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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 777
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Veteran CEG\'er
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really hard ? to answer because on any used car honda or not if the previous owner/owners didn't care for it then you wind up in trouble. some things to look at is overall condition inside and out. you tell alot about the owner and how they cared for it. see if they kept maintance records. check the mileage and ask alot of ?'s. used contours for the money are great cars, ride/handle nice, good in snow and for the most part reliable.
mine has been great only a couple of very minor issues covered under warranty. so far so good but umm I only got 46,000 miles on it so i haven't got any high mileage problems that can come up.(knocks on wood)but i say go for it.
"we aren't punished for our sins, but by them"
2000 se sport tropic green/gray leather.
V6,svt body kit and E1 wheels/Avon tech m500 rubber, many mods.
2003 Eddie Bauer Explorer V8
2001 Suzuki Bandit 1200S
1996 Mercury Sable
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 137
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CEG\'er
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2000 svt contour. bone stock. 76000 miles no problems, oh wait except for my axle. Besides that, its been great to me. Taken it on a few trips and its still a champ. I'm boutta run this motor till about 120-130 k maybe more, then upgrade to a 3l.
2000 Black SVT Contour
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Joined: Jun 2005
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Addicted CEG\'er
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Addicted CEG\'er
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"Always do the cheap and easy ones first."
1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,431
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
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I'll be the one to rain on the thread. I've had problems with mine. Owned since 2001 (driven by my sister in 2002, otherwise mine) and 24K miles; now at 76K. Several things repaired under warranty (fuel pump, muffler, ignition switch, and more), and many more repairs thereafter. Suffice to say as much as I love this car I've lost confidence driving it after a yearlong string of thousand-dollar-plus repairs (three of them, all on different aspects of the car) and just knowing that other things are ready to go or have gone (tranny clunks when cold, A/C is nonfunctional, etc.). In all reality though, it can be a situation of bad luck. I know many people on this site drive their Contours much harder than I've ever done mine and had little to no problems with theirs. Mine rides like new when it's not in the shop -- there are barely any squeaks or rattles at all. Generally, you can rest assured that you'll love the car no matter the problems (or lack of  ). For example, I'll likely own an SVT in the future, it just won't be my reliable daily driver based on my experience with this car.
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 344
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OP
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to the post above ^^ Thanks for being honest, I'd rather someone say that than just telling me they have no problems at all and having me run into them later. ---- Originally posted by Tony2005:
Welcome. Check out our classifieds.
http://www.contour.org/classifieds/classifieds.php?t=1&c=2
Nice to see the car I was looking for in there 
----
I might give the guy a call if he doesn't reply to my email soon enough. I'm wondering whether or not he'll have his maintenance records since he might not have done all his maintenance at the dealers. It would sure be nice though.
I'm just a little worried, as anyone would be. The car is 45 minutes away so I don't know any mechanics up in Michigan. I hope I can figure something out
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 777
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Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Sep 2000
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I believe everyone who posted was honest, we just haven't had problems with our cars to talk about. I'm not being hard on you but just about all makes have some problems so it is hard to compare or tell you exactally what you want to hear. I'll give you my run down of past rides, 1978 mustang II cobra, good car no problems just body rust. 1981 pontiac grand prix, horrible..blew an engine, replaced it, computer burned out, replaced it. steering box problems, wheel bearing failure etc, etc. 1990 ford tempo great car no problems I mean none sold it at 160,000 miles 1995 escort never a problem(wifes car) 1988 honda accord..popped a timing belt, needed a distributor(wouldn't hold timing worn shaft)fuel pump,body rot, radiator etc. 1996 taurus never a problem perfect 1992 saturn sc2 bought with 120,000 still have it(my sons now)no problems 1998 taurus sho tranny and motor knock sh*t box 1999 explorer minor issues traded in for 2003 explorer flawless 1996 sable(my winter car)so far so good and the contour very minor problems. so you see just by my examples you just don't know you could get the svt and be totally fine or have issues. get the svt take your chances it is one hell of a nice car 
"we aren't punished for our sins, but by them"
2000 se sport tropic green/gray leather.
V6,svt body kit and E1 wheels/Avon tech m500 rubber, many mods.
2003 Eddie Bauer Explorer V8
2001 Suzuki Bandit 1200S
1996 Mercury Sable
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,345
Addicted CEG\'er
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Addicted CEG\'er
Joined: Jun 2005
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Originally posted by skunk:
really hard ? to answer because on any used car honda or not if the previous owner/owners didn't care for it then you wind up in trouble. some things to look at is overall condition inside and out. you tell alot about the owner and how they cared for it. see if they kept maintance records.
Sometimes. My Contour looks dirty on the outside on most days (don't have a garage and park under trees most of the time. And work in the field quite a few days). On the inside, it looks like new as I have not messed it up. As for the engine, tranny, etc., I have kept up with the maintenance as well as I could (dealer, indies and recently myself). My suggestion is to drive it hard on the test drive. If it doesn't "perform", you should be suspicious abd definitely have a mechanic check it out. In anycase, I wonder if $7,500 is a little too high for a 98.5
"Always do the cheap and easy ones first."
1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,431
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
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Originally posted by skunk:
I believe everyone who posted was honest, we just haven't had problems with our cars to talk about. I'm not being hard on you but just about all makes have some problems so it is hard to compare or tell you exactally what you want to hear.
<snip>
so you see just by my examples you just don't know you could get the svt and be totally fine or have issues.
get the svt take your chances it is one hell of a nice car
Wholeheartedly agreed. It was not my intention to insinuate dishonesty among others here to get you to buy the car - after all, we're not salesmen here! 
As said, "most" Contours seem to treat you well if you treated it well, as with most cars in general. The investment of any car in particular is a chance though, especially used without warranty, of course.
This particular car does have engineering quirks (some of which alias stated above), but if you stick around on the site you'll learn exactly what's up and how to circumvent all of those areas.
I'd still say get the SVT. My post was primarily to let you know there is a chance it's might not be 120% perfect as others' are -- but in all reality it's the same way buying almost any car of this age.
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 344
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OP
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Originally posted by Tony2005:
and definitely have a mechanic check it out. In anycase, I wonder if $7,500 is a little too high for a 98.5
I'll try my best to find a mechanic in the area, though I don't know.
The carfax report turned out fine, while the car went in for service 3 times around 30k miles. I'll ask him.
$7500 for the 98.5, it has the aftermarket rims and springs, stereo, and an extra set of rims/tires (i'm thinking the stock rims and tires before he swapped those out?).. And if the car has any flaws I'm not aware of when I get there, the price'll probably be talked down, because I've heard these should be around $6000 maybe? Not too many miles for a 98 though 
And about the comment saying I'll run into the same problems with mostly any car of this age, I totally agree. My brother seems to think I'll be overwhelmed with the poor gas mileage compared to a civic and how much I'll have to service it. But that's what comes with a car this fun isn't it? Maybe my brother's just turning me off because this car looks nicer than his 
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,165
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
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My list of problems:
2 Diffs
2 Clutches
a few synchros, shifter forks (other [censored] in there i dunno)
1 Axle Shaft
2 Starters
2 Alternators
1 Cat Converter
4 o2 sensors
Tie Rods...I forget which ones
4 Struts
1 Oil Pan
2 Lower Control Arms
1 Battery
2 Trans Mounts
A Million fog lamp bulbs
1 IAC
1 DPFE Sensor
1 EGR
1 Rear Parking Brake Cable
2 Crank Sensors
Various A/C parts
2 sets of tires
1 Wheel Bearing
1 set of brakes, pads and rotors
I live in Detroit, I couldn't give a **** how good my car is in the "twisties."
"I could use a hundred people who don't know there is such a word as impossible."
~Henry Ford
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