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.
