The Mystique of the Mondeo: 1998 Ford Contour SVT
Merriam-Webster defines the word con·tour (n)| ˈkän-ˌtu̇r as (1) an outline especially of a curving or irregular figure (2) the general form or structure of something or (3) a usually meaningful change in intonation in speech. I wasn’t familiar with that last definition, but the fellows at Ford’s Special Vehicle Team put some contour into the 1995-2000 Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique sales literature with the release of the 1998 SVT version which added a 2.5 liter Duratec V6, 5-speed manual box, upgraded brakes, snazzy interior bits, and a sport tuned suspension. Find this 1998 Ford Contour SVT offered for $1200 in Warwick, RI via craigslist. Tip from Art C.
From the seller:
1998 Ford contour svt
condition: good
cylinders: 6 cylinders
drive: fwd
fuel: gas
paint color: silver
size: compact
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: sedan
98 Contour SVT
5spd manual
2.5l 6cyl.
Approximately 191,XXX
Runs great, and mechanically strong. Have put a bunch of new parts in it over the past couple of years (tires, brakes, lines, axles, headlights w/hids, and more), with paperwork. Has a few 20 year old issues, but nothing you would not expect. $1,200obo
Please feel free to email me with any questions. I am not interested in trades, and am not looking for another vehicle.
See a better way to drive something SVT? tips@dailytursimo.com
Looks like a hell of a lot more fun than some Japanese car that has it doors open up towards the sky!
Ah…my fourth car and the only thing, in 2000, that I found to be a reasonable, four-door replacement for my 1993 Sentra SE-R. These are fantastic cars all-around, and the exhaust note alone would be worth the price of admission. I do wonder, however, how they're holding up, these days.
Cason, I expect they are holding up about as well as SE-R Sentras…which isn't very good last I checked.
hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2018/04/12/cult-of-the-ford-svt-contour
Passive rear wheel steering and other good stuff, but…
“Changing an alternator is the most absurd thing,” says Rowe. “Owners came up with ways to do it, like stacking a bunch of extensions on a ratchet, taking off the driver’s side wheel and going in that way to get to the back side of the engine on the passenger side. If you’re not going to do the work yourself, it can be quite the expensive little car to maintain.”
meant to leave this amusing bit here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex_man