1998 Ford Contour SVT Consumer Reviews

Blast to own

Written by: Steven on 12/08/2007

Vehicle

1998 Ford Contour SVT 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

Ford's SVT group did a great job with this car. I've owned this car for nearly 10 years and would easily do it all over again. Sure, I've done a few light mods but it is still my daily driver as well as track car (same tires - Potenza S-03 Pole Position). And in winter, fitted with snow tires (since I have summer high performance tires), beats out 95% of SUVs.

Favorite Features

Great gas mileage, fun to drive, balanced on the track, comfortable (but not large back seat).

Suggested Improvements

Typical domestic manufacturer shortcuts - cheap plastic dash, trunk lid strut won't keep the trunk up and causes the lid to slam, bumpers are too heavy for supports so sag a little bit.

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Great car!

Written by: CSVT.UA.SHO on 07/16/2007

Vehicle

1998 Ford Contour SVT 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

This car is a blast to drive. I have driven a handful of high performance vehicles and by far the Contour SVT has it all.

Favorite Features

5-speed, moonroof, leather

Suggested Improvements

Better transmission, little less weight

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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I love my baby

Written by: i love my baby on 06/12/2007

Vehicle

1998 Ford Contour SVT 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

When I bought this wonderful car about 3 years ago I imediately fell in love with the body style, the power, the performance, and it's confortable. My dads friend was selling the car and I wanted it the first minute I saw it cause I didn't want him to change his mind. So if you can get one of these beautiful cars then I would consider it.

Favorite Features

Everything!

Suggested Improvements

I would want to be able to modify it a little more, and it could have a little more horses under the hood (about 50 more) and if Ford could make something like this again!

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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I love this car

Written by: csvtjohnga on 04/10/2007

Vehicle

1998 Ford Contour SVT 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

This car is the ultimate sleeper. I love walking outside to jump in my SVT Contour for work everyday. I've won many small town car shows with it and placed in the bigger car shows such as Nopi and FFW. Its my DD and hasn't left me stranded. 152,000 on the clock and still runnin' strong!

Favorite Features

The secondaries, brakes, interior, all around performance.

Suggested Improvements

Bigger engine, different interior color. Stronger transaxle.

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Fun to drive... when it worked!

Written by: Alex on 03/30/2007

Vehicle

1998 Ford Contour SVT 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

I did not keep this car for long. I loved it when I bought it, and I still loved it when I sold it 2 weeks ago. The performance didn't disappoint, trust me, unless you are used to a huge V8, this car won't. The exhaust burble sounded great, but it couldn't make up for the downfalls. In 15,000 miles I had to replace numerous items that were not wear items at all. The seats got lots of wear in them in the time that I owned the car, even though I conditioned them every other week. The last straw was the trunk. It had a leak that I couldn't get to stop, so I decided to cut my losses and sell it while I was still ahead... or behind!

Favorite Features

Exhaust burble, power driver's seat, 5 speed, sleeper styling, V8 power from a small V6, handling.

Suggested Improvements

Make cars that don't let the outside in! Also, better quality leather and plastics would be nice. The headlights shouldn't fog up so much. And if there were a little bit better ground clearance, I wouldn't have shaved off so much of the ground effects on driveways and stuff!

0 out 1 people found this review helpful

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The worst car I ever owned

Written by: Coolsvt on 03/15/2007

Vehicle

1998 Ford Contour SVT 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

Such a lie (quality is job one) More like sick car of the century! I have had a miss for 6 months and have replaced every major component on this car - from the brakes to the fuel pump and the coil (3 times). It has an overheating issue that could be a head gasket and have been stranded at least 3 times. I have the SVT model that is great but do not buy unless you are rich. I had to join a support forum just to keep sane. All else aside - if I could just find the miss it would be good.

Favorite Features

The seats and the handling.

Suggested Improvements

Better engine testing for reliability and more active recalls.

0 out 2 people found this review helpful

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A great value

Written by: Jerry on 10/04/2006

Vehicle

1998 Ford Contour SVT 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

I love the sound this car's engine makes during hard acceleration! Just spent $600 on a new water pump (an inherent Ford weakness) and an oxygen sensor, but most of that was labor because every thing's shoehorned inside the car. Bought it with 64,000 miles in perfect condition, but I've skinned it up, mostly on steep driveways.

Favorite Features

Easy, logical controls.Tasteful badges. Stealth factor.

Suggested Improvements

Fuel mileage could be better. Even with new O2 sensor, nowhere near 20 mpg town or 29 on the highway, for that matter.

7 out 8 people found this review helpful

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Fun simple car

Written by: Contour SVT Lover on 07/15/2006

Vehicle

1998 Ford Contour SVT 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

Bought the car with 84,000 miles and love it. Fun, quick & fast. Can't beat this car for the value and what it offers in the area of performance. Very simple interior and controls, leather is nice, fold down seat a plus. I bought this car to have a simple and fun sports sedan. I would recommend the Contour SVT to any one who wants a fun car to drive without the troubles of long import repair issues. All part are in stock and get to the mechanic that day. The lug pattern is obscure and hard to find wheels for it.

Favorite Features

Engine, handling, without the contour sail panels no one knows what type of car it is, I get asked often "what is that?".

Suggested Improvements

Dampen road noise, arm rest for long drives.

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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If you can find one get one

Written by: SVTbeliever on 04/14/2006

Vehicle

1998 Ford Contour SVT 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

I found this car looking for a used vehicle in the 2-3k range. This car was listed for $2999 on a used Honda lot. The manager thought it was a regular Contour model and I snatched it up after the test drive. It had over 160k miles on it when I bought it, but ran like a new car. I wasn't sure when looking at it from the outside, but when I say in the driver's seat I felt at home. I have never had as much fun driving any other car. This isn't the fastest car, or prettiest car. This is a car that will give you extreme value and enjoyment no matter what type of driving you do. Not built as a speed machine, but can accelerate easily through winding roads. Great tires are a MUST!

Favorite Features

Engine growl, leather seats. This car was made with only a manual transmission, as any sport car should. I drive this car as fast as I feel safe to in city traffic and still get over 22 mpg.

Suggested Improvements

Highway mileage would be better if the 5th gear were stretched a bit. Small issues with quality used in switches and the like...typical Ford problems. Other than that, Ford can stand proud in manufacturing this car.

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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Everything I Wanted and More

Written by: Mr.Jinks on 10/18/2005

Vehicle

1998 Ford Contour SVT 4 Dr STD Sedan

Review

You can't beat the burble this engine produces! Between the intake and the exhaust, this has to be the sweetest sounding stock engine around. With the addition of a SuperChip and a K&N filter, it's almost perfect. It's not the quickest off the line due to it's front drive configuration, but this car isn't about drag racing - it's about driving. It handles like it's on rails and stops on a nickel (not quite a dime!). I couldn't be happier. Especially considering I got it 4 years old with 14k miles on it!

Favorite Features

Wonderful engine sounds. The rush as the tachometer passes 3500.

Suggested Improvements

Stronger clutch, limited slip differential, different interior color choice.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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