Originally posted by BlackE1:
Originally posted by svtizzle4stizzle:
yeah but can somebody tell me the difference between the csvt and the se?



sure can



That has been posted here time and time again. With a search you can learn more than you ever wanted to know.

Here is what I remember off the top of my head:

Engine has 25 additional horsepower for 98 and 30 additional horsepower for 99. The power increase is from a larger throttle body, hotter cams, slightly increased compression from different pistons, and extrude honing of the intake manifolds and heads. The 99 and newer had a more agressive extrude hone to generate the additional 5 horsepower over the 98. The engine also had hand selected cranks from the normal production run which made no difference in power but helped with durability. SVT radiator has thicker core. Quasi dual exhaust is unique to the SVT. SVT has an engine oil cooler that was not available on the SE.

Only available with manual trans. Trans identical to other V6 Contours.

Larger front brake rotors. Early 98 also had different front calipers and pads. The exact time of the change from one caliper style to the other is not well documented. SVT only available with ABS where it was optional on the SE. SVT has rear disc brakes, as did the manual trans SE (auto trans SE had drum rears). SVT calipers and rotors were factory treated with Dacromat process.

SVT suspension shared some components with the other Contour manual trans V6 cars. Rear struts and springs are the same. Front springs are the same. Early 98 front struts are the same while the late 98 and newer front struts were firmer. The front and rear sway bars are unique to the SVT.

SVT has a unique body ground effects package that includes deep side skirts as well as front and rear bumpers. Front bumper has unique fog lights. SE in early 98 included a trunk mounted spoiler (eventually deleted or optional). SVT did not have spoiler as a factory option until 2000. SVT introducted with three colors; black, silver, and T red. SE had many more color choices. In 99 green was added.

SVT originally only had one color available for the interior, midnight blue. Tan was added in 99. SVT included a leather steering wheel and shift knob while both were optional with the SE. Seat pattern with perferated leather was unique to the SVT. Leather (different pattern) was optional on the SE.

SVT only came with premium sound. Optional on the SE.

There were only three options on the SVT. Cassette player or CD player. Sunroof. Cold climate engine heater. In 2000 the rear trunk spoiler was added to the option list.

If you look aroung you may find whatever I missed.

Jim Johnson 98 SVT 03 Escape Limited