TJSCOBRA
New Member
thining about getting one..how reliable are they any experiences appreciated.
Thanks
Thanks
How Reliable are SVT countours?
- Thread starter TJSCOBRA
- Start date
all honestly I think its hit or miss. My reasoning? When I used to venture over to Contour.org, some people had no problems, some had hella problems. For example, one guy had a 00 C SVT and his motor locked up after 11k on it. Tranny problems. But I beleive this comes down to proper maintenance. My car has now 52k on the clock. I haven't had one problem. I've only had it since Oct and put 16k on it, and nada. other wise the water pump likes to poop out around 60k, not a big deal tho.
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Ryan
Thunderbird Moderator
<IMG SRC="http://www.zing.com/picture/p56de740c243a4ee033a2c2b4e7dd7ce2/fe795ac7.gif" border=0>
98.5 Silver Frost Contour SVT
<IMG SRC="http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/cwm2/piss2.gif" border=0><IMG SRC="http://www.gm.com/images/gmlogo.gif" border=0>
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Ryan
Thunderbird Moderator
<IMG SRC="http://www.zing.com/picture/p56de740c243a4ee033a2c2b4e7dd7ce2/fe795ac7.gif" border=0>
98.5 Silver Frost Contour SVT
<IMG SRC="http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/cwm2/piss2.gif" border=0><IMG SRC="http://www.gm.com/images/gmlogo.gif" border=0>
I would have to agree with Ryan. Most "problems" with SVT Contours happen during the warranty period and can easily be fixed. I have had 2 recalls and 3 warranty fixes, all of which were not major. With 31K on the clock I can't say that I have had any problems. Best thing to do is to find out the quirks with the SVT Contour BEFORE you buy one, so you are not surprised when something happens. Contour.org has a decent listing of what you may come across.
Here are some known gripes that are pretty "common" on SVT Contours:
1) Warped brake rotors, design issue.
2) Loose seat tracks for driver's seat, design issue.
3) Rear bumper sag, design issue.
4) O2 sensors, hit or miss on failures.
5) Loose rear subframe bolts, hit or miss.
6) Worn swaybar end links, hit or miss.
7) Throttle hang, hit or miss.
8) Water pump after 60K, design issue.
9) Wheel hop...hey it is a FWD car.
Dispite all the items listed above I would still recommend one in a heartbeat. Later.
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Ted
86 SVO Mustang
98 SVT E1 Contour
Here are some known gripes that are pretty "common" on SVT Contours:
1) Warped brake rotors, design issue.
2) Loose seat tracks for driver's seat, design issue.
3) Rear bumper sag, design issue.
4) O2 sensors, hit or miss on failures.
5) Loose rear subframe bolts, hit or miss.
6) Worn swaybar end links, hit or miss.
7) Throttle hang, hit or miss.
8) Water pump after 60K, design issue.
9) Wheel hop...hey it is a FWD car.
Dispite all the items listed above I would still recommend one in a heartbeat. Later.
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Ted
86 SVO Mustang
98 SVT E1 Contour
really they've had a problem with rotors warping?? I've kind been hard on my brakes and they seem to be all right, even tho every know and then I think i feel the warpage.....
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Ryan
Thunderbird Moderator
<IMG SRC="http://www.zing.com/picture/p56de740c243a4ee033a2c2b4e7dd7ce2/fe795ac7.gif" border=0>
98.5 Silver Frost Contour SVT
<IMG SRC="http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/cwm2/piss2.gif" border=0><IMG SRC="http://www.gm.com/images/gmlogo.gif" border=0>
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Ryan
Thunderbird Moderator
<IMG SRC="http://www.zing.com/picture/p56de740c243a4ee033a2c2b4e7dd7ce2/fe795ac7.gif" border=0>
98.5 Silver Frost Contour SVT
<IMG SRC="http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/cwm2/piss2.gif" border=0><IMG SRC="http://www.gm.com/images/gmlogo.gif" border=0>
APT CSVT
New Member
3,7,8,9 are all design issues. The others I have not heard of in my time at CEG. Differential is weak, but there are LSD's available.
2 Things,
A. These cars have no Balls whatsoever. But you will get the looks from the locals as in what the hells is that car? So thats always a plus.
B. Contour.org? Pshh Most of those guys are to worried about throwing aftermartket parts of lightnings, and Mustangs on to their GOKart to know what a lug nut is. Im sorry most of the Characters on that board, have no idea from a gas to a break pedal. Serious..they think there dealing with a big block, the way the mod there 2.5L. I.E. Mustang T/B, Tru-dual, plz most of the mods will not increase anything, most of those mods will just decrease performance.
Before any Contour.org guys go ranting off on me, show me some Dyno, and TimeSlips, of these mods you guys are doing, I have yet to see one from a S/C SVT, (Example: Yea I threw on a S/C, and I should run mid 13's!) Bullshit!
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Jay
<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1637131&a=12524664&p=47963326" border=0>
00 SVT Contour
1,897 of 2,150
Born: 1/26/00
------------------------------------
X-95 SHO MTX (Stage 1)
X-95 SHO ATX (R.I.P.)
A. These cars have no Balls whatsoever. But you will get the looks from the locals as in what the hells is that car? So thats always a plus.
B. Contour.org? Pshh Most of those guys are to worried about throwing aftermartket parts of lightnings, and Mustangs on to their GOKart to know what a lug nut is. Im sorry most of the Characters on that board, have no idea from a gas to a break pedal. Serious..they think there dealing with a big block, the way the mod there 2.5L. I.E. Mustang T/B, Tru-dual, plz most of the mods will not increase anything, most of those mods will just decrease performance.
Before any Contour.org guys go ranting off on me, show me some Dyno, and TimeSlips, of these mods you guys are doing, I have yet to see one from a S/C SVT, (Example: Yea I threw on a S/C, and I should run mid 13's!) Bullshit!
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Jay
<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1637131&a=12524664&p=47963326" border=0>
00 SVT Contour
1,897 of 2,150
Born: 1/26/00
------------------------------------
X-95 SHO MTX (Stage 1)
X-95 SHO ATX (R.I.P.)
Tuesday I had my brakes fixed.They had a bad vibration at high speeds.The guy had to recut the rotors.Only costed $33.All better now.
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Ryan
Thunderbird Moderator
<IMG SRC="http://www.zing.com/picture/p56de740c243a4ee033a2c2b4e7dd7ce2/fe795ac7.gif" border=0>
98.5 Silver Frost Contour SVT
<IMG SRC="http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/cwm2/piss2.gif" border=0><IMG SRC="http://www.gm.com/images/gmlogo.gif" border=0>
TJSCOBRA,
Contour quality is definately hit or miss, you can get a real good one, or a real bad one, thankfully I got a real good one
00JSVT,
I agree there a many on contour.org that don't know thier butt from a hole in the ground, but, I think you are a bit off base, the Contour 2.5 will respond to mods just as well as anything will. The 65mm tb from a mustang is what is being tried right now, because there is no other TB available for the Contour (fwiw, it does seem to like the 65mm, I did one, but I took it off until I can fix some idle probs I had w/ it)
And the one S/C'ed tour I have driven (Mistegrym's) I can say that it certainly is at least a high 13 second car (I watched him dyno 275hp at the wheels, too) In my job, I spend a great deal of time in fast Mustangs, and this is easily as fast as a 01 Cobra (though in no way will it launch as well). Unfortunately Mark fashions himself as a road racer, not a drag racer, so he will prolly never run it at the strip, but there is plenty of power there, and he did post the Dyno of it.
Now, I threw on a custom cat-back on my car, and the performance is enough to feel a difference, so I figure about a 5-10hp gain average over the rpm range, but am I going to go spend another $100 to verify this? no, I don't think so.
Oh and the guy that did the true dual exhaust, though he didn't do a baseline, his dyno is about 6-10hp more than others w/ the same mods, except a commercially availble cat-back instead of his true dual setup.
Again, there are a bunch of ignorant folks there, but not everyone, by a long shot. The culture is also a bit different there too, you get some guys coming from the Honda world, where a 2.5L engine IS a big block, and a torque monster (lol, c'mon that is pretty funny though) but most on there realize what they have, and are trying to make the best of it.
Me? I love mine so much that I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it so I could get a 96-98 Cobra, so I am selling the wife's saturn instead to get a 94 (already picked one out, should be getting it sometime this week or next week)
btw, I think there may be a reason that most of Ford's vehicle dynamics guys in Dearborn drive Contour SVT's. I can walk down a single row in the parking lot of building #2 in Dearborn and count 7 or so and there are roughly 20 rows for the building (oh, and not one of them is a Ford owned car, all customer cars) and that's only ONE building.
Contour quality is definately hit or miss, you can get a real good one, or a real bad one, thankfully I got a real good one
00JSVT,
I agree there a many on contour.org that don't know thier butt from a hole in the ground, but, I think you are a bit off base, the Contour 2.5 will respond to mods just as well as anything will. The 65mm tb from a mustang is what is being tried right now, because there is no other TB available for the Contour (fwiw, it does seem to like the 65mm, I did one, but I took it off until I can fix some idle probs I had w/ it)
And the one S/C'ed tour I have driven (Mistegrym's) I can say that it certainly is at least a high 13 second car (I watched him dyno 275hp at the wheels, too) In my job, I spend a great deal of time in fast Mustangs, and this is easily as fast as a 01 Cobra (though in no way will it launch as well). Unfortunately Mark fashions himself as a road racer, not a drag racer, so he will prolly never run it at the strip, but there is plenty of power there, and he did post the Dyno of it.
Now, I threw on a custom cat-back on my car, and the performance is enough to feel a difference, so I figure about a 5-10hp gain average over the rpm range, but am I going to go spend another $100 to verify this? no, I don't think so.
Oh and the guy that did the true dual exhaust, though he didn't do a baseline, his dyno is about 6-10hp more than others w/ the same mods, except a commercially availble cat-back instead of his true dual setup.
Again, there are a bunch of ignorant folks there, but not everyone, by a long shot. The culture is also a bit different there too, you get some guys coming from the Honda world, where a 2.5L engine IS a big block, and a torque monster (lol, c'mon that is pretty funny though) but most on there realize what they have, and are trying to make the best of it.
Me? I love mine so much that I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it so I could get a 96-98 Cobra, so I am selling the wife's saturn instead to get a 94 (already picked one out, should be getting it sometime this week or next week)
btw, I think there may be a reason that most of Ford's vehicle dynamics guys in Dearborn drive Contour SVT's. I can walk down a single row in the parking lot of building #2 in Dearborn and count 7 or so and there are roughly 20 rows for the building (oh, and not one of them is a Ford owned car, all customer cars) and that's only ONE building.
I'll have to agree, some Contour.org guys are doofs, but others are just awesome (TB fix, among others) It is the best place for information if you search the forums.
However, the Contour is a VERY reliable car, if you treat it nicely at times, and hard at others. The interior holds its own (no squeaks here at 65k)
Yep, waterpump goes out at ~60k, its a design flaw.
The transmission synchros are another problem (once again design) but if youre under warranty, get it in there.
Other than that and a few other quirks (DAMN CUPHOLDERS!) its a very nice, reliable, no looks from cops, smooth riding, goes fast when needed, easy on the gas (honda-ish numbers) and just sounds SWEEEEET!
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~Matt
1998 Contour SVT
<IMG SRC="http://members.aol.com/goldglove3b/scorsig.jpg" border=0>
However, the Contour is a VERY reliable car, if you treat it nicely at times, and hard at others. The interior holds its own (no squeaks here at 65k)
Yep, waterpump goes out at ~60k, its a design flaw.
The transmission synchros are another problem (once again design) but if youre under warranty, get it in there.
Other than that and a few other quirks (DAMN CUPHOLDERS!) its a very nice, reliable, no looks from cops, smooth riding, goes fast when needed, easy on the gas (honda-ish numbers) and just sounds SWEEEEET!
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~Matt
1998 Contour SVT
<IMG SRC="http://members.aol.com/goldglove3b/scorsig.jpg" border=0>
Personally putting money in big time mods(i.e Forced Induction, Tru-Duals) on this Car is just a waste of time. Then Cutting and pasting other aftermarket parts on to the GOkarts.....thats a waste of money. I did that with a SHO, put almost $5k in mine, and maybe could have kicked a low to mid 14. It just makes me laugh, the money and effort you guys put into these things to have them drop a .1 in a 1/4, what a 15.5 to a 15.4? Down right stupid.
Im usually at the Mi. SVT/SHO Society meetings.
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Jay "TITS!"
<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1637131&a=12524664&p=47963326" border=0>
00 SVT Contour
1,897 of 2,150
Born: 1/26/00
------------------------------------
X-95 SHO MTX (Stage 1)
X-95 SHO ATX (R.I.P.)
Im usually at the Mi. SVT/SHO Society meetings.
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Jay "TITS!"
<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1637131&a=12524664&p=47963326" border=0>
00 SVT Contour
1,897 of 2,150
Born: 1/26/00
------------------------------------
X-95 SHO MTX (Stage 1)
X-95 SHO ATX (R.I.P.)
Add:
For the people who will say, "YOU OWN ONE!"
I think there great looking cars, and handle great, the interior could be dressed up a little more, but thats my opinon. Mine was bought on accident, after I picked up my 98 Cobra, my insurance finally kicked through, from my totalled out SHO, so I had to drop it, and grab a V6, the next best thing was the GOCart.
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Jay "TITS!"
<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1637131&a=12524664&p=47963326" border=0>
00 SVT Contour
1,897 of 2,150
Born: 1/26/00
------------------------------------
X-95 SHO MTX (Stage 1)
X-95 SHO ATX (R.I.P.)
For the people who will say, "YOU OWN ONE!"
I think there great looking cars, and handle great, the interior could be dressed up a little more, but thats my opinon. Mine was bought on accident, after I picked up my 98 Cobra, my insurance finally kicked through, from my totalled out SHO, so I had to drop it, and grab a V6, the next best thing was the GOCart.
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Jay "TITS!"
<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1637131&a=12524664&p=47963326" border=0>
00 SVT Contour
1,897 of 2,150
Born: 1/26/00
------------------------------------
X-95 SHO MTX (Stage 1)
X-95 SHO ATX (R.I.P.)
Whew, did I stir things up a bit with the Contour.org reference. Hey, I agree that most of the info on that BB is just fluff and frivolous tack ons. I have only been on there once or twice myself.
The true low-down on SVT Contours is: If you are buying one as a daily driver, they are very reliable, IMHO. If you occasionally visit a local racing venue, then they are still quite reliable if you don't beat it like a red-headed step child. If you are buying one to consistently tear up the drag strip or auto-x circuit, be ready to replace/upgrade some weak links that are just part of the car. Later.
BTW, my SVT was able to turn consistent 15.4's@88mph at Byron last fall without any failures. I did damage my passenger side wheel hub bearing with wheel hop, but that was from stomping on the loud pedal after pulling out of a car wash and had it replaced under warranty. Hint: Home-made urethane filled front/rear engine mounts can cure most, not all but most, wheel hop problems.
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Ted
86 SVO Mustang
98 SVT E1 Contour
The true low-down on SVT Contours is: If you are buying one as a daily driver, they are very reliable, IMHO. If you occasionally visit a local racing venue, then they are still quite reliable if you don't beat it like a red-headed step child. If you are buying one to consistently tear up the drag strip or auto-x circuit, be ready to replace/upgrade some weak links that are just part of the car. Later.
BTW, my SVT was able to turn consistent 15.4's@88mph at Byron last fall without any failures. I did damage my passenger side wheel hub bearing with wheel hop, but that was from stomping on the loud pedal after pulling out of a car wash and had it replaced under warranty. Hint: Home-made urethane filled front/rear engine mounts can cure most, not all but most, wheel hop problems.
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Ted
86 SVO Mustang
98 SVT E1 Contour
I have a '98 with about 30K miles. I have had it for about 8K. I have to say that I have been very disapointed in all the squeaks and rattles. I had the heater/resistor TSB done had to have the iginition switch replaced. The biggest problem I had was the squeaking from the rear. My Ford dealer replaced the sway bar bushings, but it is back - really annoying! Other than that, no big problems. I do get some trans. grind going into 2nd in the cold(Omaha, Ne.).
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'98 Contour SVT, Black
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'98 Contour SVT, Black
Rear sway bar bushings..
well, they will squeak and squeak because they are RUBBER. Bummer. They needed to be like urethane or silicone. But hey, I think it sounds like a squeaky bed when you're in the backseat/trunk with a fine female.... ooops did I say that out loud? :-D
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~Matt
1998 Contour SVT
<IMG SRC="http://members.aol.com/goldglove3b/scorsig.jpg" border=0>
well, they will squeak and squeak because they are RUBBER. Bummer. They needed to be like urethane or silicone. But hey, I think it sounds like a squeaky bed when you're in the backseat/trunk with a fine female.... ooops did I say that out loud? :-D
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~Matt
1998 Contour SVT
<IMG SRC="http://members.aol.com/goldglove3b/scorsig.jpg" border=0>
Sheeoooot, there isn't ANY room back there in that tiny ass back seat unless your about 4' 6"!
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Ryan
<IMG SRC="http://nicholaslee.hypermart.net/GoCart-SVT-sig2.GIF" border=0>
Thunderbird Moderator
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Ryan
<IMG SRC="http://nicholaslee.hypermart.net/GoCart-SVT-sig2.GIF" border=0>
Thunderbird Moderator
mamisano
New Member
Hey 00JSVT,
Do you have to work hard at being an AssHole, or does it come naturally??
<IMG SRC="http://www.svtperformance.com/ubb/smilies/cwm21.gif" border=0>
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Michael Amisano
1998 SVT Contour E1
"Factory Refreshed" motor
SHO-Shop Y-pipe
15.08@92
Do you have to work hard at being an AssHole, or does it come naturally??
<IMG SRC="http://www.svtperformance.com/ubb/smilies/cwm21.gif" border=0>
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Michael Amisano
1998 SVT Contour E1
"Factory Refreshed" motor
SHO-Shop Y-pipe
15.08@92
No, its a god given gift.
Did you want to start something as well? Or you just trying to be a hero?
Let me know, I can type all day.
<IMG SRC="http://www.svtperformance.com/ubb/smilies/cwm1.gif" border=0>
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Jay "TITS!"
<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1637131&a=12524664&p=47963326" border=0>
00 SVT Contour
1,897 of 2,150
Born: 1/26/00
------------------------------------
X-95 SHO MTX (Stage 1)
X-95 SHO ATX (R.I.P.)
Did you want to start something as well? Or you just trying to be a hero?
Let me know, I can type all day.
<IMG SRC="http://www.svtperformance.com/ubb/smilies/cwm1.gif" border=0>
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Jay "TITS!"
<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1637131&a=12524664&p=47963326" border=0>
00 SVT Contour
1,897 of 2,150
Born: 1/26/00
------------------------------------
X-95 SHO MTX (Stage 1)
X-95 SHO ATX (R.I.P.)
Alrighty then, to bring this back full circle, the latest squeaking was caused by the gas tank bracket rubbing against the heat shield. So far, no more squeaking.
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'98 Contour SVT EO
#2611 of 6535
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'98 Contour SVT EO
#2611 of 6535
KnuKonceptz
New Member
I mod mine for one reason, I want to. I also like winning races, yes the car is not the best platform to start with, I agree mods that gain 2Hp are not worth the sweat off a donkeys balls let alone mine<IMG SRC="http://www.svtperformance.com/ubb/smilies/cwm13.gif" border=0> I do like the fact that the car could be considered a sleeper, who expects to see a 13 second SVT. Once Vortech stops scratching their asses with computer programming I will get you a time slip to show you what this car can do. Now if your goal is for the fastest straitline car period, then dont buy a SVT Contour. Ranting about this and that is just silly though (happens alot on many a BB's), your entitled to your opinion and it has been heard. And since you own one you can rant all you want, cause it will still be in your driveway tomorrow<IMG SRC="http://www.svtperformance.com/ubb/smilies/cwm25.gif" border=0> Just my thoughts on things.
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