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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,431
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,431 |
Originally posted by Tony2005:
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).
I have something to add about carsurvey.org ... I based a lot of my car choices on that site when I was shopping in November. Part of the reason I bought my Nissan is because of the opinions there, despite them being largely negative. (There are many negative reviews for the 2000 Maxima, but most people were just complaining about the ignition coil issue which happens to be an expensive repair.) Every car has problematic areas; the trick to that site is to use those reviews to help you discover what they might be. Reading a lot of the reviews for a 99 Contour, I see dash warp listed as the only reason several owners gave it a bad review.
I will not say that a Contour is reliable -- after all, I had several expensive problems with my own that 'persuaded' me to get rid of it. I do consider it in the 'in-between' range ... better reliably than a MkIV Jetta, worse than a Corolla.
I fear I'll get refuted on this as well, but I'll say it anyway: there were rumors in the past that the Kansas City -built Contiques were more reliable than the Mexico City -built ones. (yes, mine was Mexican.)
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,116
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,116 |
170,000 miles on my car and it is on the original tranny, clutch, and engine. If the car was half way taken care of it should go and go. I mean if I can hit a deer with mine, which cracks the radiator and makes into a siv, and I can drive it 50 miles with out any problems for 20K miles after that, you shouldn't have a problem.  I haven't had a MAJOR problem with the car yet....just a bad fuel presure regulator and ERG....and those aren't expensive to fix---like $50 total. I bought a newer car, but that one is sitting because I like to contour so much more.
95 SE MTX
svt exhaust
intake
deer killer
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 28
New CEG\'er
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OP
New CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 28 |
Do you think a 52k car for $3k is good? That seems like too low of a mileage to be at the price.. Like there's something wrong with it?
So, do all Mystiques have folding backseat?
Also, does anyone have a list of the cosmetic differences between Myst/Cont?
Those high mileages are what I wanted to hear, too.. 
Man, You guys are getting my excited. My friend's Grand Prix V6 is going to have some competition now.. 
EDIT: Also, how is a manual in heavy city driving? I can see me doing more city than highway, doesnt it wear clutches out faster and everything?
Last edited by arin; 02/27/06 03:10 AM.
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,116
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,116 |
and if you get a mtx and learn to drive it decent, you should beat the grand prix (depending on year and model). Differences are headlights are different (well basically the whole front end), the climate control and trim as well are different. Other than that, I have no idea. $3K for a car with that many miles is really good, but not great. You could find a SVT for like $5K....even down to $4K on a good day. I would go over the car compleatly to make sure everything is clean and whatnot.
95 SE MTX
svt exhaust
intake
deer killer
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653 |
$3k for a 98 w/ 52k miles is OK, but not a great deal (I plugged LX v6 manual in excellent condition in to kbb). If it's a SE, then it's about right. If it's a SE with auto, that's a good deal.
And as far as finding SVTs, it's possible to find them for even less than $4k in decent condition.
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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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,117
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 7,117 |
Since we're talkin' to a teenager, insurance might be a concern. The SVT and 'Sport' models will have higher insurance rates. Call your insurance company to see how much the difference will be. The plain jane SE and GL models will have lower rates. All of the Mystiques should be in the lower end of the insurance cost.
Must be that jumbly-wumbly thing happening again.
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Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653
I have no life
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I have no life
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 21,653 |
My SVT is costing me about $15 more a month to insure than my 96 GL.
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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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,816
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,816 |
Originally posted by TourDeForce:
Since we're talkin' to a teenager, insurance might be a concern. The SVT and 'Sport' models will have higher insurance rates. Call your insurance company to see how much the difference will be. The plain jane SE and GL models will have lower rates. All of the Mystiques should be in the lower end of the insurance cost.
Thru Progressive Direct, who btw have been THE cheapest for me since I've been 18, I was paying just over $100/month for liabilty only on my 96 GL "Sport."
To get full coverage on it ($250 deduct) would have been about $350/month.
My insurance dropped about every year to where I ended up paying about $85/month for liability only.
When I got my SVT, I had 1 speeding ticket and 1 at-fault accident with a "failure to stop in assured clear safe distance" ticket. My full coverage for it was $345/month with $250 deductables. I raised those to $1000, and it dropped me to $240/month.
Just before I came here, I had turned 21 and my accident had fallen off my record. Insurance dropped to $180/month full coverage, $1000 deductables.
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This doesn't apply to you, but coverage over here with USAA for me is ~$100/month for liability only. I couldn't even get full coverage thru USAA or Geico with only a 15 over speeding ticket!
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So pretty much what I'm telling you is (not you, TourDeForce! ), my 1996 GL "Sport" with it's Zetec/ATX was the same cost to insure as my 1998 SVT Duratec/MTX.BTW, never actually figured out if my GL was actually a "Sport" or not, but it showed up on Carfax as "GL/SPORT."
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Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,431
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 7,431 |
Originally posted by Big Daddy Kane:
BTW, never actually figured out if my GL was actually a "Sport" or not, but it showed up on Carfax as "GL/SPORT."
The title of my Contour SE listed the model as "GL/LX/SE/SPORT" and the insurance company wanted to charge me extra for the "sport" in the title. I had to argue on that one  ...
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,659
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,659 |
I have a 99 LX 4 cylinder with an automatic trans and I have had a great time with my car. No big problems yet (knocking on wood). As long as you keep up with the maintenance you should be fine. Like I always say if you take care of the car it will take care of you. If you are so scared of the car (contour) shop around no need to buy a contour. Dont get me wrong I love my car. I just wish I had gotten the SVT.
"Do what you like, Because you have to drive it!"-Me
99 Contour LX
95 Mustang GT Convertible
97 Z24 Cavalier
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