New engine into the SVT Contour - questions

[the Teuton]

1... a number typed here to remind you of how many first cars you get

Very good point.  Nick, not to sound too sappy, but do you miss your first car, and what was it?

[SVT_Power]

Do they realize that you are going to take a bath selling it??

Rebuilding the engine may not be a pretty repair bill, but its your best solution to get your moneys worth out of the car.

I'm gonna be taking losses whichever way I go. I'm roughly looking at losing 2 grand either way so might as well as just get rid of it now rather than later.

It's probably true that I should drive the car after getting the engine fixed to get the most out of my money (and with a fresh engine i dont think there'll be anything that big that comes up for a while - but the body does have 175k kms on it). If JWC is right about contours just seeming to fall apart past 110k miles, I might be in for a few more surprises - which I really don't want to and can't deal with.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Very good point.? Nick, not to sound too sappy, but do you miss your first car, and what was it?

A god damn slow ass piece of shit that I didn't want but was glad to get anyway Suzuki Samurai. At least it was a manual, and had 4wd so I could go play in the snow, and was a soft top and therefore was somewhat fun in the summer. Nevertheless, what I really wanted was a car. At the time, that car was a 1990 Tercel hatchback for $1200, but my dad said no and made me get the Samurai for $1800. Go figure.

I don't really miss having it as an only car, although I did buy another one years later, just for go play with off road. I do think they are some of the best off road vehicles ever made.

[SVT_Power]

1... a number typed here to remind you of how many first cars you get

idiot...the word you use to describe someone who listened to their heart instead of head and got screwed over

[Eye of the Tiger]

idiot...the word you use to describe someone who listened to their heart instead of head and got screwed over

idiot... the word you also use for people who make decisions with their cars based purely on financial reasons. Cars are never sound financial investments, and therefore should treated as such.  That's why I am SRT-4-less right now. In retrospect, I could have gotten by without selling it, and I'd have it nearly paid off by now. Can you imagine me with a SRT-4 inste4d of a 'st33m!? Hells yes you can!

[the Teuton]

If JWC is right about contours just seeming to fall apart past 110k miles, I might be in for a few more surprises - which I really don't want to and can't deal with.

186,834.

Here's what doesn't work on the car:
-headlights suck (fogged over)
-rear driver's side lock sometimes malfunctions when it feels like it
-fogs need replaced
-AC doesn't work (disconnected completely)
-muffler broken

Here's what works:
-power sunroof
-mirrors
-door locks
windows
-just about everything else

Is it this rare for a high mileage first year car to work so well?

[SVT_Power]

186,834.

Here's what doesn't work on the car:
-headlights suck (fogged over)
-rear driver's side lock sometimes malfunctions when it feels like it
-fogs need replaced
-AC doesn't work (disconnected completely)
-muffler broken

Here's what works:
-power sunroof
-mirrors
-door locks
windows
-just about everything else

Is it this rare for a high mileage first year car to work so well?

so basically the only thing that's gone wrong with your contour is the A/C? That's pretty impressive imo

btw, my headlights were like that too but I bought a $10 bottle of plastic cleaner/polish and it got rid of alot of it

[SVT_Power]

idiot... the word you also use for people who make decisions with their cars based purely on financial reasons. Cars are never sound financial investments, and therefore should treated as such.  That's why I am SRT-4-less right now. In retrospect, I could have gotten by without selling it, and I'd have it nearly paid off by now. Can you imagine me with a SRT-4 inste4d of a 'st33m!? Hells yes you can!

sigh. Well I'll float the rebuild and keep idea with my parents.

It'll sound something like this: "Since other SVTC's with more kms are selling at about 7k from dealerships, why don't we just say we bought it for that price. But we actually only paid $4600 for it, we should have been out another $2400. So why don't we just get the engine rebuild and let me keep the car"

I'll probably get this look from my parents :  and they'll say "wtf?"

[the Teuton]

I just don't see the car being unreliable enough that it will break again after you get the engine fixed.  The car has proven to be very reliable.

[Raghavan]

1... a number typed here to remind you of how many first cars you get

What he said.^

[SVT_Power]

I just don't see the car being unreliable enough that it will break again after you get the engine fixed.  The car has proven to be very reliable.

well the only major thing I'd worry about other than the engine is the A/C - which i never even used while I had it. I just had the sunroof and windows down.

After the engine is rebuilt, the only thing I have to watch out for I think is the notorious oil starvation while taking hard right turns

[SVT_Power]

well i just suggested it to my mom and she cut me off middle of the idea and said no

[the Teuton]

The engine will be brand new and under warranty.  This is a little ridiculous.  It's one thing if you don't have the means to do so, and that's completely respectable, but it's another to sell a piece of junk because of a blind notion that the same things will happen again.

[SVT_Power]

my mom said she just doesn't want to deal with anything that could go wrong after. Then i said if she gives me the explorer, anything could go wrong with that too but she said that's a different story

[Eye of the Tiger]

my mom said she just doesn't want to deal with anything that could go wrong after. Then i said if she gives me the explorer, anything could go wrong with that too but she said that's a different story

But it's not a different story. It's an Exploder, and it could tip over very easily. Not very safe for a new driver, or anyone for that matter. 

[SVT_Power]

But it's not a different story. It's an Exploder, and it could tip over very easily. Not very safe for a new driver, or anyone for that matter. 

i haven't died in it...yet

[the Teuton]

You have any sets of Firestone Wildness or ATX tires circa 1998 laying around?

[Eye of the Tiger]

You have any sets of Firestone Wildness or ATX tires circa 1998 laying around?

That's Firestone Wilderness AT in the 235/75/15 size. I should know, I worked at a tire place during the recall. 

[the Teuton]

Back on topic:  Used cars have problems.  It happens.  I don't see why she's being this discouraging.  I just don't think you're trying hard enough, Eddie.

[SVT_Power]

Back on topic:  Used cars have problems.  It happens.  I don't see why she's being this discouraging.  I just don't think you're trying hard enough, Eddie.

See, it seems my mom can't take that anymore. She was very much against used cars to begin with (we picked up our explorer very slightly used at a good deal, but my mom nearly just said no but my dad bought it anyway ) but she let me buy the contour anyway. She nearly bought a Sonata just so that I wouldn't buy an used car. And now that the car needs a rather expensive repair job, my mom refuses to trust used cars.

[the Teuton]

We haven't had a new car since 1996 and it was a POS, sort of.  Used can be as good as new if you know how and where to shop.

[SVT_Power]

yeah me and my dad know that. But my dad's against me on this one as well. And the fact that he's only around for a few weeks during the yr means my mom gets to decide where the money goes

[Eye of the Tiger]

I've had many a used car, and none of them were $4600 either. The worst thing I ever needed was a $600 transmission rebuild. It was just very very bad luck, Ed, and it's not likely to happen again.

[SVT_Power]

[Eye of the Tiger]

u cry like baby 

[the Teuton]

Eddie, I know how you feel.  I felt the same way for 5 months.  My car was worth just enough to justify replacing a relatively cheap engine, though.

[SVT_Power]

u cry like baby 

dont make me go break j00r bike

[Eye of the Tiger]

If it makes u feel better, I'd rebuild the 'st33m engine if it asploded. 

[SVT_Power]

If it makes u feel better, I'd rebuild the 'st33m engine if it asploded. 

is it worth a rebuilt engine?

[Soup DeVille]

If it makes u feel better, I'd rebuild the 'st33m engine if it asploded.?

Then again, hamster wheels are cheap and plentiful...