|
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,682
Member
|
Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,682 |
Originally posted by SVTNupe:
Bret,
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. for another 3-4k you can do it yourself  so whats the problem? i understand where you are coming from... but there is only so much they can do. Talk to Roush, apperently they are the ones that did all the R&D on the CSVT. Ask them whats up, they should have better answers then me.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 31
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 31 |
Originally posted by skiin007:
My concern right now is how this vehicle is going to last.
I have had 2 Hondas that have combined almost excess 300,000 miles. The way I am taking my current SVT in, it is questionable whether or not it we realistically last more than 60000 miles. This is not taking away from the way the car drives and handles. In this aspect, it is in a class all of it's own. My only beef is that being an SVT, one would seem to expect some quality as opposed to quanity (i.e. performance).
Final Verdict: I will be buying a Honda Accord or some other import very soon.
Had the SVT but...Didn't last too long.
I am proud to say that my 98 LX has 52300 miles, and it is running like a champ. I have not had to take it in for anything except normal ware and tare. Must be because the engines different. And boy does it look good! ------------------ 98 Contour/Silver LX 16" Konig Monsoon Yokohama A520 205/50ZR/16 Pioneer CD12/Tape 10"Kappa Sub/AudoTech Amp
98 Contour/Silver LX
Air Intake Mod
16" Konig Monsoon
Yokohama A520 205/50ZR/16
Pioneer CD12/Tape
10" Infinity Kappa Sub
AudoTech Amp
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 527
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 527 |
....Keepin this one at the top....
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,248
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,248 |
"but the 3.0l but I really wonder how much of a differnce in bottom line price there would have been???'
SVTNupe, Ill answer this one. I know it was considered. The 3L would have exceeded or have been at the limit of tourque capacity for the MTX75. So now you would have needed an upgraded (none in parts bin either) tranny. The tourque steer increase would have nessesitated a LSD as well. The brakes & suspension should be upgraded to keep the balance of the car. You are now looking at a different & significanty more expensive car. But a nice one.
Honastly, given the price they were going to shoot for, the only things I would have changed would be a baffeled oilpan and a stout LSD like the Quaife. This would up costs probably <$1000, but would have really enhanced overall capability & reliability & even saftey. And SVT could really give ITR a run in G stock autocross.
------------------
Dan
99SVT - Tropic Green
#554/2760
Stock - except minor intake, exhaust, & motor mount enhancements
1999 Amazon Green SVT Contour (#554/2760)
Stock SVT Duratec V6 with:
Intake- K&N filter/75mm MAF meter
Exhaust- MSDS Y-pipe/Bassani catback
Durability-Ford "dual mode" damper, Mobil 1/K&N oil filter
179.2 FWHP at 6900 RPM
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,032
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,032 |
but the 3.0l but I really wonder how much of a differnce in bottom line price there would have been???
If I remember correctly, there are displacement restrictions set in Europe (maybe just the UK?) of around 2500cc. Why would Ford/SVT design two different engines for just about the equivalent, low production performance car (ST200 and SVT)??? You might also take notice that the base engine in the X-Type is the 2.5L.
1999 SVT #900/2760
Born on 1-20-99
Silver Frost/Midnight Blue
A few aesthetic and audio mods
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 163
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 163 |
For everyone. The following is what you need to send to Troy. Don't post and say "see my sig" or rant on and on about a problem and don't do anything to convey the information. Here is what I sent Troy. Might be a bit much, but it's my SVT's history.
Dear Troy,
...
The following is the service history on my 1998 Contour SVT, vin 1FALP68G4WK124756, build number 613. She rolled out of the factory about 4 years ago.
October 1997 - Faulty fuel level sender unit.
Caused me to run out of gas with 1/4 still showing in the tank.
Issued resolved (Laird Noller - Lawrence, KS)
September to November 1997 - Sunroof stuck 4 times
Sunroof would get stuck in the full open position.
Issue resolved after replacing entire track and motor. (Bob Allen - Overland Park, KS)
April 1998 - Air conditioner failed twice.
Issue resolved after replacing entire cooling system. (Bob Allen - Overland Park, KS)
March 1999 - Driver's side fog lamp out
Issue resolved. (Bob Allen - Overland Park, KS)
March 1999 - Front driver and passenger molding replaced
Molding had begun to peel up.
Issue resolved. (Bob Allen - Overland Park, KS)
March 1999 - Driver seat track shifting
During braking and acceleration the seat would slide front and back. The track was replaced and within 1 month the same problem resurfaced. After taking it back, I received a response "they all do that." After conferring with other Contour owners with the same reoccurring problems, I have learned to live with it.
Issue not resolved. (Bob Allen - Overland Park, KS)
June 1999 - Intermittent wipers
Wouldn't work. Replaced faulty computer module.
Issue resolved. (Bob Allen - Overland Park, KS)
July 1999 - Air bag code
Air bag light was blinking. After 3 days it was repaired 2 days after being promised. Then the recall came out on the airbag sensors.
Issue resolved. (Bob Allen - Overland Park, KS)
Fall 2000 - Engine noise
After 9 days of diagnostics (and over 100 miles on the OD for "diagnostic drives") it was discovered that the #4 spark plug had backed out. This was discovered after I gave permission for them to drop the engine to fix the internal knock. 1000 miles later the #1 spark plug backed out, but I fixed it myself.
Issue resolved, but very bad, slow and incompetent customer service. (Shawnee Mission Ford - Shawnee, KS)
October 2000 - Water pump failure
Pump failed under highway speeds at night. Synthetic oil is the only thing that saved my engine from self-destruction. Pump was replaced, but a flush and fill is not covered under warrantee, even to get out all the little plastic pieces of the impeller. Had to do that myself, and recovered approximately 1/4 of the impeller. When I picked the car up, they hadn't even bothered to refill the reservoir with water.
Issue resolved (so far) (Bob Allen - Overland Park, KS)
Recalls performed:
Air bag unit
Throttle cable
Headlight switch
TSB's
"Moose" - noise with AC on.
Splash guard to prevent loss of power steering and vehicle control while driving through a puddle.
...
Thank you very much for you time.
Greg Litterick
------------------
Greg Litterick
98 E0 T-Red
#613
[This message has been edited by litrbox (edited April 03, 2001).]
Greg Litterick
98 E0 T-Red
#613
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,217
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,217 |
A short list of opinions and facts:
I knew what was included with my '99 SVT when I bought it. (no LSD, 16" Wheels, decontented clock, etc...) I still bought it by choice. I don't complain about it today.
SVT didn't abandon the CDW, Ford Motor Company did. Too much demographic overlap with the Taurus.
Aside from the tranny, waterpump and oil pan, i didn't see or missed the rear suspension creak/clunk problem. This is annoying as hell, and just plain embarrasing with passengers in the car.
Dealership experiences have been horrible. Check my VIN to see a service history, including repeat/multiple visits for the same problems. 1FAFP68G8XK221814
My next car, barring a competitive offering from any Ford owned company will be selected from the following: VW Passat, Audi A4, BMW 3 or 5 series, Subaru WRX.
An SVT Lincoln LS would also do the trick! Just don't drop the ball with some poorly executed "almost manual" manumatic trans - give me a clutch and gears to row through. Make the car friendly toward aftermarket mods. Or better yet, offer Ford performance parts for it.
Thanks for looking in.......
Mark Whalen
mwhalen@gfd.com
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 21
Junior Member
|
|
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 21 |
SVT is not the problem. Ford is. The only problem I had with SVT is that they were never able to answer my questions. As for Ford and the CSVT--'98 E0 in my case--the car is a blast to drive but some of the problems are inexcusable. Bumper sag? Throttle hang for Pete's sake? Worthless dealer service depts. Not to mention numerous sqeaks, creaks and rattles, bubbling vinyl etc. You've heard it all before. However, my biggest complaint with Ford is their apparent lack of respect for American consumers. Why do they refuse to sell their best here? No Mondeo. No Ka. No Focus RS. The SVT Focus is fine but Europe gets a model with 230 hp, a quaife and a widened track. Even if the lousy engineering, quality, reliability, service and attitude in general weren't enough to keep me from buying another Ford the lack of product is. What alternative does Ford offer to someone for whom the CSVT was a good choice? At this point I guess all of this really shouldn't matter to me. I sold my SVT and have been driving a Subaru WRX for 3 weeks. I highly recommend it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
>I sold my SVT and have been driving a Subaru WRX for 3 weeks. I highly recommend it.<
There's one REAL problem with the WRX, a problem that's MUCH more serious than all the little bug-a-boos of the Contour (I haven't experienced any of the reported serious problem in my 36K of Contour ownership).
Sorry, but to these Euro-trained eyes, the WRX is a classically styled Subaru. It is butt-ugly (but well built).
------------------
simul iustus et peccator
00 SVTour Silver Frost
96 Sable zzz (wife's)
64 TBird
Historical:
49 Morris Minor
42 Dodge Powerwagon Munitions Carrier
68 BMW 2002
72 German Ford Capri V6
77 Honda Accord
80 VW Scirrocco
88 VW Jetta
91 Ford Escort GT
98 Countour SE V6 ATX
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 407
Member
|
|
Member
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 407 |
Just in case you're getting disillusioned with All the NEGATIVE responses Troy... I've had my car since new and love it and have had no real problems. The only time it's been to the dealer has been for the recalls. Maybe I'm lucky?? I've got 81,000 km (50,000 miles approx.) on it and whenever I've taken other new cars out for test drives (wife will need a new car soon) I go back to my SVT appreciating it more and more. I must admit though that my mods have helped a great deal in that respect and if there's one gripe I've got it's the lack of after-mkt support. But, hey, I can understand that when the car's production was limited. Thx though for having the guts to come here.
------------------
Black 98.5 SVT w/ KKM intake,73mm MAF, ASP pulley, SHO Shop Y-Pipe w/ no main cat
Black 98.5 SVT w/ KKM intake, 73mm MAF, ASP pulley, Optimized stock Y-Pipe, 24mm hollow rear sway bar, Magnaflow resonator, Magnaflow mufflers, Roush springs, KYB struts
|
|
|
|
|
