Ford Contour SVT?

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mwmorph

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2004
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Does anyone have experiences with a 1998-2000 Contour SVT? Anyone know how reliable buying one now would be?

I worked at a ford dealership so I know during that era Ford/Lincoln/Jag had problems with burning out coil packs(maybe only applies to the AJ V8) and fragile window regulators. The only SVT Countour that came into the shop had tranny issues and it had to be rebuild (of which parts arent exactly all too easy to find). I also know the water pump impeller is plastic, but with any luck I can find one thats been replaced with a metal water pump.

I'm just wondering if the tranny issues are usual? How about any other problems? I'm thinking of picking up a Countour SVT may be a fun daily beater.
 
vi edit

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
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You hit the big one - imploding plastic impeller on the water pump. Other issues are really rough shifts in cold weather. Sometimes so bad you can't even get it into first gear. And then there's the double whammy of it being a 10 year old SVT vehicle so scarce parts and the fact that 2.5L V6 in totally shoehorned into that engine bay. It's a bitch to work on.

But they are very cool cars. One of the best handling FWD sedans made and the tuned Duratec in there really likes to get up and run. Great sounding exhaust too. The 99.5's and '00's have a little more power to them and a better suspension.

It's hard finding one that hasn't been beat to holy hell and back though. Lots of kids were buying them and ricing the ever loving crap out of the poor things.
 
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LS8

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2008
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Great cars. Like vi edit mentioned finding one that hasn't been put away wet can be difficult. Great engine and great handling (for FWD).

A popular mod is to swap the 2.5L block with a 3.0L block from a Taurus and retain the SVT intake, heads, cams. etc. This is a DOHC engine and loves to rev.
 
iamwiz82

iamwiz82

Lifer
Jan 10, 2001
30,772
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Originally posted by: LS8
Great cars. Like vi edit mentioned finding one that hasn't been put away wet can be difficult. Great engine and great handling (for FWD).

A popular mod is to swap the 2.5L block with a 3.0L block from a Taurus and retain the SVT intake, heads, cams. etc. This is a DOHC engine and loves to rev.
Click to expand...

A buddy of mine in college did the 3.0L swap and turbo charged it. The car was in the shop more than it was drive, I think. :laugh:
 
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LS8

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2008
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Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Originally posted by: LS8
Great cars. Like vi edit mentioned finding one that hasn't been put away wet can be difficult. Great engine and great handling (for FWD).

A popular mod is to swap the 2.5L block with a 3.0L block from a Taurus and retain the SVT intake, heads, cams. etc. This is a DOHC engine and loves to rev.
Click to expand...

A buddy of mine in college did the 3.0L swap and turbo charged it. The car was in the shop more than it was drive, I think. :laugh:
Click to expand...

Tell him to stop flogging it. :D
 
DivideBYZero

DivideBYZero

Lifer
May 18, 2001
24,117
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This is based on the Gen 1 Mondeo platform, and it is a great performer. It's such a shame you guys haven't had the gen 2 and the current gen as they are good cars.
 
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LS8

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2008
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Then Ford CEO Jacques Al-Salawat Nasruddin Nasser didn't think we needed the Contour (Mondeo) so he gave it the ax.
 
Vetterin

Vetterin

Senior member
Aug 31, 2004
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I bought a 98 new and kept it until 06. Just over 86,000 miles and only had to replace the fuel pump and crank shaft position sensor. I believe it was in 98 or 99 that they improved the plastic impeller on the water pump but it never was a problem with me. The 200 hp was nothing to write hame about but the 142 mph top speed and it's road hugging ability was pretty impressive. The 2.5 ran like a top and was not a problem to change plugs on. To this day I think it was one of the most fun and enjoyable cars I have ever had (including my vette). I'm still sorry I let mine go. Don't forget that CR (yeah...I know) gave the Contour "car of the year" awards I think from 95 to 97 and then decided that it was a car to avoid so go figure.
 
InflatableBuddha

InflatableBuddha

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2007
7,416
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Originally posted by: Vetterin
I bought a 98 new and kept it until 06. Just over 86,000 miles and only had to replace the fuel pump and crank shaft position sensor. I believe it was in 98 or 99 that they improved the plastic impeller on the water pump but it never was a problem with me. The 200 hp was nothing to write hame about but the 142 mph top speed and it's road hugging ability was pretty impressive. The 2.5 ran like a top and was not a problem to change plugs on. To this day I think it was one of the most fun and enjoyable cars I have ever had (including my vette). I'm still sorry I let mine go. Don't forget that CR (yeah...I know) gave the Contour "car of the year" awards I think from 95 to 97 and then decided that it was a car to avoid so go figure.
Click to expand...

I seem to recall this too. Years ago I drove a 97 Contour (non-SVT) with the 2.5L V6; the water pump failed a couple times.

Not the most reliable car, but the handling was fantastic and the engine had a nice roar when you got the revs up.
 
L

LS8

Golden Member
Jul 24, 2008
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Edmunds has stated time and again it's the best handling FWD car they have ever tested.
 
K

Kntx

Platinum Member
Dec 11, 2000
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Originally posted by: LS8
Kntx, your car looks great! No spoiler, as it should be! :)
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Thanks! I don't know what the deal is with the spoiler... it kind of spoils it.
 
C

Chiropteran

Diamond Member
Nov 14, 2003
9,811
110
106
Originally posted by: vi edit
and the fact that 2.5L V6 in totally shoehorned into that engine bay. It's a bitch to work on.
Click to expand...

Is it? I recall the V6 was a regular option on the Contour, and it wasn't limited to the SVT model. Seems like the car would have been built with that engine in mind...
 
K

Kntx

Platinum Member
Dec 11, 2000
2,270
0
71
Originally posted by: Chiropteran
Originally posted by: vi edit
and the fact that 2.5L V6 in totally shoehorned into that engine bay. It's a bitch to work on.
Click to expand...

Is it? I recall the V6 was a regular option on the Contour, and it wasn't limited to the SVT model. Seems like the car would have been built with that engine in mind...
Click to expand...

The V6 was a regular option on the Contour. In both the normal and svt car the engine is really jammed in there.
 
postmortemIA

postmortemIA

Diamond Member
Jul 11, 2006
7,721
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contour is pretty small car, not much bigger than a civic of that age. so even small V6 will not fit well in civic, right?

my mom has one, '99, not the SVN, but I4 - that thing has been running last 6 yrs trouble free.
 
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