|
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 21
New CEG\'er
|
OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 21 |
hey, im in the market for a new car, and i was looking at a 98 contour sport se. , i was wondering how it performs in the cold weather, and if it should have anything replaced right off th bat, it has 38k miles thanks for the time 
finally:
04 focus lx
5-speed manual
sangria red pics soon hopefully!
spi engine one mod- resonator tip found in road lol
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 49
New CEG\'er
|
|
New CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 49 |
Not to be negative about Fords but don't get one if your thinking about it. I myself have a 98 SVT and it's nothing but trouble. I just got my car back from the dealer today after it's been there for over two weeks to replace the transmission. About 15k miles ago I had to replace my engine. The total cost put in the car to fix could of paid this piece of crap off and have money left over for down payment on a new car. I never neglected my car. I took care of it with pride and everything that needed to be fixed was fixed and it was never raced or harshly driven. I had a rental car for about a week and it was a mid size economy. After picking up my car and driving it, it felt like the SVT was a piece of junk compared to the rental car. To be honest I would of rather kept the rental than drive my SVT again. My point is don't get one unless you plan on keeping it stock and pump some money into fixing the damn thing. Total junk, regret getting it. I totally should of kept my 98 Nissan 240sx. Now, anybody else reading this reply it is my opinion and it wasn't meant to be offensive to the Contique owners on CEG. I personally went through alot with my car and I'm sure there are people that hasn't had any trouble with theirs. Again, it is my personal opinion and mine only. Good luck and I hope you find the right car!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 609
Veteran CEG\'er
|
|
Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 609 |
Hello! I don't know if there are any issues about running these cars in really cold weather, but if it's just normal NW winter temperatures, I have never had a problem. The few times it snows or gets icy, I use my other car, so I don't know how they run in snow. Get some good snow tires and I think it should do okay. I have driven the Contour in freezing temperatures without any problems, though. You might ask in the Midwest or Northeast forums and see if they have any really cold-weather suggestions. What part of the NW do you live in?
As far as replacing anything right away, maybe just clean the throttle body, and the upper and lower intake manifolds. With the mileage being that low though, they may not be that dirty. Let us know if you decide to get it! Good luck!
Marty
98 SVT, Black, No. 786, May 7, 1997.
K&N, MSDS, Xcal2, Tint, Antennas, Big Gulp(R)-Sized Cupholder, Rear Dome Lt., Koni/Eibach, DMD, Pre-98 Sails, Brake Cooling Deflectors, Sidemarkers, Etc.
147K+ Miles
"Get the Door - It's GrooveNerd!"
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,294
Hard-core CEG'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,294 |
My family and I have personally owned a totaled of 5 contours and 1 svt. We have every car for a minimium of 2 years except the two newest editions, my 99 and my 95 which I have had for a year and a half. I have not had any major problems yet to date with any of our cars. The biggest thing was replacing the shot springs and struts in my 95. We bought the car that way.
95 LX Family car (long ago lol)
95 SE (Mine, in garage)
98 SVT, (got totaled a while back, but drove it till later 2003, only 1 owner)
99 SE Sport (in driveway, also mine)
2000 SE Sport (my sisters had it for many years replaced 95 LX when it got hit in a head on collision)
I have found that people who don't fix cars, or do and don't know what they are doing, ruin cars and then when you buy them they are junk. Unfortunetly, some of us have had misfortune. And others like my family and I have never had a problem with them. Ford to date makes some of the best cars/trucks around. And last of all, you should have kept your 240zx, it was way better!!! way faster!!! And very hot looking. Now wtf bring your car over so I can try those rims on to see if I am gonna buy them or not.
95 SES Sold
99 SE Sport Sold
99 SVT T-Red Tan Interior. K&N, Magnecors, 19' Theorys, And some audio stuff.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 873
Veteran CEG\'er
|
|
Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 873 |
For the most part Contours are just as reliable as the average car. As auiotour posted, upkeep is a major item. A 98 with that low of miles should be in pretty good shape and probably a great bargain. I drive the crap out of my SVT and yes I have had failures, but nothing major. After 1.5 seasons of autoxing it with race tires, tracking it twice, and 55K of hard street miles my car has had this go wrong with it:
IMRC controller (These seem to have problems on quite a few contours, mine was replaced under waranty but you're looking at around $150 to replace it if it goes bad I believe.)
Power Steering pump (Failed after only 20K miles, this was probably due to sitting on a lot for 2 years before being bought and then getting autox'd. I bought my car NEW in December 2001, it was made November 1999.)
Fuel Pump (Another common problem with the SVT's at least, but it is pretty cheap to fix as long as you don't mind getting your hands a little dirty.)
Motor Mount (Again a tragedy of racing, expecially drag racing which I've done three times now in the car. I have not replaced this, but I wouldn't expect the normal user to have to either.)
That is it. Personally with all the crap my car has been through it has been very good to me. Would I buy another, yes due too how low the prices have gotten. I think the car you are looking at sounds like a very good choice.
240sx's are NOT fast unless you make them that way. Those stupid truck motors they have are retarded. Now if we're talking SR20DET swap, then by all means they are nice cars.
2004 Focus PZEV 2.3L - KW sport suspension, SP camber plates, Eibach front swaybar, FS intake, FS Stealth exhaust, 3.82 Final, Torsen ATB, Prothane MM insert, E1 CSVT wheels
1/4 mile - 15.201@89.4mph
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,361
Hard-core CEG\'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,361 |
Originally posted by 1andonlysvt:
Not to be negative about Fords but don't get one if your thinking about it. I myself have a 98 SVT and it's nothing but trouble. I just got my car back from the dealer today after it's been there for over two weeks to replace the transmission. About 15k miles ago I had to replace my engine. The total cost put in the car to fix could of paid this piece of crap off and have money left over for down payment on a new car. I never neglected my car. I took care of it with pride and everything that needed to be fixed was fixed and it was never raced or harshly driven. I had a rental car for about a week and it was a mid size economy. After picking up my car and driving it, it felt like the SVT was a piece of junk compared to the rental car. To be honest I would of rather kept the rental than drive my SVT again. My point is don't get one unless you plan on keeping it stock and pump some money into fixing the damn thing. Total junk, regret getting it. I totally should of kept my 98 Nissan 240sx. Now, anybody else reading this reply it is my opinion and it wasn't meant to be offensive to the Contique owners on CEG. I personally went through alot with my car and I'm sure there are people that hasn't had any trouble with theirs. Again, it is my personal opinion and mine only. Good luck and I hope you find the right car!
I have to completely disagree with you. This car is absolutely not a piece of crap. It's not that I take personal offense to what you have said either. You're just off base. I've had my '98 SVT Contour for over three years. In that time I've driven it about as hard as a car can be driven, including many track days. "Drive it like you stole it" they say...completely accurate with my car. Redline on the tach every day, and I mean EVERY day. I have had a differential failure which was a result of my abuse at the drag strip, a water pump break (cheap and minor) and catalytic converters became "inefficient" at 74,000 miles (warranty). The original owner, who had it the first 69,000 miles, had absolutely no problems with it at all. I currently have just under 130,000 miles and I couldn't be happier! The engine has never been apart, including the intake system. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Ford guy by any stretch of the imagination. I strongly prefer classic GM cars. This particular car is something different than the run of the mill Ford POS on the street. As far as your experience goes, I have some comments. Most importantly, you said it was never raced or harshly driven. Yeah right! You don't lose an engine AND a transmission by driving nicely. It just doesn't happen. It's possible the car was built with a bad engine, bad transmission, whatever. Things like this happen. I have a friend who blew up a '00 Camry two weeks after he got it new. To say you got an SVT and never raced it...come on man. That car never saw red line right? You never shifted it hard right? You never spun the tires right? Whatever.
jarrett882, I do agree you shouldn't go with the SE Sport and go with the SVT. You can score one pretty cheap these days, and they're a blast to drive. My car is exceptionally good on the snow and ice. I even had some chains on it this last snow storm! There are things that you need to take care of, like maintenance especially, but it's nothing serious. You have to change the oil on schedule, preferably with some good synthetic and a good filter. You have to change the transmission fluid on schedule. Simple stuff. The only thing that I agree is a widespread problem is the water pump, which can be replaced with a reliable unit fairly cheaply.
I'm sure others will respond. I'm not completely crazy! 
'98 SVT Contour, in at least 639 pieces 
4 Speed MTX...synchro and shift fork replacement in progress 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,294
Hard-core CEG'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,294 |
there may still be a 2000 csvt at the ford dealer ship in Auburn WA, it had like 16k on it. Silver frost. Think is was 12500 or so
95 SES Sold
99 SE Sport Sold
99 SVT T-Red Tan Interior. K&N, Magnecors, 19' Theorys, And some audio stuff.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 181
CEG\'er
|
|
CEG\'er
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 181 |
Hey i got a 98 contour se, i live out near the mountians in washington and i drive in snow often in the winter, and it drives great and gets great traction long as you got good tires, snow tires not needed but help. but i havnt had any major problems with my car and millage is over 100,000.. but maybe i'm just a lucky one...
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 49
New CEG\'er
|
|
New CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 49 |
Originally posted by auiotour:
And last of all, you should have kept your 240zx, it was way better!!! way faster!!! And very hot looking. Now wtf bring your car over so I can try those rims on to see if I am gonna buy them or not.
I thought you were going with the Vortechs? Well, if your still interested pm me anytime.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 49
New CEG\'er
|
|
New CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 49 |
Originally posted by Qbert:
240sx's are NOT fast unless you make them that way. Those stupid truck motors they have are retarded. Now if we're talking SR20DET swap, then by all means they are nice cars.
True, I could of done the swap with a aftermarket turbo and a aftermarket intercooler plus much more with the money I've put in to fix my damn SVT. But then again with my wife and my kids I did need a 4 door. I don't know, I guess I'm just not lucky with cars .
|
|
|
|
|
