1999 Ford Contour Performance Questions

Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives

Hey Everyone

I am confused about something and maybe you all could help me. (I hope I don't get flamed) Anyways, I have a 1999 Ford Contour SE 2.5 (Non-SVT) I have only ran it a few times, and my best was a 17.3 but that was at a lousy track and the weather was about 85 degrees and very humid. There were other cars that should have been running much better times, but weren't. Ex: 2002 Honda Accord-17.2, 2000+ Dodge Neon SRT-4-16.8. Anyways, I have been researching this for a few hours and according to certain websites, they say the 1999 Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique 2.5 is a 17 second car. Some times were 17.5 and 17.9 One site actually said it went 16.9.(which was a little better) This doesnt seem very accurate. These seem like the kinds of times you would get from a 4-cylinder Contour.

My other car is a 1996 Ford Thunderbird 3.8 (Not SC) It is only runs in the low 17's and its about 1,000 lbs heavier than my Contour. My Contour seems like it would blow the doors off of my Thunderbird. My Thunderbird stock was only 145hp vs the Contours 170hp. My question is: Are these sites I'm checking out lying? Are they mistakenly confusing a 4 cylinder Contour with a 6 cylinder version? It seems much faster than a mid-17 second car and I have already hit 17.3 in hot and humid weather. This car feels like it should be in the mid-high 16 second range. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

1995 v6 5 speed:

Engine type DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads
Fuel System Ford EEC-IV engine-control system with port fuel injection.
Displacement 155 cu in, 2540 cc
Power (SAE net) 170 bhp @ 6250 rpm
Torque (SAE net) 165 lb-ft @ 4250 rpm
Transmission 5-speed Manual
Wheelbase 106.5 in
Length 183.9 in
Curb weight 2910 lb

Zero to 60 mph 7.7 sec
Zero to 100 mph 21.8 sec
Street start, 5-60 mph 8.1 sec
Standing 1/4 mile 15.9 sec @ 88 mph
Braking 70-0 mph 188 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft dia skidpad 0.80 g
Top speed (governor limited) 112 mph
EPA fuel economy, city driving 22 mpg

I rana 15.8 in my SE and that was SLOW, but it was with the stock intake manifolds and tb...so I suppose not THAT bad.

If you have the POS slushbox then 17's are typical.
If you have a MTX then 16 flat is more typical.

hey if you want a quarter mile car sell your contour and get something else. contours are best for fun in the twisties and highway speeds.

is there anyway to "cure" teh slushbox problem??

a chip definently helps quicken the shifts, i raised shift points too and i can tell a noticable difference

Originally posted by imurdaddytoo sport:
is there anyway to "cure" teh slushbox problem??

Sell the car and buy one without a slushbox.

Originally posted by DemonSVT:

Originally posted by imurdaddytoo sport:
is there anyway to "cure" teh slushbox problem??

Sell the car and buy one without a slushbox.

If the car is an auto, without a good launch, it will be in the 17's. With a good launch and decent weather you should definitely be in the 16's, even with an ATX. My V6 auto ran a best of a 16.4 on a 75 degree day with an ok launch. The 60' time was a 2.5...

Keep in mind, that was about a month after an intake manifold rebuild and a good tune-up.

Now that I have the chip, im hoping to be a low 16 second car... Hopefully getting close to 15's but I don't think i'll be there without some kind of exhaust work.

I will take it to the track again sometime soon, while the weather is cool and see what it will do. I was browsing several other threads where many people here who have the 2.5 ATX and are well into the 16's at stock form. I did a 17.3 in hot/humid weather so cooler weather should definently help. I think many of those websites with 1/4 mile times were getting the V6 version mixed up with the 4 cylinder. Maybe not, I dunno, I will race it and post the results here. A buddy of mine has a 2.5 Cougar that wants to race his as well so we'll probably go to the track soon. Hell, if a stock 4 cylinder Cavalier can do it, I'm pretty sure a V6 Contour can. I'll let you all know. This is a great site though, I have found out tons of info about my car here.

BTW- Do you guys think I could beat my mothers 2003 Monte Carlo SS?

Originally posted by lunatic:

BTW- Do you guys think I could beat my mothers 2003 Monte Carlo SS?

HECK NO!!!!! er... I mean ummm no. A SVT maybe, but if you have a ATX (which I'm assuming you do) then there really is no hope. But I'm really intrested how you do, cause I want to take mine to the track sometime soon here and want to see what others are running. How do you launch? Just courious. Good luck.

I leave it in drive, and turn overdrive off and just floor it. The best I got with that was a 17.3 (07/05) but the humidity and temps were very high. A Dodge Neon SRT4 only pulled off a 16.8 and a 2000+ Honda Accord did a 17.2. Plus that track is known to be slower and just a [censored] track in genral.

I appologize for taking so long to reply, I havn't been over here in a while.

A chip does help a little. When I had my car dyno tuned we also worked on the tranny, using the lap top and going into the tranny program he worked on the tourqe converter and the shift points, line pressure, etc.. This is the absolute best way to get anything out of our atx w/o a major custom rebuild. It is a very noticable improvement and the tranny now better matches the motor by holding onto the upper rpms and firmer shifts. I haven't run it on any drag strips but the guys in neceg that have the atx have driven mine and can't believe the difference. It also depends on the tuner, Mike freedman is a ford tuning nut(mostly mustangs, etc.).