My 1998 Contour SVT-- need to vent

Hey Gents,

On April 8th, 2012, I bought my T-Red SVT Contour from the original owner with the intent to restoring the car to brand new condition.

I took the car to Sarasota Ford, and got the green light except for the A/C ($1,400) and front windows not functioning.The owner was asking $3,200 but I bought the car for $1,700 due to A/C work needed.

The Good: 85,xxx miles, all stock, up-to-date maintenance, and a huge paper trail of receipts for the entire life of the car. I even got the SVT brochure and window sticker. Immaculate interior other than a tear in the driver's seat. Original owner who has been retired for 8 years.

The Bad: $1,400 in A/C work (expected)
- Fading paint
- Small spot of rust
- new power steering pump $722.83
- New high-pressure power steering hose $1,003.00
- New wiring harness ~$2,500

Total Cost (inc. TTT and other expences): ~$7,800

So here I am, paying about $8,000 for my 1998 SVT Contour without even beginning to address the paint, rust, or any other body work. I even been able to do anything to my car aesthetically, aside from my Coast Guard plate. Not to even get me started on the performance part.



The car handles great, and I really enjoy driving it. All in all it is a great car, but not even close to worth $8,000 in my opinion. Yes, I do plan on bringing the car back to brand-new condition, but I have a feeling I will be paying pretty close to the sticker price on the car, which was ~$25,550.

It is difficult to bit the bullet on this car, but if I don't give this car my all, then it will be just another cube of scrap metal in a junk yard somewhere. I have a very high level of respect for limited production American vehicles, as I own a 2009 Buell 1125R, and this 1998 SVT Contour.

It is hard to keep going on this car because I will never see this money due to a diminishing re-sale market on these cars-- same for the Buells. You all know how that feels. Not to mention I am not made of money at 20 years old.

Those are pretty neat cars, but theres isn't many left around. Sounds like you have a love affair/headache coming on here.

Was there something in particular about this car that had drawn you in?

Most people looking for a small quick car find an srt4 or ss cobalt and call it a day.

I feel your pain. I'm 21 and a full-time student, working 2 jobs. I have a '73 Bronco that I partially restored in high school and now do not have the time or money for it. As for my bike, it is my other project (expensive also, but worth the ride). In my experience, making money off of the final product of a restored car is a fairy-tale played up on TV, but the time spent learning and enjoying the work is worth more than any monetary value. As for your A/C, try checking the sensors and solenoids on it. I've heard of dealerships overlooking small units like that and claiming that the entire A/C needs replacement...might be worth looking into. small sensor < entire A/C - both in cash and time.

I'd also not worry about ac until you get the other things you mentioned in order.

I am saying I already have paid the $7,800, and I am reflecting. These repairs were way past the point of fixing them, so replacement was the only option.

I bought the car as something fun and fuel efficient that I could use when taking my girlfriend or other people around without being sweaty all the time like on my 1125. The car was cheap, and at the time of purchase, it looked like ~3,200 was going to be all I would have to do for the time being. I am an American car guy, but one brother has a lightning, the other a mustang, my dad a magnum SRT8 and my mom a challenger. Also a VROD, a GSXR 600 and my Buell. I wanted something different, yet something that I would be able to make my own over time. I had no idea that the SRT-4 price range was to come about, or I would have bought a Caliber SRT-4.

As for an SRT-4, my 2 brothers and I had an Electric Blue 04 SRT-4 Neon as a project car. Put full intake/ Full exhaust and called it. Did mostly aesthetic mods, like black crosshairs and stock wheels blacked out.

It is just aggitating, seeing as the Ford dealership that I trusted to give me a no BS quote about everything that was wrong with the car just so happened to miss all of this.

Had one.....prone to transmission issues. Get ready.

Get ready.

Click to expand...

... How much? ...

This was supposed to be a good day lol

mine has yet to have a transmission issue. and I put that beastie through hell. I think your quotes are way overpriced though. I damn near redid my whole car for 2500. I didn't have wire harness issues though. I also did the work myself.

after all my work she went through two deer and a tree, now she sits in my parents driveway. engine still runs like a champ.

Those are nice cars. JMO but it sure seems like you DRASTICALLY overpaid for everything you had done (except maybe the AC....that's understandable). But the other things are WAY over priced. And your guess at what it'll cost to restore it IMO is also extremely high. A paint job on that small of a car should cost no more than $3,000, and that's even pretty high for a decent job. A seat....$150? Don't know where you came up with the rest of that estimate...

Ive had two. Love them they ride great handle great and are just a nice car. But both had electrical problem and chewed through tires. As for the trans issues, a swap to a SVT Focus 6speed was the cure and a big upgrade.

I was also gonna say u paid way too much. U seriously paid 2500 for a new wiring harnes because your power windows didn't work? I wouldn't take it to a ford dealer. It sounds like u need to learn how to work on your own car or just by something new and reliable.

Not to be a dick, but a PS pump for that car is about $50:

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/pa.../_/N-j9sutZ8oxk0?itemIdentifier=61127_0_3508_

And I can't imagine it taking more than 1-2 hours to install.

[up]

Anyway....try to enjoy it, and try not to get ripped off lol. Besides, not getting ripped off will make it more enjoyable...haha

My buddy had one of those cars. He put a small turbo kit on it. His car was very, very clean.
But in the future do what i do. ALWAYS research what you are looking to build/own. I recently did this because i was looking to swap my turbo mustang for a 03 cobra. The guy thought it wouldnt take much to build (car was completely apart). When the smoke cleared, it was going to cost me almost $24K after i traded my car to build this car. He almost lost his lunch when i gave him my spreadsheet. He didnt have a clue that it was going to cost that much to build it. And the info i researched was based on how he was going to build it. It was going to cost $8k just to get the motor built, and that was cheaping out on some parts.
So, it is better to cut your losses sell it and loose a couple hundred OR over the course of time spend 7-8K without even getting into the body work. Paint will cost you $4-7k alone. So look at spending $12-15K for a car that you will only be able to sell for ? That was the deciding factor why i didnt trade cars. If i could have at least got my invested money back out of the cobra, i would have done it. But searching the internet, i could have bought one that was finished close to his for the same amount of money and still have my mustang.

Just my 2 pennies.

It is hard to keep going on this car because I will never see this money due to a diminishing re-sale market.

Click to expand...

welcome to the real World.the market isn't diminishing. Cars have always been and will always be a never ending debt. Unless you are some high roller who can park it and only drive it to the car wash on Sundays it will always lose value.

At 20 years old and already looking for profits from your spending may I suggest something I should have done when I was your age..

Buy a house. [up]

I am not looking to re-sell, I am looking to bring it back to being a clean, nice little car. Now the problem is nobody has a wiring harness. Gotta love Getting robbed lol. I thought it over, and it doesn't really bother me. Once I have everything done I will have a nice car. Just have to research, and look around. For now I guess I will hav eto suffer with riding my 1125

I was also gonna say u paid way too much. U seriously paid 2500 for a new wiring harnes because your power windows didn't work? I wouldn't take it to a ford dealer. It sounds like u need to learn how to work on your own car or just by something new and reliable.

Click to expand...

I see that, now. I am constantly crunched for time on the Coast Guard, aand I made the mistake of trusting a company that is in the busines of making money. A stupid mistake.

Those cars are complete shit boxes. Every time one comes into the shop i try to avoid it at all costs. [down]