Well, I Got Me Something With An Automatic

[CJREX]

Not quite an RBV, but it sure hauls the freight...

Deal I couldn't pass up, even though it's a Chebby.

SVT Contour now must soon go bye bye.

Ranger go bye bye...? Not Likely Keeping that for a Long time.

SVT can't hold a candle to it in a straight line, but would eat its lunch on a twisty road.

 

[95offroadx]

i couldnt never deal with having a auto. Theres nothin like going threw the gears. Looks nice though

 

[CJREX]

I far preferred manuals until my left leg got broken in a particularly nasty way 9 years ago.

(ever look down and see your knee facing forward and your foot pointing to the rear? It sucks.)

Basically, it healed to where I could drive a stick again for the last few years.

Until a few weeks ago when I got stuck in a 2.5 hour Atlanta traffic jam

Long story short, I think I can keep my 5 speed Ranger if I have an auto to drive when I know I'll hit traffic.

 

[Will]

I like autos. Punch it and the car should be able to figure out what you want.

THAT car looks like it will do just fine figuring out what you want when you wood the go pedal.

 

[skippy]

I far preferred manuals until my left leg got broken in a particularly nasty way 9 years ago.

(ever look down and see your knee facing forward and your foot pointing to the rear? It sucks.)

Basically, it healed to where I could drive a stick again for the last few years.

Until a few weeks ago when I got stuck in a 2.5 hour Atlanta traffic jam

Long story short, I think I can keep my 5 speed Ranger if I have an auto to drive when I know I'll hit traffic.

let me guess,400 north at rush hour.or 400 south at rush hour.

 

[CJREX]

let me guess,400 north at rush hour.or 400 south at rush hour.

400 North on the day that the tractor struck the overpass.

 

[Maverick]

SVT can't hold a candle to it in a straight line, but would eat its lunch on a twisty road.

Are you sure about that? I've driven a few Contours and they are pretty close to the most ill-handling newer cars I've ever driven. While I've not driven an "SVT" I can't ever imagine it being good enough to best a Z28 in the corners.

 

[CJREX]

Are you sure about that? I've driven a few Contours and they are pretty close to the most ill-handling newer cars I've ever driven. While I've not driven an "SVT" I can't ever imagine it being good enough to best a Z28 in the corners.

I'm sure. When the SVT model came out it was ranked by some magazines as the best handling car made in America.

It is almost as good as my RX7 Turbo was, and that car was incredible.

The Z is bigger and flexes more. It seems to understeer a bit whereas the SVT goes where it's pointed.

On any racetrack with straightaways, the Z would destroy the SVT, courtesy of an additional 100+ HP and massive amounts of torque.

Here is an excerpt from the first SVT Contour review that came up on Google

The SVT carves corners like few other cars. (Note: We found it much more nimble without three other automotive journalists inside.) The SVT folks have quite evidently worked on the engine note; it thrills your spine. This is the best-sounding car we've driven save perhaps the Miata.

The wheel is thick; you get a good handful of it. The Goodyears are thick, too; they get a good handful of the road, and contribute to prodigious confidence. It is reasonable to say that the GS-Cs are road magnets. (Then again, what would you expect from our favorite Showroom Stock tire?) Revised seat bolsters keep you where you want to be.

Joyously well-balanced, the SVT is at its best mid-corner, thanks to the adhesion and excellent damping. Trailing throttle lets you loosen up the back end despite the fact that the SVT is front wheel drive. It's communicative without shouting; the suspension transmits every road imperfection, but without upsetting the car, and without big thumps or shocks. On concrete highways, the seams are audible and you do feel each one of them, but not unpleasantly so. Bigger bumps are absorbed more than little ones; bridge expansion joints register less than tar strips. "I have good road feel, but it handles the bumps well," noted the SC-D.

HERE is the article.

It's a great car. I just can't deal with that heavy duty clutch anymore.

On the whole, the SVT is a better car. And honestly, the Z28 is not refined, well built, ergonomic, nor easy to see out of. You could probably rent out the huge dash area to farmers. Some would call it a piece of junk.

But it has a proven automatic trans, this one only has 56k miles and no piston slap that some have. And it's a FAST piece of junk with a massive aftermarket.