First Car Help? Contour svt, focus svt...?

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fortino555

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nerfgunner
hello, names Eric, I'm 17 and I intend on buying my first car very soon. My dad works for ford so I plan to buy a ford. I love mustangs, but I live in michigan and I have a budget under $4,000. I really like the contour svt, then the focus svt. Any owners or tips of these cars? I've been using craigslist regulary checking for contours and focus's. I enjoy driving a stick, as all I want is one. I also gotta fork out my own money for insurance and gas.


thanks,
Eric
 
Contour definitely. If you find an SVT Focus for 4 grand it'll be trashed to hell and back, the Contour you actually have a chance to find a nice one on your budget.
 
While I am a fan of the Contour SVT, I would still suggest digging around for some of the other Foci if you can't afford the SVT version. I seem to recall that the 2004 ZTW had enough gusto to keep up with the then-defunct SVT model, despite being a wagon. Sleeper status, guaranteed.
 
I also found a nice 1997 taurus sho for 5k with 60,000 miles on it. My dad was telling me if i get into an accident or something brakes off the contour ill have to get the parts from europe and it will be exspensive.
 
fortino555
I also found a nice 1997 taurus sho for 5k with 60,000 miles on it. My dad was telling me if i get into an accident or something brakes off the contour ill have to get the parts from europe and it will be exspensive.
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Not true.

If it was true the same would be true for the Focus. There are enough Contours around that replacement parts in the US market are very much available.
 
Love the SVT Contour, almost bought one before my SE-R but decided against it, since it had over 200k miles on it. My family has a 1998 Contour 2.0 and the thing refuses to die. It's had the transmission rebuilt already, and overdrive doesn't work, but it runs good for 250k miles! :D
 
Let me advocate the Focus here...

If you can get the 3 door model Focus SVT, I'd recommend that... first of all, hatchbacks at your age are very practical, I would know, my first car was at your age, and it was a hatchback... it became really useful.... plus there's plenty of room in a hatchback for you to put the seats down and uh.... do some horizontal exercises with lady friends...

Plus the Focus looks a lot hotter than the Contour, I don't like how the Contour looks... you wanna drive something 2 door (okay 3 including the hatch) I can't picture someone your age going around driving a 4-door family sedan Contour... plus the Focus usually comes with fog lights and side skirts... install some mudflaps on that baby and you've got something decent...

It also depends heavily on what year you're looking at too... for $4000 it must be something early 2000's, right? If you're lucky you'll find something with a nice sound system and sunroof... I'm pretty sure the 2002 Focus had the option to come with a pretty decent sound system...

I mean, wasn't the SVT Contour only around for a few years? I think the latest model you could get of one of those is a 2000 Ford Contour SVT...

... and I think the Focus is better on gas AND insurance, but that's just a hunch... maybe someone will prove me wrong
 
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Get a $500 Cavalier because you're going to crash it. Everybody crashes it. Once you learn first hand why crashing is bad, then you can get a nice car. At that point you can choose to be responsible or be stubborn like I did and continue crashing things lol.
 
I've had my license for over a year, no tickets, no crashes, no nothing! Corey I laughed at the horizantle exercises part!haha and I am now deciding between the taurus sho and the focus svt. I love the fact the taurus has a v8 and sounds nice, but then it's in this red color I'm not sure I like. Then the focus is in this sonic blue color which I like and it has way better gas mileage. I've drove a ton of cars, I've raced karts(for money), and drove cars on tracks. I do care about the car I drive and it's performance!

Thanks for the great replies,
Eric
 
fortino555
hello, names Eric, I'm 17 and I intend on buying my first car very soon. My dad works for ford so I plan to buy a ford. I love mustangs, but I live in michigan and I have a budget under $4,000. I really like the contour svt, then the focus svt. Any owners or tips of these cars? I've been using craigslist regulary checking for contours and focus's. I enjoy driving a stick, as all I want is one. I also gotta fork out my own money for insurance and gas.


thanks,
Eric
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As (probably) the only SVT Focus owner on this board let me help you out a bit here.

SVT Focus is faster in the real world -- don't believe Car & Driver's or Road & Track's numbers as they are garbage and don't reflect either car's real performance numbers
SVT Focus has a 6spd Getrag manual -- more gears = better for the gas mileage
SVT Focus has more interior room making it more practical
SVT Focus gets better MPG -- who cares about this one really...
SVT Focus is cheaper insurance -- important to 17 year old drivers!
SVT Focus has potential with its engine -- why do you see more SVT Contour owners swapping out for 3.0L V6's? than SVT Focus owners swapping out to other engines?
Now for the subjective part, they (SVT Focus) look better.

I love the SVT Contour (and I really do) but the SVT Focus is a better buy all around. You can in fact find a decent SVTF for $4,000 that hasn't been beaten to death. Average price will run $4,500-6,000 depending on mileage however. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD GET ONE WITH NO MODIFICATIONS WHAT-SO-EVER. If you do get one (either really) please DO NOT MODIFY IT. Just enjoy the driving nirvana and leave it at that. If you get an SVT Focus get a 2003 or 2004 model, would prefer you get a 2004 where they fixed a few things--important things!

HAVING SAID ALL OF THIS. Just find one of these two that are not beaten to hell, don't have over 80k miles and have no modifications and you really cannot go wrong with either. Both are pure driving nirvana! Just enjoy that.

Rotary Junkie
Contour definitely. If you find an SVT Focus for 4 grand it'll be trashed to hell and back, the Contour you actually have a chance to find a nice one on your budget.
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Actually, they both are about the same. more like a 60/40 split for good ones and ragged all to hell ones. :)

YSSMAN
While I am a fan of the Contour SVT, I would still suggest digging around for some of the other Foci if you can't afford the SVT version. I seem to recall that the 2004 ZTW had enough gusto to keep up with the then-defunct SVT model, despite being a wagon. Sleeper status, guaranteed.
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FYI, the SVTF was 2002-2004. And eh, sorry Brad not even close on the ZTW comment. Not. Even. Close. I leave all Focus models in the dust, this includes the 2.3L models. I know because I've ran a whole F'ing ton of them in the at red lights when they think they have a chance. And left them all in the dust by car lengths. The newer ST while quick is still half a second slower to 60 vs the SVTF or SVTC.
 
Step 1: Buy a Mazda Protege5.

Step 2: Beat the crud out of it.

Step 3: Become an annoying Mazda-phile.

Step 4: We'll let you know what Step 4 is when we figure it out.
 
niky
Step 1: Buy a Mazda Protege5.

Step 2: Beat the crud out of it.

Step 3: Become an annoying Mazda-phile.

Step 4: We'll let you know what Step 4 is when we figure it out.
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You rang?
 
Toronado
Because they fit?
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No because there is really no room for improvement with that D25 V6. You have more options with the ZETEC 2.0L. Now, who's to say you can swap in the SVT Contour V6 into the Focus? I've seen it done and it does rock. :lol:
 
Keef
You rang?
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Shhhh... Lord Famine might notice... and bang us over the head with his MX3...

V6? In a small car? No way!
DSC02127.jpg





Of course, it's nothing compared to the "Big Daddy" of all V6-into-compact swaps... the Nissan VQ-swap:
VQFinishedPics1.jpg


It's almost worth putting up with that cart-axle they call a rear-suspension and the complete lack of suspension travel all around just to get one of those motors in a small car...

-

Oops... we were talking about realistic car purchases? :lol:

A bog-standard Focus with one of the better 2.0s will serve you well as a starting car... as will a lot of other bog-standard compacts. With a limited budget and limited experience in maintenance, I wouldn't go for the faster, less common variants just yet.
 
Toronado
Doesn't that boat torque-steer enough as it is? I imagine with a VQ in it it is probably almost Saab 9-3 Aero bad.
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Heard the V-Spec was at least passable... Guess it depends on what transmission you have attached to your motor. You can also fit the VQ in the B14, which is a fair bit lighter and nippier... I've heard rumors of a B13 swap, but they're a rare sight indeed.
 
Keef: you know dang well there ARE no cavaliers left. they've all been scrapped by now! and there's no such thing as a 500 dollar beater, either...they all went via cash for clunkers, or passed through MY hands :P

I got some advice, kiddo. no matter WHAT you buy, change ALL the general maintenence items, grease everything, tighten everything that needs it, and hope you don't hit critters.
 
niky
A bog-standard Focus with one of the better 2.0s will serve you well as a starting car... as will a lot of other bog-standard compacts. With a limited budget and limited experience in maintenance, I wouldn't go for the faster, less common variants just yet.
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Agreed. Even in pretty basic trim, they're still a lot of fun to drive, even when more than a decade old now. I still wouldn't mind having a ZX3.
 
niky
Step 1: Buy a Mazda Protege5.

Step 2: Beat the crud out of it.

Step 3: Become an annoying Mazda-phile.

Step 4: We'll let you know what Step 4 is when we figure it out.
Click to expand...

Don't know about Step 3 and I have nothing to contribute for Step 4.

But step 1?

Genius. Even Step 2 is a pretty good idea. But Step 1 is pure wisdom. What a great car.
 
My 2 cents is get a 240SX man. EVERYONE knows how to fix em, parts are dirt cheap and a half, it can drift unlike FWD crap, and overall its a fun entry level car. Else, maybe a miata.
 
Skv012a
My 2 cents is get a 240SX man. EVERYONE knows how to fix em, parts are dirt cheap and a half, it can drift unlike FWD crap, and overall its a fun entry level car. Else, maybe a miata.
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Hey now. It's only crap to you cause you don't know how to drive one properly. ;)
 
Front wheel drive can't drift? Tell that to the Sentra tester I had last month. It didn't want to do anything but drift. Roundabout. Lift-off. Drift. Countersteer. Turn. Lift-off. Drift. Countersteer. Back to roundabout. Lift-off. Drift. Lift-off. Drift. Lift-off. Drift. Lift off... and that's on stock tires with the CVT-equipped 2.0.

A 240SX is a relatively good car saddled with a relatively pedestrian engine. Thanks to the drift craze, way over-priced for what you get.

Famine
What, this one:

plusonemiller2.jpg
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There goes the neighborhood. :lol:
 
Skv012a
I've had more than enough of that uggh, fun, in my life. Also, what cornering in a FWD? lol
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I'm going to stick with my last post. :)

Most of my cars have been fwd, so I've learned how to deal with them. I also hold the fwd track record on my home course. They can be fun/fast. Just gotta know how to drive them.
 
Just on random note if you do end up with the 97 SHO you will want to get the cam gears welded, or pinned. There is a good deal of info on shoforum.com as to why.

Also of note, SHOs tend to be a bit maintence heavy. I do love them though, fun cars older ones make for fun track beaters. Focus SVT, is quite a bit easier to find parts for as well these days.
 

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