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Originally posted by arin:
uh, I'm getting scared now.. I just checked a review website and it seems there's A LOT of lemons or this isnt a very quality car.. I've saw a lot of transmissions going out circa 60,000(don't know if it's auto or what) and I counted 20+ recalls on consumerguide...
I really don't recommend Contours when someone is looking for a car.
This isn't a Toyota that you don't have to maintain. So because of that, a lot of the problems are caused by owners "abusing" the cars by not servicing them.
Supposedly the Zetec (4 cylinder) is more reliable, but that's just from the mileages that have been posted. Someone has nearly 300K miles on a Zetec, but I bet a maintained Duratec will last that long too...
Now the Automatic... they are hit or miss. The early ones had issues with the valve body, and in turn, usually end up with early failure. But if it was maintained properly (flushed at regular intervals), even the early ones could last.
The manual have problems with the differential... on a Zetec, this probly wouldn't matter b/c of the low power (130HP IIRC), but with a Duratec (170HP?), you can destroy it with some really hard driving/mods (especially on the SVT - 190/200HP IIRC).
So pretty much it boils down to, if the car was driven hard and unmaintained, it will be a piece of crap and a money pit. If it was maintained, then it could last for a long time.
My horribly maintained Zetec/ATX made it to 160K miles with no severe problems... ticked really bad (sounded like a diesel) and tranny overheated a lot, but it was fairly reliable for me.
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Originally posted by arin:
uh, I'm getting scared now.. I just checked a review website and it seems there's A LOT of lemons or this isnt a very quality car.. I've saw a lot of transmissions going out circa 60,000(don't know if it's auto or what) and I counted 20+ recalls on consumerguide... eh, I've saw a lot of good reviews on it by more official sources, I think I'll stay with it.. Anyone have some high mileages on their's without much work?
I saw in a consumer report mag that the contour was one of the worst cars to purchase. And this one was fairly recent. A couple of months ago. 98 was a really bad year, apparently. And, I have all the problems listed as well.
But, I don't know. Some of...I mean MOST of your cars are in great condition however.
Is my car for sale? PM me if you're in South FL.
Originally posted by XKontour98:
Haha that's awesome! Go GM!
YES, SIR!!!
General Aviation is Looking good right now...http://www.beapilot.com
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Originally posted by gilroynewball:
Originally posted by arin:
uh, I'm getting scared now.. I just checked a review website and it seems there's A LOT of lemons or this isnt a very quality car.. I've saw a lot of transmissions going out circa 60,000(don't know if it's auto or what) and I counted 20+ recalls on consumerguide... eh, I've saw a lot of good reviews on it by more official sources, I think I'll stay with it.. Anyone have some high mileages on their's without much work?
I saw in a consumer report mag that the contour was one of the worst cars to purchase. And this one was fairly recent. A couple of months ago. 98 was a really bad year, apparently. And, I have all the problems listed as well.
But, I don't know. Some of...I mean MOST of your cars are in great condition however.
only the 97+ suck the 95-96 are the best years to buy...parked car has over to 250k on his old duratec,and his svt is pushing high 100k, my engine was fine when i pulled it a 100k,just wanted to do a engine swap and a little more power,if you can find a 96 contour se with a manual,leather,roof...you'll love it,and they should be found for under 3k dollars
"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
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I have no life
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I have no life
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You can't listen to those things. The people with problems are going to want everyone to know about it, the people that are satisfied don't care. So you get all the people with problems giving bad reviews and everyone else doesn't say anything. You also have no idea how those people treated their cars.
The automatic is OK as long as you change the fluid every 20k-30k miles and it's best to add an external cooler.
Contours, especially duratecs, do have some quirks, but that's what this site is for. The quirks are nothing major and all the information to fix whatever happens is right here.
98.5 SVT
91 Escort GT (almost sold)
96 ATX Zetec (i brake to watch you swerve)
FS: SVT rear sway bar
WTB: Very cheap beater
CEG Dragon Run - October 13-15
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Originally posted by SVTfrog:
You can't listen to those things. The people with problems are going to want everyone to know about it, the people that are satisfied don't care. So you get all the people with problems giving bad reviews and everyone else doesn't say anything. You also have no idea how those people treated their cars.
The automatic is OK as long as you change the fluid every 20k-30k miles and it's best to add an external cooler.
Contours, especially duratecs, do have some quirks, but that's what this site is for. The quirks are nothing major and all the information to fix whatever happens is right here.
well said frog!!!! when i used to sell cars and before that electronics EVERYONE,espcially old people came in with that damn magazine!!!!!! its useless,it's based,like kremit said,a bunch of bitchers with nothing better to do than complain about something,.....and who do they ask anyways???? whens the last time you got a phone call from consumer reports?
"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
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Addicted CEG\'er
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Originally posted by arin:
uh, I'm getting scared now.. I just checked a review website and it seems there's A LOT of lemons or this isnt a very quality car.. I've saw a lot of transmissions going out circa 60,000(don't know if it's auto or what) and I counted 20+ recalls on consumerguide... eh, I've saw a lot of good reviews on it by more official sources, I think I'll stay with it.. Anyone have some high mileages on their's without much work?
At 87k miles, engine and ATX still chugging along. Regular maintenance (of course). Did have to change the VSS at 60K. The important thing is not to neglect maintenance and do repairs immediately when a problem is found rather than wait for it to breakdown by the roadside. This is same of all vehicles.
If you are looking at carsurvey.org, you will never buy a (any) car at all. Only people with issues with their cars post there (including Hondas and Toyotas).
"Always do the cheap and easy ones first."
1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
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New CEG\'er
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OP
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Why are the 95-96s better than the rest? I dont remember seeing any major engine/transmission changes between model years?
I think I may go with the 96 Mercury/V6/Manual/100k for $2.5k.
Havent found many manuals, the only other I'd consider is a 98 Contour with 52k miles for $3k.. That seems a little too good to be true.. Can see chips on the bumper, would anyone buy a 52k for $3k?
Also, does anyone have an answer on the folding backseats? Someone said 98+ its only on SE Sports, what about 95-97? Thanks
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"Why are the 95-96s better than the rest?" Made in Kansas City, MO?  "I think I may go with the 96 Mercury/V6/Manual/100k for $2.5k. " Good price. "I'd consider is a 98 Contour with 52k miles for $3k.. That seems a little too good to be true.. Can see chips on the bumper, would anyone buy a 52k for $3k?" This is a steal. "Also, does anyone have an answer on the folding backseats? Someone said 98+ its only on SE Sports, what about 95-97?" 1996 GL no folding backseats (I'm sure someone will have one and post that theirs had it  ), LX and SE 60/40 split folding backseats were standard.
"Always do the cheap and easy ones first."
1996 V6 ATX 96K miles
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Originally posted by arin:
Why are the 95-96s better than the rest? I dont remember seeing any major engine/transmission changes between model years?
I think I may go with the 96 Mercury/V6/Manual/100k for $2.5k.
Havent found many manuals, the only other I'd consider is a 98 Contour with 52k miles for $3k.. That seems a little too good to be true.. Can see chips on the bumper, would anyone buy a 52k for $3k?
Also, does anyone have an answer on the folding backseats? Someone said 98+ its only on SE Sports, what about 95-97? Thanks
the reason for the betterness ?? they have everything the post98's dont,better rust proofing on the doors and wheel wells,all the lights(trunk,underhood,glovebox,inside door handle,ignition,cig lighter,foot wells)if you get a se you'll get,se side skirts,sportier suspension(matches svt for handling ability,stiffest in the run of the tour),rear discs,the fabeld pre98 lip spoiler,,you'll get a v6 basically,in 95-7 the se was the top of the line,in 98 it was bumped down a spot to make room for the svt,and it was all down hill from that point
"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
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I think the 95 or 96 is the best year to have. In '97 they started de-contenting stuff from the cars to make them cheaper to try to sell more. I've noticed that various other things on the newer cars just aren't made as well as on the older ones (ie. search for dash warp).
Pre '98 cars also have a rod shift for the manual transmission which is more robust than the cable shift on the post '97's. The pre '98's just seem to be built better.
We've got a '96 V6 MTX Mystique wich is currently at 318,000 km. It's been a great car for reliability considering the mileage. Have had to replace some things on it, but it's cost us less money than my '95 did.
The only model of the '95-'96 cars that didn't come with fold down rear seats were the GL model. Find an LX or SE or a Mystique and it should have them.
Last edited by KyleH; 02/27/06 02:27 AM.
My Cars
1999 Silver Frost SVT - 80,000km #2603/2760 Aug. 10, 1999.
1996 Mercury Mystique LS V6 MTX - retired @ 323,151km.
1995 Ford Contour V6 MTX-sold @ 214,000km
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