Death of CEG?????????????

Originally posted by TheGreatOne:
When SZ is back in Michigan where it started, and where everyone remembers it being, more people will show up.

Where were the first two Spring Zings? Springfield of course. Not Michigan. And it didn't start as a national meeting, it started as more of a regional thing, and a bunch of folks from around the country showed up.

Maybe death of SZ and NM, but not CEG.

The Contique community will shrink over time, but just look for Capri and Merkur support and you'll see it's still out there. (And they are still meeting, albeit in small numbers.)

I, for one, have to be very choosy. I wish I had time to drive all over the country and meet up with people who share a passion for these cars. Sounds like a real hoot. Oh well. Got a family, and other priorities.

I'd love to go to Carlisle someday. Maybe I'll finally meet some of you there, along with owners of other cars I love. (see paragraph 2, above.)

Hell, I live 3 hours from the SCCA Solo II Nationals site, and I still haven't made it up there.

Someday...

Interest in the CDW27 cars will not "die off".

Just like above, there are still Merkur and Capri clubs. Even the Mavericks and Falcons have loyal clubs!

This year, I think the interest has dwindled due to the recession.

People don't have extra $$$ for mods, 2nd cars, trips, and extra time too.

Also, summertime is when people are outside, not in sufing the net.

Originally posted by FocusTour:

Also, summertime is when people are outside, not in sufing the net.

oh wow.. that is what I should be doing instead of stuck here at work

When I wrecked my Contour I tried to find an SVT, but couldnt find one in the Auburn, Montgomery area. I got my Jetta because it has better overall acceptance by the aftermarket community. That said, I am still planning on buying another Tour some day. My girlfriend loved the car as much as I did and she wants to buy one too. Maybe I'm just a softie for my first car, but I will love the Tour forever and will probably end up with 5 or 6 in my redneck backyard someday.

Gotta love those redneck backyards. You got any old refrigerators or rusted out cars yet?

Ha !

There's a '8x Regal sitting on my driveway that hasn't moved in ~9months. It has grass growing up around the back of it now. (yes, grass is growing thru the driveway & no, the Regal isn't mine.)

Originally posted by ScarContour:
When I wrecked my Contour I tried to find an SVT, but couldnt find one in the Auburn, Montgomery area. I got my Jetta because it has better overall acceptance by the aftermarket community. That said, I am still planning on buying another Tour some day. My girlfriend loved the car as much as I did and she wants to buy one too. Maybe I'm just a softie for my first car, but I will love the Tour forever and will probably end up with 5 or 6 in my redneck backyard someday.

War Eagle dude! My SVT came off the showroom floor of Auburn Ford, L-M. But you should've looked in B'ham, there is always one for sale around there.

Originally posted by RogerB:
I'd love to go to Carlisle someday. Maybe I'll finally meet some of you there, along with owners of other cars I love.

Roger, mark your calendar for next year's All Ford Nationals.

IIRC, we had over 30 Contours show up and had a good time even though it was pouring.

All Ford Nationals 2002

All Ford Nationals 2003

Originally posted by RogerB:
Maybe death of SZ and NM, but not CEG.

The Contique community will shrink over time, but just look for Capri and Merkur support and you'll see it's still out there. (And they are still meeting, albeit in small numbers.)

I, for one, have to be very choosy. I wish I had time to drive all over the country and meet up with people who share a passion for these cars. Sounds like a real hoot. Oh well. Got a family, and other priorities.

I'd love to go to Carlisle someday. Maybe I'll finally meet some of you there, along with owners of other cars I love. (see paragraph 2, above.)

Hell, I live 3 hours from the SCCA Solo II Nationals site, and I still haven't made it up there.

Someday...

I couldn't have said it better myself. I think this site will keep going as long as there are still Contours on the road! I think the state of the economy right now has a lot to do with the poor turnout at SZ and NM. But just cuz those events were cancelled (or scaled back) doesn't mean that the CEG community is dying.

CEG won't die...Simply put. The reason for the dwindling in meets will happen....But I will say that in the SE we have had quite a few meets. I know myself, I have been involved or had a hand in three meets. One was the Nashville/Huntsville meet where we had a pretty good turn out in April on both days. Second, not as many but hey, we had some fun...July 4 and 5....Now we have one that I had no planning with but is at my house...LOL...and is tomorrow.

We will have a 2 from Miss, 1 from Chicago, 1 possibly from Chattanooga TN, and a few from HSV...Not big numbers by any means. But the primary reason is that we all are good friends cuz of the site and the reason we have meets or G2G's is cuz of the car.

As far as meets or anything this year, I just think this year was a fluke. It was hard to do with the locations and it was hard to get all the stuff organized. Everyone involved in the Nats worked hard and put in the effort, but people had other responsibilites and such that had to be taken care of. I couldn't go mainly cuz I am broke broke broke...and just got a job. I had intended to go...somehow....but I just couldn't afford it in the end.

I do agree, meets by region on one day is an idea. The plan would be to post pics of your meet and what took place....I still think that would be a good idea for later.

Right now what we need to do is get the National Meet off the ground. Throw everything at it, learn from our mistakes and begin building something for next year...

Never fear guys! This site will be around as long as there are Contiques...or...people to host the site...

Hang in there!!!!!

L8R
Rich

...it cant die! I just found this site not too long ago! I got plans for maybe buying an svt by late 2004.

This is blasfamy(sp?) Don't speak of such things

This site won't die, there are too many people that have a passion for our cars and for one, I don't know all i want to yet so ya'll better be here to help me out

I just think we should stop posting in this thread as it is kind of a touchy subject and i don't think it makes anyone happy to read. Just lock it please.

Originally posted by SVTCuervo:
This is blasfamy(sp?) Don't speak of such things

This site won't die, there are too many people that have a passion for our cars and for one, I don't know all i want to yet so ya'll better be here to help me out

I just think we should stop posting in this thread as it is kind of a touchy subject and i don't think it makes anyone happy to read. Just lock it please.

I just asked a question, if anyone else had noticed the trend.

I like this website very much and hope it never dies. This site is like a family to me and I'm here to help in anyway I can. I well be here for as long as the site is here and I will have my tour that long as well.

I just thought I would point out to people that there is a trend, so we could turn it around.

Think of it like this, the Chevelle for instance is also dead, but people keep fixing/modding/driving them, right

The thing is, theres always going to be people buying/selling this car, with stock ones still around, giving those people a "blank piece of paper"

To this day, I still look forward to getting into my car and have a couple things to do to it yet, thus making it desirable to this day

Well the national meet is not dead it will just be smaller in turnout....more like a midwest meet.

Originally posted by SVTCuervo:
This is blasfamy(sp?) Don't speak of such things

Blasphemy. But yes, point taken.

I'd have to agree with the majority here. CEG has been around almost three years now since the Contour itself met the grave thanks to our fellow Focus friends.

But anyhow, if we've lasted this long without dying, why the sudden scare about it now?

It's just a bad time in the world at the moment. As soon as the economy picks up again, SZ and the NM will more than likely turn up again to be the huge deal it is.

There was a Camaro meet at the Savannah Mall the other day. They aren't made anymore but there must've been at least 100 cars. So instead of wasting time worrying if the site/group is going to crash, I think we oughta pick up the pace and then we can have huge meets like that. Good feeling when you bring things back from the dead, stronger than ever.

Besides I need this place for my laughs! I'll never forget the Gold Bond thread in Common Interests.

I am not sure I may post here, for my membership here doesn't feature more than 4 months or something, but that's what I am thinkin':

1. Car-not-in-production is not an issue. There are enthusiast groups for everything ever manufactured or made on Earth, and them numbers seem to be stable.

2. The Forum - well, my experience with other Forums/Message Boards is that individual involvement alsmost never survives for more than 3 years, with all dedication and devotion possible. New members are coming in, but the veterans are leaving it, being tired to answer for the 1,235th time the same questions about CAI intake, painted dash or mesh grille. That's natural. Ppl move on.

I personally like the site, ya'll fellas seem to be kewl peoplez, so I guess I got some couple of years in store be4 I quit

not a chance! definitely not any time soon will this site suddenly cease to exist, especially not because of smaller meet turnout. I'd also have to disagree about the turnout of local meets, but perhaps my region is a special case.

It is apparent that money is tight for people across the nation, especially in the past couple years. Definitely a big factor in people not being able to take big road trips. I know it's a factor for me.
Unexpected lay-offs, struggle for re-employment, settling for lesser paying jobs just to make due, and being hit by other big expenses has hit a number of people pretty hard.

The enthusiasm will never diminish though, merely the means to express that enthusiasm.
I'm patient. I keep my eyes set on better days to come.
The site will die only if you let it.

I think the negative feelings of people in general on general things (aka look at economy downturn) has made people not so anxious about doing things that would constitute a lot of time and energy and money.

CEG will be very old when it comes to an end.
This online community has shown the ability to come together when needed most. To put all "other" issues aside and worry about the one common thing that most of us are here for to begin with - our car and our enthusiasm for this platform.

Fact is, in my case, local meets are more likely to fit my schedule than national meets or long distance meets.

Originally posted by Kevdogg410:

Originally posted by FocusTour:

Also, summertime is when people are outside, not in sufing the net.

oh wow.. that is what I should be doing instead of stuck here at work

It was just an idea,

, not a

sorry

Also, the National Falcon Club has been around over 25 years, and the car was last made in (USA) 1970. There are numerous car clubs for antique cars that date back before many CEG members were born. Don't worry, CEG will be around.

This pre-death worrying sounds like my 95 year old grandmother. She still does her finances and looks more than 5 years into the future!

Get a grip and don't start worrying about the death of CEG after only a few years. It could go on for another 10 for all we know.

okay that might be the worst pic i've ever seen....

i dont know that the site is dying but as was said...vets of the site have moved on while i've noticed many new members just this yr alone

personally i have been completely burned out on ceg and actually stayed away for quite awhile...now that i check in regularly again i post waaaaay less than i used to...common interests was my fave section but now im tired of the political and racial posts and the debates that go with them and dont have much need to post elsewhere

as far as the meets,justseems llike they are a thing of the past, except locally......even regional seems out of the question considering how tough it can be to get a local meet together......the socal guys do a good job of hooking up far as ican tell buti've never been to a meet personally

the site will live til lance burns it to the ground...its gotta live cuz my next car will be an svt when the time comes.....if i cant swing an a4

Originally posted by gdub520:
its gotta live cuz my next car will be an svt when the time comes

I want an svt by the end of next year. I hope ceg will be still going good. I also hope I dont get bored of this car or ceg before I have the money, im really looking forward into having an svt.

I do remember that it seemeed like people expected any sort of National Meet to happen in their neighborhood. But, the recession has put a crimp in people's spending and long trips are first to go.

As time goes on and as long as there's enthusiastic drivers CEG will stay.

People are going to come and go. I've only been on here 7 months, but I luv it. Everyone has different schedules and time and money constraints which prevents us from having the meets we'd of course love to have, with everyone there. But CEG is still strong, here's what we did in SE Michigan today:

Originally posted by D Davis:
It's downturn and was bound to happen. We still get new members, I just don't know that big, national meets are going to fly anymore.

I mean really, I can only think of a few reasons to drive from AZ to IL, and a big-ass meet isn't one of them.

I don't think local meets have ever been stable.

I had a reason to make the AZ to IL trip

I just purchased a 98 contour (love it) and discovered CEG.
My comment is LONG LIVE CEG!!!! We all share an interest in the Contour family autos and should all stick together!!

Originally posted by Blevans:
I just purchased a 98 contour (love it) and discovered CEG.
My comment is LONG LIVE CEG!!!! We all share an interest in the Contour family autos and should all stick together!!

See, the newbies can carry the torch.

And don't think because of Nat meets dying that CEG is, also. Other car clubs that I lurk have had big meets fizzle out too.

CEG die? What kind of talk is that? Been around 5 years. Many more to come.

NAT MEET IS NOT DEAD!!! It will be smaller in scale...and still a BLAST!!!

talking about redneck backyards..... i think my contour's goal is to be in one asap. the front as of now consists of my 96 contour (with blankets shut in the doors to keep the rain out, can't roll up windows due to short), and my mom's 85 olds 88 royale that i'm currently driving (hey, this big ugly olds 307 with the 7004r tranny chirps the tires). i even got it to powerbrake for about 1 second in front of a store...lol...

that reminds me of a trip i took to florida with my dad in february, my dad and uncle (he lives in florida) were drunk, and my dad rented a 2003 towncar for us, so i was designated driver, they wanted to know if the car had balls, so i checked by trying to powerbrake it, and the backend moved, so i switched off the traction control and it really lit up those tires at a car show we checked out in kissimmee, we were outside a family restaurant, i could just picture that: a brand new lincoln burnin up the tires....... oh man.... that was fun.....

oh and another thing i notice, i know that i know more than the average person about cars, not saying i'm a genious, far from it, but i notice that cars like hondas... most of the poeple that want them don't know much about cars.

plus another thing, i can pick up a lot more chicks in my stock teal contour than any stock (non si... like maybe a dx or so....) civic. chicks dig my tour, maybe it's the color, maybe the styling, but they dig it, they all want one. it goes to show that this was at least car that has style to it, it's not all plain jane rental car like maybe a malibu. contours will remain, especially the svt ones. my next car (depending on how the air force treats me) is a black or red svt. no doubt about it. i love how the svt looks. contours are (fairly) cheap cars that handle great, everyone that has driven my car loves how the steering immediatly centers itself after a turn.

little things (not counting svts) like that will keep contiques alive....

I think people are just getting frustrated in certain sections because they cant get anything together and when they try, everyone bails. Things change and people get busy, but in no way do I think this place will ever die. After the summer is over, things will calm down a bit.. my two .02.

1BADTOUR: Remember this pic: we had a good turnout this summer and that is not even half of our chapter. I think we are growin strong!

I've noticed a down swing, but compare this site to some other vehicle enthusiast sites. This site is still bigger than most and I think it's got life left. I still come here even though I don't have the svt anymore, albeit to argue most of the time, lol.

I plan on sticking around... I want a stock wheel, stock ride height 3L sleeper early SE as a winter car to drive when I get my 2005 Mustang GT. There's nothing like knowing every nut and bolt of a car to make you love it...

Originally posted by bnoon:
I plan on sticking around... I want a stock wheel, stock ride height 3L sleeper early SE as a winter car to drive when I get my 2005 Mustang GT. There's nothing like knowing every nut and bolt of a car to make you love it...

Very cool!

Two Focus clubs I know have had Zero meets in the past 6 months. So, CEG is doing fine, just a "changing of the guard."

Originally posted by FocusTour:
Two Focus clubs I know have had Zero meets in the past 6 months. So, CEG is doing fine, just a "changing of the guard."

Yeah, just look at how many times there are re-posts

(aka Newbies) I've never seen so many new newbies since I've bean here. I think all the work of the former/present members helped get new ones.

"Death of CEG", yeah right! Go and look in Pics and Video under the same title and tell me what you think about that. We had 17 Tours, 1 FSVT and about 5-7 other "regulars" would just couldn't make it, so I'd say its nowhere close to dying out this way. Long live the "red-headed stepchild" of SVT and its predasesours...the SE and Sport

Originally posted by The Striped SVT:
"Death of CEG", yeah right! Go and look in Pics and Video under the same title and tell me what you think about that. We had 17 Tours, 1 FSVT and about 5-7 other "regulars" would just couldn't make it, so I'd say its nowhere close to dying out this way. Long live the "red-headed stepchild" of SVT and its predasesours...the SE and Sport

SE woot woot!!!

I got my 98 lx for my b-day last year and wasn't really too excited about it till I got on this site and realized the true potential of our cars. Needless to say I got my CSVT 10 months later

I love the site and the cars.