Originally posted by rearden:
In addition to the "Escort size for a Taurus price" conundrum, the base models really did not make a very good impression. Back in '98 my dad and I test drove a '97 Zetec ATX Mystique program car. The engine idled so rough that it made the whole dashboard shake and rattle, and something in the roof would buzz too. It was really quite ridiculous, especially for a practically new car, and certainly didn't encourage him to explore the rest of the Mystique lineup.

Also, the higher-end models were really *too* nice and well-engineered. In America, people tend to buy compact cars because they're really cheap, good on gas, and it's not the end of the world if their 16 year old smashes it up. Aside from the BMW 3-series, nobody wants to spend more money to have a nice car if it's still small. This perception seems to be changing though.. The Mazda3 gets rave reviews for being so nice, and small cars in general are getting nicer and more expensive. Gas prices are no doubt playing a role. But this was not the case when Ford sold the Contour here.


...i think what he said coupled with HORRIBLE advertising...i never once saw a car commercial for the contour, and at the time of their production i was glued to the tv

"Youth ages, immaturity is outgrown, ignorance can be educated, and drunkenness sobered, but STUPID lasts forever."-Aristophanes. --93 pgt,headers,intake,borla=14.9 1/4mile