Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General Did you buy new or used?

I bought my '98 zetec 5spd used with 117,000 miles. Had a cracked bumper, but I was buying from the 1st owner, with maintenance records. I paid $1600.

He had bought it new Dec. of '97, and paid $12,600. Base model, power nothing except mirrors, and it has tilt.

Back in '97 , I bought my teal '95 SE used with about 20k on the clock . It was a mint-condition unit that was obviously babied , and I knew I had to have it the minute I set eyes on it .

I kept the '95 until I traded it in on my '00 SVT , which I bought brand-spankin' new the last week of January '01 . It sat in the dealer's showroom until the day I took it home nearly one year after it's build date (2.4.00) . It now has 30k on it .

My brother also bought his teal '95 SE used in '97 . He kept it until last year , when he traded it in on his Scooby 2.5RS . It had nearly 190k on it when he traded it in .

My mom bought her '98 Mystique used in late '00/early '01 (can't remember ) . She still has it & uses it daily and is closing in on 100k .

Bought mine in May 96, it was being driven by the dealer sales manager and had 4800 miles on it. My wife loved it so much she bought her own in Sept 96. Hers was new with no miles on it. Paid 16,700 each for them. Listed for about 22K. Poor marketing on Fords part ruined these cars. They were marketed as grocery getters instead of sport sedans. Who pays $22k for a grocery getter?

Used 6 months old with 7k on the odometer for 18,000.

-Andy

Used...

1 year old, ~17,000 on the odo for $10,500 after trade in...($2000)....

bought mine brand new with 17 miles on her on 7-18-2000, 5 yrs later 47,000 miles on her . sad part was 2000 models where deconted big time, although mine had traction control, power roof, premium sound and that awsome tropic green color. It was love at first sight and after the test drive she was mine. Funny it barely resembles that new tour..after the leather interior swap, full svt body kit, gauge pod, E1 wheels, motor mods etc., etc., etc.

I love these cars.

I bought my Contour used 3 months ago from the local Ford dealer. They advertised the car on Autotrader for $1200 as is. So I went to the dealer and checked the car out. There wasn't a spot of rust on it,which is the biggest thing that sold me on the car. Looking back,I really should have waited and not bought that particular car because since I've had it,I've spent over $4000 in repairs. I don't know why,but I get really impulsive when I find a car I like,even if I know I shouldn't buy it. Thing is,even with all the troubles I've had with this car,I wouldn't trade it for anything. I've got more blood and sweat into this car than any other car I've owned and I have a real bond with it,lol.

Anyways,the car was a base model V6 5 speed,and had 260 800km on the clock when it was at the dealer. It was all original,1 owner,and the previous owner worked at the Ford warehouse in Bramalea,Ont and was in his late 40s. When I bought the car,I traded my Mystique in on it. Dealer gave me $1000 for it,and with taxes and everything included,I only owed $600 on the Contour. Basically,I got a pretty solid and reliable car for pretty cheap. With the money I've spent on it,I almost could have bought myself a 98 or 98.5 SVT by now (cheapest ones I've seen are about $7000-7500 CDN).

All the work the car needed when I bought it didn't bother me because I bought the car with the intent to highly modify it and be a daily driver project car. I don't regret the purchase of my car at all. I miss my Mystique,because I would have loved that as a second car along side the Contour,but I can tell you after having 2 of these cars,I would definetly go and buy more. One day I'd love an SVT,even if my GL will be running with a 3L,or maybe a fully loaded Mystique LS would be nice just as a 'family' car or something. My girlfriend wants to buy a Contour or Mystique as her first car and she has enough money to afford an SVT,so I told her that if she buys an SVT,I will GIVE her my Contour straight up if she gives me the SVT. She loves my car,and actually wanted to buy my Mystique from me when I sold it,but she didn't have her full licence yet and I would have ripped her off anyways,lol.