep the cost of the Contour below $25k. I realize that perhaps the all wheel drive and a Quaife differential would have been out of the question but the 3.0l but I really wonder how much of a differnce in bottom line price there would have been??? They went all out on the Cobra and Lightning which they should considering these are special market vehicles but even if the cost of the CSVT would have been $25k-$26k as oppose to $22k, I would have been game and I'm sure many others would have been too. Look at what Subarau has been able to do?!?! Like someone else said, Ford had the right game plan with the CSVT considering the fact that there really wasn't another 4 door sports sedan in the under $30k segment other than the Maxima. I just don't see why they couldn't push the Contour performance wise like they did the Lightning and Mustang.
