Originally posted by Dan Nixon:
IMO the SVT Contour has a number of things going for it..
1) Its fairly rare, Euro designed, Roush tuned, SVT marketed
2) Its probably going to be the only 4-door SVT car ever made...as SVT supposedly goes upmarket..
3) Asthetically..its still a very handsome sedan...better than most newer designs (unless you actually like the WRX, Evo, Neon, Honda, 300C, GTO, etc look). Aging very well IMO...look at other sedans from the 98-00 years, mostly only the German cars are still holding up as well asthetically.
4) Winning Mondeo Touring car heritage
5) Still very enjoyable to drive...even compared to most modern stuff. Not "relatively" fast any more but very nice handling, brakes, great steering, great sounds, revs to 7K smooth as silk...its performance still compares well with BMW325i, IS300, A4, etc. and while much less refined, its as much fun to drive if not more so.
6) The terrific resource of CEG..from problems to mods to entertainment..

Some of you guys had lemons its clear, and I understand your different perspective but some of these cars are equally nice...typical Ford QC. Mine is nearly 5 years old and I have had the "dash fix", an O2 sensor (both warranty) and not a bit of trouble. Still love driving this thing, the MTX-75 is damn nice, smooth (I think it helps that I did early..starting at 750 miles..and often synthetic fluids), the engine feels stronger with age (mods don't hurt) & sounds better than any frickin' turbo I've heard, and the so called "cheap" leather looks new. I have test driven several potential buys in the last year..BMW, G35, Lexus, Audi but keep concluding that these cars are nicer but not really more fun to drive. They have are not yet tempted me toward a car payment. Have you noticed how many people here say they wish they still had SVT and have even in cases bought another years later?

Hey..(virtually) NO CAR is a good investment, some pretty expensive iron when new is pretty cheap these days. I personally think SVTs will tend to level off and depreciate much slower going foreward, but we'll see.





Amen.

Mine's in the same era as yours. I've done 2 sets of O2 sensors (every 2 years it seems), and 2 squirrel cages in the blower fan, one accessory pulley bearing, and one transmission fluid flush plus the dash warp fix and that's it in 5 years.

She's a sweetie, esp with DMD. Makes the best noises of any car I've heard, except maybe those V8 Ferraris.

The goofiest sounding car is the current gen M3. Or any Subie flat 4 (non-turbo).

Kerry

99 SVT Contour Silver Frost, #365/2760, DMD 98 Audi A4 2.8 Quattro Tiptronic, 30V -- SOLD! 91 Isuzu Impulse XS Kammback, Handling By Lotus Victoria, BC, Canada