Svt Contour Deserves Respect -- Ford Makes Sense As An Alternative To A Small Bmw

Maybe if Ford just removed the Contour's rear seat and sold it as a two-seater with four doors, its compact sedan might get a little more respect.

But a rear seat scant in legroom, in what is marketed as a family car, is guaranteed to draw critical fire - and the Contour gets dumped on a lot.

Which is kind of a shame because, properly equipped, the Contour can be a very nice car for a very reasonable price, offering a combination of driving fun and everyday practicality.

The Contour has a European flair that might surprise you, unless you know that it's a member of Ford's "Mondeo" family of cars and was designed mostly in Europe. (It's for sale there as well as here.)

And the best Contour of all is the one designed by Ford's Special Vehicle Team. As much as I like the SVT unit's

V-8 powered Mustang, the Contour SVT has become my favorite Ford.

The SVT people, who also do a version of the F-150 pickup, start with what is, otherwise, the best Contour to buy: one with a four-valve per cylinder V-6 engine and a stick shift. Then they make it better, with an extra 30 hp, bringing the total to 200; wider, high-speed-rated tires on larger (16-inch) wheels; and a four-wheel-disc braking system whose front discs are larger than those in lesser Contours.

The tires, from B.F. Goodrich, are new for '99, and the SVT people claim they offer a superior road grip than the tires they replaced.

The SVT Contour also gets its own bucket seats, designed with greater lateral support than those in other Contours, along with 10-way power operation for the driver's seat.

And the SVT version includes popular amenities such as power windows and remote-control power locks, an alarm, cruise control, tilt steering wheel, leather seating, a moonroof and a stereo with a CD player.

The SVT's engine sounds as good as it performs. Zero to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds, according to Ford. Just as enjoyable is the engine's ability to maintain speed on an upgrade and increase speed for passing, both without a downshift. Second-gear starts are a breeze and rumble-free, and the five-speed stick and clutch easily passed the ultimate test during my week with the Contour: weekday midtown Manhattan traffic.

But the SVT Contour is not perfect. Some of the dashboard's plastic looks very low-rent; the white-faced instruments are difficult to read at dusk; the center console cupholders are too shallow to be of use for much of anything except loose change or gum wrappers; and the aforementioned low-profile tires produce a lot of noise and a ride that can be harsh.

The tester had just one option, a $20 engine-block heater, so its final sticker price of $23,220 was not much higher than this model's base price.

Yes, that's kinda steep for an American compact, considering how much more car you can buy for that money - from Ford and from many other manufacturers. But, if you view it as a suitable alternative to a small BMW, it begins to make more sense.

I think you enthusiast types in particular will like this one a lot.

And if rear seaters give you any grief about the knee room, tell them to take the bus next time.

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1999 Ford Contour SVT.

Base price: $22,665.

Engine: 2.5-liter V-6, 200 hp.

Price as driven: $23,220.

EPA mileage: 20 mpg city; 29 highway.

Safety: Dual air bags, anti-lock brakes, fog lamps.

Finance note: Assuming a 10-percent down payment and a five-year new-car loan at the prevailing national rate of 8.17 percent, monthly payments for the tested car would be $425.44.