Welcome to the site , Nem .

I think you'll be OK with the Contour for a while , especially having a Zetec engine . They're usually a pretty darn reliable engine , and the early ones don't have the VCT issues that the later ones sometimes have . Plus , they take pretty well to modding . If you continue regular , ritualistic maintenance , the car should give you many more miles of driving fun .

~~~~~~~ Phil Black & Tan 2000 SVT Contour #2137 of 2150 35,000 miles & counting !