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1998 contour svt1/11/2024 The only downside is that the Contour is subject to a fair amount of body roll, but the tires never seem to complain. This fun extends to esse turns, where the car's tires grip and hold the road firm and true. Believe it or not, this Contour is as fun to drive as many of the sports cars I've tested. This unit, with a very short clutch and an extremely "tight" first gear, will guide you through the gears as you take to the back roads. Part of the fun of this car is that you can enjoy all that engine noise all the way up the rev band thanks to a snappy five-speed shifter. Based on noise alone, this powerplant will make Camaros shiver. But forget the numbers and technology, this is one of the most aggressive sounding engines I have ever heard in any car, let alone a sedan. If that's not enough to scare away Honda Accords, then just listen to the engine: this 2.5-liter "High Output" V6 utilizes dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder to reach 195 horsepower. The outrageous Ford Lightning pickup truck was another of Ford's performance experiments that will leave a lasting impression on this test-driver.Īnyway, the difference in the Contour SVT is immediately visible: the exterior is draped in fancy ground effects, a more aggressive front fascia, and nifty 16" cast aluminum wheels. They've succeeded before with such products as the mid-eighties Mustang SVO (the group was, at that point, called "Special Vehicle Operations,") and the recent Mustang Cobra SVT. How can I say that? Because my stint with a Contour SVT left me with nothing but smiles.Īs you may already know, "SVT" stands for "Special Vehicle Team." Basically, these guys are a bunch of crazies-I mean engineers and specialists-who go around trying to think up nifty ways to make Ford products the bane of Ralph Nader's existence. While the price of this Contour increases all the way up to my as-tested sticker of $23,040 (several grand above the base car), the value of the car increases even more dramatically. Well, the Ford Contour SVT is here and it may be one of the best kept secrets in theĪutomotive world. On the other hand, the Contour seemed a tad pricy for the segment and the base four cylinder engine when linked to an automatic gearbox was less than inspiring, although not quite "sluggish." Furthermore, it maintains a decent ride and-with the six cylinder engine-the Contour has more than enough power for the average commuter. I've liked the Contour since day one because it takes to the back roads with a lot moreĮnthusiasm than the typical four-door sedan. It might also be called the "World Car" because the Contour was first introduced in Europe as the Mondeo a long time before it came to the states. New Car Review 1998 Ford Contour SVT: Top Secret? by Tony DeCosmoįord introduced the Contour as its "World Car," primarily because the engineering andĭevelopment of this sedan was the product of high-tech across-the-ocean communication and coordination.
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