I miss my 95 Contour SE!

[KKSPORT]

I kick myself in the ass everyday about selling my 95 Contour SE two years ago.

I currently drive a 95 Saturn SL1 which is great on gas, but boring to drive.

My 95 SE had a 5 speed with the Duratec; great combination!

I have a problem with cars; my attention span only last about 1 year with a car, then I want to replace it.

I can't complain with the Saturn when the current price of gas.

I tried looking for another 95 or 96 SE, but everything I find for sale has a ton of miles on them.

In my opinion, the 95's were the best year; great interior, rear disc brakes, SE suspension, rear sway bar, etc....

I'm not sure about buying an SVT; they seem to have major engine problems.

Oh well, live and learn!

 

[AliasJerk]

I'm not sure about buying an SVT; they seem to have major engine problems.

Oh well, live and learn!

They have the same engine (with minor differences)...

from a build quality stand point; yes the 95's were the best model year, from a longevity standpoint, they arent... their age is certainly showing now, primarily because they had the worst wiring harness ever put into a car, all of the insulation on those wiring harnesses peels off and creates a MESS of problems. You made a good choice getting rid of that 95 while it was still worth something.

In fact, that wiring harness issue really existed until like 98.5 contours and on, they went with a different insulation and the harnesses havent been peeling and falling apart... As far as reliability goes on the motor, they have the same engine as your 95 did, just minor differents; like electronically controlled secondaries, upgraded cams, hand picked crank shaft, better pistons, higher compression ratio... The issues lied within the rod bearings of the motor, issue was Ford didnt spec enough oil for the engine to have, they said 5.5 quarts was enough, turned out it was actually 6-6.5 quarts you needed, which on long sloping right hand turns (and this was with ANY 2.5L duratec) with only the 5.5 quarts of oil, the rod bearings on the passenger side of the engine would basically suffer oil starvation and be subject to pitting, which eventually just destroys the rod bearing, and scores the crank/connecting rod of the piston. (basically its new motor time).

The only REAL issue between the pre98 and the 98+ mechanically was the trans, the pre98 MTX was much more durable then the 98+ Syncro issues where at a minimum as well as a differential that was forged using a better (but more expensive) process... I cant remember the specifics of the differences between the two differentials, but someone will poke in and say something about it.

 

[Wien_Sean]

I had a 95 SE that had some nice mods, but was beat to . The guy before me auto-x'ed it, so it had its third engine which had 1/5 the miles the rest of the car hard. Having said that, the trans felt great. I really liked the rod shifter compared to cables. I think it feels more connected. I've been looking around for a deal on a pre98 to toy around with. The problem is any Pre98 you are going to find is, well obviously, over a decade old. I am glad I sold four years ago when I moved overseas. There was a rather large hole from rust above the left rear wheel arch, none of the front quarter panels and hood matched (someone hit the car while I was at work, replaced from a yard and primed), and it burned oil through the intake like no other. I literally burned so much oil that I had soot that looked like I was driving a diesel all over the back bumper of the car. I never bothered with a catch can, but that's the point. The cars are old, and sometimes it's nice knowing that the car you are driving isn't on the edge of becoming really expensive due to its age.

 

[BrApple]

many good points on the pre98 .... more sound deadening material, rod shifter, stiff but sporty SE suspension, great stock wheels on the SE, etc.

there are some down sides, like the wiring harness and the abs and tc systems that then to act up in some condition but over all a great car.

my fathers 95 has ~140k on it now, served very well for the 130k he has had it without to many problems .... just the normal parking brake cable, wheels bearing, wiring harness showing signs of cracking, and a problem with the secondaries (vacuum solenoid cracked open and they stopped closing.

i learned to drive a standard on that car

 

[KKSPORT]

I had such a great experience with my 95 SE, that I kind of look forward to the new cars Ford will be building in 2010. It seems that Ford will be building a few of their European models in America. I would rather drive a European Focus than a Honda Civic and hope that Ford doesn't water them down too much and builds them as close to European spec as possible.

My 95 SE had great seats, steering, suspension, transmission and engine. I could tell it was designed my people who love to drive. It was a world apart from an Ameican Ford Tempo or Escort.

The future looks bright for Ford enthusiasts!

 

[PHilly]

If you miss it so much, buy mine! only 120k miles on her:laugh:

 

[royalblue]

for all it problems I very much enjoy driving:drool: mine 190+ thousand on the clock . the down side is abs trac control not working intermintent check engine light {egr?] and the wiring harness from hell

 

[blu_fuz]

Mine is hot

 

[95pgt-t]

i liked my 96se so much that after selling my svt and swearing to be done with these cars,i picked up a 95se:blackeye::laugh:

 

[Harrry]

i liked my 96se so much that after selling my svt and swearing to be done with these cars,i picked up a 95se:blackeye::laugh:

It's the contour curse. I swear...everytime i decide to sell my car i end up wanting to keep it. It's a vicious cycle.:blackeye: